Hi there, goodmorning lovely ones! How are you all, locked up in your homes and gardens? I’m doing well overhere. The sun is shining, Spring is here and I just watered my plants on the balcony. I plan on working some today (see below) and maybe sit in the sun for a bit. I am not ill but I don’t look well with that white winter-color face (and arms and legs can do with a tan too!)
I said ‘work’ and yes, I have things to do… not at the Zeeuws Archief though, that is still closed and we are all isolated in our homes – at least until April 28, but I finally started writing lessons for my ‘big online workshop’ (for Dutchies only) that starts at the end of the year. Here’s my desk….
I usually photograph the area that is in front of my window – the desk that holds my creative stuff and where I paint, collage and journal. This desk to the left is the ‘clean area’ as you can see – notes, glasses and the beginning of a lesson on the computer. Oh, and my fun whiteboard… don’t you love those color charts?
Last weekend, my parents stopped by to drop a bag of books (the library is closed so I am waaaay happy to have some new books to read!) and a box filled with old cigarette packages my uncle (who passed away years ago) used to collect. We had a little talk – from a safe distance. It’s weired not to be able to hug them, but we don’t take any risks! Dad cleared out the attic, found that box and thought that I could use the colourful packages in my journals – and they really wanted to see me, even if it had to be from a distance… so they brought little stools and we sat in the alley and talked for a while. Back in my atelier, I opened up the box to find all kinds of cigarette packages from all over the world, it’s quite a collection! I used some on my Chronicles spread right away!
Chronicles – Week 14
I also created a card for my ex-mother in law (Nout’s grandma.) Her husband passed away last year and now she’s all alone in home isolation… I thought she could do with something colourful and soft (hence the pieces of felt.) She should have received it by now so I post a pic here.
The text was cut out of a magazine and says “patient power.”
I hope you are not going crazy being isolated in your home, thanks for visiting my blog today and stay safe!
Sarah Brennan says
How good that you’ve been able to see your parents, if only from a distance Marit. Some cool stuff for your Chronicles too. I face time with my parents and have spoken with the rest of the family via Skype / messenger so at the moment things are calm. Good luck sorting out those online workshops. Stay safe and happy WOYWW. Sarah #5
LLJ says
What treasures your parents found and brought to you and I love the fact that you dived in straight away and used some of them. Great pages and I hope your ex MiL is cheered by the lovely art you sent her. The weather is beautiful here and I spent most of the past week in and out of the garden.
Hugs LLJ 6 xx
shazsilverwolf says
Hi Marit, love the card with all the textures you made. And what an amazing collection of ephemera. How lovely you could have a ‘visit’ even if at a distance. Have a lovely week, Stay safe, Hugs, Shaz #10 X
glitterandglue says
Hi Marit. How lovely that you were able to see your parents – and receive a parcel from them, too. I am in touch with my daughters and their families – even managed to overcome my fear of mobile phone technology and have a Whatsapp face to face call the other day! It was good to see them looking well. I admit that being on my own doesn’t bother me too much – I go to the shops once a week, spend time in the garden attempting to subdue it, and then spend time with my craft. It’s hard not being able to just get into the car and go visit my family, though. Hope all the plotting and planning goes well for your course.
Take care. Stay safe. God bless.
Margaret #4
Tracey says
So nice to have been visited from a safe distance how precious that meet up must have been, each week I take prepared food portions along with a top up shop to my Mother how happy she was to see me last week for those couple of minutes whilst I dropped it all off but in Tears when I left, so heart breaking. Hopefully the watercolour paint & paper pad will have occupied her this week that I placed into her grocery bag.
So nice to see you using your uncles cigarette boxes into your magnificent journal pages, great way to remember and celebrate his life even more. Sending creative light your way dear Marit take care & stay oh so safe Tracey #24
P.S love the patchwork card xx
Jo Betts says
Lovely for you to see your parents and receive a box of treasures! Keep safe and keep well. xxx Jo
Helen Lindfield says
So glad you managed to talk to your parents from a safe distance, and they brought you new books to read! Thanks for the visit . Take care Helen #1
Neet Hickson says
That must have been a bit ‘heart tugging’ meeting with your parents but not able to touch them, but so much nicer than not seeing them though. Have you plans to do it again or are you not allowed to travel now like us? I missed my trip to the Netherlands again this spring – do love visiting your country.
