A day like today.

A day like today doesn't happen very often. Not much to report, but feel I should post today just because it only happens every four years. So here's a mole constellation I find beautiful.

Found here: http://www.jpeg-heaven.com/post/8082203319

Katja's crochet experiments.

As I mentioned, Katja's crocheting experiments deserve their own post on the blog. I think they are super funky and beautiful! They remind me of the work of Sheila Hicks that I saw some weeks ago at the Boijmans. 

The Plant Journal sneak peek.

Here's a little sneak peak of The Plant Journal magazine. These images are taken from http://www.mottodistribution.com/shop/the-plant-journal-2.html

This issue comes with advice for taking care of a Monstera Deliciosa. 

The Plant Journal - interview with Piet Oudolf.

Finally! I received my issue of The Plant Journal magazine for which I've been collaborating. For this issue I interviewed Piet Oudolf together with the landscape architect Peter Veenstra.

The photos for the interview with Piet are by Ivo van der Bent.

Chris Kabel is also in there, introducing his Hidden Vases:  

Photo by Mathijs Labadie.

The magazine looks stunning. Go get yourself one!

http://theplantjournal.info/

What to do with your old t-shirts.

The workshop I did with Phil in Barcelona got me enthusiastic about learning how to crochet. After a month I had forgotten about everything I learned that evening, so I decided to organize a workshop here in Rotterdam to get some more practice. It was a small but cosy group of us. I initially thought we would figure how to do it ourselves, there are plenty of videos and blogs about it on internet. But Katja happens to be a crochet super-pro who taught us all very patiently and kindly. Thank you so much, Katja! 

Her crocheting experiments deserve a separate post on this blog. I was very impressed. 

First you need to cut up your old t-shirt in a spiral, to get a long, thin piece of fabric. The seams are a bit annoying, but you'll have to be into a scruffy look while crocheting old t-shirts. Critina cut thinner strips than
me, which makes the structure of the stitches more visible and dainty, but you advance a bit slower than with thicker pieces of fabric. 

Katja teaching us how to start off. (You get a peek of her crochet experiments on the left). 

This is how the string / fabric should be looped around your hand when starting. 

Carmen's first stitches!

Katja could crochet blindfolded. She made this in about 2 minutes. 

Giggle-giggle.

Cristina's crocheting coming along nicely (until it started going wild).

Carmen used a different kind of fabric that threaded a bit. I thought it looked nice, it had a little red halo of threads!

Figuring out what we can use our crocheting for. 

Crispis' crocheting gone wild and wavy!

My unfinished little basket made with Simon's old t-shirts. Thank you, Simon!

Cristina decided to undo her wild little crocheted piece and give it a second go when she got
home and... voila! A lovely little basket to keep little treasures!

Here are some very clear crochet instructions for beginners. Numbered in Comic Sans. Thanks, Phil!

Colourful bike ride.

Chuck Close at the Kunsthal.

Close-up of etching plate. 

Whole composition on etching plate. 

Detail of hand-made pulp paper composition. 

Pulp paper portrait. 

Knives to cut the pulp paper. 

Grid up close. Each cubicle was numbered. 

The portrait was only visible from the side. 

Fingerprints. 

Portrait made of fingerprints. 

The exhibition now on in the Kunsthal is definitely worth the 11 euros the entrance costs (ouch). Such elaborate techniques for each portrait! There are screen prints there for which 126 colours have been used, which means 126 screens were necessary. Chuck Close is, for me, an example of patience and good planning.

Replay, replay.

In his natural habitat.

Funkytropical dancing.

Happy Monday!

Art and Object Rotterdam 2012.

 

We meet again. 

Ice on the river. It felt like were were on a different planet. 

 Every year in Rotterdam, Art Rotterdam and Object Rotterdam are on, to promote autonomous art and design. I will add captions to these photos soon. 

My little book in BOLO magazine.

Click here to read the post about my little book. 

Het Wilde Weten.

I bought this print by Marco Nicotra, who is taking a photo of me taking a photo of his print. 

Milk-rum cocktail in one hand, book in the other. 

I briefly visited the lovely book fair Het Wilde Weten in a building I had never been before, which is an ex-nunnery and is now run by artists. 

This is copy-pasted from the site:

Artist run space Het Wilde Weten invited artists, and small, independent publishers, to present their publications at the 3rth edition of the WildBookMarket (WBM).

At the WBM artists, independent publishers, an artacademy, and graphic design studio’s will present their most recent, special, exciting and unique art books and zines. WBM is the ideal opportunity to explore, buy or swap art(ists) books.