going green

Going green.

Soon I will be leaving for Marrakech, to start with the 9th colorful Cool Crochet 'crocholiday'.
Thereafter to interact with nature and the green side of the city with the 3rd Green Gardens workshop.
Also this new workshop season former 'cool crocheteers' are returning, but this time to discover the green treasures of the Red city.

All preparations are in full swing and I could not help myself, to blend a little green into a crochet project (by means of a palmtree pattern in typical Marrakshi colors) and vice versa I made a linen herbarium bag with crochet palm for all GG participants.

Naturally, hotel Chambres d’Amis is our 'base camp' during both workshops. The small hotel is located just a stone’s throw away from the beating heart of old Marrakesh, the Djemaa el-Fna square and the souks. Despite this, it’s as quiet as if you were in the countryside; greenery and birds all over the place. A marvelous green oasis to return to, after a day full of adventures. Right in the middle of the Medina and at the same time far away from it all...

Straw hat - from Place des Epices
Handmade linen palmtree herbarium bag - made by me
Green Tamegroute pottery - from the Medina in Marrakech
Butter knife - gift from Dietske (one of last years 'green gardenista')

in ruins

Whenever I go to work, I pass the old school, where I took Spanish language lessons ten years ago.

The school was out of use for a while, but since a few months there is a large fence around the old building and it is being demolished.

Today we sneaked inside from what is left of the school and I took one more look in my old 'spanish' classroom and walked through the battered building.

The mural in the stairwell was my favorite part of the building and it was still untouched.

The old school is completely in ruins, which is a pity actually. They could have built loft apartments in the building...

vrijdag

Facade with "lace" of concrete at Drukkerij Vrijdag in Eindhoven, by architect J. Gubbels in 1965.

I adore walls like these, it reminds me of the concrete patio walls from the seventies.

In case you agree with me, have a look at the lace-like facade of this building in Australia.

Enjoy your Friday!

get up and go

Spring has sprung! Yippee!

The change of season, also means change of wardrobe.
At the moment I've started unpacking my spring-summer collection from the attic, for the upcoming trip to Marrakech.
No doubt I will bring my kaftans in my suitcase to Marrakech. Some cardigans and sweaters, in case it cools down a bit in the evenings.

What to wear in the in-between-season?
Will it be cold, warm or somewhere in-between?
For heaven's sake, what do you wear when transitioning from season to season?
Right now, it can be a really confusing time to get dressed in the morning.
This week, I started wearing a woolen beanie on my way to work on my bike in the morning. Somewhere around lunchtime you can easily sit outside in the sun, wearing a cardigan.

My advice and solution; layer up with pops of color, to keep your in-between outfit bright.

I have found this nice snug sweater, not too thick and more comfortable than a woolen sweater.
Love the fresh and unusual color combination (exactly as the beanie) and that 'get up and go' attitude!
... and the palm by all means fits completely in my 'palm tree period'.

in need of sun & adventure?

Last minute deal: Travel workshops in April!

If you are fed up with this endless winter, take your chance and book an unforgettable trip to the sun!
Come and join our adventures in and around Marrakech! ... and if you decide to book one of our workshop in Marrakech in April, you will get a 10% discount.

Below you will find the information about both workshops and in case you have a question, don't hesitate to send me an e-mail.

SPRING GREEN GARDENS WORKSHOP
arrival: Thursday 19th of April 2018 - leaving: Tuesday 24th of April 2018
(last minute offer € 650,00 per person)
AUTUMN GREEN GARDENS WORKSHOP
arrival: Thursday 11th of October 2018 - leaving: Tuesday 16th of October 2018

In the last few years I've visited quite some stunning gardens and oases in the medina and fell in love with the amazing green gardens of Marrakech. For those out there, who can't or rather don't want to crochet, we will arrange an opportunity to discover Marrakech in an alternative way. It's a great way to explore Marrakech and surroundings in a very authentic atmosphere!

PROGRAMME:

During the workshop we will visit and explore all kinds of gardens in and around Marrakech; An Arabic garden, a rose garden, botanical gardens, secret city gardens, city parks, hidden courtyards, an art garden, museum gardens and vegetable- and herb gardens.

To make the green theme complete, we will also organize a veggie cooking workshop under the banana trees (including vegetables & herbes shopping in de souk). We will make an adventurous bike ride to the gigantic palm grove and a roadtrip to the Atlas Mountains. All the participants will get an herbarium notebook, in which they can make daily sketches and collect green memories, such as leaves and seeds.

You will be surprised how green the Red City actually is. Urban jungle adventures with guided tours and delicious moroccan food, make this green travel-workshop unforgettable!

