owls

I experimented a little bit more with the leftovers from the embroideries and made these soft toys. I like the green/brown one most. I don't know what's wrong with the blue one, but I think I will have to figure that out.

buttons

I asked my parents to search for buttons in france, they took that task very serious and spoiled me with a beautiful collection of vintage buttons....the washing and sorting took more time than expected, but the result was very satisfying and I found a few very nice ones.

little bear

this is a story about a teddy bear and me being a terrible mom. I needed filling for some felt toys so I decided to use a very large teddy bear the boys haven't played with in years. But as soon as I took the bear and put it in my studio, they started playing with it. When they both were away (this is the most terrible part of this little story!) I cut the bear open and used the filling. the leftover was lying on the ground and the big teddybear eyes were starring at me and I started to feel very guilty...

Then the idea came up to make a playing head out of the bear, the boys loved it. Even Roel was enthusiastic about it. the guilt became a little less, but then jilles started to ask me where he could find the teddy bear...oops. Think I will not do this again.

shirt transformation

Roel has a lot of shirts he doesn't wear anymore. A lot of these shirts I like too much to give them away. I saw this tutorial a long time ago and decided to give it a go. The weatherman promised a lot of sun this weekend so I hope I can try my new shirt...

experimenting three

I think spring wakes me up for experimenting. In this piece I combined felt with a picture I found in an article about outsiders art. I just love what these artists make, it's so pure. I'm considering attaching the two with some stiches...I'm not sure yet...so I just keep on experimenting..

brooch

made this little fellow with a piece of left over from an embroidery. I love how the colors change by using just a little piece of it...

stockholm has to wait

we planned a weekend stockholm with just the two of us, but because of the eruption in iceland no plane could take us there. because I already took the boys to opa and oma (before the planes stopped flying) we still enjoyed a few days together. sunday we spent with the boys and felt spring everywhere!

our weekend is now planned in may, any tips for stockholm?

huis van groen

yesterday was the first workshop at "huis van groen" Sandra and I did together. It was fun, good results and a lot of tea...

experimenting two

it's not new, but it is for me. I felted a bottle for the first time. It feels a bit like sculpting with felt...nice.

experimenting

Sometimes I have a total lack of creativity. I hate it when that happens, especially when I have time (which doesn't happen that much). This week I had such a day and I was totally blocked, after some repair work (a lot of damaged trousers of the boys), I decided to make something out of the leftovers of the embroideries I work with. Unfortunately I didn't have much time left. I'm not satisfied with this piece, but I like the idea and I see possibilities for other soft toys.

mickey

a friend asked me to make something for her newborn niece in singapore to decorate the wall. I had never made something like this, it was a lot of work but I'm happy with the result.