Passagen Interior Design Week Cologne is Germany's largest design event. It's pretty much the 'Fuori Salone' event of the huge IMM furnishings fair that takes place in the Koelnmesse in the same week.

A few years ago we met sweet Claudia Schaaf during the Dutch Design Week and she invited us to showcase our work in her lovely Salon Zwei during Passagen 2016, as part of the Ehrenfeld Design Parcours. 
​
With a taste for Dutch Design, Claudia presented a different Dutch Designer in her shop during Passagen every year for the past 6 years, and now it's time to bring it together.

For this years' Passagen, Claudia teamed up with Buro Sabine Voggenreiter to curate an exhibition about Dutch Design at the Designers Fair at the Pattenhalle in Ehrenfeld. 
We're super happy to be part of the line-up that also includes Studio Lorier, Foekje Fleur, Nord Interior Design and Mo Man Tai​.

But that's not all! Our designs will also be part of the colorful 'We love Dutch Design' presentation at Claudia's homebase Salon Zwei. 
And from Passagen onward, Salon Zwei will be a House of Thol vendor!

Dutch Design Cologne revisited
Passagen Designers Fair @ Pattenhalle
Christianstrasse 82
50825 Koeln - Ehrenfeld

Open 13 - 19 January
Mon-Wed: 12:00 - 20:00
Thursday: 12:00 - 23:00 - drinks from 18:00
Fri-Sat: 12:00 - 20:00
Sunday: 12:00 - 18:00

6 years Dutch Design
Salon Zwei
Gutenbergstrasse 2
50823 Koeln - Ehrenfeld

Open 13 - 19 January
Mon-Fri: 12:00 - 19:00
Sat-Sun: 12:00 - 16:00
NB drinks on Thursday 16.1 from 18:00

We're super excited that only one year after we launched them, the Flower Constellations are now available in the United States of America!!! Yeah!!

Uncommon Goods, webshop for unique gifts, home decor and more, picked up on our design a while ago, and after we sent over a few samples, the sales team gave their go and we shipped the first batch to the US right before our summer break.

So for all of you lovely people living in the US who can use a stylish tool for stellar flower arrangements or are looking for a flowery gift for a loved one , head over to UncommonGoods.com and order Flower Constellations now!

Not living in the US?
Our products are now being sold in 13 different countries around the world, so with a bit of luck there might be a store near you!
Check out our Store Locator for more information.

This Helios Constellation might be the latest addition to the Flower Constellation family, its idea is actually what started it all.

Years ago we designed a pit-frame that would fit a variaty of jars and glassware, and would make it easy to sprout pits and bulbs.
​Out of our hands, the idea got shelved by the large Dutch Gardencentre company that took to it at first. 

Helios lets you stylishly grow your cuttings and pits into a water-rooted leafy plant and gives you the opportunity to enjoy the plant in full: both the sprouting leaves leaning towards the sun as well as roots branching out to soak up water and nutrients.  

Read all about Helios here.

Don't forget: order one for that special dad this week and get a free Growing Card with our Fathers' Day special - read all about it here.

We participated in the MKB Export Award 2018 and are part of the Top 9!

The MKB Export Award is organised for the 6th year in a row by TNT Netherlands, The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl) and Royal Organisation MKB-Nederland.
Of the more than 100 contestants, the Jury nominated us and 8 other companies. 
​
The winner will be revealed during the event 'Klaar voor de start? Export! ("Ready? Get set! Export!) on Tuesday March 19th 2019.

Who knows, we might be succeeding last years' winner Anne Pleun van Eijsden of 'On the Rocks' and go home with the prize: amongst others a transport cheque and business partner scan!

It all started with our participation in the Paris fair Maison&Objet last September, for which we applied for an Export Mission Voucher.

After the fair we got invited to join the MKB Export Award, and since we really think we can conquer the world with our Flower Constellations and can use a little boost to get us going, we applied.

In January we received a phonecall from the organization surprising us with the news we're on the shortlist!
Early February we got to show a small part of the jury around House of Thol headquarters, and tell them all about our designs, projects and plans for the future.
We had a lovely chat, as i'm sure they had with all other eight nominees.

Now all that's left to do is wait..... With our fingers crossed...
We'll keep you posted!

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. 

When you place an order in our webshop, our goal is to always have it out the door within 48 hours.
 
Orders placed on Friday and in the Weekends are dropped off at the post office the following Monday.

For shipment wihthin the Netherlands we rely on PostNL, which is usually fairly quick:
Both letters and packages are normally delivered the next working day.

Waterworks and Waterworks cones are always shipped as a package (because well... they don't fit in a letter slot).
Flower Constellations are either shipped as a letter (1 or 2 pcs), a package with or without track 'n trace code (3 pcs and up), or as a mailbox package for 3-6 pcs within the Netherlands only. 

Shipping costs vary depending on weight and destination and are calculated in the shop. 
To give you an idea, we've made this handy overview.
 
​Got any questions about shipment or would like to upgrade to express? 
Send us an e-mail and we'll get back to you at our earliest convenience.

