..Crane bird..

The crane is a symbol of happiness and eternal youth, if you fold a thousand origami cranes you will be granted a wish by a crane according to an ancient Japanese legend.

Lately I received different cranes. 
One folded of old book paper, which is hanging nicely on a neon pink string (so still a thousand to fold).
And new crane embroidery scissors, they are perfect for cutting my threads.
Bought them at the wonderful shop of Ganiveteria Roca in the centre of Barcelona.

..CDR..IS..40..

What it is like to be 40?

Great parties and get togethers with friends and family.

A lovely SUPRISE birthday (book) from my boyfriend, getting to eat at Parkheuvel and receiving a trip to NY!

To busy to update my blog, but already thinking what to my NEXT STEP is going to be.

Work, work and work al little more but always with a SMILE.

TWO GREAT BOYS that are growing older so fast, that you have to try to enjoy it more.

In a way my friend RAQUEL who just visited said it all with her present an illustration by Elisa Munso Griful.

This lady on the bicycle has stolen my heart is going to have a special place in our house.

COME ON!

..7 rings..

 

Seven rings for seven days and one happy woman!

 

 

 

silver rings by Wouters and Hendrix, My favourites!

.. A.B.C.D.E.F.G..HOLA..

HOLA, let me introduce Raquel Vela.

She has been featured in this blog showing her wonderful home in the Eixample in Barcelona.
Next to being a gifted landscape architect, she also makes beautiful drawings.


















She works as a illustrator and has made this animal abecedary, for now in Catalan. Which is nice for me because we educate our children in two languages, Dutch and Catalan. But even if you do not speak the language the alphabet invites to make words.

So, if you like her illustrations you can say HOLA to her here.

 

 

.. Dutch Island..

Some weeks ago we had a weekend without children to visit one of the 'wadden' islands in the north of Holland, called Terschelling.

 

The islands are famous for its landscape. Terschelling meant wide beaches and in low season that means you can be completly alone in these amazing landscapes. Sandsculptures on the beach made by the wind. Lots of beachcafé's where you are glad you have arrived after an hour cycling to get there.

We loved the Restaurant 'de Loods', a building from black wood had these lovely cushion made from old blankets.

..Hello Hamburg..

When modelling a long time ago I lived in Hamburg several times and always with Carmen. We are still friends and with schoolholidays we had the chance to visit Hamburg. It became a wonderful reunion trip, where we not only met with Carmen and her daughter but also with architect and former colleague Anke and her son.

 

Anke made a program for all of us to see the IBA, Intenationale Bau Ausstellung with the first algae apartment building BIQ. One facade is made of algae, which provides energy but also gives shadow through the algae that grow faster when there is more sun.

 

Very known in Hambrug is Planten und Blomen, a great park and playgarden from the seventies with matching plastic mountains. The children loved it.

 

Carmen took us to the neighbourhood Karolinenviertel where we walked through the Marktstrasse, an upcoming neighbourhood where you can find green courtyards, cool shops, have stroll in the fleamarket and eat a nice cake somewhere.

..Going to the market..

 

1. Ever since I was a student I love the work of Belgian architect Marie-José van Hee now she made this market building in Ghent together with Robbrecht and Daem architects.  I can not wait to go and visit.

2. Going to market can be wearing this lovely dress by Missoni.

..Charlotte Wooning..

The simplicity of these icons are just perfect!

 Silk cord necklace with silver icon pendant by Rotterdam based designer Charlotte Wooning.

..CASASderooij around the world..

pink neon calendar at Studio Neeltje Photo by Marieke Zwartscholten

tree brooch on Ana's Coat in Barcelona

orange neon  2013 calendar at the Taylor Residence

 

Very happy to see my accessories from my Etsy shop CASASderooij going around the world. From London tot Australia, but also just around the corner. A big thank you to Ana, Studio Neeltje and the Taylor's at Harrow and Green

..International Film Festival Rotterdam..

This weekend was all about the IFFR, international filmfestival Rotterdam. Just giving you some Instagram impressions of the festival. 

Me and my mother have been going there for over 10 years. It is a sport to find good movies and at the same time enjoy the great atmosphere. A festival like that gives the city something extra. 

