For the Love of Textiles

Four years ago a very talented student finished her study at the fashion department of my school. I did wrote about her collection on my blog. Check this and scroll to the end. Her name: Eline Bouman . Her website is HERE . A few weeks ago I got an invitation from her if I would like to come to the graduation show from the fashion department of the HKU (art school in Utrecht). I always love to go to a fashion show from a Higher education fashion deparment. Guess that is because I know the feeling what is is to graduate with a collection.  All the tension, the hard work before, the result and the three minutes my collection walked over the catwalk.  You can meet all graduates here . Title of the show: Nowhere now here . But I came for her ofcourse, but was also very curiuos to see all other collection. Title of her collection: Emission of radiance . It is about emit radiation. A fictive image of the future in which we are -due to an over populat

A few weeks ago I decided to buy a workshop Dyeing with natural indigo at Blueprint Studio here in Amsterdam. It is not that I am totally recovered, but I felt the need to treat myself to this.  And despite my hernia and other physical problems I wanted to do something with my 'textile-addiction'. It was a saturday afternoon. The 9th of May. Windy and rather fresh outside. Three women and one man got together in the little studio from Celia and her assistant Iris. Indigo dyeing and Shiboru was on the menu. A table full of beautiful examples. On the wall was an old male kimono hanging.  Patched with different fabrics in the Sashiko technique. In the same technique was this beautiful old piece of cloth used by the working class.  Mended over and over again because throwing away wasn't done. They are hard to find nowadays. They have a special name, but I can't remember it. On the table: little pieces of cloth dyed in di

Today is 'KoningsDag', or in English: 'King'sDay'. There are free flea markets all over the Netherlands. Amsterdam has several. Everybody is selling the stuff they don't want to have anymore. Items bought will travel from North to South and from East to West. A few markets are round the house were we live. This morning I decided to try to walk instead of cycling. My hernia isn't gone, but it goes better. Next to physiotherapy twice a week, I get acupuncture at a Chinese Medical Centre here in Amsterdam. I felt the need to do something extra for my body and mind. There is a difference appearing. This Saturday I will get Chinese Massage, because too much acupuncture isn't good for my body. Next to my hernia I have a chronical problems in my arm, shoulder and neck. The Chinese doctor told me that it will be fine at the end, but it needs time and treatments. I trust him, which is very important. But back to this morning. I to

                                Yes, there is little progress.  It is not that I feel a big difference in my body, but some of my movements at the physiotherapist go better. Walking and standing for a few minutes is still hard to do. My right arm often hurts when I do too much, so this writing is done with my left hand. My neck and shoulders are also 'not very moveable', so they get a treatment too. Crack! I still take those heavy painkillers. But I am pleased with the progress. It feels that a big part of my body is 'letting me down' right now. STOP it says. Stop and listen, and do what I direct you. For me that is not an easy thing to do. But if I want to get better I need to listen. So I try to be a 'listener'. The last week that I worked I took the bicycle to get to the railwaystation. Cycling -strangly enough- didn't cause pain. But the walk from the bicycle parking to the railwaystation caused a lot of pain. And as

I type this post with my left hand. Last week my excellent physiotherapist discovered that my right elbow is suffering with the name: 'tennis-elbow'. His advice was to keep my arm calm. Therefor: No knitting! (Bye bye scarf, yarns and needles) Beware of using your mobile and tablet too much. (my contact to the world) Write as little as possible with pen or pencil. (that very little movement gives a big reaction in your elbow). My hernia is situated between L4 and L5 and below that there is something probably not well either. My whole left leg is very painful when I walk.  It will be alright said my physiotherapist, who, by the way is a very handsome man and that makes a difference when he is doing very painful movement with my body (breathe in, breathe out is my mantra at such moments!). But it needs time and treatment. And many taxi's to get to the hernia centre at Westerdok (€20,- one way!) And painkillers. I don't have a probl

Months did go by and nothing was written here. My other blog got all the attendance. But tonight I felt that it was the moment to write here. Because there is a reason. I am suffering a hernia. It started some weeks ago with pain in my back. Two visits to my manual therapist didn't gave a result. I thought that was strange because it has always worked. My doctor immediately thought that is was a hernia. Heavy painkillers, physiotherapy and rest must do the trick. It is very painful and I can't work. Walking is difficult and hundred metres ( and inbetween a few times rest) is the maximum. It is all very tiresome. Jos took me with him to his home in Amsterdam ,so he can take care of me. I am glad he is there for me. So here I am. Days go by. Sitting by the window with a view on a canal with houseboats. Two hours up and one hour rest. By taxi to the physiotherapist who is specialized in treating hernia patients. I feel very dependent and