Netherlands  1 to 2 working days
Belgium  letters: 5-8 wdays / track 'n trace package: 1-2 wdays
Denmark letters: 4-7 wdays /  track 'n trace package: 3-4 wdays
Germany  letters: 5-8 wdays /  track 'n trace package: 2-3 wdays
France  letters: 5-10 wdays /  track 'n trace package: 2-3 wdays
UK  letters: 5-9 wdays /  track 'n trace package: 2-3 wdays
Sweden letters: 5-8 wdays /  track 'n trace package: 2-3 wdays
US letters: 7-11 wdays /  track 'n trace package: 3-6 wdays
Canada letters: 9-13 wdays /  track 'n trace package: 5-8 wdays
Your country not mentioned? Here's the full list of PostNL 

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>

November 23rd - December 21st
​¢ 6,5 - 9 cm

element:           fire
ruling planet:  jupiter
colors:                purple, scarlet, blue
birthstone:       topaz
houseplant:     monstera deliciosa
birthflowers:    thistle, carnation, peony,  dandelion

Sagittarius: the archer.
The ancient Greeks modeled the sign after centaur Chiron, a master archer, and mentor of Achilles in the era of the Trojan Wars. 
You might know the kind: wise and etherial, one with nature, yet untamed and violent when provoked. Centaurs in books and movies pretty much always follow that character (Hello J.K. Rowling / I see you C.S. Lewis). They're also usually very skilled archers, yet can be set in their way and difficult to live with.

Would the supposed character traits be similar to those projected on the mythological centaur?
​
Well.. Not really.

​According to astrologers, people born under the constellation Sagittarius are considered philosophical freedom seekers who love to travel and learn new things, but can be rather impatient and undiplomatic. 
Maybe a bit like the Chinese archer depicted on the packaging: a skilled traveler, roaming free in a foreign land.
​Talking about roaming free.. For this Flower Constellation we decided to not use the full set of stars, but chose about half of them to make the constellation a perfect fit for the brass base.

Have you seen packaging for the signs Aries,  Taurus,   Gemini,  Cancer,  Leo,  Virgo,  Libra & Scorpio? - Tomorrow: Capricorn

In the Netherlands, the name of this zodiac sign is 'Kreeft': which translates to lobster.
That's why it's pretty confusing for most Dutch people to see a crab instead of a lobster on the Cancer packaging. 
I did try to work both crustaceans into the artwork., but since the entire rest of the world apparently agreed we're dealing with a crab here, i gave up after having difficulties finding the right angle.

Cancers' birthflowers are not just rosehip, wild rose, lotus and magnolia: all white flowers are associated with the star sign.
I'm looking forward to setting up a bouquet consisting of gorgeous white flowers with the Cancer Flower Constellations.
​Which white flowers do you like most?

Have you seen our Aries, Taurus and Gemini packaging? Leo will follow soon! 

​May 22nd - June 22nd
​¢ 6,5 - 9 cm

element:           air
ruling planet:  mercury
colors:                yellow, light blue
birthstone:       agate
houseplant:     tillandsia
birthflowers:    lavender, lilac, lily of the valley

Remember the space age?
The Apollo missions that resulted in the moon landings in the late 60's wouldn't have been possible without the Gemini programme: the two-person spaceflight programme perfected space walking and paved the way for the successfull mission in '69. 
Now you know why we have twin astronouts on the packaging! ​  

Gemini or 'twins' birthflowers are lavender and lilly of the valley, and if you're born between May 22nd and June 22nd you might want to consider tillandsia (air plants) for your house.

Check out the artwork for Aries and Taurus, and check back for the next unveil tomorrow!

The Taurus is supposedly one of the most reliable signs. Since one half of House of Thol is a Taurus, i (the other half) can vouch for that. 
While researching all different Constellations and listing all things and traits associated with them, i also came across totem animals. , 

Funny thing: the totem animal for the mighty taurus, is the beaver.
Well... they can both fell a tiny tree.

Have you seen our Aries packaging?
Next up: Gemini

We love football, and enjoy watching the big games.
Since the Netherlands is not competing in this years' World Cup, the country has not been taken over by the pre-cup frenzy like (long) before.
That's why it kinda snuck up on us.
 

All of a sudden... the tournament is kicking off!
To make it a bit more fun, we wanted to set up a little poule amongst each-other.
And since we couldn't find an easy poule-sheet to download, we created our own.

Feel free to join in the fun and download here

Check out this lovely article by the Florist / Florist magazine.
We're so happy to be featured on a blog that's specifically aimed at a professional floral audience. 

Check out the full piece by clicking on the image or here.

Every year in April, pretty much the complete Dutch Design Community packs up and moves their newest designs to Milan for the International Furniture Fair.

With our International Crowdfunding campaign running on Kickstarter, a presence in Milan would definitely help our cause.

Luckily, one of our friends in designerland, Wisse Trooster, could use a little floral touch in the style room he created for Dutch sustainable label Cartoni Design.
​We were -of course- more than happy to lend Wisse a few Flower Constellation prototypes.

About Cartoni Design

Cartoni Design creates unique furniture collections from reclaimed, recycled and sustainable materials, working with different young Dutch Designers like, amongst others, Wisse Trooster.

It's a win/win: Cartoni Design brightens up their lovely exhibition with a stylish tool for a floral touch, and we're very happy with a little extra international exposure for our Flower Constellations.
​
If you're in Milan, make sure to visit the Cartoni Design Style room at Masterly and get a glimpse of our Flower Constellations in real life.

Masterly / The Dutch in Milan
Palazzo Francesco Turati
Via Meravigli 7, Milano

​more information on Fuori-salone site (+map)

Want to stay updated about Cartoni Design?
Best thing to do is follow their Instagram account, or, for your daily dose of design inspiration, follow Wisse Trooster on Instagram.

We just sent out a new Newsletter with a Superduperdeal you don't want to miss.
Check it our here:

We hebben net een nieuwsbrief verstuurd met een Superduperdeal die je niet wilt missen.
Bekijk m hier:

En als je dat doet, schrijf je dan meteen even in, zodat je in de toekomst geen House of Thol nieuws hoeft te missen.