Saffrons Blog

I was lucky enough to visit the "Toren" quilt group of the Netherlands-infamous for its artistic quilts. They host a bi-annual exhibition and every time they choose a different theme for their quilts. This time the group played with the theme light and dark all quilts were a uniformed size. To unite the group a piece of yellow, blue and red fabric should appear in their quilts. Furthermore they create a separate centre piece hanging down from the ceiling.

An inspiriting display of technique and style combined with interesting interpretations on the themes.

The exhibition is situated in the tower of Gouderee, which is so tall it can be seen form far far away. It is such beautiful room. Such is it, that taking a photo will never do justice to the exhibition but maybe it might leave you with an impression?

Yesterday we went to visit the little medieval town of Brielle on the next island. Oh the antique markets here in the Netherlands are great. I bought some old linen and hand embroidered pieces, inspired by my visit to Nicole. And this is the smallest quilt shop selling fabrics I have ever seen.

Something very special today. The story goes I had a comment from Nicole on my blog one day. So I emailed her back after reading her fabulous blog and seemingly in a flash I was invited to her stylish four story house in Rotterdam chatting about design, etsy, websites, graphic design, children and embroidery patterns. Oh and eating her wonderful homemade Dutch apple cake. It's so great to meet fellow crafters.

I loved seeing her work interested to learn more about contemporary embroidery. A moment captured in the photos beneath. My pic from her sketch book which promises some great work yet to be published! Check out her etsy shop for her current patterns.

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Peekaboo daddy! Opps Lost my head in this one! 30 kms later.

I am filling up on fries which are dipped in mayonnaise. Cheese and all the crackers are sweet. I have read a 1200 page book. Drawn, relaxed and had a fair bit of sleep.

Miss-sampsons drapery sent me an email this morning letting me know that she has sold out of all 9 designs of "my" fabrics at the Melbourne quilt show and has reordered them- which she would like urgently for the Canberra show. That made my day. It truly did.
Any thoughts?

We visited the Gemeente Museum art gallery, devoted to 20th art, particularly de Stijl, with a strict no camera no nothing attitude. Not even mushrooms in the mushroom soup. So not much to say there! Well there was some yummy paintings and the curator is inspired modern juxtaposed to old, colours and objects. Klee still my favourite oh and Egon Schiele is so amazing.

Then we went for a wander along the canals and stopped by a few shops. I searched out a quilt shop —  Quilters Palet — which was brimming with people eager to buy their fabrics. We left some fabric samples and had a chat to Evy, one of the owners. It is a beautiful building inside and the big Dutch windows give it lots of natural light.

When I realized I had been standing and walking for 5 hours we sat down in the nearest cafe and relaxed with a Cappucino, which in Holland means a very strong cuppa with a bit of frothy milk on top. And thanks for the free maccaroon.

I am not one to hold myself back from stroking hand made objects - so I did. I had permission and it felt wonderful.

A close up of the surface.

The actual tapestry will take 18 months to complete.

The featured exhibition of designers Niels van Eijk en Miriam van der Lubbe  had some very cool design objects, very diverse designers these two. As both designers were our age  we were really inspired by them.

This room is showing their design sketches. An entire room of dioramas and ideas. Its great to look at how design is resolved, from the thought to the finished concepts, especially the finished part.

This last picture is inside the work room. The machines at work and some of the finished pieces.

Then we went shopping oh what fun I had buying gifts for my wonderful friends.

And this is the view of the town with the usual cathedral in the middle.
We also found a little curiosity shop called "old love" that spanned over 4 tiny floors with the smallest of steps. When Sequoia hit the attic she thought she was in heaven as it was stacked with old toys...