My highlights, seeing Bernardo Bertolucci in the 'big talk' before the screening of his movie Io e Te and the film 5 Jahre, a very impressive movie about a German prisoner in Guantanamo Bay.

..Orla Kiely House..

I am a sucker for Orla kiely design. Their new house collection has great fifties feel to it.

Not for sale still but can me admired at Orla Kiely.com

..Weekend in the park..

There is no better thing then to enjoy the weekend outdoors. It is almost school holiday for our boys which means class barbecue’s and get together’s . One of them was at the Mullerpier here in Rotterdam. On the far end of the pier there is a vacant building lot that probably will take some years to get build in this crisis.

The people of the building blocks made a garden of it called ‘Tuin aan de Maas’, a vegetable garden, play and relax garden. With the sun finally sneaking out from under the clouds what a joy,with fresh picked strawberry smoothies and SUPER straws everybody is happy.

..Happy Ascending..

What better way to spend ascension day with our good friends Celinda, Marcel and Loek at Singeldingen. This great initiative, by people from the neighborhood, at the Heemraadsingel in Rotterdam where from spring until late summer one can hang, play and relax in the park.
They have a cute pavilion for drinks and cakes.

So just for good coffee, our sons playing soccer, receiving a diamond necklace from Celinda’s latest collection and just be, one is ready to quote our famous philosopher and humanist from Rotterdam Desiderius Erasmus.

“The summit of happiness is reached when a person is ready to be what he is”

..LONDON Bright and Shining..

It seems LONDON was all about bright colours and patterns.


Highlights: Views of windmills at the Northsea, Cosmopolitans at Tom’s Kitchen, The V and A British Design exhibition, Kate Spade shop, Orla Kiely ( where I got a very nice bag on sale) Paintings by Yayoi Kusuma were impressive, more impressive then the Damien Hirst exhibition in the TATE modern, La fille mal gardee ballet at the Royal Opera House, with their lovely costumes, laughkicks with Eli and my mother and last but not least my dear friends Tanya and Phil with their incredible hospitality.

..Heart Out..

There are these times that everything just seems to go wrong. Or at least everything gets stirred up. Crisis, bad news, dear people falling ill, company's not doing well. 
I feel that even from difficult times something good comes. I like tokens in our home that remind us. A special flower, a heart to remember the love received.

..Spring Fever..

SPRING is arriving

 

The Fagus in our garden is BLOOMING and the SUN is shining

My new PINK pants 


























Me and my son reading SEASONS by Blexbolex with it's colourful simple images.

..Brooche Heaven..

I am a very happy girl. This gorgeous brooch was given to me by my brother and his girlfriend. The designer is  Lenneke Wispelwey. She makes all kinds of porcelain items, vases, buttons. The designs have a very geometrical basis and with soft colours. She feels like her work should make people smile. It does.

..Happy 2012..

My sons love Lego so our family New Years resolutions are to build more.

Starting with ourself!

..backing @ home..

My son and I had a great afternoon trying to bake houses. They didn't look perfect but they were delicious.

..neon garland..

I like garlands, and I have a beautiful one hanging on my bed poster bed. But I like one for the holidays, that I can hang in a Christmas tree or use for wrapping gifts in a bright colour, neon preferably.

So with some thread and simple office stickers you can make these neon garlands yourself.

What you’ll need:

- Self-adhesive round stickers two sizes ( 1 cm and 0,5 cm)

- Thread (any colour you like to match)

- Ruler

Step 1

If you use thin thread double it two times so in the end you have four threads together. You can make it as long as you want it. Roll the threads together so they stick together.

Step 2

Put the threads along a ruler. Keep 5 cm at the beginning before sticking the first 1 cm sticker on the thread, turn it around and stick the other on top of the other sticker with the thread in between.

Step 3

Keep the thread next to the ruler and at 7 cm stick the enxt 1 cm round. Continue this until the end but do not forget to leave 5 cm at the end.

Step 4

In between the 1 cm rounds now stick the small rounds until all are filled.

Now hang it to brighten up your home or presents.