As I mentioned in my previous post, I did some outdoor photo shoots!
I asked on my blog if there was anyone interested in modelling for me, and Raya, Elodie & Melissa were willing to do so. We met up in Antwerp a couple of weeks ago and today I'm here to show you the results! I'm pretty proud of these photos, I think some turned out awesome! Curious to hear what you think!

We're a month into Spring (can't believe how fast time is flying by) so let's see how I'm doing on my list!

1. make it to every deadline 2. eat more fruits & veggies 3. go running again (attempt #3, third time's the charm?) 4. spring-clean the apartment 5. buy flowers for myself 6. shoot a roll of film 7. make a dress 8. do a refashion 9. start a scrap blanket 10. make a granny square

11. do a photo shoot outside 12. have a movie marathon 13. go on a picnic 14. visit a flea market 15. go roller blading 16. visit another city (other than Berlin) 17. save up some money each month 18. bake cookies or muffins 19. celebrate Pixel & Cera's first birthday! 20. finish some more pages in my Wreck This Journal 21. make my own fabric labels

2. So far, I've made myself a fresh smoothie pretty much every other day, and I'm trying to snack healthier. So far, so good!

3. I started running with Evy again, it's going good! If I can keep up with the lessons, I'm hoping to participate in a running competition by the end of May. But for now, let's focus on getting the next lesson done.

9. I've cut out a lot of 10x10 squares, but haven't started on putting them together. That will be my study break the next two months.

11. I did! Blogpost about the photoshoot(s!) coming up soon!

19. I want to make my two cats something to wear, like a bowtie for Pixel and a little something for Cera, they would look so precious.

21. Yay! Custom made 'bij gebrek aan beter'-labels, I really want to use them soon!


I'm not doing too shabby, I think. Let's just hope I can continue this for the rest of this Spring (and after that, my life ;-) ).

What did you do so far this Spring?

Talk to you soon!

Another week has flown by.

6.365
The first selfie has been taken! I had so much more planned for today's photo, but I forgot I had to work in the evening so I kinda had to rush this one. I still like the pureness of the photo, though.


7.365
Oops, I wanted to make a portrait today but ended up finishing these two tea wallets.


8.365
I played hide & seek by myself in the woods. And I realized that I really need a tripod if I want to take decent shots. If anyone has any recommendations, please let me know.


9.365
My boyfriend destroyed his glasses, but wanted to pose with the leftovers. On the right side you can see a glass falling down.


10.365
The idea I had in mind didn't turn out as I had planned so I'm going for this picture of lazy Pixel instead. If reincarnation exists, I want to come back as a cat.


11.365
Happy Easter from my lovely 'chocomouth' godchild.


12.365
I had an interview with Guy Atafo, an inspiring artist. I think he has used more bic pens by now that I will ever use in my entire life.


13.365
Pretty sunset.


Have an awesome Thursday! Talk to you soon!

Ik liet het hier op den blog al eens eerder vallen, in zeer cryptische taal weliswaar, maar ik heb meegewerkt aan een boek. Jawel, dames en heren, uw eigenste Elisse, in een boek!

Ik kan ook al verklappen dat het niet zomaar een boek is, maar wel Art d'Eco, geschreven door Kelly! Wat ik nog niet ga verklappen, is wat ik precies heb gedaan. Ahnee, dat mag u zelf ontdekken wanneer u het koopt! Vanaf mei in de rekken van de - betere, duh - boekhandel. Ik verwijs u graag door naar Kelly's blogpost voor alle details over de gastschrijfsters. (Ahnee, ik ben niet de enige, we zijn met z'n 13!)


Kelly, Stefan (de bf), Sofie en Evy stonden op zekere dag aan de voordeur om wat fotootjes te maken. De bf werd gedropt bij mijn bf zodat ze wat over computers konden keuvelen en de drie dames mochten Pixel en Cera in volle glorie bewonderen. Dat laatste mag u interpreteren als hen proberen wegslaan van de camera - die twee poezels zijn dol op de klik van een camera. Maar buiten al dat ge-oeh en ge-aah moest er natuurlijk ook (hard) gewerkt worden. Gelukkig zagen de uiltjes er zoals steeds op hun Paasbest uit.

