More about Object:
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​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!

Remember <this blogpost> about Rachel Ruysch a little while ago?
We asked you which painting you liked most, so that we could turn it into wrapping paper.

Well... the votes are in, and the winner is: Painting number 3!
Over all, most people liked the bright colors and explosive composition in this painting most.

Out of the Rachel Ruysch painting, we created this lovely wrapping paper that fits perfectly around the Flower Constellations. 

The Netherlands is historically known for quite a few things.
Of course there's wooden shoes, cheese and wind mills, but what about Flowers and Golden Century painters?

​(We'll go ahead and gloss over the stuff the Dutch are infamous for, meanwhile hoping that soon we'll get over our adoration for pirates and invaders.)

We came across the beautiful Flower still life paintings by Dutch Artist Rachel Ruysch (1664-1750), which we absolutely loved. (The dramatics!) 

Here's the plan: we'll use one of these paintings as our Christmas gift wrapping paper for the Flower Constellations.

We've been so insanely busy in the months of September and October that even in late November we're still working through the pile of work that was 'put aside for a moment'. 

For example, we never got to tell you about our Volkskrant magazine publication in October.
We are so happy to be featured in the magazine, and in the Design special no less!

At the time, we were actually at the VT Wonen & Design beurs. We had a blast there, but it pretty much consumed all our time and definitely all our energy.

Anyway, here it is, maybe you spotted it back in October already?
It might be more than a month ago, we're too proud of the publication not to mention it!

Last weeks' Libelle (#49) featured the Flower Constellations!
Did you spot them?

We were just in time to get a copy ourselves and are very happy to be part of the 'Groene Vingers' (Green fingers) segment. 

​Thank you for featuring our design Libelle!

Every year i get asked for a wish list for the holidays, and every year i draw a blank, leaving it up to the other party to try and find me those hidden treasures.

However... not this year!

Being a creative entrepreneur myself, i recognize the hard work that goes into bringing a product to market independently. 
​Fellow designers: we recognize your hard work and the risks you take by bringing your own designs to market and we salute you!

To support our friends and colleagues who design and market their own work, i’ve put together this gift guide full of affordable products by independent Dutch Designers that could be on your wishlist, (and are definitely on mine!).

What we did is try and find designs that cost less than €30,-, (preferably less than €20,-), are designed and developed by the designer/design studio and can be bought directly at the designers' webshop.
To make it super easy to go and get those goodies, we linked directly to the respective webshops where you can purchase on-line.

New Kintsugi kit
The beauty of an imperfect ceramics repair

The art of embracing damage.
With New kintsugi Humade combines this lovely old technique with new technology. By messy mending you emphasise the marks and scars of a product, giving it a new perspective and beauty while offering it longevity. 
You can use the kit mutiple times. 
​
€27,- | ​Get it here

Porcelain pen holders
handmade porcelain pen holders

Mix & Match penholder-set

€15,- to €30,- | ​Get it here

Small Storytile 10x10
Catch of the day

ONCE UPON A TILE…
​Ceramic tiles have been made in and around Delft, The Netherlands, since the 16th century. StoryTiles continues the tradition by creating miniature art-on-tiles.
​All tiles are baked in traditional Dutch ovens at a high temperature, what makes them heat and water resistant. Each design is unique, as it is hand baked and designed.

€27,50 | ​Get it here

Shopping bag
Eco friendly long-lasting bag

The New Shoppingbag by SUSAN BIJL is a long-lasting, lightweight, sustainable, super strong, waste reducing and water repellent bag.
The New Shoppingbag by SUSAN BIJL is made from 100% bluesign® certified eco-friendly ripstop nylon with a waterbased coating.

No matter how creative and innovative men is, there is no force as colorful and powerful as nature. And what better match for SUSAN BIJL’s environment-friendly and sustainable products than the deep and rich colors found in minerals?

€23,90 | ​Get it here

Plants are friends
art print
​
€20,- | ​Get it here

FCK Art print
sometimes the F-word is the only answer

€12,- A4 / €22,- A3 | ​Get it here

The following products by Dutch designers narrowly missed the cut.
Either because the designer is not actually selling the product in a webshop of their own, the design was in fact made for a brand or label, or it's priced slightly higher than our €30,- budget.

Zeepbootje (Soap Boat)
By Floris Hovers
​for Design x Ambacht

€9,95 | get it here

Did i miss any designs or designers?
Please let me know!

A little something i'd like to add: we did not receive any compensation from, or have affiliate deals with anyone on this list.

We made this gift guide / wish list to showcase the beautiful and affordable designs that are made in the Netherlands and to give a shout-out ot all those hard working independent designers out there.​

​While scouting for this list, i came across a lot of designers who make beautiful products, but don't have anything in their collection that costs less than €45,- or even €150,-. 
Which we totally get: we know how difficult it is to produce for an affordable price when you're on your own. ​

Even more reason to support those designers who are trying to bridge the gap between mass-production and design-art, and design and bring to market well-made products that are available to a wider audience.

The Holiday season is upon us and we're getting in the mood for an overload of sing-a-long tunes, mulled wine, chocolate, log fires and sparkling lights.

How far along are you with the Holiday shopping? Got everything wrapped and ready to gift?
Nope, neither do we.

To help you out and spread the love, we made it extra easy and affordable to get the Flower Constellations for your loved ones and business relations. 

Here's how it works:
We created a special page full of Discount codes to be used in our webshop. (<click>) 
Simply fill out the correct code at check out and save some money!
Different discount codes apply depending on the number of Flower Constellations you're getting: Buy more to save more!

More Holiday promotions to be revealed soon.
Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know!

When it comes to design fairs, it's hard to choose. Especially in the months of September and October there seem to be fairs and design weeks all over, with new design-oriented events popping up in cities all over the world every year.

