Library Notebooks

Last weeks I have been working hard at an assignment for about twenty notebooks. It was fun to see all those splendid colours around me. In these wet winter days, the rain and wind were lashing my windows, and I only had to look at those lovely booklets to see the sunshine :) Each booklet is unique. The cover is provided with letters saying 'BIEB', which is a Dutch acronym for library. When you open the booklets you figure out that the flyleads are printed with the word 'NOTE' and have several bright and sparkly colours. It was fun creating all those different booklets. mass production, with a small escape :)
The booklets are Christmast presents for the library employees. I hope they enjoy them!

Irma Boom's Chanel N°5

White white white ... my favourite colour... exhibited in the Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam... in one word beautiful! According to Anne van der Zwaag - the curator of the exhibition- white is no colour and in the same time a mixture of all colours. White can be inspiring, but also intimidating. In short: White is interesting!
Visiting the exhibition was blissful. Some artists or art works really caught my attention; for example the capriole haute couture by Iris van Herpen, Aart Klein's photo of an ice skater and the closed eyes in a white face by Erwin Blumenfeld.
All very inspiring, BUT there was also the Chanel No. 5 Book of Irma Boom, a Dutch Graphic Designer specialized in unusual (art) books. Her beautiful white book, reflecting the world of Coco Chanel, was exhibited in a showcase, but luckily there was also one copy you could browse through. Of course with the white museum gloves on :), but I have to confess I also touched the book with my bare hands... You really have to touch this book, because Irma Boom made the pages very tactile by using only embossed images and text. To preserve the die-stamp-printing the pages were not cut and the book is softbound and not squeezed. If you want to learn more about this special book, check out the short movie where Irma Boom explains some things about The Chanel No. 5 book.

Custom-made Box

One of my clients - Sandra of BUROSANNIES - was looking for a special box. For a school assignment she had to design and make a scaled cupboard. Because she is totally into felt, the material choice was easy. She designed a cupboard out of sturdy black felt, supported by some timber carriers. The presentation of the final design was at least as important, therefore phase two of this design assignment was to find an appropriate box for her creation. In close consultation we chose a firm model that we could give a sturdy look. I experimented with the possibilities to make very simple hinges, whereby the box could keep it's cardboard look and feel. Not only the hinges and surfaces have a basic appearance, but also the clasps are basic, inventive and practical. A small strip of black linen stored with a matt black button clicks on a hidden press stud, so the box can be opened very easily. The text Felt like Organizing on top of the box is the finishing touch of the design and also gives a hint about the content of the box...
Hopefully Sandra gets a good rating for her assignment!

E-course Blogging Your Way

Last month I took the e-course Blogging Your Way given by Holly Becker from Decor8. Although I had a really, and I mean a really, busy month I enjoyed the course very much. It was nice to meet other bloggers on the forum and even live. It turned out that Agnes from Stylestek also lives in Rotterdam, so we didn't only meet online, but also in real live and we will keep on doing that :) Agnes is specialized in inspiring images for websites and promoting articles etc. Her work is refined and dreamy, and her website is as white as mine :)
During the course we learned things about blogging in general, branding your blog, styling, photography, photo editing, but above all it was INSPIRING! I have so many ideas for new blogposts and how to improve my styling and photography... I hope you will enjoy my future posts - inspired by this e-course and all the other bloggers I met at this class-!

Prien Work in Progress

Working hard at a nice assignment. Just wanted you to show the in-between-phase. So cool to see all these future booklets and their soon-to-be covers. The colours make me happy!!! Later on the result...

Aurora Robson - Recycling Plastic into Art

Today I want to show you the work of Aurora Robson. She is a Canadian multi-media artist who creates serene, dreamy installations and drawings out of waste. Aurora's goal is not only to create but also to inspire other artists to do what she does with her junk mail and empty bottles: create a fascinating piece of art.
Ofcourse I can write a lot about this interesting, inspiring and renewing artist, but I think you just have to take a look at her site to actually see what she is doing with all those polluting plastic bottles. Hopefully you enjoy her work and you get inspired to think about recycling and your own responsibility to this environment!

