Christien Meindertsma’s awarded book PIG 05049 illustrates 187 products containing pig components

My favorite designer is Christien Meindertsma.

She is on a quest to connect people to the source of daily products. She follows a pig from birth to abattoir and illustrates with pictures of products how each part of the pig is used for consumer goods. She is matter of fact. She collects data and info. No detail is too small to be noticed. She leaves no source unmentioned, yet leaves out all that isn’t relevant. Her research and presentations are Zenlike, minimalistic and simple. In all her projects she creates awareness, she takes you by the hand and leads you to the source of matter. All steps are respected and transparent. In her design process she goes back to the origin of matter and starts from there. She prefers to work with local craftspeople and producers. Where most designers can’t wait to go to the future, Christien slows us down and shows us where it all starts. She is the past, present and future of design!

www.christienmeindertsma.com

White is my favourite colour. It contains the DNA of all colours.

We are living in a world of duality, yet white doesn’t take sides.

White is unity, oneness, the womb of all creation. The forever now.

White is beyond time and yet the source of all.

It is the place where stillness resides and duality meets in harmony.

Peace likes to call it home.

Come and visit the place of whiteness.

Be blank and let go of the burdens of memory.

White washes away the past and if we let go, it opens the doors to the future.

I invite you to meet me there.

You can reset your watch, leave all your ‘to do’ lists at the entrance,

while entering the eternal now.

Enlighten your life and live light.

It’s free.

(ps If you like to receive postcards from my visits to the place of whiteness

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Here’s to the crazy ones (3)

Charlie Chaplin

When a silent actor starts to speak. His final speech in the Great Dictator.

Still valid today…will we ever change…

Miss Japan. England, South Africa, Brazil,… banners

Here’s to the crazy ones (2)

Arthur Bispo do Rosário

After a vision of Christ and seven blue angels Arthur Bispo do Rosário (Brazil 1909-’89) never seized to work on his task to make an inventory of everything and everybody worthy for the Day of Judgment. He didn’t seek God, but he was God. He presented himself at a monastery in Brazil, but was sent to a psychiatric hospital, where he spent the rest of his life (50 years!). Sleeping hardly, unraveling hospital uniforms and linen, turning them into banners and ceremonial garments with the obtained greyish-blue threads. Making poetic installation from daily objects. His collection of 804 pieces are now part of Brazil’s national heritage. Stored in a museum of contemporary art with his name in Rio de Janeiro. In the hospital were he spent most time of his life.

The lungs of the earth show me their naked truth

It’s the shortest day of the year

I celebrate the winter solstice giving gratitude to the trees

Stillness

Inside me a song emerges ‘Give me love, give me love,

give me peace on earth, give me light, give me life…’

I google the words and discover it’s written by George Harrison

Like a mantra the melody and words stay with me through the day

An internal conversation between a lower self and a Higher Self..

Happy with Harrison I sing along

Eat Love performance in Budapest

Marije Vogelzang’s installation in Budapest is a beautiful example that reminds us again that food is more than just taste. The more love we put in our food, the more love we will receive in eating it. Taking care of our food, the way it is prepared, the way it is shared, the way it has been grown and the way we eat it, is true nourishment for body and soul.

Shared with love.

2011

What a great way to think about the new clothing collection!

How much could we save if we could just grow our own clothes….and do more with less! Oh , I could think of many more inspiring, life changing, interesting new ideas to start the future of clothing instead of just thinking about next seasons colours, fabrics, shapes of dresses, tops, bottoms and accessories!

What if all designers should really think about creating a sustainable next collection? Pieces that would stay with us forever? Clothing that would heal us, support our growth, while at the same time be highly personal and will express our uniqueness. What if design would not be driven by the economy, commerce and the industry, but by really making a difference and by making something that really matters?

Enjoy nature with autumn in the air

Go with the leaves and let the wind take your worries

Let go of all that what is of no need anymore

Let go of all pain and sorrow

Let go and make room for the present

Make room for the good that will come

Let go with an attitude of gratitude

Say thank you and all will be fine!

Beyond words..the work of land artist Strijdom van der Merwe

An inspiring meeting with him in Stellenbosch, South Africa

February 2011

In my childhood I saw a future with lots of kids. I didn’t mother any kids other than the kids of friends.

In the meantime the world population has doubled since my birth! More people to share this planet with than I could ever dream of. More people to feed, to dress, to house and to care for. More people to share the same amount of air, water, sun, and earth with.

That makes me wonder. What is the need for humanity to grow so fast? Where and how do we make use of this energy that flows through us? In which chapter are we in the story of the universe? How do all these houses of energy, with their eyes, ears, voices, hands and feet give shape and change the cosmos?

What a difference can we create, with this power that runs through us. We can make or brake things. Let’s do it with love.