Yet in the Netherlands there's one staple that has been around for ages: the 'Woonbeurs'.

​Aimed at consumers looking for new designs for their own living environment, the vtWonen&Designbeurs celebrated their 25th anniversary last year.

And we're very happy to participate in this years' fair at the Rai Amsterdam! 

Read more about the fair here.

VTWonen & Design beurs
2-7 October 2018
RAI Amsterdam Europaplein 1

Open on:
Tuesday 10:00 - 18:00
Wednesday 10.00 - 18:00
Thursday 10:00 - 18:00
Friday 10:00 - 21:00
Saturday 10:00 - 18:00
Sunday 10:00 - 18:00

<Click here for tickets>

<For an overview of upcoming events, click here>

Hey there Linda readers! 
Spotted the Flower Constellations right there on page 15?!
We're over the moon with this little mention as a 'hebbedingetje' (something you want) in this months' Linda.

Thank you for sending us a copy, Linda magazine people! It was a wonderful surprise to find our Flower Constellations in there.

This coming Weekend the Flower Constellations will have their national debut at Dutch tradefair ShowUP, which is by all means a great fair that definitely  attracts professionals from abroad as well as the Netherlands. 

A great way for us to test the waters before diving in the deep end: Maison & Objet in Paris.
THE international tradefair that takes place at Paris Nord Villepinte every 6 months and attracts business from across the planet.

​We actually visited the fair for the first time a year ago, back when Pols Potten chose Paris for the Thol lamps launch.
​At the time we were thoroughly overwhelmed by the magnitude of hall after hall of designs ready to hit the shelves from Texas to Jakarta.

We definitely did not think for a minute we'd be exhibiting our own products there anytime soon.

Yet we are!
Dutch Design Collections approached us in early spring to see if we would be interested in taking part in a joint presentation as one of three Dutch independent brands.
Seeing this would be the perfect timing for an international Flower Constellations launch, we happily agreed to participate.

We're super excited (and a bit scared) about this wonderful oppportunity to showcase our designs to shop owners and other professionals from all over the world. 
​
We'd love to see you there.
Visiting M&O? Let us know when, so we can meet!

Maison & Objet
Paris Nord Villepinte

Dutch Design Collections
Hall 4 - stand H.104

7-11 September 2018
Fri-Mon: 09:30 - 19:00
Tue: 09:30 - 18:00

<click for more information>

These last months have been all about getting the Flower Constellations ready in time for them to be shipped to our backers by the end of August. 

Well, the Flower Constellations are packed and will be sent to all early adapters this week.
Time for the next step: spreading the word.

Best place to start and nationally debut the Flower Constellations to stores, press, bloggers and other design loving professionals is undoubtedly ShowUP: trade show for home and gift.

So we're packing up our goodies and will be at the Expo Haarlemmermeer this coming Sunday and Monday (2+3 September).
​
Will we see you there?  

ShowUP
Trade fair for home and gift

Expo Haarlemmermeer
Stelling 1
2141 SB Vijfhuizen

Sunday September 2 2018, 10:00 - 18:00
Monday September 3 2018, 10:00 - 18:00

Only accessible for professionals
​Free entrance after registration

<Click here for more information about the fair>

We're very happy with this sweet mention in Plus Magazine. 

We're not exactly the Plus magazine target audience and would have undoubtedly missed this little publication if it wasn't for the nice people from Plus Magazine who sent us a copy of this edition for our administration.

Did you know they'r the largest monthly magazine in the Netherland?

Thank you for the mention @ Plus Magazine!

After months of eager anticipation they're finally here: The Flower Constellations!
And they're everything as wonderful as we'd hoped.

After receiving the final pieces of the Flower Constellations puzzle last week, we rallied friends and family and spent the Weekend wrapping constellations, printing labels and preparing packages.
Which means that the Flower Constellations are now ready to go!

For all Kickstarter backers and the people who pre-ordered in our webshop: your Flower Constellation order is packaged and ready to be shipped this week.

This first period after launch, the Flower Constellations will be available exclusively in our own webshop.
Get them there now, or in a store near you pretty soon.​

<Buy Flower Constellations now>

The Flower Constellations will be launched in a little over a week and Eigen Huis & Interieur featured them in the magazine that came out last week. 

Thank you, lovely people!
​
The large photograph and sweet text is definitely worth checking out. ​

Got this months' EH&I?
Scoop through to page 252 to get to the update. 

​No access to the magazine?
​Luckily the photograph above should make it possible to read the (Dutch) piece.

ps. don't forget: Earlybird discount runs out August 26th!

Hi Everyone!
We hope you're enjoying summer as much as we are?
We've just returned from a little sunny break with the kids and came back to the best of the best: 

The Flower Constellations are in the house and they're looking good!
​Photographs of all Constellations will follow soon of course, we just didn't want to wait any longer to let you in on the good news.

Last but not least comes the Pisces, or should i say 'come' the Pisces. My apologies if i'm getting it wrong.
Yesterday we were talking about the age of Aquarius (remember). It's believed by most astrologists we're currently in the 'Age of Pisces'. The age started around 1 AD, not coincidentally around the birth of Jesus Christ. It's the age of religion, of faith, believe and sacrifice, and it should be coming to an end within the next 130 or so years.
Considering the current religious turmoil all over the planet: let's move to the next age sooner rather than later.

Anyway, back to the Pisces star sign. Pisces means 'fish', and the story goes, Aphrodite, goddess of love, and her son Eros turned themselves into Koi fish in order to escape Typhon, father of all monsters.

So now we've unveiled them all, it's about time to pinpoint you to this page that has all Flower Constellations in one neat overview. 
​
Like what you see? Click on the button to pre-order now!