 

Retro Colours

Sometimes one just has all the luck in the world ... and this week it was me!! A week ago I responded to an ad on a typography newsletter offering a remaining lot of bookbinders linen. Unfortunately I wasn't the only one, and not even the first one ... so bad luck. BUT! ... a few days later I received an email after all, saying that if I was still interested I could buy the bookbinders linen per meter. So yesterday I went to the library (the selling party) and I met the guy who worked in the bindery of the library years ago. These days the library has sourced out the binding process, so the bindery department, somewhere deep in the cellars of the building has been closed for a long time. But whow, it's a real treasure house; big (and I mean BIG) bookpresses, small bookpresses, board scissors and a lot of happy retro coloured strong bookbinders linen. It was nice to see the library from 'the inside' and meet this nice guy with whom I measured over 70 metres of the coolest linen. 
..and after that ... I had to transport all those heavy meters to my house ... by bike .... I did it in two stages. Luckily the rain stopped for a little while when I biked home heavily loaded, fantasising about all the booklets I can make with this incredible material ...

Flavourites Live Business

Once a year it's Flavourites Live time. This sparkling event in Amsterdam, powered by MamaMarketing, offers webshop owners a stage to show their products 'live'. Located in the inspiring location 'De Overkant' this event hostst a consumers fair and a b-to-b event with workshops, lectures and providers focussed on b-to-b-products.

Since the schedule was pretty full, the first lecture was already at 10 in the morning. That meant an early trip to Amsterdam, to the other site of the IJ by ferry. After a refreshing and hasty - yes I was late again - walk to 'The Overkant' the first lecture  from Carlotte Mos/Ocher was about to start. Luckily a bit later than scheduled :) Carlotte told us a lot about branding. You are your brand! You and al your expressions. Ofcourse you know this stuff, and you heard it before, but she managed to tell these facts in such an inspiring way, supported by a beautiful designed presentation (you are your brand! :) ), that it really had an impact on me. ...I have a lot of work to do coming weeks ...

This vibrant start was followed by lectures about Pinterest (with some usefull tips), SEO (more good tips!) and content strategy. One other lecture that stood out was about trends in e-commerce, media & social media by Lieke Lamb. She is a true performer and speaker. It is wonderful to listen to her. Well founded facts and opinions brought with humour. The most important things she had to say; focus on mobile, desktop computer use will be replaced by mobile applications.

A lot of input, together with the inspiration from the course Blogging Your Way from Decor8, my head is full with new ideas and stuff that I have to improve in my blog and on my site....

Those beautiful Autumn Colours

You might starting to think that I am a little obsessed with autumn leaves. I am sorry ... but they are just so beautiful and the splendid colours seem to change every day. I promiss this will be the last blog about autumn leaves :)  But you might see some of those colours back in my booklets later on....Today I was sitting in the train, staring at those yellow, red, green and brownish colours and I was thinking about how to process them into my booklets. I think I have some great ideas, so I will experiment with them coming weeks ... hopefully with good results I can show you later on!
By the way I made this collage in Photoshop, practising my lessons :) It's so much fun working with this tool and understanding it more and more.

Graphic designer Monice Janson

Last week I met Monice Janson, an interesting Rotterdam based graphic designer. Monice has a love for typography, which is evident in her work. Her appealing projects are characterized by refinement and clarity. Besides the more standard graphic design assignments, Monice also develops free work, like the project 'Onderkast'. This funny and ingenious artwork has been exhibited in De Aanschouw Rotterdam, the smallest galery of the Witte de Withstraat in Rotterdam. The insects in The Onderkast project are built up from letters, two T's form a beetle, two K's together form a frog and if you put enough S's together a spider will be formed. The shapes are cut out of rubber, so the shadows form an interesting second layer.
For more projects or information, you can check out Monice Janson's site: www.monicejanson.nl

Opening concept store Webshops Only in 's-Hertogenbosch

Today is the grand opening of the concept store Webshops Only in 's-Hertogenbosch. This store is a initiative of Alonie and Marieke, who are also webshop owners themselves. Yesterday I went to 's-Hertogenbosch to decorate my space in the store. I really like the atmosphere in the shop and Alonie and Marieke managed to invite a lot of high quality trendy shops for their concept. This shop is definitely worth a visit! This evening is the opening for the participants and friends & family, so starting tomorrow you can rush to the shop to gather all your holiday season gifts!

Since Alonie and Marieke worked so hard to get everything done, I thought it would be nice to give them a small present for the shop-opening. I made two simple notebooks with their logo. Hopefully they like them!

Feels like Autumn today

It will be a rainy drizzling day today ... time to remind the exuberant autumn colours I saw in Norway last September.

