The Latest Story

The barn swallow is back!

April 16th, 2013 · Animals, Life, Nature

Yesterday they arrived … the barn swallow is back! Loud chattering they let us know that they are here. They swoop above the chicken coop and like every year the chickens are afraid of these noisy little birds …

So far only two of them are here. Because they fly around the barn, I think it’s the pair that’s building a nest in our barn every year. Yes Spring!

Yesterday I finally repotted my plants that were still hibernating in my greenhouse. And guess what? I was stung by a wasp that had probably hidden between the leaves of the plants.

And to round off of the day a bat flew past our window … apparently everyone had been waiting for this first warm day.

These lovely images were taken by photographer Franka Slothouber.

Please take a look at her site and her blog for more great (nature) shots.

→ 6 CommentsTags:barn swallow·spring

Once upon a time … baking bread

April 12th, 2013 · Life, Once upon a time..., Uncategorized

Do you know I never baked a bread in my life?

Once upon a time … way back when living in Amsterdam, I was so lucky to live across from bakery Paul Annee. That was my first introduction to really “heavy”, healthy bread and also the first time I ate sourdough bread.

The street where i lived was one of those small Amsterdam streets and I still remember the very long queue every Saterday morning along the pavement. His bread was famous and people came from far to buy it. By the way Paul Annee stil has his bakery in the Runstraat in Amsterdam.

When we moved to the U.S. we soon discovered the horrible bread Americans have to put up with. Soft, soft and soft, with lots of sugar in it. Again we were lucky. In the nearest city, which was Athens, Georgia lived a German family who started a bakery. Although it almost took me an hour to get to Athens, I gladly stood in line every Saterday to get my “heavy” healthy German bread.

And now living in Friesland it only takes me 15 minutes to reach the Rounte a healthfood store, where they sell delicious (sourdough) bread. And thats why I never baked a bread in my life …

But I know people who do bake bread and even find the kneading of the dough therapeutic.
So these last images are for them …

Rollware is a set of laser-cut rolling pins designed as a tool for the production of bread-based edible dishware, Designed by Joanne Choueiri, Giulia Cosenza and Povilas Raskevicius for ALTERED APPLIANCES exhibition (Ventura Lambrate, Milan 2013).

Click here for more images and to watch the vimeo.

Via: Yatzer

→ 2 CommentsTags:baking bread·Dutch bakery

Hand forged silver forks

April 11th, 2013 · Everyday objects

Not sure if I ever showed you these forks before? I am searching through old pictures to see what can be used in the new website … I think these sterling silver forks with wood inlay are still gorgeous. Jan, my partner created them quite some time ago. They are handforged out of sterling silver rods and the wood he used is teak.

The Fries Museum in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands bought the forks for their permanent collection.

→ No CommentsTags:everyday objects·hand forged silver forks·Jan Kerkstra·silver and wood inlay·silver object·silversmith

A new Silver Spring Necklace!

April 9th, 2013 · Uncategorized

Last week, Jan and I again photographed several of the new jewelry we created.

This time we took pictures both inside …

and outside …

This is SPRING, our latest necklace. The large beads are made of silver and copper.

Do you like to know more about this necklace? I just posted her in our online store, just klik here.

→ 3 CommentsTags:bespoke jewellery·big silver beads·Handcrafted necklace·handmade silver beads·Marion Pannekoek·silver necklace

Dream away

April 6th, 2013 · Uncategorized

Hooray … for the first time this morning no white frost on the meadows! From early morning on a sparrow is singing a very loud song and the crows tried to chase away the geese who are having their nest in a tree … everything is in full swing, if only the temperatures would go up … have a good weekend everyone!

Dream away with these beautiful images of a renovation and expansion of an old farmhouse located in Zutphen, The Netherlands.

A modern barn house …

… with a beautiful kitchen …

… and an indoor wintergarden.

By the architects of SeARCH

Project Team: Bjarne Mastenbroek, Ad Bogerman

Go for the complete projct to: ArchDaily

Images by: Christian Richters

→ 1 CommentTags:Ad Bogerman·Bjarne Mastenbroek·modern barn house·renovation old farm

The art of making

April 4th, 2013 · craftsmen, Handmade, Uncategorized

This beautiful short film shows how a guitar is made. The film takes 3 minutes … in real life it takes 299 hours to make a guitar. Take your time and enjoy, the music is really beautiful too.

We make the jewelry … is there somebody out there who is willing to make such a wonderful movie for us please?

The ‘Art of Making’ series shows people and their aspiring work. For more short movies go to: TheArtofMaking

Via: FreundefonFreunden

→ 1 CommentTags:craftsman at work·craftsmen at work·guitar building·The Art of Making

Making a solid men’s bracelet

April 2nd, 2013 · Jewelry, Meanwhile in our atelier, Work in progress...

Making a cool men’s bracelet on commission …

… the customer had her own ideas regarding the design.

Silver with wood inlay …

And a grey titanium edge with small copper rivets.

→ 1 CommentTags:a solid bracelet·commission for a men's bracelet·jewelry made to order·silver and wood inlay

Meanwhile in our Atelier … beads

March 29th, 2013 · Jewelry, Latest Design, Meanwhile in our atelier, My Work, Uncategorized

Suddenly I felt like working with beads again …

Every year Jan and I go to Idar Oberstein in Germany to visit an insane large gems trade fair. At this international fair traders from all over the world show their gemstones and beads. We always try to only buy those beads and stones we really need. But most of the time it doesn’t work out that way and we end up with lots more beads as we actually needed. These beads lie on the bench or in a drawer patiently waiting for things to come. In the last weeks my iventory of beads has quite shrunk.

This is just a small preview … later more images …

Necklace made with large yellow African seeds, agate, bamboo, red and black coral and black onyx.