autumn interior update

Saturday 5th of October

After nine years we discovered that this is the perfect place for the vintage carpet, that I found at the carpet auction at Abdelkarim's in the in Marrakech in 2015.

a carpet with your name written all over it

MARVELOUS MARRAKECH - You are invited to the ultimate Marrakech trip.

One of the many magical places in the Medina is the carpet souk. The best way to see the old carpet trade traditions, is to visit to the daily auction of Berber Carpets. And guess what? We have included the carpet auction in the program, because you simply have to experience this beautiful tradition. Big chance you will find a carpet among all the thousands of carpets, with your name written all over it.

Do you want to join us us in October?

Perfect if you want to travel alone, but also a great trip to make with your friend, mother, daughter or sister.

Marvelous Marrakech! Seven days in Marrakech with a distinctive workshop program.

Explore Marrakech every day in a different way. We have combined new places and topics with the best from our programs from previous years.

Together we will explore the authentic Marrakech in a special and unique way.

Off the beaten tracks with workshops and exciting adventures while discovering Marrakech and surroundings. Where everyone else goes to the right we go to the left. By showing you the real beauty of Marrakech, your visit to the Red City will be a much more precious experience!

Price € 795,00 per person (excl. tourist tax € 2,50 pppn)

The price is based on a shared twin bedroom and excluding flight tickets.

INCLUDED:
- transfer from airport Marrakech to Riad Chambres d'Amis (v.v.)
- shared twin bedroom (6 nights) including breakfast in Chambres d'amis.
- 2 dinners & 5 lunches (drinks are not included)
- 4 workshops and a daytrip to the desert

CRAFT-WORKSHOP & CARPET AUCTION
Buying wool, cotton and yarns in the souk. Moroccan craft class in the open on the colourful Place des Epices, where Aisha will teach you characteristic Moroccan craft techniques (materials are included). After lunch we will continue the Moroccan craft class with Aisha in The Secret Garden. (Needless to say, I will give a crochet class aswell.) At the end of the afternoon we will visit the Carpet auction in the souk, an unforgettable and colorful experience!

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

INSTAGRAM-PHOTO WORKSHOP
Street photography in the medina. Learn how to anticipate the moment, to identify locations with suitable subjects and develop confidence in photographing on the street. Learn to select and frame a moving subject and explore color to create impact. A visit and lunch at Maison de la Photographie.

VEGGIE COOKING WORKSHOP
Vegetable shopping on the locals markets in the Medina and souk. Cooking class by Moroccan women under the banana trees at Chambres d'Amis. Home cooked lunch on the rooftop terrace.

A DAYTRIP TO THE DESERT
A daytrip to a the desert with a fabulous Moroccan lunch in the shade of a berber tent. Imagine a charming bivouac with a couple of berber tents and a view to completely unwind. You don’t often find yourself at such magical surroundings that it makes you wonder… Is this a movie set? The light, changing skies and views are astonishing! A day in the Agafay desert is a great way to experience the Moroccan desert without having to travel too far!

DAY OFF
Halfway the week we have planned a day off! We can suggest a visit to the luxurious Beldi Club, a visit to Jardin Majorelle and Yves Saint Laurent Museum or you can use the day for shopping in the souk (optionally with personal shopper). This week is a real treat for travellers, who would like to discover the real and authentic Marrakech. An adventurous journey, you can make on your own, while you will be 'pampered' and only have to enjoy and relax.

7 DAYS IN MARRAKECH OCTOBER 2020
Arrival : Wednesday 7th of October 2020
Leaving : Tuesday 13th of October 2020
The workshop will start with a welcome dinner on the rooftop of Chambres d'Amis at 7PM on Wednesday. For early arrivals Chambres d'Amis can offer you a small program on the first day.

Each morning will start with a traditional Moroccan breakfast on the roof terrace at our base camp Chambres d'Amis.

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

I will send you an application form and more information about the travel workshop.

The Marrakech travel workshop 2020 is a collaboration with Ank van der Pluijm, my friend and owner of hotel CHAMBRES D'AMIS, oasis in the Medina of Marrakech and our wonderful green 'basecamp' during the workshops week. You will, of course, be overloaded with impressions in Marrakesh, and Hotel Chambres d’Amis will be your quiet home to return to. Our street Derb Moulay Abdelkader is located in a very quiet and safe residential area, and very easy to find.

It is possible to book extra nights, before or after the workshop (info@chambresdamis.com)

greenterior

A new green family member in da house.

I spotted the chestnut vine - TETRASTIGMA VOINIERIANUM - at Klavertje Vijf with my friend Marieke in Haarlem a few weeks ago. A vigorous evergreen climber.

I noted down the name in my phone and have been looking for this plant ever since.

And today when I went to the nearby garden center to buy potting soil for the garden, I suddenly came across this rampant climber.
There was only one, also an amiable one, so I had to take the plant home with me (and luckily just fitted in the car).

We have found a good spot, not too light, not too dark and it can climb for a while until the ceiling will be reached. `

eclectic & unique

Without defining our interior as typically eclectic, the unique & eclectic pieces (being brought home as souvenirs over the years) are exactly the pieces that last and make our home our home.