You certainly got a lovely surprise parcel from your dads clearing out and I can just imagine how you have enjoyed looking at all the lovely things and planning how you can use them all in your journal.
Hope the weather is lovely for you this coming weekend
Stay safe and well,
Hugs, Neet 2 xx
Angela Radford says
Pleased you got to see your parents. we have to visit mine as they are 91 and 92 and although they have food delivered and carers coming in they are unable to go out for everyday things like milk, bread that sort of thing and this is where it becomes difficult to isolate completely. Loving the card, gorgeous. Wishing you a happy woyww and lots of crafty thoughts to keep you busy, Angela x15x
sandra de says
Even seeing your parents at a distance must have made a huge difference… we really do crave relating to each other. Your cards and journal pages are beautiful. But the collection of cigarette packages is amazing they are almost worth collecting and archiving. Stay safe and keep creating.
Sandra de @13
BJ says
Oh would you believe, the day I join in for over a year’s absence, the broadband breaks! Yep we were without for 24 hours but now it is fixed, horrah!
Loving the fabric item you made, gorgeous colours. Colour charts are fun, love colour. The cigarette packets as great, what a lovely collection and you have used some to great effect on your chronicles.
Thanks for the visit BJ#19
Carolyn Staton says
How lovely to see your parents. I miss my Mum – she lives 4 hours away in the South of England – we talk on the phone and occasionally on zoom but it is not the same. Your chronicles are great again this week. Take care and stay safe my friend. Happy Belated WOYWW. With love & God Bless, Caro x (#20)
Shoshi says
It’s great that you could see your parents, Marit, even if it meant no contact. Mine are both dead now, and Mum would never have understood what is going on at the moment! I love the piece you made for your ex-mother-in-law with all the tactile bits on it! It looks as if you are busy with lots of projects. Thank you for your visit and I’m glad you enjoyed seeing my small mandalas. I am now busy colouring them in and will show them next week. Colouring certainly is very therapeutic!
Keep safe and well, and happy belated WOYWW,
Shoshi x #17
Julia says
Ah Marit, sorry to be late again! How lovely that your and your parents were able to ! connect…it really is strange isn’t it, remembering NOT to hug! It makes me happy that you were all together though, and that they had a box of treasure for you! I recognise some of the brands of cigarettes in your journal already, some of our old movies and things always feature them. Also, they are a great record of design in social history don’t you think. Your clean desk looks very hardworking, I love the break of colour that the charts give on the board. When my child was little and we would travel, she could not understand why we refer to you as Dutch. She felt (and we all still refer to you this way), that as you are from Holland, you should be Hollish! It’s all your referring to the workshop for Dutchies only that reminded me! Big fat hugs to you over the wires. Xx
Chris Dann says
Morning Marit, I’m a bit late for Wednesday, but never mind. Those cigarette papers are wonderful, brilliant colours.
And the lovely card is also unusual with lots of fabric as well as cards, I offer forget to use anything other than paper based items.
Thanks for visiting my desk, your comment that our fields look Dutch is roughly what my niece said when put a picture on FB, (she is near Breda) but there are subtle difference, although I couldn’t define what is different.
Keep sane
Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith says
Those vintage cigarette papers look so cool on your layout and a nice thing to remember your uncle by. Your card to your ex-mum in law is also touching. Good that you were able to meet up with your parents – even if fleetingly and without hugging. Enjoy your sunny balcony – reading a book there sounds idyllic! I used to do that when I was a child and we lived in a flat. Thanks for your visit on Wednesday, Marit – sorry I couldn’t get back to you earlier – but I’m just in time to say Happy Easter! Stay safe xx zsuzsa #16
Kyla says
ooh some great items from your parents loft, so pleased you were able to see them. I love historical family documents they make some great gifts and give a glimpse back to how things were.
kyla