A fulfilling 2015

Has it really been another year? Feels like we were just talking about 2014 not too long ago! Being closer to 2020 than we are to 2010.. Now that's a pretty strange thought to wrap my head around. But before we rush into the new year, the team took some time to look back on 2015.. While there were a lot on our hands, it has been a year of great joy and amazing experiences together with the Bloesem Team. We've had the opportunity to handle many fun and interesting projects from both new and longtime clients, and also some ventures of our own. We share with you here, our most memorable moments of 2015..

Visiting Design Kwartier in The Hague, Netherlands.

Countless Bloesem classes and being able to meet some of you guys!

Collaborations with some of the loveliest people to work with - Cuckoo, FP Juice and more..

Publishing 3 Bloesem Gazettes this year, plus our first Festive Gift Guide!

Moving and settling into our new black and white home.

Co-organising the Stock Up! Christmas Market together with DREAM and styling our first window display!

Working with Bosch to give our kitchen a gorgeous makeover.

The ETSY events we hosted and organised, and getting the chance to meet fellow makers.

Launch of our new portfolio website - Bloesem.co!

Designing our first ever kidswear collection with Le Petit Society..

Hopping on a plane to Amsterdam for the magical launch of The Green Gallery magazine!

It's strange how none of them felt that long ago! Certainly make great memories.. And for that, and all that Bloesem was able to do this year, we have the people who have supported us to thank. Thanks for joining us on this wild ride.. And stay tuned, we have much in store for you in the coming year!

So cheers to a New Year everyone! May the coming year be your best one yet!

.. Check out what we did in 2014 

Think merry thoughts

 

Glad to be joined by the lovely and joyful ladies of The Merrythought all the way from New York in our latest issue of the Bloesem Gazette in our Craft and Design section.. Their blog is a space for DIYs projects, yummy Instagram-worthy recipes, and their own inspirations, but we say they are pretty inspiring people themselves!

Read on for our little chat - where we remembered favourite projects, talked trends, and shared pro tips we could all take home..

What is you favourite DIY project so far?

One of our favourite projects is our hanging table. We love it because it's simple, natural and still very practical. It also uses wood from a tree that once stood at our family's farm which makes it extra special!

That's really cool! So I guess wood is one of your favourite materials to work with?

Wood and clay. They're raw and simple and the possibilities for projects are endless.

Where's the best place to go to for craft materials then? 

We love to repurpose items when we can, so we often use things we already have or have found at thrift stores or garage sales. We also incorporate nature when we can, so a walk through the woods for scavenged items is a favorite. The stores we visit the most for materials are usually Home Depot, local lumberyards, and Michaels.

Where are some places you go to find DIY inspiration? 

We love to browse Pinterest - it’s a great place for inspiration as well as to see what trends people are currently into.

Any crafters you guys find really inspiring?

We love Fall For DIY, Monsters Circus, Almost Makes Perfect, Homey Oh My, and the Crafted Life!

How do you avoid crafter's block?

Take breaks! And if a project doesn't inspire you, just leave it behind. If you're forcing yourself to do crafts that you don't want to do, you'll end up giving up on the crafts you did want to do as well.

What about avoiding a DIY flop? Any tips?

Do your research and make sure you make accurate measurements. We can't tell you the number of times we go to start a project only to realise we don't have the correct supplies or we cut a bunch of wood and was slightly off in the measurements and we have to go back and recut everything. So take your time. There are a lot of projects that we have tried over the years that have failed but it's just part of the process. Occasionally those failed projects turn into or inspire you to make a completely different project than what you originally had in mind too. So just go for it!

 

Share with us a form of craft you admire and would love to try, but have not.

We would love to learn calligraphy but it's very intimidating and we're not sure we have the patience for it!

Coming to the end of the year.. What do you think are the top 5 DIY/craft trends of 2015?

Plywood, marbling, watercolour, weaving and anything minimal.

Thank you ladies, for your wonderful contribution to our latest Gazette yet!

Photo Credits: The Merrythought

.. The Merrythought
.. Read the latest Bloesem Gazette

A Chat with Caroline Gomez

 

We have been long time fans of Caroline Gomez.. even writing about her work since the beginning of Bloesem! Besides being a designer, photographer, and art director, she also has a collection of home accessories and even authors her own books about travel and lifestyle.. Did you see them on our online store and pop ups?

It's so nice to have her contribute to our latest Bloesem Gazette which features some of our favourite creatives from all over the world. Here's more of what went down during our little chat with the lovely Caroline..

What is your favourite piece of furniture?

Rama chair by OXdenmarq. For me it is a perfect creation.. The right balance between aesthetics and evidence of form.

And the most interesting piece of furniture in your living room? Tell us about it.

My Danish couch dating 50 years back I found in a flea market for a few euros. It is beautiful, I love it.

Nice! We all love a good flea find. Do you have any tips for decorating on a budget?

It takes very little to create change. Use a lot of white in your decor, some well-chosen colours along with sleek and functional furniture that still has a healthy dose of personality.

