Winter time decorations

Christmas is coming and in a few weeks time I'll be participating in a Christmas Fair. I'm looking forward to it and I'm working hard to prepare for this event.

Of course I'll sell knitwear, but I decided to offer a wider range of items matching the winter theme. I've been sewing bags and cushion covers mixing felted blankets and other fabrics.

With the many bits and pieces that were left I made these cosy little hangers. They look nice on a doorknob or you can hang a number of them in a branch. Inside the house of course.

Would you like to make some too? Here's the PDF with the templates of the figures I made. Enjoy! And send me a link to your work if you like :)

Tuin5: a garden full of experiences and wonder

Tuin5 is a festival just outside Zutphen for people who create, perform and love life. I discovered it accidentally but visiting today I was impressed with the variety and great atmosphere.

There were crafters selling handmade goods and collectors with vintage items. There were people selling special coffees, ice cream, apple cider, bread and sandwiches, mostly of local origin.

There were several places (with no stage) where singers and other musicians performed. And the site, it was on the courtyard around a former farm, was beautifully decorated with garlands and jars and bottles with flowers.

There were masseuses, a coach, a garden designer, a story laboratory and a swinging DJ. There were workshops, exhibitions, and a lot of seats where you could just sit down, relax and enjoy.

There were also several mobile kitchens. This one with a true wood fired oven serving freshly baked pizzas was impressive. No wonder there was a queue - they smelled so good.

And sometimes it looked a bit like 'Koninginnedag' with funny self-designed games like: 'vang een zoen' (catch a kiss) and children specialized in advising adults with existential questions.

'Get inspired and enjoy' it says on the leaflet we received. I definitely did and hope to come back next time. Want to see more? Here are pictures of last year at tuin5.

Creating by head, heart and hands

'Kunst van hier tot ginder' (art from here to yonder) is the name of a 30 kilometer cycling route along a modern art exhibition. It's yearly event in beautiful Salland every second weekend of June.

Here's a work of art outside the little 14th century church in Wesepe made by Daphne Riedijk and another sculpture along the way by Caroline de Bruijn.

There were many more installations and performances. But what struck me too were all these different handmade cushions in the little church made by the local crafting group.

We visited handmade market Hip en Handgemaakt (even better than last year) before getting on our bikes, and I just love the whole spectrum of creating, by head, heart and hands.

Good fun at craft fair Hip & Handgemaakt

Dutch craft market Hip & Handgemaakt is expanding. This year it's in Deventer where it originated and five more towns in the eastern part of the Netherlands. Yesterday Deventer enjoyed this yearly market for the fifth time and it was fun.

There was a nice mix of artists and artisans. Here are some great items.

In Dutch we have a phrase that says that shards bring luck. Studio Waanzin's brooches are called shards of luck. The other brooch, by Sloppop Yeah, is classy.

These adorable felt dogs are made by Jackelien. She can make make one resembling your dog too.

Hedsup makes bags of rubber and felt. They look rough but feel surprisingly soft.

And finally the food stalls were a very pleasant surprise. Bloemopdetaart made my heart jump.