Bicycle Pannier

I decided that after five years of biking awkwardly through the city with various bags 

across my shoulders, it was time to get a bike pannier.

So I took a trip to Mountain Equipment Co op. 

But, while their bags are all high quality and functional, they were really nothing special aesthetically.

The idea of owning an ugly bag was bothering me so I decided to make one myself

out of black industrial felt, cotton canvas lining, brass buckle and leather straps.

Homemade Rosemary Raisin Pecan Crisps

You know those ridiculously delicious, but ridiculously expensive Raincoast Crisps?

I found a recipe for them over at Dinner with Julie. 

I'm not much of a recipe follower, which makes this one great.

It's basically two cups of flour, two cups of buttermilk, salt, baking soda,

and then two and a half cups of seeds, nuts and dried fruit (and a bit of sugar and/or honey).

Which means you can modify the recipe to make any sort of flavour crisps you like.

For these I used pecans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds, 

raisins, dried cranberries and rosemary.

For the future, I'm thinking olives, garlic and thyme or perhaps figs, almonds and cinnamon?

Jade Plant in a Tea Tin

Another Terrarium

a jade plant terrarium

Terrariums

Celebrating spring with some new mason jar succulent terrariums.

World Book Dictionary

This is a project I did back in 2010, but I recently took some more detailed 

photos of it that I wanted to share.

Click on each image for a more detailed view.

Read all about the process here.

More Paper Plates

A couple more 3D paper plates.

Paper Plates

 Being half Dutch, I have a certain nostalgia for Delftware. 

The blue and white ceramics - typically featuring windmills - remind me 

of eating caramel-filled stroopwafels and gingery speculaas 

during sleepovers at my Oma's house.

I made these 3D paper plates for my kitchen by printing out photos of plates,

cutting out the first layer with an X-acto blade, and then gluing

the two layers together with a bit of cardboard in between.

Pencil Portraits

I recently moved, and while sorting through my things I found these

sketches that I did back in 2003-04. 

I used to give these as birthday presents to friends.

I remember having a lot of fun doing these - I wasn't so much fascinated with celebrities

as with being able to capture the essence of recognizable faces.

These were all done with 8B + HB Staedtler pencils, and sometimes Sharpie

for filling in the black sections.

Cabinet of Curiosities

As you've probably noticed, I have an obsession with all things miniature.

There is something magical about small versions of 

things that brings back the wonder of childhood.

I found this letterpress drawer at an antique store, mounted it to the wall

and filled it with little souvenirs from my travels, gifts from friends, 

some of my own sculptures and a few toys that I used to play with as a child.

Gold-Dipped Feather Necklace

A small collection of gold-dipped feather necklaces.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year 2013 from SIX NINE THREE on Vimeo.

Trip to Spain

This is a book I put together with some photos from my trip to Spain last summer.

I traveled through Catalonia, the north-eastern part of Spain, visiting a bunch of cities and towns including 

Barcelona, Sitges, Girona, Tarragona, Montserrat, Cadaqués and Cap de Creus.

Mason Jar Succulent Terrarium

What to make for a friend who says she doesn't want any birthday presents?

How about a mason jar succulent terrarium?

How could she say no?

Leather + Canvas Clutch

I made this leather and canvas clutch as a birthday present for a friend. 

The tassel was fun to make so I made a few extra.

Flora

Some things I found on my walk through the park.

from my sketchbook

More triangles, pen and ink on watercolour paper.

from my sketchbook

 I enjoy mindless repetitive drawing that puts you into a meditative state.

Leather Triangle Necklace

I made this symphony of triangles necklace from
a little piece of scrap distressed leather and a handful of jump rings.

Leather Necklace Collection

Just dropped these of at Freedom Clothing, right on time for the beginning of the gift-giving season.  

And they are also available in my online shop!

More Triangles

More watercolour triangles. Rain, rain go away!

Triangles

The ultimate cure for rainy days: obsessive, repetitive tasks that lull your mind into a bit of an oblivion, like painting a whole bunch of colourful watercolour triangles.

Small Chevron Necklace

   Another leather necklace, this time with smaller, chunkier chevrons.

Leather and Gold

I made another leather chevron necklace,
but this time added a splash of gold by applying gold leaf to the leather.