mostly cola

I sat in Kornél's co-working atelier yesterday with two friends of mine. Barbara was blogging about a selfmade tea mix she brought and Agata was working on a delicate little book about her grandmothers. We felt all really professional in our new 'studio'.

Drink by drink I'm working my way through Kornél's menu full of animal names (from Bessy to Flipper, all your childhood animal heroes are represented), and so far they were very yummy. Forgot to take pictures though, next time I will!

Tomorrow there's a little party for Ward Zwart's new book full of short stories. Expect some exquisite squirrels, badgers and burning houses, and a great bunch of nice people. Come come from 6pm and buy the book!

academie: mount coco

Here it is: a sneak peek of my first little book, our biggest (and hardest, and most expensive) project yet at the academy. Soon more pictures on my website...

Mount Coco tells a tiny story about four old ladies who surround themselves with parrots and statuettes in a house on a hill. As they quietly fade away, the parrots take over the house - and the chitchatting.

The story was just an excuse though to get experimenting with techniques and styles, inspired by the absurd eclecticism of granny interiors. And by the prettiness of birds, which I can't seem to get tired of lately. However different the images, I managed to puzzle them together to something that makes sense. It relieves me that such a thing is possible, because I'm not the person to spend the rest of my life watercolouring OR thinner printing OR drawing abstract shapes on brown paper (whatever). I'm too curious, and too easily bored.

Would you like to get a copy too? This one was entirely colour-printed and hand-bound. I'm still figuring out how I can reproduce it in a more modest way and sell it at a price that won't make your eyes pop out. Any suggestions welcome :) I'll keep you posted!

happy new year!

2011 brought me some difficult decisions and disappointments, but also an important share of encouragement, inspiring encounters (thank you Hermine, Juliette, Renilde, Mieke, Gerlin, Chris, Stephanie and everyone else), and good prospects for 2012.

The next year has a lot in store. A January filled with exciting trips (London! Angoulême!) A new little job which will allow me ample time and energy to work on new personal projects and some great assignments to look forward to.

2012 also brings a new coffee bar/ co-working atelier that is very likely to become my second home. Be sure to pass by when you're in the neighbourhood. Starting Jan, 8th Liesje will serve you the best coffees, teas and lassis, plus soup on weekdays and cake on Sundays. She has McSweeney's too, and a swing, and great expos, just to say...

Go Liesje, go Kornél! I'll show you pictures when it's born.

Furthermore, I wish myself a lot of great finds, letters and books to feast my eyes on. The same for you. Happy new year!

In the picture: gifts from Romy Blümel and Ephameron, Nobrow issues, Everything Flowers by Clare E. Rojas, Peruvian alpaca wool and more.

wishlist: pastels x brights

Here it goes, my last wishlist for a brand new (may I call it promising?) new year:

Tape + tape holders at Present & Correct - Rennes mint wallet - Rose Bakery's Breakfast Lunch Tea - Australia's prettiest girly magazine Frankie - Après Ski necklace

Yellow Superga tennis shoes - a book about birds (especially parakeets) with lots of colourful pictures I can draw from - Ferm Living aqua letter trays - Stine Goya cardigan (ooh those pastels! and elbow patches!)

december snaps

This month, we bought ourselves a new toy: an ipod.

It's a pretty amazing tool and a great gadget to waste time with. My favourite apps are the ones that take pictures, like Instagram. You can pick whatever camera you want, take a snap of whatever lies on your plate - literally, sometimes - and dip it in a visual sauce that fits the mood of the moment. Great fun. Too bad though any pretty pictures you make can't transcend their low-res digital lives. Or maybe I just haven't found the way to save high-res versions yet. Have you?