Six days in Marrakech! Green is the theme. Price € 725,00 per person.
The price is based on a shared twin bedroom and excluding flight ticket.
It's always possible to book extra nights, before or after the workshop (info@chambresdamis.com)

INCLUDED:

- transfer from airport Marrakech to Riad Chambres d'amis (v.v.)
- shared twin bedroom (5 nights) including breakfast in Chambres d'Amis.
- 3 dinners & 4 lunches (drinks are not included)
- veggie cooking workshop
- collecting green memories in a herbarium
- all excursions in and around Marrakech

This workshop is a real treat for nature-loving enthusiasts. An adventurous journey to Marrakech, you can make on your own, while you will be 'pampered' and only have to enjoy and relax.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SPRING COOL CROCHET WORKSHOP
arrival: Wednesday 11th of April 2018 - leaving: Monday 16th of April 2018
(last minute offer € 650,00 per person)
AUTUMN COOL CROCHET WORKSHOP
arrival: Wednesday 3rd of October 2018 - leaving: Monday 8th of October 2018 (FULLY BOOKED)

Six days in Marrakech! Crochet while discovering Marrakech and surroundings in a very special and unique way. Price € 725,00 per person. The price is based on a shared twin bedroom and excluding flight ticket. It's always possible to book extra nights, before or after the workshop (info@chambresdamis.com)

PROGRAMME:

Buying wool, cotton and yarns in the souk. Urban jungle crochet at Jardin Majorelle. Crochet in the desert. Moroccan crochet in the open on the colourful Place des Epices. A daytrip to the Atlas mountains. Crochet on the roof of Maison de Photographie with it's wonderful view of the town... Delicious moroccan food and adventures in and around Marrakech make this travel-workshop never-to-be-forgotten!

INCLUDED:

- transfer from airport Marrakech to Riad Chambres d'Amis (v.v.)
- shared twin bedroom (5 nights) including breakfast in Chambres d'amis.
- 3 dinners & 4 lunches (drinks are not included)
- a daily crochet project with yarns, hooks and patterns
- all excursions in and around Marrakech

This workshop is a real treat for yarn lovers. An adventurous journey, you can make on your own, while you will be 'pampered' and only have to enjoy and relax.

If you would like to join one of the workshops, please send me an e-mail; info@woodwoolstool.com

The CC and GG workshops are a collaboration with my friend Ank van der Pluijm, owner of hotel CHAMBRES D'AMIS, green oasis in the Medina of Marrakech and our 'basecamp' during the workshops.

We start both workshops with a welcome dinner on the rooftop of Chambres d'Amis on the first night.

palmtree having its moment

Palmtree travel shoebag.

From one of the tryouts of the upcoming cool crochet workshop projects, I've made a matching travel shoe bag for my golden palm tree slingback pumps.
I attached one of the tiny CC palm projects to a linen shoe bag.

Those small bags are ideal for traveling; you can put in your lingerie, shoes, toiletries and loose parts in your suitcase, which makes it easier to pack and organize your travel luggage.

The bag completely fits into my 'golden palm phase'...

come to where the green is greener

How about a spring break in Marrakech?

Join us and spoil yourself with a green boost!

We only have one twin bedroom available for the upcoming Green Gardens workshop in April in hotel Chambres d'Amis, green oasis in the Medina.
In the past years I've visited quite some stunning gardens and oases in the medina and I fell in love with the amazing green gardens of Marrakech. For those out there, who can't or rather don't want to crochet, we will arrange an opportunity to discover Marrakech in an alternative way.
It's a great way to explore Marrakech and surroundings in a very authentic atmosphere!

The program of the new Green Gardens workshop is full of surprises.

Below just a small list of what you might expect in and around Marrakech;

- discover the hidden and secret gardens in the medina
- bike tour through the huge palmtree grove of Marrakech
- cook your own moroccan dishes under the banana trees in the veggie cooking workshop
- roadtrip to the high atlasmountains
- botanical garden picknick
- green, blue and yellow adventures at Jardin Majorelle
- chill 'french chic' between ancient olive trees
- collect green memories in a personal herbarium

...and many more green surprises!

GREEN GARDENS WORKSHOP Six days in Marrakech! Green is the theme. Price € 725,00 per person. The price is based on a shared twin bedroom and excluding flight ticket. It's not possible to book a single room. It's always possible to book extra nights, before or after the workshop (info@chambresdamis.com)
INCLUDED:
- transfer from airport Marrakech to Riad Chambres d'amis (v.v.) - shared twin bedroom (5 nights) including breakfast in Chambres d'Amis. (no single rooms available) - 3 dinners & 4 lunches (drinks not included) - veggie cooking workshop - collecting green memories in a herbarium - all excursions in and around Marrakech

PROGRAMME:
During the workshop we will visit and explore all kinds of gardens in and around Marrakech; An Arabic garden, a rose garden, botanical gardens, secret city gardens, city parks, hidden courtyards, an art garden, museum gardens and vegetable- and herb gardens.

To make the green theme complete, we will also organize a veggie cooking workshop under the banana trees (including vegetables & herbes shopping in de souk). We will make an adventurous bike ride to the gigantic palm grove and a roadtrip to the Atlas Mountains. All the participants will get an herbarium notebook, in which they can make daily sketches and collect green memories, such as leaves and seeds.
You will be surprised how green the Red City actually is. Urban jungle adventures with guided tours and delicious moroccan food, make this green travel-workshop unforgettable!

SPRING GREEN GARDENS WORKSHOP
arrival: Thursday 19th of April 2018 - leaving: Tuesday 24th of April 2018

AUTUMN GREEN GARDENS WORKSHOP
arrival: Thursday 11th of October 2018 - leaving: Tuesday 16th of October 2018

This workshop is a real treat for nature-loving enthusiasts. An adventurous journey to Marrakech, you can make on your own, while you will be 'pampered' and only have to enjoy and relax.

Come to where the green is greener! If you want to join us, just send me an e-mail... (info@woodwoolstool.com)