unforgettable moments of 2016

2016 has been a great year.

12 photos, 1 for each month. Randomly chosen.

Those golden sneakers travelled a lot this year.
Londen in February, with my son Minne.
Marrakech in April, for another Cool Crochet workshop.
Paris in June, with my love Henk, son Minne and my friend Rosa.
In July we often went for a day to our favorite beach in Zeeland.
Berlin in August, just the two of us, to celebrate my birthday.
Portugal in September for an amazing roadtrip from Porto to Lisbon.
Marrakech once more, for the 6th Cool Crochet workshop.
The last months of 2016 I've been at home a lot, to work on new projects and enjoy my family and just being at home together.

Two thousand and sixteen was a wonderful year with many happy memories!
I am grateful for that and I'm looking forward to the new adventures in 2017!

Thanks for following my blog and Happy New Year to you all! Xx

december days

During the last weeks of December I've made two new beanies, because I've sold all the moroccan beanies. A multicolored one and the other one is matching my mittens.

I also made two warm shawls, a black one and a rusty brown one.
The shawl is very easy to make, the fabric looks like it's knitted but actually is an easy crochet technique.

You start with a foundation chain and make the chain as long as you want your shawl to be.
I've made a foundation chain of 250 chain stitches (ch).
All the following rows are worked in half double crochet (hdc).
The first row of stitches is worked into the foundation chain. Always start with 2 ch for the 1st hdc and continue the row with hdc (it's a long row!)
Second and following rows: 250 hdc, but instead of going through both the front and back loop, you insert the crochet hook ONLY through the f r o n t loop of the previous row of hdc.
After some rows you will see a textured crochet fabric that resembles a knitted rib.
My shawl is 24 rows wide, but you can make your shawl as wide as you want.

If you start now, your shawl might be ready before 2017!

(I used a crochet 5 mm hook and about 300 grams of yarn)

If you want to make the beanie, join the cool crochet workshop...

crochet mood

Afternoon crochet on the vintage bamboo daybed.

Working on a warm winter shawl, in a very cool crochet technique.
I will show it soon on the blog.

merry christmas

Merry Christmas to all of you!
We are having a drink in the front yard. Cheers!

*let*it*snow*shoes*

winter woolspiration

Winter woolspiration with an old photo from 2013.

Have a bright and cozy pre x-mas Friday!

annual photobook

Since 2007 we make an annual photobook of our 'best' photos.
It has become a tradition to make a selection from our photo archive.
It's a great way to keep the memories of the year alive.
We try to make a chronological overview of our travels and everyday life.
It's quiet difficult to choose from over 6000 pictures, but we always manage to reduce it to about 150 pages
(sometimes we already know during shooting, this one will be in the book...)
Printed photos are precious!
We already have quiet a collection of annual photobooks.
Today we flipped through our 2016 edition (even though if the year is not over yet)

I love to browse through the years every now and then.

On my instagram you can have a look 'inside'.

shimmer & shine

A subtle christmassy sparkle in our livingroom.
We are keeping it simple this year.

a r a b e

A R A B E

This week I've been playing with the vintage letters on the kitchen bench and a new word appeared, showing my passion for Arabic food and style.

two loopy hours - d i y project

An utterly cute wood & wooly waistcoat for the little ones!
Yesterday I've made this dusty pink version in just two 'loopy' hours.

I've designed a wood & wooly baby waistcoat and have written down the pattern some years ago.
It's made in 'for-the-little-ones' size and will fit lot's of babies and toddlers, because it's a sleeveless cardigan.
One size fits all, isn't a term you often use for babies, but I guess it's true in this case.
It's cute and at the same time cool!
A perfect D.I.Y. project and all you need is about 100 grams of wool and a crochet needle size 6. Within just a few hours you can make a super cute gift!

You can download the p a t t e r n in my ETSY SHOP.
The pattern is available in English and Dutch.

peas & carrots

Peas & carrots.

...for our tiny x-mas tree.

botanical books

New on my desk: Botanical books.

To prepare myself for the Green Gardens workshop in Marrakech next year.
At least, that's my 'excuse' to buy new botanical books.

Plants are the latest trend.

Some years ago I had no plants at all in my house. I prefered flowers.
The temporary beauty of a bunch of flowers on the table. A week to enjoy them and when they are gone, time for a new bunch.

My love for 'evergreens' started early 2015. We started to visit lots of botanical gardens. My love for green is growing eversince.

Slowly but surely, more plants moved in. Some of them moved to the garden during the summer season, but some of them stayed inside all year around.
One of the first plants was the banana plant (or rather mini-tree) on my desk.
Inspired by the beautiful bananatrees in the courtyard of riad Chambres d'Amis, I decided to give it a go.
After a while new banana leaves appeared and the banana plant was doing quiet well on my desk.
I enjoyed to take care of it and was getting an emotional connection, what makes the love for plants so unique.
After the banana tree, more and more plants moved in...
I have a weakness for the larger plants.

Some months ago when we started preparing the Green Garden workshop in Marrakech, we agreed about the professional guided tours we will arrange for all the gardens we will visit during the workshop. I've learned a lot about gardens en plants in the last years, but not enough to call myself a green-guide.

Besides the daily garden visits, we also want to be actively engaged with our daily green experiences.
Everyone will make a personal Green Garden herbarium during the workshop. Collecting leaves, seeds and making drawings of the plants and leaves.
I've found lots of inspiration in the Herbarium book published by Thoth.
The drawings are contemporary and completely different from the historical illustrations. The simple geometric design and vivid colors are very inspiring.
I love to read and learn about the botanical world and I'm beginning to develop a new book addiction...

