Facebook

About 5 years ago, I had an account on Facebook. After a while, I decided that I didn't like it anymore. I felt like it wanted to know too much about my personal life and I didn't like that, so I closed it.
Then I started organising 1m2 with my friend Annemiek. I opened a Facebook account under that name and started using it. After a while, I noticed that Facebook does have a positive effect business wise so I decided to open my personal account again. Much joy for my friends who have been trying to convince me for ages to be on Facebook but I kept holding back. Marta, you finally succeeded in the nearly impossible! ;)
I've been back on Facebook for nearly a year now and I see the effect it has on my business. A few weeks ago, I only had one participant for the workshop mould making. After making an event of it on Facebook, the course filled up within 2 hours. I think that's a sign of how powerful Facebook can be on you business. So, if you would like to add me as your friend, I'm here.
And while you're at it, don't forget to like my businesspage too please.
Looking forward to catching up with you on Facebook too! XO

Part of something bigger - volume 2

Remember that I told you about lots of surprises for Julie in the mail and that is was part of something bigger?
Well, the mailbox got more of those and I'd love to share 'em with you. I still have not put together the entire poem as some words are still missing but I'm getting there. All of the gifts have a hanging tag and it will look so pretty when I will assemble the mobile. As soon as it's ready I will show you!
Anyway, here are some more words that came in the mail...

 Judit from Vadjutka (Hungary) send two times the word 'een' (means: a).

Anna from 'the house of mouse' (the Netherlands) send Julie the cutest sleep mouse. The mouse is holding the word 'slaap' (means: sleep).

Annemiek from TwoTreesWorld (the Netherlands) delivered her gifts in person. So nice to catch up with her. She made the words 'slaap' in the form of a flying porcelain sheep - cute! (means: sleep) and 'van' (means: of)

Anna Denise from The yellow umbrella (Belgium) drew something mighty cute - I love her drawings! Her word says 'reuzeke' (means: small giant)

Caro from Honoriginal (the Netherlands) made a supertiny & pretty book and a paper cloud with the word 'doe' (means: do)

Stephanie from PetitPlat (France) proves here that she can not only make tiny things, haha, she made a giant pea pod with the word 'reus' (means: giant)

Elles from Misusu (United States) send two intricately made patchwork pieces (amazing) with the words 'een' (means: a) and 'doos' (means: box)

Marijke from Sweet and simple stuff (the Netherlands) send a very soft and cute crocheted babushka with the word 'dicht' (means: closed)

And Kim from Viltalakim (the Netherlands) came to deliver her gift in person too. A cute felted heart with the word 'roos' (means: rose) and she also gave me a few tips regarding the poem.
Like that I was still missing about 8 words and that the poem consisted out of 8 lines.
Thanks Kim for clearing a few things up for me. I suppose that I'll be keeping an eye on my mailbox a bit more and hope that the mystery will be revealed soon.
Thanks so much everyone! You can't imagine how curious I am to see the end result! :)

Oh, and for those wanting to see how much Julie has grown, you can subscribe to my newsletter because I add images from her in there. We are a bit hesitant to post images of her on the world wide web...

Part of something bigger - volume 1

Last Friday, I received a package from Ama from Miss Minoes. I was very surprised and thought it was very sweet of her to send wishes and a gift for Julie. It was a text balloon that was made with wire and yarn. There was a word in the middle & I didn't really know what it meant but she wrote that the word 'als' meant dreams and fantasy but also that it was part of something bigger...

A bit mysterious to me and I actually searched the net to find if there was a meaning of the word 'als' but couldn't find anything really. So I let it go and reckoned that what Ama said would be true and I was happy with the pretty text balloon.

Today, the postman rang and delivered many packages from all over Europe. All from people that I know via Etsy. Hmm, I was very surprised and started with opening the envelopes from Austria. Baa from Baahar and Renate from Kreativlink send me the following: (the words mean 'a')

Then I opened a package from Belgium from Sandra from Zsazsazsu. The word on the hanger is 'small rose' accompagnied with rose petals and a beautiful, tiny, crocheted rose.

 

There was also a package from Germany from Ella from P8buttonart. It was a hanger made with buttons and the word says 'door'

Swee from Swiedebie (Netherlands) send two beautiful hearts and the words on there are 'as' and 'the'...