Ik kan echt niet wachten tot ik Art d'Eco in mijn handen heb. Om de schone plaatjes, de frisse ideeën en al het doe-het-zelf-plezier door mijn vingers te laten glijden. En u, haalt u het boek in huis?

// I have cooperated with Kelly, who is writing an ecolicious book, and it will come out in May. Unfortunately, it's written in Dutch. But don't worry, I'll be sure to give a brief translation/review once I finally have it in my hands. Can't wait!

Back to schoolwork. Talk to you soon!

I love Sundays like these.

11am
Sleeping in.


12am
Some more reading in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. (I finished it yesterday and have to admit I cried a little. It is such a good book, I definitely recommend it!)


1pm
Brunch time at my parents! Champagne, strawberries, pistoleekes, ... I could get used to this ;-)


2pm
On our way in a fancy car.


3pm
Lingerie shopping with the girls.


4pm
After that: off to the city! At a design market I found these two lovebirds.


5pm
Still there, enjoying organic ice teas, bumping into friends I haven't seen in a while and chatting along with my sis.


6pm
On the way home.


7pm
My sister gave me the DIY-edition of Flow so of course I had to read it front to back!


And that was my cosy Sunday. Now I'm off egg hunting.
Happy Easter!

Zoals u misschien al hebt gemerkt, ben ik de laatste tijd nogal verslaafd aan het maken van zogenaamde thee portemonnees. Maar wees gerust, u kan er ook andere dingetjes in stoppen. Omdat er sinds enige tijd geen Nederlandstalige tutorial meer te vinden is, maak ik 'm even. Ere wie ere toekomt, Handmade Therapy kwam er eerst mee op de proppen, ik deed enkele kleine aanpassingen (en nam vooral het vertaalwerk voor mijn rekening).
// As you might have noticed already, lately I've been crazy about making tea wallets. I found a Dutch tutorial online, but it disappeared a couple of weeks ago, so I'm redoing it! On a side note, the tutorial first appeared at Handmade Therapy.

Bent u klaar? Dan beginnen we eraan!
Ready. Set? Go!

Nodig: » 2 (contrasterende) stukken stof » een stukje lint (of maak je eigen lint als je nog wat stof over hebt) » 1 knoop » een tornmesje (onontbeerlijk bij elk naaiproject) » een schaar(tje) » naald en draad » een naaimachine

You will need: » 2 fabrics (in contrasting colors) » a piece of ribbon (or make your own if you have some fabric scraps left) » 1 button » a destitcher » a pair of (tiny) scissors » thread & needle » a sewing machine

Let's get started!


1. Knip tweemaal een lapje stof van 12,5 op 18cm uit elke stof. Je hebt dus 4 stukjes stof in totaal.
Cut out two pieces of 5" by 7" of each fabric, so you have a total of 4 pieces of fabric.


2. Beslis welke stof je buiten- en binnenkant wordt. Vouw de 2 lapjes die de binnenkant zullen worden dubbel, met de foute kanten op elkaar. Stik dan door op 1 cm.
Decide which fabric will be the outer and which will be the inner part of your tea wallet. Fold the two pieces that will become the inner part in half and topstitch.


3. Leg één lapje stof van de buitenkant met de goede kant naar boven. Meet 2,5cm van de onderkant en leg daar een binnenkantje op. Stik vast.
Lay one piece of outer fabric right sides up. Measure 1" from the bottom and put one inner piece on top. Stitch.


4. Leg het tweede stukje binnenkant gelijk met de onderkant van je buitenflap en stik.
Now align your second piece to the bottom of your outer part and stitch.


5. Vouw je flapje in de helft en stik op deze lijn. Zo maak je de zakjes waar je thee of kaartjes in komen te zitten.
Fold your front in half and stitch on this line. That way you're creating pockets for your tea or cards.

6. Vouw je lint dubbel en bevestig met een speldje aan je flap. Zorg ervoor dat je nog een stukje overlaat aan de buitenkant voor een mooie afwerking.
Fold your ribbon in half and attach to your front. Make sure that you overlap a little bit.


