[summer vacation!]

Summer vacation time! Yey!

We don’t have any huge plans for the summer yet but I’m sure we’ll do couple of road trips. Sienna and I will try to visit as many different playgrounds as possible. Popsicles, play dates with friends, trampoline  fun, swimming, biking, reading, relaxing… Mellow summer stuff. Gotta love it!

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Sports Park 60 by Wibit Sports.

Would be so much fun!!

[Interview with Ingrid from Wood & Wool Stool]

1. Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm Ingrid, mother of son Minne and daughter Pippa and married to Henk.

Besides my family life I work 3 days a week in the coolest place in the Netherlands Villa Augustus, where I have my weekly 'flowerday' on Thursday. I like photography and find blogging a great way to capture my life.

2.  What inspired you to make your very first wood & wool stool and how did you decide to make it into a business?

In 2008 I designed my first recycled wooden stool with a crocheted cover for my home.

It turned out very well and the invention of a crochet cover on the seat turned out very well.

After some requests of family and friends, I decided to make custommade stools for other people and that is how it all started.

Since then I've made a lot of stools and designed meanwhile several other interior products.

The products are all handmade and have something to do with (recycled) wood, wool, crochet and color.

3.  What is your typical day like?

No day is the same, but I always start with coffee and a little tour along the web. I work different days and hours at Villa Augustus.

4. What inspires your creativity?

Traveling and my workplace at Villa Augustus, but also international Interior magazines and the internet.

5.  What is the best part of owning your own handicraft business?

I like what I make and because I don't have an actual shop, but only sell through internet, I can work whenever I want.

Most of the orders of my handmade stools are from people all over the world. It's so cool that (almost) everyone sends me a happy thank you e-mail when their stool arrived.

6.  What is your least favorite part about your work?

Definitely the packing and shipping.

7.  Do you have any tips for someone who wants to sell their own handicrafts?

Only make things you like yourself and stick to your style.

8.  Whose work do you admire?

I'm a big fan of Piet Hein Eek since he started making furniture.

Piet Hein Eek 

9. What is the best place you have traveled to? Why?

Spain. During the years we've been in all kind of districts and I like them all. I like the versatility of the country and the wonderful cities like Sevilla, Madrid, Valencia, San Sebastian, Salamanca and most of all Barcelona.

10. Do you like to read? Any favorite/must-read books?

I love to read and I would love to read more if I only had more time.

Now on my bedside table: Bonita Avenue by Peter Buwalda.

Thank you so much Ingrid for taking the time to do this interview! 

Here are the links to Ingrid's blog & Etsy Shop & Flickr page:

WOOD & WOOL STOOL

WOOD & WOOL STOOL ETSY SHOP

WOOD & WOOL STOOL @ FLICKR

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A flamingo at Playa Dominicus Beach in Dominican Republic.

[found here]

Bay of Naples, Campania, Italy.


[found here]

Life has been busy lately. I will be back soon with another interview.

[some things that are making me happy at the moment]

Special shelves for cans. So easy to rotate. You add a can on top, it slides down. You always use the old ones first.

I'm so thankful for my husband who organized our basement so that there's room for food storage now. My small kitchen pantry looks great now too! Easy to find stuff.

Me very happy!

Our peonies are blooming. So beautiful!

[for daddy]

Super sweetness!

Especially when you add 1.5 kg of M&M’s to it. J

[it's that time of the year again]

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Cute key holder made out of Legos. J

[source]

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Money can’t buy happiness but it sure can buy a more comfortable way to travel.

Quantas Airbus A380 First Class Suites.

[pink!]

They are gone now but the memory remains.

[ 79 ]

Ouch, ouch, ouch! I’ve been bitten by the travel bug after seeing the pictures in this article. Gotta go hot air ballooning in Cappadocia, Turkey! Who’s buying my ticket? J

[free printable]

[free printable]

[happy friday everyone!]

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Love these cute little posters.

Click here to purchase them and to see other ones just as cute.

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[unknown source]

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So cute!

Available for purchase here.

[summer reading]

I read this book awhile back. I’m reading it again so that it’s fresh in my mind for the second book.

Good read. Interesting story. 

I bet they are already working on a movie.

Four out of five stars.


Today I'm listening:

[thou shalt not run faster than thou hast strength]

[unknown source]

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Love these!

I’d like the white one, please and thank you. J

You can purchase them here.

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When I saw these wall calendars by Susan Connor, I thought that this would be a fun summer project with your kid(s). They could draw cute pictures and leave just enough room for you to glue on that month’s calendar.

[image via google image search]

[delicious!!]

I love it when I discover a new recipe which is simple & fast to make plus tastes delicious. If you like Indian food at all, you have to try this recipe: Masala + chicken naan bread pizza. I used red peppers with the chicken. I could have licked my hands when I got some of this spice on my hands. This spice smells divine!

Click here for the recipe. Club House spices are my favorites. I use their Cajun spice all the time. Many great recipes on their website.

NOTE:
Looks like the link to the recipe doesn't work anymore so here's the recipe:

1/2 cup (125ml) unsalted butter, softened
2 TBSP (30ml) Clubhouse Indian Masala seasoning
4 naan bread
1/2 cup (125ml) cooked, diced chicken
2 cups (5dl) favorite sliced vegetables
1 cup (2,5dl) shredded mozzarella cheese

Mix the butter and seasoning together. Spread on naan bread evenly. Top with chicken, vegetables and cheese. Bake in 400F oven (200C) until cheese is melted.