Just a quick reminder that we'll be in Den Bosch these coming days.

We're not only bringing our Flower Constellations and Waterworks-sets, we'll also be trying out our very own line of plantable postcards and giftlabels as well as new seed-package labels.
I've had a lot of fun designing these, so i hope they'll be well-received. Fingers' crossed!

And that's not even all of it: Visitors to the fair will get a very first sneak peak pf the new Flower Constellations Helios (for pits and bulbs) and Ophiuchus (for larger vases and bigger stems)

​OBJECT Rotterdam has come and gone and it was super fun to be part of, and we met many wonderful people and sold quite a few Flower Constellations and Waterworks-sets and got great reactions in response to our ReCabinet and new Wren & Kiwi lamps, and we'll definitely be back next year, and we didn't take enough photo's but here are a few shots of the weekend, and you should have been there.

That's it.
​
​Bye.

Photographs by House of Thol, Roza Schous, Masha Bakker photography, Friso Wiersma

Last week we asked what you thought should be the new Dutch Master Wrapping paper (remember?).

Thank you for your lovely response!
I'd love to say it was a tight race, but Amrosius Bosschaert won by a mile. ​Only a few respondees preferred the Dutch classic by van Gogh.
​
A few examples of your reactions: 

We wasted no time at all getting the new wrapping paper printed.
The paper came in right before the weekend and  has been added to the Flower Constellations wrapping options in our webshop.  

Now how's that for a lovely spring of a present?!

ps. New gift-tag options will follow soon!

Only 1 (ONE) week to go before our presentation at Object Rotterdam should be ready to roll.
We're about to be starting prep on lighting and stands in just a minute.
Still quite a few final decisions to be made, i'm afraid.
But i'm sure we'll  make it work.

Before we head to our workshop however, i wanted to celebrate the Object PR-department for getting the expo out there.
We're super happy with our designs being part of some of the online press-coverage of Object Rotterdam.

Architectuur.nl wrote a lovely piece about Object and used a photograph of our reCabinet in their article.

Read the whole piece here (in Dutch)

Studio Perspective zoomed in on all sustainable designers at Object. 
We're ever so happy to be part of this list.

Check out their selection here (also: in Dutch)
​(ps. added bonus: you can win two tickets for the fair!)

​Alright now, time to get ourselves in the workshop and get things ready for Object.
Will we see you there?

After moving to our rural home in Overasselt two years ago, we (or i) immediately started fantasizing about our garden. 

I actually bought a permaculture book (bible) months before moving and started with big plans to turn our land into a lush and fertile eating forest.  
​With no prior gardening experience to speak of, you can guess how that went down the first year...

You guessed correctly: although we did have a decent strawberry and pumpkin harvest, our garden is not so much a fruit and veggie heaven yet.

However i have hopes that with a lot of time, practice and soily hands, we will get there eventually.
We made great strides last fall planting 16 fruit trees in the meadow. It will take them a couple of years to bear fruit, and i guess so do my gardening skills.  

However, gardening did become a new love of mine. 
And i'm definitely planning on freeing up more time this season to tend to my greenery. 

The TuinIdee ('garden Idea') fair in Den Bosch in late February is a brilliant place to start the season. 
And we'll actually be at the TuinIdee with our designs!

​Participating in the fair is kind of an experiment, and we have no idea how this will turn out. 

But even if our designs aren't a match with the visitors and we don't sell a thing, at least i'll be getting my fair share of gardening inspiration.

We'd love to see you there!

21-24 February
10:00-18:00 daily
Brabanthallen Den Bosch
free shuttle-service from the train station

<Get your tickets online with a discount>

We always try to keep track of whenever a design is mentioned in a magazine, so we can get our hands on a copy and be proud about it at the time the issue is actually in the stores.
But sometimes we miss the memo, and a magazine is already out the stores before we can catch on and get our hands on a copy.

We were a little late to the news the Flower Constellations were featured in 2018' last issue of magazine Buitenleven.
Although we don't actually have a hard copy in our possession, luckily we did receive a pdf of the piece (which you can find below).

Super happy with the spotlight. Thank you Buitenleven! 