 

Inger from Ingermaaike send a mobile with a felted tree all the way from  Norway and the word 'as' was embroidered onto it.

Up until now I don't have a clue what all these words are trying to say but I suspect that there are more words on the way to complete it. After all, they seem to be part of something bigger...
I can't wait for the postman tommorrow. Thank you all for the sweet & very unexpected surprise for Julie!!

Weekend impressions

On friday I left for a weekend Amsterdam with my Etsy friends. In the evening we went to an Etsy meeting at the Lloyd hotel. What a fun crowd gathered there. I don't have any useable pictures of the meeting itself as it was dark and small in there but it was cozy and fun for sure.
Matt and Benedikta from Etsy's Berlin office were the hosts and they certainly spread the enthusiam about the conference for micro entrepreneurs next spring. Can't wait for this summit of awesome!
All these flowers were in the hallway of the toilets - a creation of Vlinder & Vogel Isn't it beautiful?On Saturday we went with a bunch to the Craftymarket. Even though the market was connected to a cultural festival, it wasn't really busy which surprised me. But being there with like minded souls, it was certainly the highlight of my weekend.
The weather was kind of weird: sunny, cold, cloudy, warm, rainy,... typical Dutch weather for this time of year...
My friend Vanessa came to visit me at the market. I hadn't seen her in over a year and she's not only an amazing Etsy-supporter but also a good photographer as I asked her to take some pictures from the stands. I'm so glad she spend the entire afternoon with us chatting. Thanks for popping by, Ness! :)It's fun sharing a stand with someone who's a fan of your work. Marta from Martice did a great job explaining my work to people with her never ending enthusiasm! Thanks Marta! :)Nicole from Babongohome hides behind her beautiful and ecofriendly mobiles.Swee is checking out ThongbaiTatong's work.Barry & Liesbeth from Pinipiru shared a stand with Annemiek from TwoTreesBelgium.Bai from ThongbaiTatong spoiled us with a beautiful pouch and Swiedebie gave me a plush apple pincushion which will be excellent in my sewing space. Thanks so much, supersweet, smiley ladies! :) I bought this cutie hat from Swiedebie for my nephew who turns 1 in 2 weeks. He will look much cuter in it then I do but I wanted to show you how awesome it is.
So happy I remembered his birthday when chatting with Swee while looking at her pretty stand! I'm terrible at remembering birthday's! ;)It was a fab weekend spend with friends & it made me forget a bit about the load of work I still have on my plate the coming weeks. Better get back to the to do-list now I suppose...
Have a great start of the new week everyone! :)

I feel spoiled... and loved!

At last I took some time of taking pictures from all the cards & goodies I got for my birthday & from the art exchange I took part in.
Thank you so much Jaimee, Marta, Eva (oops, forgot to add your beautiful card above), Nathalie, Veerle, Krisztina, Nathalie, Heather, Anna, Stephanie, Judit, Laura, Baahar, Ina, Kylie, Kristin, Ayperi, Estella, Colleen ,Stina, Kim and Kirsten.
I hope I have not forgotten someone 'cause my mailbox got flooded! ;)
This beautiful scarf was send to me from Heather & I love it so much. It's a fantastic color and has a very soft touch! It's handfelted from superfine & soft fibers! Thank you so much for sending me this beauty just because...
Then Anna spoiled me with some fantastic artworks. I can't wait to get them framed and give them a nice spot in my studio. The first one says on the back: 'inspired by the Barbie murders'
Haha, my collaboration partner is the funniest! :) Thank you, Anna!
My friend Stephanie send me these lovelies: a wonderful and warm beret and a fitting scarf. The cute little stripey elephant is watching me work in my studio! He makes me smile! :)
Thanks so much for adding more knitted goodies to my Stephanie-collection! :)And yesterday, the postman rang and gave me a big box with these yummy goodies!
Ohh, delish bananabread from Nathalie! NomNom! Thanks heaps, Nathalie!
I'm afraid I'll have to share otherwise I won't be able to go through the door anymore...And today I received the Poufiks I won from Evaforeva's giveaway and I am SUPERhappy with them! I knew it: I needed a Poufik in my life! :)
I'll take pictures from them next week and will make you all jealous again! ;)

And I wish you all a wonderful X-mas Eve and X-mas day, whenever you celebrate.
Let it be filled with joy, happiness and cake! :)