GIVE AWAY on the NEW SITE

We're having a giving away! Maybe more...

Check, and leave a response, on the new website!

new post on new site!

New post on the new blog! From now on that's our blog!

This blog will be deleted in a few weeks. So make sure your links will be to the new blog.

See you there...

!!!! STUDIO SOIL IS OPEN!!!!

...and we're open!!!!
Check out our new website, blog and shop!!
And don't forget to change our link on your site/blog.
see you at SOIL

www.studiosoil.com

mantra

In the last days before opening the shop, this is my mantra..
Enjoy your Easter and enjoy the Sun.
Hope to see you Tuesday on the new blog!

SOIL

Tadddaaa! My new name and logo!!!! As you know, half a year ago, I started with another name but in the process of starting up, I changed. Lots of reasons, on which among some legal/law reasons, so after some creative evenings this is it. SOIL means earth, ground to grow on, that is fertile but it also has to do with dirt and stains. And all of that comes back in our label, in our products and in our vision. We believe that all comes from the earth and goes back in it and it's all about what we do with it, in the meantime... We are a 100% green label and think we have to recycle more, pay attention to how much waste we make. Our products are sustainable, 80% of our products are made of waste and all we do is as green as we can make/do it.

Starting up a green company can be difficult, I can tell you, and it seems we have a long, long way to go to get a more sustainable world. Searching for organic fabrics and yarns, for green packaging materials, a green printing office, etc is difficult. Not only are the choices for products or partners reduced from 10.000 to 10, you'll pay for green. A lot more!! And we will do that because we believe that it's not about the price we pay NOW, but it's about the price we pay in the FUTURE. But we have limits too.
For example, we are developing DIY kits. We tested different yarns and cottons. Some 100% organic, some half organic and blended with other materials. 100% organic cottons will be the best but paying over 6 euro a skein is too much (and that price is less if we buy 50.000 skeins at once but as you can understand we can't invest/afford these amounts). We have limits. So now we have skeins with 55% recycled cotton with 45% acrylic which are affordable. For now the best choice.

SOIL believes is growing. We see we live in a world were we want everything, NOW. And always the best because we have to keep our status high, let others see what we have. We want the best job, the best salary, two cars in front of our own big house. All the best.
We won't do that. We don't believe in it. So not everything will be as we want it to be. But we are starting and hope to grow. To grow bigger and have 100% organic cotton in the future. It's about the process, take care of (y)our soil, seed and grow... that's what it's all about.

clogs, flipflops and braces

Heading towards Tuesday 26 April for opening!! I think (no, I don't think, I know for sure, I think it's too much...) I work more then 12 hours a day. My day usually starts around seven hours in the morning and I stop between 12 hours and 4 hours at night ... But I do everything with so much love and so much fun. I have this quote from Confucius at my wall, which says: Give me a job that suits me, and I'll never have to work again. And that's how I feel. This doesn't feel like work.

But I cannot wait to show you everything!!! As said, I get a collection of vintage clothing. I will offer a wide range but specialized to the '60s to late '70s. Dresses. Lots of dresses! Beautiful 70's print blouses, long skirts, vintage boots but also real vintage braces. Occasionally I will have 'specials' such as a vintage children's shirts, very cool vintage puma and adidas jackets and shirts for the men.

For the summer I have a number of specials such as a vintage pair of wooden clogs and slippers. The pair above is soooo beautiful! I'm afraid you have to be quick for this one! But you're welcome on Tuesday night/morning, to lay under my 'shopping door' to be the first!

line, opening and crochet

My line is working again!!!!! I have Internet on a modem again. I'm soooo happy and at the same time, I don't have time to be happy because I lost a week of work which I have to catch up right now. The last two nights I worked till late in the night uploading pictures, adding text and finding out how the new blog is working. Yep, we're going to a new blog. Hope you all come along!!

I set a date to open. Yeeehhh! That will be Tuesday 26 April. (and for all of you who gave me a crafty picture, you'll hear from me, soon after opening!!). And I'm sure I still won't be ready to open then. But then again, I don't think that perfectionist in me, will think it's ever time to open! haha. In the next two weeks, I will tell you more about my label, the name (yep, new name) the store, the new blog, everything. I can't wait. Finally, it is time.

At the moment I start the day with 5 minutes of just picture browsing on tumblr and pinterest. I don't have time to read and I have to feed my mind every day.. So browing pictures is very fine for now. Picture above is a photo from tumblr. I love, love this shot. Off course the crocheted top make it!! The colours, the shape. I totally dig this top! The whole shot is perfect too.

things

I have been ignoring my blog the last week. I had too because otherwise you'll only read mad, angry posts from a freaked out woman. I had a hell week, I can tell you!
In really, really short.. Last Monday I should be connected to a new Internet provider. Now it's Sunday and I don't have a connection anymore. I spend over 30 hours calling (at the moment the standing is over 4 hours of calling 0900 numbers and those cost a lot..), filling in forms, calling, calling, waiting for mechanics, again calling..

The most worst part is that the design/system for my website/shop is ready. That's been closed for public until all is ready and filled. And there is a lot, al lot of work to do before opening!!
At the moment only the graphic design agency and I can work on the site and see it, IF they (the agency) fill in my IP address in their system. But because my normal modem/line isn't working, I have a connection through a USB stick but that IP is constantly changing. So for almost five days now I can't see, and can't work on the website.

At the moment I'm pretty calm. But really I had my tough moments last week and that's mostly because you're so powerless against such large companies. Now I'm more able to see perspective. Still seeing all that is happening in Japan, in Libie.. I know, maybe you can't compare or relevate with those situations but for me, it makes me realise my problem is nothing. Seeing the shooting yesterday in Alphen, my thing is nothing. Absolutely nothing. Two parents found out they have a (dead) killer for a son and so many others have lost their lives yesterday or live with a trauma the rest of there lives, because of him. Not being able to work on a website, have a normal connection to the Internet is nothing then.

So, as you can read. It was a good decision to leave my blog.. It's not nice to read posts from a freaking, going mad and sad, woman.

And that picture.. Just go and see here a great tutorial to spice up your shoes (for Summer). I love this simple idea. And me personally, I don't walk on such heels.. But this tutorial is great to spice up your flipflops!!!

Have a good Sunday, you all.

they put a SPELL on you

Even if you don't like jewellery, you don't like the gypsy look.. have nothing with leather or with feathers... I think you still love all the jewellery from SPELL designs. They put a spell on you. And if not, you have to love their photography! (and their models, who are the prettiest in the world)

source: SPELL designs, the blog

vintage craft books

I can't remember the last time I didn't write a blog post or read another blog for almost a week. All my time is going into the new website/shop. And in the last two weeks, that needed to go in gear 3 instead of gear 5. But my concussion is over! Thank you, thank you for your sweet reactions and emails!! So sweet! I'm fine again, thanks!

In this post: a great catch that arrived yesterday!! As you know, I love vintage craft books and old knitting and crochet patterns. It's hard to find the real, real vintage (almost antique) magazines but after a half year, I did a great deal! Found all the complete volumes (1951 to 1958) of a Dutch craft magazine. I love it!!!!!
(so funny.. the top pictures is from 1956, the year they started with a color printed front page!!)