Below you can find more information about the Green Garden workshops in May and October 2017.

PROGRAMME:
During the workshop we will visit and explore all kinds of gardens in and around Marrakech; An Arabic garden, a rose garden, botanical gardens, secret city gardens, city parks, hidden courtyards, an art garden, museum gardens and vegetable- and herb gardens.

To make the green theme complete, we will also organize a veggie cooking workshop (including vegetables & herbes shopping in de souk). All the participants will get an herbarium notebook, in which they can make daily sketches and collect green memories, such as leaves and seeds.

You will be surprised how green the Red City actually is. Urban jungle adventures with guided tours and delicious moroccan food, make this green travel-workshop unforgettable!

GREEN GARDENS WORKSHOP
Six days in Marrakech! Green is the theme. Price € 675,00 per person.
The price is based on a shared twin bedroom and excluding flight ticket. It's not possible to book a single room.
It's always possible to book extra nights, before or after the workshop (info@chambresdamis.com)
INCLUDED:
- transfer from airport Marrakech to Riad Chambres d'amis (v.v.)
- shared twin bedroom (5 nights) including breakfast in Chambres d'Amis. (no single rooms available)
- 3 dinners & 4 lunches (drinks not included)
- veggie cooking workshop
- collecting green memories in a herbarium
- all excursions in and around Marrakech

SPRING GREEN GARDENS WORKSHOP arrival: Thursday 11th of May - leaving: Tuesday 16th of May
AUTUMN GREEN GARDENS WORKSHOP arrival: Thursday 12th of October - leaving: Tuesday 17th of October

If you would like to join one of the workshops, please send an e-mail info@woodwoolstool.com for an application form.

Both workshops are a collaboration with my friend Ank van der Pluijm, owner of CHAMBRES D'AMIS, oasis in the Medina of Marrakech and our 'basecamp' during the workshops.

is your tree up?

Only a few T R E E S left in the shop!

mini gerbera

To be honest, gerberas are my least favorite flowers, but oh so sweet in mini.

In the simple vintage jug they remind me of a child's drawing of a bouquet.

winter knitwear

Winter knitwear. I really l O V E it.

The dusty pink sweater I've made with the same pattern as the striped sweater I've knitted last year.
What I like about this sweater is the loose fit and basic look. It's a woolen sweater, but you can wear it underneath a jacket and it's not too warm, but warm enough to be your favorite winter wear.
I've been wearing the black and natural colored sweater dress a few seasons and I like the shorter sweater version just as much.
You can find the winter wardrobe patterns in my Etsy shop.

Try to make one yourself, because nothing beats homemade winterwear.
It's not difficult at all, even for a beginner...

green gardens marrakech - may & october 2017

NEW travel workshops in Marrakech next year!

Besides the Cool Crochet Marrakech workshops, we will organize Green Gardens workshops in May and October 2017.

In the last few years I've visited quite some stunning gardens and oases in the medina and fell in love with the amazing green gardens of Marrakech. For those out there, who can't or rather don't want to crochet, we will arrange an opportunity to discover Marrakech in an alternative way next year.

PROGRAMME:
During the workshop we will visit and explore all kinds of gardens in and around Marrakech; An Arabic garden, a rose garden, botanical gardens, secret city gardens, city parks, hidden courtyards, an art garden, museum gardens and vegetable- and herb gardens.

To make the green theme complete, we will also organize a veggie cooking workshop (including vegetables & herbes shopping in de souk). All the participants will get an herbarium notebook, in which they can make daily sketches and collect green memories, such as leaves and seeds.

You will be surprised how green the Red City actually is. Urban jungle adventures with guided tours and delicious moroccan food, make this green travel-workshop unforgettable!

GREEN GARDENS WORKSHOP
Six days in Marrakech! Green is the theme. Price € 675,00 per person.
The price is based on a shared twin bedroom and excluding flight ticket. It's not possible to book a single room.
It's always possible to book extra nights, before or after the workshop (info@chambresdamis.com)
INCLUDED:
- transfer from airport Marrakech to Riad Chambres d'amis (v.v.)
- shared twin bedroom (5 nights) including breakfast in Chambres d'Amis. (no single rooms available)
- 3 dinners & 4 lunches (drinks not included)
- veggie cooking workshop
- collecting green memories in a herbarium
- all excursions in and around Marrakech

SPRING GREEN GARDENS WORKSHOP arrival: Thursday 11th of May - leaving: Tuesday 16th of May
AUTUMN GREEN GARDENS WORKSHOP arrival: Thursday 12th of October - leaving: Tuesday 17th of October

If you would like to join one of the workshops, please send an e-mail info@woodwoolstool.com for an application form.

Both workshops are a collaboration with my friend Ank van der Pluijm, owner of CHAMBRES D'AMIS, oasis in the Medina of Marrakech and our 'basecamp' during the workshops.

oficina de mi casa

Office update.

A few new items in my workplace.
The steel vintage hospital table serves as my desk and I have turned it sideways so I can look into the living room.
The banana plant on my desk is slowly becoming a banana tree.
The blue A we bought last Friday in Amsterdam (see previous post)
...and the new harlequin herringbone rug fits in nicely anywhere.
I put it on the floor for the occasion, but we use it as a blanket on the sofa, now it's becoming colder.

sarphatipark

Open House

25 - 26 - 27 November
2 - 3 - 4 December

open from 11 am

Sarphatipark 126hs
1073 ED Amsterdam

Maria de Haan - Lammie Snoeken