Last fall we wanted to do something special for the Holiday season and designed custom Flower Constellations wrapping paper based on Dutch floral still lifes.
Remember? (click)

​You helped us out by letting us know which masterpiece you liked best, and we ended up with lovely rich colored Rachel Ruijsch wrapping paper that turns your Flower Constellation in a super chique present fitting for the Holidays.

We're still in love with the beautiful still life of seventeenth century Dutch master Rachel Ruijsch.
​Yet the dark and saturated colors in the painting might be more of a winter thing

We literally spent hours in the public domain (thank you World of Driftwood) to find bright colored paintings that would make good wrapping paper.

This time we looked though the extensive archive of Dutch painters and, with spring colors and brightness in mind, narrowed it down to these two options:

This Dutch painter was one of the first to specialize in still life floral paintings and started a trend that went on for centuries.

Although his work is highly sought after, Ambrosius Boschaert the elder does not have a large portfolio. His time was mostly spent working as an art-dealer.
Even more reason to make sure his trend-setting work is not forgotten.

Van Gogh is one of the most (in)famous artists of our country, and made quite a few floral paintings. 
​
Although happily colored, the timing of this painting of irises in a vase (May 1890), is rather gloomy: Vincent would die from complications after a self-inflicted gun-shot wound two months later. 
Maybe not so happy-go-lucky, but an important piece of Dutch art history.

So, what do you think?
Should we go for the important Dutch staple Van Gogh, or choose the painting from the master who may have started it all: Ambrosius Bosschaert?

That way we'll have the new wrapping paper ready to go for Object Rotterdam

Fleur Magazine is the Belgian professional florists journal and is packed with great advice for anyone running a florist shop as well as pages filled with inspiration, new designs and background information about plants and flowers.

Personally i was pretty impressed with the overall look of the magazine and the articles, that are fun and interesting to read, even for non-florist me.
​
I love how the magazine provides the floral entrepreneurs with hooks and stories that can help sell more flowers and plants.

We are over the moon to be featured in this lovely publication with not only one, but two products. Check it out!
When clicked, the images should enlarge in a lightbox so you can read the actual (Dutch) text. 

Last year in January we were high on anticipation about starting the Driving Dutch Design masterclasses.
​
Fast forward 12 months, and we're proud DDD graduates.
It has been a super intense yet super fun experience during which we met so many wonderful people.

And it aint over yet!
The Driving Dutch Design 'graduation exhibition' from Dutch Design Week 2018 is now travelling and will be on display in Eindhoven at Yksi expo from now until March 31st.

So go check that out if you're in the neighbourhood. No entrance fee, the best coffee and designer gifts to be shopped!​

Yksi Expo
1/10/2019 - 3/31/2019

Torenallee 22-04 (Strijp S)
5617 BD Eindhoven

​Open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 - 17:30

More about Object:
​
​The OBJECT fair is a platform for the latest limited editions and one-offs from well-known and upcoming designers working in different design disciplines and with various materials.

OBJECT is thé place where the cutting edge between design, crafts, fashion, architecture and art becomes evident and it is a must-see for collectors, professionals and other design-minded people.

Location:
HAKA BUILDING 
​Vierhavensstraat 38-42 Rotterdam
(Find us at verdieping 2 / third floor)

Opening hours 
Friday 8, Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 February
From 11h – 19h

Entrance fee
12,50 euro / Children under 12 for free
- Tickets for sale at the HAKA building only, no online ticketing.

NB - FREE Shuttle service between Van Nelle, HAKA, Rotterdam centre.
​
PLEASE NOTE: Due to inoperative elevators the HAKA building is difficult to access for people with reduced mobility.

More information and the full list of participants can be found on the OBJECT website.

pssst... we might have a few free tickets available.
Get in touch to hear more!

See you in Rotterdam!

It's December! With the Holidays around the corner, now is the right time to spread a little bloom with our latest Newsletter.

In it more about our custom wrapping paper (+ free download), Holiday bloom, special discount codes and much more.

No worries, click below to read the Dutch or English version online and sign up for our mailing list to conveniently receive future updates, specials and discounts to your mailbox directly.