Prien's Booklet for your Purse in black and red

What's going on at the moment?? I should be posting more blogs ... but a lot of things keep me from doing it. Things like:
- following a professional PhotoShop course at Mediacollege in Rotterdam
- following an interesting e-course about blogging at Decor8
- preparing new stock for the Webshops Only Shop in Den Bosch
- designing and preparing flyers and nametags for the Webshops Only Shop
- working on new assignments, such as a box, an address book, some notebooks

So there are a lot of new things I want to show you ... soon! It would also be a great opportunity to show off my new Photoshop skills as well :)

For now I just want to introduce these new Booklets for you Purse; small notebooks for, yes indeed, in your purse. Always handy to write down that amazing idea that pops up in your mind when you are waiting for the train, or when you are stuck in traffic or something like that.
On a special request I made the Prien Booklets for your Purse in black and red as well. You can find more colours at  www.prien.nl.

A3 Portofolio Folder

For a set designer Prien made an A3 Portfolio Folder in black. The client was looking for an A3 square folder to show her portfolio to potential clients. It had to be very easy to change the 300 grams portfolio sheets. In close cooperation with the client Prien developed a folder with four anchorages in matt black. The outside material is sturdy and can be cleaned with a damp cloth if necessary.
Hopefully my client will get a lot of new clients with her stylish portfolio folder!

Decor8's E-Course Blogging Your Way

Last Friday the e-course Blogging Your Way from Decor8 started officially. We had to do some reading and update our profiles .... but today ... we finally start the course .. I am very curious! As you might have noticed, sometimes I was a bit lazy with posting new blogs ... but with the help of this course I am planning to give this blog a boost. There are so many ideas in my head ...with some discipline and new guidelines they should result in an interesting and beautiful blog about bookbinding and everything that inspires me and hopefully you!

BoekKunstBeurs in Leiden

Yesterday my friends and I visited the BoekKunstBeurs in Leiden. This fair is situated in an old church in the center of Leiden. It is always a pleasure to visit this yearly event; walking around in a nice environment, talking with enthusiastic exhibitors, meeting acquaintances and checking out new products. Of course I bought too many things, so my arms still hurt because of carrying all that stuff around, but my head is full of new ideas ... now I need a lot of time to carry out all these plans :)

Autumn Forest

Last week  we finally had (read - made- ) time for a long hike in the autumn forest at the Veluwe. Unfortunateley we chose exactly that forest (Kroondomein Het Loo) that was very limited accessible because of the deer that needed rest. Nevertheless we had a great day. The weather was typically Dutch, sun, rain and wind, so now and then we had to seek shelter under a tree, and that's were I found this beautiful birch bark. The colours and surface of this bark are amazing and reminded me immediately at Norway. I am still looking for a way to make birch suitable for a book cover ...

Passport Case

In order of a client Prien designed a passport case. The graphic on the front has been developed in close cooperation with the client. Because a passport case is new in Prien's assortment I made several trial cases, which I showed at some fairs. Since people seem to like this product I decided to include it in Prien's collection.

It is a very nice aspect of my work; developing products in close cooperation with the client! The result is a personalized special gift!

Happy Red Fish

A few weeks ago, on a Amsterdam Blogger Conference, I met Hagar from Happy Red Fish. We had a nice conversation and we exchanged our business cards. She gave me a wonderful  card, showing one of her artworks. I liked it inmediately! It's a combination of my two favorite materials; paper/pictures and thread/textile. The result is a graphical surprise which invites you to take a closer look.

 

You can find Happy Red Fish at:
http://www.happy-red-fish.com/
https://www.facebook.com/HappyRedFishArt

New Series - Simply Black

Especially for business use, Prien developed a series notebooks and writing cases. These practical, yet beautiful utensils make your working day more stylish and easy. Because of the though black cover the notebooks and cases withstand rough handling while they still look great. The fly leaves give each product its own character. Check them out at www.prien.nl!

Webshop Till You Drop

This Saturday and Sunday (October 12th and 13th) Prien will be at the Webshop Till You Drop Fair. The location is great! An old compound feed factory called DeFabrique in Maarssen (close to Utrecht). Come and meet Prien and dozens of other great webshops. Hope to see you this weekend!

 

For more info about the fair, the location or the directions:
http://www.webshoptillyoudrop.nl/
http://www.defabrique.nl/

Meet the Blogger

Today I will join Meet the Blogger Amsterdam. Interesting program and speakers...I can't wait ...

Swan Market Festival

This weekend the Rotterdam Swan Market will be a two day festival in combination with the World Food Festival. So there will be even more food (and music) - also in the evening - than on a normal Swan Market. It's not only about eating, but also about food knowledge; Stimulate your senses in the Future Food House and don't forget to shop some nice products at the market afterwards :)
Due to other commitments Prien can only join the festival on Sunday. The weather forecast is excellent, so I hope to see you this Sunday!
Have a nice weekend!

