publication 101 woonideeën magazine

publication 101 woonideeën magazine, originally uploaded by wood & wool stool.

My home and handmade products are featured in the current January 2010 issue of 101 Woonideeën Magazine, a Dutch interior magazine that is really creative and innovative. Thanks to my friend Nina who introduced me as a candidate "binnenkijker".

The photoshoot in September was so much fun and amazing to experience that it's a day's work for a team of four people! The photographer Louis Lemaire (look at 'mensbeeld') and his assistant Mieke Verduijn, stylist Kristel de Jong and Jeske Weel.

The production of the DIY wood & wool baby clothes hangers I did with Jeske. She never touched a crochet needle herself and was the perfect person to produce the mini course for those who want to learn crochet.

I'm very proud that my home is featured in this cool magazine with twelve pages. The very first email about the issue I received last week, was about my boots..., before I even read the issue myself.

heart tree

heart tree, originally uploaded by wood & wool stool.

Last year's homemade x-mas tree was parked in the backyard from January to last week, when I moved into the house for another christmas.

Therefore it's the greenest tree conceivable. It doesn't need frills. Just a few hearts. Merry christmas everybody!

wood & wool stool shipping day

wood & wool stool shipping day, originally uploaded by wood & wool stool.

Today I went to the post-office to send six mega boxes with stools to their several destinations. It's quite a hassle to load and unload the car and I even considered to exchange my 2CV for a 2CV-van.

Fortunately there was a place for my car just around the corner of the post-office and an old man helped me to open the heavy door. The little agency was at once filled with my boxes. I informed the lady behind the counter about the concerning shipping addresses and it felt pretty cool to send my handmade stools around the world. Today they went to Breda, Den Bosch (both in the Netherlands), Wentorf (Germany) and two to Warabi City, Saitama (above Tokyo - Japan)

It has been a super busy week but I feel satisfied now, knowing that the stools will arrive before Christmas in their new homes.

sinterklaas surprise

sinterklaas surprise, originally uploaded by wood & wool stool.

Sinterklaas is an ancient tradition in the Netherlands. We celebrate on December 5 the birthday of Sinterklaas. It's a children matter and the festivity is about Sinterklaas is showering everyone with gifts. Sint also brings a visit to all schools in our country. When children stop believing this old and holy man is bringing a steamship full of gifts from Spain, Madrid to be exact, there is an alternative way to celebrate his birthday. In primary school classmates buy presents for eachother. Determined by lot (must stay secret) they make a homemade 'surprise' with a subtle reference to the present.

My daughter Pippa made a beautiful hand mirror. She cut the shape of a mirror out of box and sticked some aluminum foil on it as reflection. For decoration she used nice pictures from fashion magazines and for the glamor effect some diamants and Romy's name in gold. She bought some eye shadow and nail polish, for make up is a magical gift when you're a 12 year old girl.

petit pan pyjama

petit pan pyjama, originally uploaded by wood & wool stool.

For the 'petit' hotelguests at hotel Villa Augustus there is great news! In the small lobby shop there are some new heavenly Petit Pan pyjama's for sale. I love the METEORES design, but the GALAXIE and HELIUM are also tremendous.

The smallest pajamas is a show model and hanging on my handmade wood & wool hanger How cute!

Isn't it a shame they are only available for 2 months - 8 years old?

Thankfully Petit Pan sells a patchwork pillow PLANETES with all the fabrics combined.

haken is hot ~ crochet is hot

Today my friend Arjanne came to visit me. She wants to learn crochet! We started with the basic technique, which seemed rather difficult if you've never touched a crochet needle. After a few hours and a lot of coffee and sighing, there was suddenly a 'piece of crochet'. Arjanne was very pleased and proud and went home with her first handmade square.

I learned to crochet at primary school when I was about 8 years old and did not like it at all. I've never crocheted until some years ago, when I made my first stool of recycled wood. I figured it would be nice to make a retro crochet cover on it; as a matter of fact the wood & wool stool was created.

Next month my home is published in a Dutch interior magazine 101 Woonideeën. It´s an article on my interior (binnenkijker ~ inside viewer) and little company and because crochet is hot I give a mini course for those who want to learn crochet.

The give away in the December issue of 101 Woonideeën is a beautiful lantern, designed by Jurianne Matter.

little square in costa nova

little square in costa nova, originally uploaded by wood & wool stool.

Last summer we traveled south with an old rented camper. To make the interior of the camper a home for some weeks, I took crocheted pillows and blankets and even a stool. During our stay in Portugal we visited the small fishing village Costa Nova, somewhere between Lisbon and Porto. This village is so photogenic with all the candy-striped houses and a perfect place for a shoot for my renewed website. So I took my fully loaded Kronan bicycle and cycled through the village, stopped at some places like this little square in Costa Nova, to make some pictures of my granny square products. Some villagers who passed the square, asked me if they could take pictures of this event.