Spotlight on LoveMyrte’s Birds .

As my Dutch adventure is drawing to a close I thought I’d mark this by featuring a different Dutch designer or favourite place each day this week. I have really enjoyed being able to discover more artists and crafts people during my stay here.

I’ve had this particular post waiting for quite a while. In fact ever since I went to Eindhoven for the Hello Etsy conference. As the Dutch Design Week was on the go at the same time it was a good opportunity to have a look around at other exhibitions. And one additional bonus was to be able to visit Myrte de Zeeuw’s new studio. She has a fantastic space on an upper floor of one of the former Philips buildings – great light and a lovely spot. She allowed me to take a few photos to share with you.

If you are in the Netherlands you will recognise her work straight away as her bird cushions have been featured in a lot of the Dutch interior magazines. If her designs are new to you then you are in for a treat. Over time she has built up a reputation for beautifully designed bird cushions. But she doesn’t just choose random birds to represent, which, incidentally, she draws on her computer , feather by feather. Each bird that she depicts is one that she has had a particular connection with – such as the pigeon that marks her father’s victory with a racing pigeon as a child.

She is branching out now to other areas too, such as clothing, wallpaper and bedlinen featuring the birds too.

Her site is here – and you can read about the “behind the scenes” stories on her blog.

Unbirthday Etsy Sale

Usually I do a 50% off sale on my birthday. It’s the only time in the year that I do this. This year however I was off on my travels and then not in one place for too long so I’ve waited until I am in a fixed location for a wee while. Of course its not my birthday anymore, so, in true Alice in Wonderland style I’ve decided to make it an Unbirthday sale – and appropriately the coupon code is UNBIRTHDAY .

Things have been a little busy over here with visitors and other distractions , but some more images from my trip to the East will be coming shortly.

Monday Moodboard – Summer

Candies Chessie Necklace by HunkiiDorii

Summer Party Bunting by BHBKidstyle

Summer Shawl by LiinaKu

Red Felted Ampersand by Cherrytime

If you’d like to see more European Moodboards you can find them here .

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Today is a holiday in the Netherlands and the weather is glorious so I think I’ll spend the day out and about enjoying the sunshine and the music that is being played all over town.

Tomorrow I’ll be back at work adding to my “Wearable Art” collection . I have been adding to it over the last week or so but haven’t given it a “proper” launch, so look out for that happening sometime soon.

Monday Moodboard

Today’s moodboard – what do you find if you search under “Happy” ? This is what came up !

Statement necklace in Turquoise by Vadjutka

White Cream Cotton Pillow Case by LaceonPillow

After the Rain my Roses are Happy Necklace by StaroftheEast

You make me so Happy – fine art print  by LouisesestARt

If you’d like to see more moodboards you can find them over here.

And if you are curious to see what I have been working on  this last week, have a wee peek here. If there is one of my Polaroid paintings that you would like to see featured in this set just let me know and I’ll add it to the next group I make.

Monday Moodboard – Time to Write

Leather Pen Case by SusanHolland

French Vintage Notebook by CelessaBazaar

The Hand – Print by Anapina

Blackboard Necklace by Evrydiki

If you’d like to see more Moodboards from the Etsy Europe you can find them here .

( And also a little mention that my Etsy shop will be back open for a couple of weeks from today. Because I have been moving between countries it has just been too tricky to keep it open constantly. With a bit of luck I will soon be properly set up at both locations so that I’ll be able to stay open.)

Monday Moodboard

Here’s a moodboard to start the week – all the items are from members of the European Team on Etsy.

Stained Glass Star by PamelaAngus
Blue and Green Bracelet by JagnaB
Green Bag by Marbled.
Necklace in shades of Turquoise by Azulado

If you’d like to see some more you’ll find them at Star of the East’s blog.

Monday Moodboard

Monday Moodboard

Mulberry Silk Ruffle Scarf by LilouColours

Orange Fuschia Earrings by MoonSafariBeads

Inspired by Frida Kahlo necklace by FleurFatale

Poppy Flowers bag by BagNoir

I picked this collection last Monday, when I was thinking of gypsy caravans and all my possessions packed up in one little bag. I didn’t have time to post it, so I’ll hang on to it for this week’s mood as well. More on the gypsy caravan later in the week ( even though my things didn’t fit into one little bag – as soon as you start to add cameras into the equation travelling light becomes an impossible dream. )

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You can see more Moodboards for the European Etsy team here.

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Monday MoodBoard

Sewn Paper Heart Garland by MGMartSupplies

Gala – Stained Glass Bunting by PamelaAngus

Whimsical Colourful Garland by Wrapture by Inese

Colourful Dots Crochet Garland by MariaKonstantin

And as quickly as the bunting was hung up, it was taken down again. I’m missing it a little, as it just looked so cheerful.  So I’ve had a little stroll around Etsy for some other garlands. ( I also ordered another garland to decorate a corner of my studio, but it’s not here yet ). And if I’m still in a garland kind of mood I might make up a couple of strands from some textile tests that I did , which are not the correct size for making up into anything else. You never know what can be created out of “wrong” sized material. Did you know that a delivery of incorrect material set Cath Kidston on the path to all her small fabric products ? I may be remembering it incorrectly, but I think the material was intended for duvet covers but was cut wrongly.

Anyway, I wish you a garlandy cheerful week. And if you’d like to keep in the loop you are welcome to sign up to my Studio Newsletter, over on the left. ( And grab a few downloadable goodies at the same time).

Monday Moodboard

Summer Dreams Shoulder Bag by IkaBags

Green Poppy Ring by SusanaDrt

Oak Tree Oil Painting by  NancyvdBoom

Geometric ClutchPurse by BagNoir

If you’d like to see more moodboards you’ll find them here.

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And my next Studio Newsletter out early August will have some birthday month news – if you’d like to make sure you get a copy you can subscribe here.

( And there are also some freebie printable downloads in the meantime. )

Monday Moodboard and a Few Updates.

Today’s moodboard – blues with reds always feels such a cheerful combination to me.

Little Red Riding Hood Earrings by Vadjutka

Alice in Wonderland Necklace by VeronicaButtons

Raku Blue Ceramic Caftan by Derinmavibodrum

Elessa in Red Canvas  by Milloo

In other news, you’ll have noticed a bit of a blogging gap over the last week. My good intentions to have posts organised before I went away disappeared under a mass of other deadlines, but now I’m back with a lot of new inspirations. I went to Amsterdam to attend the “MeetTheBlogger” event, so I’ll do a little recap on that this week.

The next edition of my Studio Newsletter will be out this week, and to mark my revamped Etsy range I will be doing a giveaway exclusively for subscribers, of one of my new giclee prints. If you’d like to be in with a chance you can subscribe on the right of this column, or right here.

I’m also featured today on the Do What You Love Blog  sharing a bit about my creative journey.