The Latest Story

The life and inspirations of a jewelry designer

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Alexander van Slobbe

February 17th, 2010 · Fashion, Uncategorized

Thanks to fashion designer Alexander van Slobbe the Netherlands is known as an international fashion country. Alexander van Slobbe was ahead of his time.
As a reaction against materialism he often makes use of traditional techniques by craftsmen.

His womens label Orson + Bodil exist for 20 years. To celebrate this there is a great exhibition, Stof tot nadenken, in the Central Museum in Utrecht.

vanSlobbe001
Typically is his frequent collaboration with other artists, designers or labels, such as graphic designer Harmen Liemburg, felt designer Claudy Jongstra, painter Marc Mulders,  Puma and Royal Tichelaar, Makkum.

Graphical work by Alexander van Slobbe in collabration with graphic designer Harmen Liemburg
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Porcelain cups decorated by Alexander van Slobbe commissioned by NRC Handelsblad in cooperation with Royal Tichelaar in Makkum.
keramiek van Slobbe

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Hip to be Square

February 15th, 2010 · Jewelry, My Work

Because we both are very fond of wood and it’s such wonderful material to work with, we designed a line of necklaces made of, among other wood, cherry, ebony and black walnut wood. Al these necklaces can be made to order in any wood and lenght.

A very simple line, named Hip to be Square. In my opinion this is simplicity at its best…

Necklace from the series Hip to be Square, Cambara and elm wood, 2 meters long, design by Marion Pannekoek
Halssieraad Hip To Be Square 2mtr.

This necklace from the series Hip to be Square is made of Black walnut and ebony wood and is for sale in the online store.
Halssieraad Hip To Be Square2.

Detail
Halssieraad Hip To Be Square detail

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Green Art

February 12th, 2010 · Art

In Finland a large group of people make Green Art. If you wish you can find more information about this movement over here.

One of the pioneers in this field is the well-known envi­ron­men­tal artist
Anni Rapinoja. Here is some amazing work of her from the series
Wardrobe of Nature.

Shoes made of the Cowberry.
Rode bosbes of Vossebes

Leaf of the Bilberry in the autum.
Blauwe bosbes in de herft

Autum shoes by Anni Rapinoja.
Autumnshoes

Tea – leaved willow
wilgenkatjes

Shoes of the Tea-leaved willow
Warmshoes

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New Spring collection 2010 Swedish Hasbeens!

February 10th, 2010 · Fashion

Here is the new Spring collection 2010 of The Swedish Hasbeens!

Schermafbeelding 2010-02-10 om 11.17.25

Schermafbeelding 2010-02-10 om 11.20.06

Schermafbeelding 2010-02-10 om 11.19.27

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Eating with cows

February 9th, 2010 · Food, Uncategorized

In a previous post I talked about the fascinating outdoor dinners that American Jim Denevan organized.

The other day I came to the site of Sjef Meijerman and saw him doing something similar in the Netherlands. In his work Sjef deals with the origin of matters, he is strongly fascinated by the basic relation between man and his surroundings.
He is interested in (ecological) food, agriculture and our perception of nature.

The photos show a project what is called ‘Eating with cows’.eten met koeien 2
You were warmly received by the ‘ladies’
and then alongside many other delicacies the products of the cows were served.

eten met koeien

Unfortunately this project is already over. Go to the site to see what more Sjef organizes.

eten met koeien 1

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Once upon a time …

February 6th, 2010 · Life, Once upon a time...

Once upon a time I lived 7 years in the southern part of the United States.
It is hard to believe now but we lived in a house like this, an old cotton-plantation home in Georgia.
Georgia plantation home

The house came with 2 (wild) dogs that were left behind by the former tenant. We had our own forest and a small stream ran through it.

I came straight from Amsterdam and had never in my life seen so much nature, let alone all the creatures that came with it. I shall only name a few of the animals that lived around our house. There was deer in our garden all the time and raccoons at night.
racoon on branch

I have seen all sorts of snakes and yes, also rattle snakes. At night sometimes the dogs started to bark and there would be an Opossum.
Possum

Opossums have a very clever defend system. They pretend to be dead and spread a scent around of dead bodies. Many enemies are fooled and give up the chase.

But the most amazing animals to discover for me were the hummingbirds.
hummingbird 1

Some species of hummingbirds are as small as 5-cm. They move so fast that at first I thought they were large bees. Do you know this tiny bird has the unique ability to fly forward, backward, upside-down, and straight up like a helicopter
as no other bird can?
Hummingbird-landing

By now I live for many years in The Netherlands again but I still miss all that wild life.

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Shana Kroiz

February 4th, 2010 · Jewelry

While browsing through the inspirational magazine Metalsmith I came across the dazzling work of  jeweler Shana Kroiz. Based in Maryland, U.S.A she works in materials like silver, (metal) clay, enamel and copper. Her jewelry is inspired by ancient forms and sometimes her pieces remind me of sea creatures like the sea horse.

Her work is most of the time one of a kind and sells through galleries like the Mobilia Gallery in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Regal Dancer, necklace, made of electroformed copper, enamel, mother of pearl and fur by Shana Kroiz.
Regal_Dancer

Little silver box by Shana Kroiz
Afbeelding 1

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Drops Pouf!

February 3rd, 2010 · Design, Uncategorized

Camilla Hounsell Halvorsen is a Norwegian designer.
She is a master student in furniture design and interior architecture at Oslo National Academy of the Arts.

First there was the Drops Chair and now Camilla made the Drops Pouf. The pouf is inspired by the art of tassel making. Camilla wrapped an inner tube in colorful ribbons of recycled textiles used for upholstery. She wants to use leftover materials in the industry and give them a new life. Very special those Drops don’t you think?

Drops Pouf by Camilla Hounsell Halvorsen
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Drops Chair by Camilla Hounsell Halvorsen
drops chair


Via http://mocoloco.com/

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Berlin Media Art café

February 2nd, 2010 · Fashion, Handmade

From 1 to 28 February 2010 Annemieke Broenink exibits her necklaces in the Berlin Media Art café in Enschede. Connoisseurs know that these are no ordinary designer necklaces, but a combination of art, design and fashion.

Since 2004 Annemieke Broenink makes her own line of shawls and accessories. Her studio is based in Castricum where she designs and produces the collection. Annemieke sells her work in galleries at home and abroad. Amongst other fairs she will take part in the prestigious Fair Origin in London. There is also a web- shop where you can buy her shawls.

Annemiek Broenink

Necklace/shawl, made of liquid rubber by Annemieke Broenink
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Architecture in Sweden

January 29th, 2010 · Architecture

If you don’t like modern architecture you probably think the whole street is ruined by the arrival of this new white cubic house. Well I like it… specially all the light what seems to be streaming into the house.

This town house in Landskrona, Sweden, is build by architects Johan Oscarson and Jonas Elding. They have an office in Stockholm, covering both Swedish and international architecture, from museums to private houses, interiors, furniture and product design.

Town house in Sweden
Modern architecture1

All that light!
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Sweden12

Elding Oscarson5

Via The Bedlam of Beefy

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