power of plants

Our exuberant ficus elastica - once rescued at the plant store in the 'damaged houseplant corner' with a only a few (broken) leaves - has been joined by a clivia, which is about to bloom in orange.

The way i see it, the house is never too green and are the stacks of plates are never too high...

fritillaria - february favorite

Fritillaria, february favorite!

bay window bar

Wednesday 30th of August

Afternoon coffee break in the frontyard. We use our bay window as a serving hatch for breakfast, coffee, lunch or drinks in our 'petit parc parisien'. However one of us has to go to the kitchen again for a refill.

Coffee is served from the bay window in rustic portuguese espresso cups from Casa Cubista Olhão.

I never put these handmade cups in the dishwasher and don't mind washing them by hand.

The huge rubber plant (Ficus elastica) I rescued from the 'sad & damaged houseplant corner' with a few broken leaves in February 2020 and it's starting to look like a tree nowadays.

woodwoolstool saturday shop

woodwoolstool saturday shop

canvas bag 10,- [SOLD]
moroccan yarn 20,- [SOLD]
soda bottle mahon 20,-
opale vase 5,- [SOLD]
steel letter A 5,- [SOLD]
toiletry bag 5,-
green plastic mirror 7,-
crocheted pear 10,-
industrial desk lamp 50,- [SOLD]
paola navone fish bottle 10,- [SOLD]
moroccan tamegroute vase 30,-
woodwoolstool diagonal striped pillow 75,-

interested? send me a DM @woodwoolstool or email info@woodwoolstool.com

rural retreat at berberlodge

The Berberlodge is a love story between the owner Romain and the village of Oumnass and it’s inhabitants.

A perfect rural retreat for the day off in the middle of our Marvelous Marrakech week.

Together with Ank and her dog Billie we drove with the old baby blue Renault 4 to the countryside for a lazy day in the garden, some swimming and a beautiful and delicous late lunch.

After two years it felt so good to be back in the green paradise that Romain has created.

At the end of a lovely day we made a sunset drive to Marrakech. Incredibly beautiful light!

change of scenery

Change of scenery in our kitchen.

A tulip dining table and houseplant wall. We 'replaced' our long table and bench with Moroccan bread baskets.

Since the children both moved to their own homes, we sometimes felt a bit lost at our super long canteen table, which can accommodate 10 people. After three days breakfast and dinner at the round table in our apartment at Baixa House in Lisbon, we agreed we should have a round table in our kitchen.

I've always enjoyed dining at a cozy round table, but I did not want to say goodbye to the vintage Belgian canteen table and because of it's size (2.40 X 0.80m), it was not an option to store it elsewhere in the house. The xxl table has found a good destination at my colleague, who is now very happy with it.

I found a splendid round tulip table with a diameter of 1.20 meter, which also still fits 6 chairs if necessary.

We exchanged the white wooden chairs for two vintage garden chairs from the front garden, an old steel patio chair, we once found at a Spanish flea market and our Bertoia chair.

The new table brings a completely different atmosphere and the kitchen is much more spacious this way.

The plates on the serving cart are re-organized and the Moroccan (bread)basket collection is now displayed on another table in the kitchen.

And we found a second-hand Dutch design cross light lamp by Melis & Oostrom above the dining table.

On the table a Bordallo Pinheiro fish vase from our Portugal road trip 2017 with garden flowers.

Because there is still space for another plant on the plant bench, we adopted a chain cactus.

Usually the interior at some points have to become completely different after our vacation, because we always get so much inspiration abroad.

All in all a huge difference with minimal resources.

Change of scenery brings new energy.

easter bouquet

This morning we woke up from a huge racket in the kitchen.
It was already light outside so I dared to walk down, haha...

I immediately noticed that it was lighter in the corner of the bay window.
The huge Monstera in the kitchen corner, had toppled over because it was top-heavy...
What a mess!
The serving cart and tableware were buried under potting soil, but oddly enough, nothing was broken (thank goodness the tamegroute crockery was unharmed) and the Monstera was still intact.
Luckily it didn't happen in the middle of the night.

I've put the Monstera in a shady spot in the backyard for the time being. I looked it up and it should be possible to put the houseplant outside from May to September.

Today was my day off, but we didn't sleep long in our bedroom, because of the sudden early 'wake up call'. So we had a super early Easter breakfast in bed.

Well tomorrow I have a late shift, so another chance to sleep a little longer.

In the meantime, the 'normal life' at my workspace Villa Augustus is still going on, at least a bit. The kitchen still prepares daily room service meals for the few hotel guests, as well as the fresh antipasti and take-away pizza's, we sell in the market. And also in the bakery, they make fresh bread, cakes and cookies as usual. Only the restaurant is closed. Currently the whole interior is being refreshed, with help from the staff from all departments. Quite a special time and atmosphere.

I'm happy to be able to work in the market 3 days a week since the crisis began, so I can still make myself useful at work and don't have to stay home every day.

Matter of course we follow the guidelines of the RIVM (the National Institute for Health and Environment). Besides the regular 'market' activities, there is enough time for other stuff, like painting furniture, arranging extra flower bouquets to sell in the market shop.

For the Easter weekend I made bouquets with spring flowers from the auction.

And of course a bouquet for our kitchen table, which now has moved to replace the empty 'Monstera' space.

a merry & bright christmas for everyone

Happy Christmas Eve everyone!

A joyful Christmas to you all. Wishing you and your family happy holidays!

bling & yang

Once more no traditional Christmas items overhere, but instead unexpected and unusual December decorations. Our 'x-mas space' consists of opposing but complementary objects.

Christmas will be bling and also yang.
On one side bling; gold, glitter and over the top 'bad taste' with a wink.
On the other yang; exotic animals, natural materials, authenticity and obviously some green.

going green

Going green.

Soon I will be leaving for Marrakech, to start with the 9th colorful Cool Crochet 'crocholiday'.
Thereafter to interact with nature and the green side of the city with the 3rd Green Gardens workshop.
Also this new workshop season former 'cool crocheteers' are returning, but this time to discover the green treasures of the Red city.

All preparations are in full swing and I could not help myself, to blend a little green into a crochet project (by means of a palmtree pattern in typical Marrakshi colors) and vice versa I made a linen herbarium bag with crochet palm for all GG participants.

Naturally, hotel Chambres d’Amis is our 'base camp' during both workshops. The small hotel is located just a stone’s throw away from the beating heart of old Marrakesh, the Djemaa el-Fna square and the souks. Despite this, it’s as quiet as if you were in the countryside; greenery and birds all over the place. A marvelous green oasis to return to, after a day full of adventures. Right in the middle of the Medina and at the same time far away from it all...

Straw hat - from Place des Epices
Handmade linen palmtree herbarium bag - made by me
Green Tamegroute pottery - from the Medina in Marrakech
Butter knife - gift from Dietske (one of last years 'green gardenista')

seasonal veggies

It's getting christmassy around here slowly...

Seasonal veggies, served on a tamegroute plate.

marrakech vibes

This weekend I'm off to Marrakech again. For the fourth time this year...

I'm always happy to return to the Red City.

Next Wednesday we will kick off with a new Cool Crochet workshop in Marrakech. Sophie will join us for the second time.

One week later the second Green Gardens workshop is on the program.
No less than four former participants of the cool crochet workshop, will now join the Green Gardens workshop.
Yay, so nice to see you again Marielle, Ellen Debbie & Tif!

Even though I have just returned from Portugal, I can hardly wait to start with the workshop preparations and meet everyone at Chambres d'Amis.