What is the favourite spot in your home?

I love my bedroom.. to lie down on my bed to read a book or a magazine, to talk or play with my daughter. The light and the colours in my bedroom are very soft. It is a very pleasant and relaxing atmosphere.

What about your dream home? What are some of its attributes?

The use of crude materials, a soft atmosphere, large windows, lots of light, and a great view - especially of nature.

What's a good style, or colour scheme for it to take?

Minimalist, because it gives the home space for you to inject some personality, and definitely white! Always a good base to build the rest of your room around.

Share with us your top 5 favourite furniture brands and magazines.

My favourite brands will have to be &Tradition, Menu, Muji, Nikari and OX Denmarq. For magazines - Rum, Milk Decoration, ELLE decoration Norge, Inside out, and Freunde von Freunden.

What trends do you expect this coming 2016?

I think 2016 will bring us even closer to the use of raw materials. Items will also be simplified to be more versatile and to allow more mixed sets.

Thanks again Caroline, for your support all these years!

Photo credits: Caroline Gomez

.. Caroline Gomez
.. Read the latest Bloesem Gazette

NOORTJE

How was everyone's long Christmas weekend? No Monday blues for us over here.. The holiday spirit is still alive with all the leftover festive decor in the studio! Today, we're all over NOORTJE's first home accessories collection of cotton and linen textiles, which just launched a couple of days ago.. We think they pretty much got it right the first time! Her simple and clean designs, which are completely screen printed by hand, give the throws, blankets and cushions a soothing and positive vibe - perfect for unwinding. She also designed a couple of elegant brass ornaments for the holiday season, but don't let that stop you from getting them now.. Feel free to use them all year round! They double as fancy coasters or even some extra decoration for your favourite house plants..

.. NOORTJE

Merry Christmas

It's Christmas Eve?? How did that happen? The last thing I remember is my boys frolicking in the hot sun and water during summer break.. Time truly flies by you, eh? This year especially, it has been a really busy one for us with the growing company and a growing team to match, but we couldn't be more excited to be doing what we love.. And for that we have our amazing and supportive Bloesem readers to thank, who continue to inspire us to push out interesting and creative content. Thank you, for a smashing 2015! 

For now, it's time all of us (including you!) to take a little break and to spend some quality time with loved ones this long-awaited Christmas weekend. Happy Holidays from Bloesem to you!

Artful Desperado interview

Christmas is a time of good cheer, family, friends.. and great feasts! We bring you Artful Desperado today, a gorgeous food blog, all the way from Vancouver. As a free space for him to explore his creativity, Gabriel Cabrera really showcases his impressive styling and photography skills, along with his unique eye for colour, design and also art.. Not to mention his witty humour and laid pack personality that just shines through! We could just read his blog for hours.. There are pages and pages of exciting festive recipe inspirations.. But be warned - expect actual drooling!

Between handling his various projects, Gabriel was very kind to contribute to the Food section of our latest Bloesem Gazette, and even have a little chat with us.. Read on - the ultimate tip for the perfect sandwich is just right round the corner!

What do you think is the most versatile ingredient out there?

Chocolate! You can use it on both savoury and sweet dishes and, you eat it by itself. Everyday. If possible.

Oh how we all wish! Then what's your go-to sweet dish... for date night?

I'd say my go-to date night dessert is a chocolate ganache tart.

And your go-to drink?

An Old Fashioned. It's pretty hard to mess that one up!

What are some trends do you see in foodie culture?

I see people caring more and more about the overall nutrition in their meals. Before it was all about going big or going home (e.g. loads of butter, loads of cream, heaps of sugar), now people want food that looks beautiful, tastes great, and is healthy. I feel foodies currently stand in the intersection of photography, health, and minimal lifestyle.

Exactly! One thing that's often featured is eggs. How do you like yours?

Sunny side up.

Any tips to making the perfect sandwich?

Always use something to coat the bread to prevent it from getting soggy. Use something tasty like guacamole, chipotle mayo, or hummus.

What's your fondest comfort food, besides Chocolate?

Tacos. They remind me of home (Mexico) and that gives me the warm fuzzies.

What about your secret indulgences right now? Spill!

I secretly (not so secretly anymore) love deep fried chicken or pig skin with hot sauce and lime. My friends think it's atrocious. I think they're missing out!

What are the 5 places you go to for recipe inspirations? 

Food52, Bon Appetit Magazine, Donna Hay, Gather Journal, and Pinterest.

Any tips for people trying out food styling?

My top one would be lighting. Make sure to have enough light to showcase your dish. My personal favourite is soft defused light by a window. If you are not able to have good lighting, then don't take the photo, trust me, it's better to save the moment for later than to post a horrendous image that looks like roadkill.

Here's hoping our Christmas feast photos will look as great.. Thanks once again, Gabriel! 

Photo credits: Artful Desperado

.. Artful Desperado
.. Read the Bloesem Gazette Volume 5