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Leaving the nest…

Marion Pannekoek — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:03:50 +0000

Finally some good weather today. A great start for the baby swallow who decided to leave the nest and our barn this morning …

In a few weeks time as the (young) swallows have built up enough fat reserves, swallows begin their long journey to Africa.

This year for the first time we had a swallow’s nest in our barn. Soon a couple swallows came, built a nest and raised five offspring.

The second nest was less successful, it was cold and it rained incessantly.
The swallows could not catch enough insects to feed their young. Early this morning I came into the barn and the only baby swallow who was left flew past my head into the wide world.

This little one is now being fed in the air until the family is ready for the journey.

Hope you will enjoy your weekend and that wherever you are the weather is as nice as it is in Holland.

The last picture is by David Hemmings

Wrapping up the week…

Marion Pannekoek — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 12:58:58 +0000

This week I worked on a few new necklaces for our next exhibition “Designers at the Oude Hortus” in Utrecht, The Netherlands. The Jewelry Story is invited along with 10 other designers to present their work in the wonderful setting of the Botanical Gardens of the University Museum in Utrecht.

Like to know more? Please click here for more info.

This morning the weather was beautiful and our dog Lucky Fons the 4^e could not wait to begin our daily walk …. It is now a few hours later and we just had the greatest downpour of all time with hail and thunderstorms.

Jan, my partner quit smoking this week! His mood didn’t improve but his work ethic did, to be more precise, he is just downright hyper…but I am very glad he quit smoking! He finished his sculpture and is brooding already on a new idea …

And finally, I would like to point out the blog of 13Threads to you.
(Yes … 13Threads of the beautiful handmade clothing)
In today’s post Lois shows us two great new designs!

Hope y’all enjoy your weekend and lets hope the rain stops…

A little trip and knitwear

Marion Pannekoek — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 08:10:16 +0000

Today our atelier The Jewelry Story is open but after closing time, we are leaving for a small trip to Maastricht, all the way in the south of The Netherlands. Maastricht is a lovely city. We are going to visit this jewelry gallery and for the evening we made reservations in Restaurant O. We are staying in a small B&B along the river the Jeker and Monday we are planning on making a long hike.

Anyway… I will be back on Tuesday.
Last night I came across a new on-line store. Maska is a Swedish knitwear brand launched in January 2010 by Maria Svensson and Lisa Leierth. Maska (“knitted stitch” in Swedish) offers lovely knitwear for women…
Have a very good and relaxing weekend!

Toepfermarkt

Marion Pannekoek — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:55:10 +0000

Last Sunday we went to a international ceramic fair in Oldenburg, Germany.
I’ve grown to become quite selective over the years. So I was not surprised when I only liked a few potters from the many who attended the ceramic fair this weekend. I was glad we went though; the show is in such a nice setting.
The potters present their work in small stands on the cobblestoned streets around “The old Schloss”.

We were lucky, the sun was out and although quite a few people were attending this very popular fair, it was not too crowded.

These were my 2 favorites…

Wall piece from the series “Handwriting”, by German potter Klaus Dorrmann

I bought 2 small vases from the German potter Frank Schillo.

Ceramic Fair

Marion Pannekoek — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 06:30:28 +0000

What are you up to this weekend?
As some of you might know I live in the extreme tip of the Netherlands, far away from all cultural and art activities. But Sunday we are in luck because we have to drive a little further north and just across the border there is the German city Oldenburg.

Every first weekend in August there is an International Ceramics Fair in the center of Oldenburg. Since there is a fairly rigorous selection and participation of ceramists from all over Europe, the ceramics fair in the course of time has a good international reputation. There are about 100 potters who show their work.

For a few years now I collect modern ceramics and therefore I am a regular visitor of ceramics markets.

The German ceramist Ursula Commandeur shows her beautiful porcelain work at the fair.

Ursula Commandeur

Silke Decker also from Germany, is a freelance designer and ceramist.

Once upon a time…

Marion Pannekoek — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:02:27 +0000

Once upon a time I lived in Watkinsville, Georgia, U.S.A. It was the Deep South and really rural country. For someone like me living until then in the city of Amsterdam, there were quit some things getting used to. Like rattlesnakes living under your porch, or a redneck neighbor carrying a gun at all times. It was tuff and hot, nature was beautiful but I think nobody wanted to live there, the housing was cheap and lots of artists were living around us.

Potters, methalsmiths, a woodworker and most important; my good friend René Guerin a painter.

Red Grove by René Guerin

René could not only make beautiful paintings, she had the biggest vegetable garden you ever saw and she taught me, a city girl from Amsterdam, how to grow a garden and how to cook from such a garden. After all those years I am still in contact with René and as you can see she is still making lovely paintings.

Al Fresca by René Guerin

Design in Botanical Gardens

Marion Pannekoek — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 10:58:37 +0000

Saturday 25 and Sunday, September 26 Jan and I have been invited along
with 10 other designers to present our jewelry in the Botanical Gardens of
de oude Hortus in Utrecht, (University Museum),The Netherlands.

Spread over the beautiful gardens and greenhouses, jewelry makers, ceramists and paper artists present among others, their work.
An inspiring and charming event, a perfect way to spend the day!

Today I show you the magnificent work of one of the participants, the ceramist Margit Seland

This link will give you info on all the participants.

Pepper and Salt by Margit Seland

From the series Wire, by Margit Seland

10 day leave!

Marion Pannekoek — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 05:45:42 +0000

Dear friends I am going to take a 10-day leave of my blog.
While on the boat to the island of Belle Ile, I think of you…
Hope to see you around July 22!

Photos via Fun Peak

Under the spell

Marion Pannekoek — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 07:08:03 +0000

Busy preparing for my first camping adventure and completely under the spell of my vacation I give you some nice accommodation addresses at various very special locations. I found the silo at Kaat blogt.

Spotting bird of pray at eye level
Halfway between Basel and Zurich in Herznach, Switserland is an old iron ore silo that was converted into a bed and breakfast. Memories of the previous destination are part of the charm. There are four rooms, two family rooms and on the upper floor you can enjoy a full breakfast with a fantastic panoramic view. From Herznach you can easily visit Basel, Zurich, Bern and Lucerne. A quiet environment, ideal for walkers and bikers. www.bergwerksilo.ch

Vacation

Marion Pannekoek — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 05:50:58 +0000

Next weekend Jan and I go on a trip and for the first time we go camping!
We travel to the Morbihan in southern Brittany. We found a little campsite with a farmer who grows organic fruit trees.

We take the dogs and piles of books along and we plan to visit the city of Vannes,

a small eco village in Conran

and the town of Auray, with its harbor Saint Goustan.

Many years ago we also visited Auray, while there we bought a painting from a former fisherman Yannick Germain who became a full-time painter.

Does anyone knows about something in Morbihan we absolutely should not miss?