7. Leg je tweede buitenkant met de goede kant naar beneden bovenop je werk en speld de hoekjes vast. Laat onderaan een gat om te keren. Stik rondom.
Lay down your last piece of fabric onto the work you've got so far (right sides up!) and pin the corners. Leave an opening at the bottom so you can turn it inside out. Stitch all the way around.


8. Knip de hoekjes een beetje bij en keer binnenstebuiten.
Clip the corners and turn inside out.


9. Stik helemaal door. Op deze manier sluit je het keergat.
Topstitch all the way around.


10. Bijna klaar! Nu moet je alleen nog een mooie knoop uitkiezen - zorg ervoor dat je lintje er zeker rond past. Naai je knoop aan de buitenkant vast en zorg ervoor dat je slechts door één laag stof naait.
Almost finished! All that is left is picking a button - probably the hardest part. Make sure that your ribbon will fit snuggly around your button. Try to attach your button by only sewing through one layer of fabric.


11. Klaar! Je thee portemonnee/kaartenhouder/hoe je het ook wilt noemen is af! En nu hop, gaan theeleuten!
All set! Who wants a cup of tea?

I hope you found this tutorial helpful :)

Talk to you soon!

Uhh.. Yep, as you've probably read in the title, I'm challenging myself to complete another project 365. I'm pretty excited to see how this year turns out!

For new readers: from November 1, 2012 til November 1, 2013 I made a photo every day. It was a project that started out as a challenge to get to know my camera a bit better, but it became a part of my life and a way of documenting that year. I kind of missed it when it was over - not for the first month or so, though, I was pretty excited to finally being able to leave the house without my heavy camera. Because I had the feeling that nothing (important enough to take a picture of) happened in my life anymore. That is of course bullsh*t, but I made so little photos these past few months that I wanted to pick up this old habit and create another sort of photo diary.
So a week ago, on my fourth blogaversary (April 10), I started another project 365.

This time I want to take the project a step further. Kyle Thompsons' 365 project has inspired me heaps so I'm challenging myself to experiment more with composition, lighting, the use of props and even levitation shots. We'll see how that turns out!

But for now, let's take things slowly so that I can get used to making photographs every day again.

1.365
I took a photo of Cera who was washing herself. I couldn't resist posting this 'blooper' because she looks so cute.


2.365
Pixel was sleeping and looked awfully cute with his paw perfectly placed on top of the flower.


3.365
Elodie at the botanical garden in Antwerp. I love what she's wearing and I just really liked the vibe of this photo.


4.365
I bumped into Valérie at a design market. She's holding Nestor, the most recent addition to her family.


5.365
This was a testshot for a shoot I had with Brice. He looks so serious (while he's always laughing otherwise).


I'll share my photos on a weekly basis. But if you're overly curious, you can also check out the set I created on Flickr, where I'll try to upload my pictures daily.
& if you know of any more awesome 365 projects, please let me know in the comments, I'd love to get inspired by others even more :)

If you're a brooch kinda gal, check out this post to get a shot at winning a cute Hello-brooch. Only 2 more days to participate!

Have an awesome Monday! Talk to you soon!

It's been over a year since I posted some pictures of my updated owl stash. Time for that to change! Over the past few years I've accumulated so much owl stuff (still not sick of it) so I'm here to share tiny bits & pieces at a time.

Most of the owls are gifts from friends, family & pen pals or things that I found at my local thrift shop. If you want to know where an item came from, please ask me and I'll try to answer you :)

As I stated before, my awesome friends gave me an even awesome present for my birthday: I am now the godmother of Timon, a white-faced owl. I hope to visit him soon.


A peek at my type case.


Tiny owl lamp from Sophie, clothespins from Lien, Laura & Elise & washi tape from Sarah.




Handembroided by Saar.


Keychains (left: gift from my mom, right: gift from me to me ;-) ).


In here I keep track of my incoming and outgoing mail. Almost finished! If anyone has any small owl stickers to spare, you know where to send them ;-)


Handmade owl blanket by dear Elise & pillow from Laura (& an overly jealous Pixel).



Thrifted owl plate & socks from Fab.

You can find all 'Owl you need is love'-posts here.

If you're a brooch kinda gal, check out this post to get a shot at winning a cute Hello-brooch.

Talk to you soon!