The mix with modern design and vintage furniture, don't make a typically Moroccan appearance.

marvelous marrakech - 7 jours à marrakech

Marvelous Marrakech! Seven days in Marrakech with a distinctive workshop program.

Explore Marrakech every day in a different way. We have combined new places and topics with the best from our programs from previous years.

What's new about the Marrakech travel workshops program? We have a different theme every day, to explore the authentic Marrakech in a special and unique way.

Off the beaten tracks with workshops and exciting adventures while discovering Marrakech and surroundings. Where everyone else goes to the right we go to the left. By showing you the real Marrakech, your visit to the Red City will be a much more precious experience!

Price € 777,00 per person (excl. tourist tax € 2,50 pppn)

The price is based on a shared twin bedroom and excluding flight tickets.

INCLUDED:
- transfer from airport Marrakech to Riad Chambres d'Amis (v.v.)
- shared twin bedroom (6 nights) including breakfast in Chambres d'amis.
- 2 dinners & 5 lunches (drinks are not included)
- 5 workshops

CRAFT-WORKSHOP
Buying wool, cotton and yarns in the souk. Moroccan craft class in the open on the colourful Place des Epices, where Aisha will teach you different characteristic Moroccan craft techniques (materials are included). After lunch we will continue the Moroccan craft class with Aisha and practice different crochet and embroidery techniques in The Secret Garden. (Needless to say, I will give a crochet class aswell.) At the end of the afternoon we will visit the Carpet auction in the souk, an unforgettable and colorful experience.

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

INSTAGRAM-PHOTO WORKSHOP
Street photography in the medina. Learn how to anticipate the moment, to identify locations with suitable subjects and develop confidence in photographing on the street. Learn to select and frame a moving subject and explore colour to create impact. A visit and lunch at Maison de la Photographie.

VEGGIE COOKING WORKSHOP & BICYCLE TOUR
Vegetable shopping in the Medina and souk. Cooking class by Moroccan women under the banana trees at Chambres d'Amis. Early home cooked lunch on the rooftop terrace. In the afternoon a bicycle tour to discover the beauty of Marrakech in the most fun way. Together with a young, native tour guide, you will discover the mysteries of Marrakech. On the bicycle we bring you beyond the tourist districts to show you the hidden jewels of Marrakech that usually remain secret to visitors!

COUNTRYSIDE & BERBER CARPETS
A trip to a Berber village in the country side with a lunch at Berberlodge. We will visit an atelier where you can buy carpets directly from the Berber women, who make the carpets, so they will earn more money with their crafts, instead of the carpet dealers.

DAY OFF
Halfway the week we have planned a day off! We can suggest a visit to the luxurious Beldi Club, a visit to Jardin Majorelle or you can use the day for shopping in the souk (optionally with personal shopper). This week is a real treat for travellers, who would like to discover the real and authentic Marrakech. An adventurous journey, you can make on your own, while you will be 'pampered' and only have to enjoy and relax.

7 DAYS IN MARRAKECH APRIL 2019
arrival: Wednesday 10th of April 2019 - leaving: Tuesday 16th of April 2019

7 DAYS IN MARRAKECH OCTOBER 2019
Arrival : Wednesday 2nd of October 2019 leaving : Tuesday 8th of October 2019

Both workshops will start with a welcome dinner on the rooftop of Chambres d'Amis at 7PM on Wednesday. For early arrivals Chambres d'Amis can offer you a small program on the first day.

If you would like to join one of the workshops, please send an e-mail info@woodwoolstool.com
I will send you an application form and more information about the travel workshop.

The Marrakech travel workshops 2019 are a collaboration with Ank van der Pluijm, my friend and owner of hotel CHAMBRES D'AMIS, oasis in the Medina of Marrakech and our wonderful green 'basecamp' during the workshops week. You will, of course, be overloaded with impressions in Marrakesh, and Hotel Chambres d’Amis will be your quiet home to return to. Our street Derb Moulay Abdelkader is located in a very quiet and safe residential area, and very easy to find.

It's always possible to book extra nights, before or after the workshop (info@chambresdamis.com)

[The Moroccan rug on the first image is my favorite. We found this Beni Ouarain at the entrance of the carpet souk in April 2014.]

summertime, and the livin' is easy

Summertime, and the livin' is easy...

lingerie cabinet

New on the attic.

A super cute vintage cabinet. Finally a functional and fancy way to store my favorite lingerie.

The moroccan rug I brought home from Marrakech in October, is absolutely in the right place in our attic bedroom.

knit purl repeat

Knit purl repeat.

Best way for me to relax is to knit (or crochet of course).

Did you know crochet and knitting boost relaxation for nearly everyone who picks up hooks and needles?

This is the new sweater I'm working on (see previous post). I will make a shorter version of the knitted sweater dress for a change, in a great colour that goes with everything.

So I'm knitting on the rug; knitpurlrepeat...

harlequin hanger

This harlequin hanger I have made weeks ago for my friend Cornel from South Africa. I could not post the pictures, because she didn't had the chance to open the gift until yesterday.

At the moment I'm busy preparing the Cool Crochet Workshop in Marrakech in April.
The harlequin clothes hanger will be one of the new projects I've designed for the workshop.

There is still one room available for the workshop in April (October is fully booked), so if you want to join, please send an e-mail to info@woodwoolstool.com