After a lovely summer spent mainly in Hintergarten and its surroundings, we're back to full-time working Today and couldn't be happier to get back into a rythm of normality. 

Of course we kept working throughout summer, but with our two wild childs only going to daycare part-time, the easy mornings and over-all summer vibe, these past months were fun, but maybe not the most productive.

Having fun is important too, it makes that we can start this new term refreshed and looking forward to get work done! 

Back in the Before, we shot this video for ABN AMRO with Freek Zonderland and his team. 
​We wrote this post about the 'making of', remember?
Oh what a different time it was: the middle of winter and no clue about Corona coming our way.
​
Some of the shots were already incorporated in this ABN AMRO promo that was launched halfway February.

After that Everything Changed, and ABN AMRO understandably waited for better times to launch the personal video's.
​
Although the current Corona mayhem is far from over, we're all looking forward fresh starts and positivity, which is why ABN AMRO released this video Today!

We hadn't seen the final cut before this either, and we're very happy with the way our sustainable House of Thol story comes across even in this short clip.
Also, the kids are super excited they're in this.

Many things changed since shooting the video.
In the world, obviously, but also at the House of Thol headquarters.
Out of necessity we upgraded the computer station to a full office (with a door), the workshop isn't nearly as organized as it was, and Thomas' hair grew to his shoulders.

We can't wait to be able to get to full working weeks again and steam on.
​This film coming out now, is a perfect boost for that.
Thank you ABN AMRO and everyone involved!

Although in the Netherlands we might think we're in the middle of the Corona Crisis right now, we're actually at the very beginning of this.
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Since the end of January i've been following the news ever more frantically. Watching dark clouds gathering and slowly moving towards us.

The past weeks i've personally been sharing stories, warnings from places the clouds have already reached.
I've shared well-conducted research from experts patiently -yet ever more desperately- explaining the situation and stressing we should follow the strict guidelines they laid out.
I've been in discussions about this being more than just a flue with more people than i cared for. 

We seem to have almost reached consensus about the gravity of this virus in the Netherlands, although the jury on the way we sould respond is still out.  

Faced with this evident crisis, i noticed my coping mechanism is to devoure even more information, trying to make sense of it all. And -judging by my FB timeline- i'm not alone in this.
Other people cope by finding a reason, someone or something to blame. (please stop doing that: this is nobody's fault and nobody's masterplan - people are dying. Don't be a dick)

We will get through this. There will be an 'After'.
And who knows, with all the lessons we're forced to learn, it might be a better After than the Before we're leaving behind. 
​But we're not there yet. Not by far.

So while i'm trying to find a new normality for the family, i need to take a moment to acknowledge:

​This sucks, people! 

It sucks that people are getting sick and dying.
It sucks that those Heroes in the hospitals have to work so damn hard every single day, dealing with inhumane situations, forced to face choices nobody wants to ever face.
it sucks that society is coming to a near stand-still.
It sucks that businesses are toppling over.
It sucks that kids can't go to school and see their friends.
​Not being able to get work done with children in the house, Sucks.

It sucks that some people have to go to work, even though they have a high chance of being infected.
It sucks that i can't visit my 70+ parents and give them a good long hug.
It sucks to have to explain to the nearly-5-year old that we can't have a Birthday party with friends and family.
It sucks that we're defenseless.
It sucks that healthcare will be stretched to beyond its limits 
It sucks that people are getting sick and dying.

There are so many reasons why we're the lucky ones.
Although our healthcare system isn't nearly as good as it is in France or Italy (it really isn't), it's still in considerably better shape than for example Iran's. 
​Supermarkets have enough food (and toiletpaper) to last us for a while.
Teachers all over the country have managed to create homeschooling materials within a week.
We can call or Facetime our loved ones as much as we like.
The Dutch government is trying to provide information and does what it can to help people in need.

But i didn't write this post to put things in perspective.
I wrote this to acknowledge that THIS SITUATION SUCKS.

The sooner we allow ourselves to live through that emotion of suckery. the sooner we can get our heads clear for the next round and get to it. 

So feel free to, just for a moment, let yourself wallow.
It's ok to be sad about this.
It's ok to have a slightly queasy feeling in your stomach.
It's alright to be annoyed by your life being turned upside down.
This Sucks! Covid-19 Sucks!

We'll adapt. We'll learn to make this new reality work.
All the while looking forward to the brighter days that'll come.

Practically: of course we'll continue working, the much-needed child-proof office space is almost ready and our workshop is on site.

Our House of Thol webshop is open for business and we're very happy with your order! 

I wrote this, because in this crazy situation we can't just act like it's business as usual.
Future posts will be all about House of Thol business again.

​- Stay safe everyone!

Jana

Although our summer break was cut short because of the opportunity of a sudden assignment that we didn't want to miss (more about that later, i promise!), we still had two long weeks to unwind and relax.

Our last-minute planning brought us to the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) in Germany, a mere 5,5 hour drive from the headquarters.

We landed on a wonderful campground right next to a stream and a little waterfall. and together with the boys spent hours on well-made playgrounds and adventure trails such as the Black Forest Treetop walk (with a large slide going down) and a Barefoot path where we got to got to walk over pieces of broken glass (still pretty sharp).
We clambered accross Germanies' largest waterfall and walked a 60 meters high suspension bridge that slightly swayed in the wind.

Of course we had to play a round of adventure golf (guess who struck a hole-in-one) and we somehow visited two places where people were extremely serious about model-trains as well as to a museum of clocks, vintage cars and vintage vending machines (because what else in Germany on a rainy day).

Dit weekend (2&3 juni) doen we mee aan Kunstroute Heumen en is iedereen van harte welkom te komen kijken in onze ontwerpstudio en te zien hoe we werken.

​We laten onze nieuwste ontwerpen zien en nemen je mee in ons ontwerpproces.
​
De 3d-printer gaat aan om te laten zien hoe we prototypes maken, en we demonstreren hoe we kopjes en kandelaars maken van porselein.

Er is ook iets te doen! 
​In een zelfgemaakte mal, gieten we met gips een eigen natuur-amulet.

Doe je mee? Het is geschikt voor kinderen vanaf 4 jaar, en nog steeds leuk voor volwassenen.
​
Een natuur-amulet maken kost ongeveer 15-30 minuten en is gratis (vrijwillige bijdrage).

Fan van bloemen?
Met ons nieuwste product Flower Constellations, schik je heel eenvoudig een mooi boeket met je sterrenbeeld.

Probeer het zelf uit met de prototypes die we hebben gemaakt.
We vertellen je graag alles over onze succesvolle crowdfunding op Kickstarter, de productie en de geplande lancering.

Tijdens de Atelierdagen is het natuurlijk mogelijk om House of Thol producten te kopen.
Sterker nog: we hebben een sample sale in voorbereiding, waarin je voor een klein prijsje unieke Dutch Design stukken kunt scoren! (pinnen mogelijk)

Zaterdag 2 & Zondag 3 juni
11:00 - 18:00
Parksesteeg 8, Overasselt

Meer over de kunstroute