 

Harvest Festival

This morning I was at the Harvest Festival at Heemraadsplein in Rotterdam.

The atmosphere at the festival is so calm and relaxed. You can buy a lot of super good en tasty organic food. Ofcourse every exhibitor has products you can taste and if you are too lazy to cook at home, there is plenty of organic 'fast food' choice. I bought some delicious chocolat from Evermore, some Maasstroompjes -typical Rotterdam cookies- and very very old cheese from Kaasboerderij Booij.

You can buy local products every first Saturday of the month at Noordplein in Rotterdam.
http://www.rotterdamseoogst.nl

Enjoy your weekend! I certainly will :) Some good cheese in the fridge and some nice presents for the birthday party this evening!

Autumn Splendor

Ofcourse summer is great, the sun, the flowers, the temperature, eating dinner on the balcony, and I will certainly miss al those things, but this new season has beautiful treasures as well. For example these Chinese lanterns. Enjoy the autumn!

The day after 'Meet the Blogger Masterclass'

Yesterday I joined the Meet the Blogger Masterclass styling & photograpy. It was a great day!
I learned a lot of new things, and some already known photography basics were refreshed. Ofcourse the best thing were the other bloggers and webshop owners. Talking with people who are interested in the same things as you are is always inspiring! I met a lot of new people and I have a lot of new blogs to follow :)

In the morning we had to fulfill a styling assignment. First we had to create an 'Easy Winter' moodboard using some magazines. This moodboard formed the basis of our styling set. They made it a bit more complicated by adding the demand that we had to use a nice warm winter hat of YAYA and item of HK Living.The nice hat was a present, so I am ready for a cold winter :) Thank you YAYA!

 

Turning the moodboard  ideas into a good styling set was a strenuous but inspiring job. We were allowed to use everything that was exhibited at the Toonkamer. They have such beautifull furniture, so it was marvellous 'to shop for your set'. The nice and practical beige paper bags I used are from Uashmama.

It was a great day! Good to have been there!
- for more information, see my previous blogpost -

Meet the Blogger Masterclass

Tomorrow I will join the 'Meet the Blogger Masterclass Photography & Styling' in Utrecht.

This one day masterclass  has a focus on photography and styling. ANOUKB of ANOUKB interiors and Wendy van Woudenberg of BeeldSTEIL Photography and Styling will teach us the secrets of styling, photography and blogging. I am very curious!

The workshop will be given in the inspiring Toonkamer in Utrecht. The Toonkamer use to be the Pastoe furniture factory. Nowadays the Toonkamer is a platform where more than 30 Dutch and international Interior design brands present their new collections.

Simply beautiful

Just a simple watering can on a norwegian sidewalk. Such nice colours.

Goodie Bag item Webshop Till You Drop Event

I just sent some cool small notebooks to the Webshop Till You Drop Event goodie bag action.
October 12th and 13th Prien will join this event in DeFabrique. This beautiful, raw old factory is located at the edge of Utrecht.
At this event a lot of special webshops will present themselves offline. If you are looking for unique items or exceeding presents, join this event! If you want to go please sent me a message, so I can provide a discount card.

Workshop Pulp Printing - the pictures

Last weekend I joined a two day workshop at De Boekwerkplaats in Stedum. This little village northeast of Groningen is really picturesque. On holidays in your own country... De Boekwerkplaats is situated at the border of this village, next to the meadows, the view is outstanding and so is the hospitality!
The workshop was provided by Pien Rotterdam of Water Leaf Paper & Words. I learned a lot of new things and I gained inspiration for new booklets and opportunities. The workshop was about papermaking and printing patterns in the wet paper. Because of the used method the pattern becomes one with the paper, you don't feel the pattern, you just see it.

Sweet surprise

Last Saturdaynight when I came back from this great Pulp Printing workshop, a large bunch of beautiful flowers was waiting for me. Two dear friends sent it to me to congratulate me with my new webshop www.prien.nl.
Thankxs for this super sweet surprise J & J!

Workshop Pulp Printing

Today I will join a two day workshop Pulp Printing in Stedum - Groningen, The Netherlands.
The workshop will be given by Pien Rotterdam of Water Leaf Paper & Words.
I'm very curious....photos will follow !

www.waterleafpaperandwords.com

Beautiful leaf of a plant

Beautiful leaf of a plant