New residence

The new place is wonderful! High ceilings, lots of light, wooden floors, closet space, great area, terrific views.
But i don't want to clean no more! Spend the last couple of days with cleaning tools as my bestest friends... Did you know white vinegar is a great cleaning detergent? Gets the toughest stains out almost everything!
Anyway, the place is starting to shine. Yesterday a friend came over with a bottle of champagne. Ooooh!
Sunday a trip to Ikea is scheduled, so we will actually have some furniture in here too. ;)
Got to go, chase a great deal on a tv i just read about!
Tada.

Issey is a doll now

So i managed to finish the issey doll.
Maybe i should have made the head a bit bigger.
Or the body a bit smaller.
To get the dimensions right.

Nonetheless i learned some new things again about doll making and already have more ideas to make more dolls in the future.

Anyone likes?

Logo thoughts - creative rates

I have done a little bit of logo work here and there and lately getting requests to do so more frequently. Makes me think it's something i should pursue a bit more active right?
Every illustrator has his or her rate-card, i got mine too. you got to think about the time you spend on the work and the tools you need to do it and such. i think everyone who approaches an illustrator realizes that too.
But that doesn't mean you can not do something for fellow creative people.
So i was thinking..
Since i love the crafty & creative community so much i'm setting up a special discount rate card for the creative start up businesses out there. Creative rates as you will.

BUT. Prioritize, prioritize. Got some lingering deadlines coming dangerously close and then in a couple of days my parents are coming over for a trip to NY! So looking forward to that. And i want to have all my current projects finished by that time so i can spend as much quality time as possible with them.
Meaning the creative rate card will have to wait until somewhere in September.

But if you happen to know somebody who needs a new logo done, do let them contact me. Being busy doesn't mean i can't do some preliminary sketches!

Sewing Issey

"Ooh! That's me!"


My little alter ego doll Issey is getting a bit pale around the nose. Because she's in my bag all the time the paint on her face is a bit scratched up. :(

So i promised her i would sew a larger version of her.
Am working on that now. Think it will turn out cute.

Things i Love and Miss today

Things i love
Cakes with a lot of frosting, New Found Family, DREAMS, Thrift Treasures, the ocean, Arizona Mucho Mango, friendly people, mangos & grapes, INSPIRATION, old school hiphop on forgotten tapes, Joann's, mint tea from fresh mint leaves, SOFT YARN, kids playing in the street, eating all icecream by myself, Afro Omega, my new phone, DOLLHOUSES, Funky Patterns, Japanese Mini Stickers, skin so soft.

Things i miss
My Family, my homegirls, de Hema, indonesian spices, my dads coffee in the morning, go tang chillisaus, Vondel Park, the Canals of Amsterdam.

Sparkling Issey

"Hey! They misspelled my name!"

Since little issey travels where-ever i go, she got a little damage round her nouse. Looks likes she has caught a cold.
But not to worry, she is feeling fine.

I'm thinking i will make a larger felt version of her. One of these days. When i have some time. You know.

Issey is feeling Spacey

Issey is feeling Spacey.

Kevin Spacey.

That's one of the reasons i love New York.
Never know what surprises the day will bring. You get up in the morning, not even sure what you will do that day. And all of a sudden, in the afternoon the wonderful Kevin Spacey stands in front of you!

Issey loves the theatre

Issey spends a lot of time running in & around the Laguardia Theatre!

checking in 'hello!'

i know i got to update my blog. i think about it daily. i still make blog notes in my journal not to forget to post certain things. i make pictures every day that i want to show here.
just don't seem to find the time to do so. and if i do, i don't get online all the time.
got to take care of some things, got to get my situation arranged over here. working on it!
settling in, everything i brought has to find a new place.
how do you like the view from the back of our apartment? isn't it amazing? ;)
Got my collage journals all together. Loads of inspiration!
The small fabric covered chest of drawers are from the 70's. The one on the right once belonged to my mother, the one next to it was a great thrift find a couple of months ago, the sales lady just wanted it to go to a good new home and when she noticed my excitement, she gave it to me for free! thank you saleslady!
Some of my little friends found their way into my suitcase when i left Amsterdam. They are now getting acquaintant with their new surroundings.
The lovely Apple Brown Betty board was a church thrift find on the very first day i arrived in Brooklyn. Love spotted it for me, i had almost missed it! This way it was a great welcoming present.

I've sold my sewing machine

I really did. I've sold my sewing machine.
No, I haven't given up sewing, I've bought a new one! Decided that it would be too much hassle to move my old machine with me overseas, get a converter and all that. It was just easier to sell and buy a new one.

I could have gone for the hello kitty machine (target) but instead opted for a white Singer Precision. Maybe plain white, but nothing a couple of cute stickers can't fix! It has to be personalized of course. Cutified.

It is a step up from my last machine, maybe even a couple of steps up. Love it! Hopefully my next step up will be something like the Singer Quantum Futura. How wonderful would that be?

The day after

June 3rd 2007 was a wonderful day for me. I feel so blessed, loved and spoiled. Very much grateful too.

The sun was shining from early morning on. I was nervous about all of my family coming for my birthday/going away party, hoping everyone would have a good time. I was nervous for the lingering goodbyes which were coming closer.

A lot of the fam helped out organizing the party. It was held in a space in a pretty church. (Good karma!) They had given the party a three-way theme; USA-Dutch-Indonesian. To be recognized in the decorations and the food that was served. And my cousins were so sweet to take over the bar during the day and help serve the snacks and drinks. Thank you girls!

The whole day flew by and was filled with great moments. There were laughs, hugs and kisses, singing, and some tears mixed with lots of love. There even was a little bit excitement when there happened to be a little vandalism fire close to the church (some bad kids put fire to a basketball pole. not of my relatives!)

Saying goodbye to everyone was hard. I will see some at the airport on Thursday, but not everyone will be there. Many tears were shed and sweet words were said. I will so much miss everyone. My grandmothers, my parents and brother, my uncles and aunts, my cousins, the kids of my cousins, my friends. But like a friend wrote in her goodbye card, don't go to NY and sit there missing us over here, focus on your thing why you're there.
Wise words.

And the family made me booklets filled with pictures, stories, poems and well wishes. I have flipped through them once now and i felt i had to cry. I think i will have to wait with reading them. I'll save them for the day that i really long for everyone over here.

By the way, don't you love the so retro bathroom tiling the church had? Ismoyo likes!