dutch design freak

/

I am taking so many photos that I can't keep pace here on the blog! So although I'm back the hotel after a nice Meet and Greet and Athenaeum (thank you Reny and Anneke and everyone who came through the rain!), these photos are from Eindhoven. In the atrium adjacent to the Art Hotel was the Dutch Design Freak exhibition. Some highlights:

Envelope Book

Jurianne Matter

Label Aleph

Miller Goodman at Piet Hein Eek

/

I have admired the work of MillerGoodman online—they produce clever and well-designed toy blocks for children (and adults) so I was excited to see their display at Piet Hein Eek. The assembled faces, above, are part of their book, Faces, which has been on my list for Finley. (And possibly a set of blocks, too, though we have so many toys that have lots of parts that I always seem to hunting for missing pieces.) Alas, lineup in the shop was too long and the break during Etsy presentations was too short. Good thing everything is available online in the MillerGoodman shop. { One more image on little U. }

Piet Hein Eek

/

The repurposed industrial complex where Hello Etsy was held is the property of Dutch furniture designer Piet Hein Eek. Housing his design, manufacturing and showroom along with ample exhibition spaces as well as other artist ateliers, a shop and a restaurant, the Piet Hein Eek complex is a place one could spend considerable time observing and learning, let alone doing and making. I can't describe how amazing Piet Hein Eek's studio is, so I will let the pictures speak. (Click on the images to view them larger.)

The photos below are from the shop and showroom. The number of people going through and visiting the Dutch Design Week exhibition stops was impressive!

Piet Hein Eek spoke about his process and approach to making and selling his furniture. I wanted to purchase his 500 page Boek but at 2kg, it was best not to have to carry it around.

hello etsy

/

Well, that was a great day! The entire Hello Etsy experience was terrific. My presentation went well and I was actually glad to have it over first so that I could relax.

Randy, Matt and Andrew from Etsy.

I met lots of wonderful people. I had lunch with Anne, John and Vera.

Here are fellow speakers Diane and Simone.

I got to meet some fabulous UPPERCASE contributors in person! That's Anna Denise on the left, me in the middle and Kim on the right. Anna has just begun a job with Etsy Netherlands and Kim was a panelist at the event (and we coincidentally feature her subscriber profile in the current issue that I had available in the goodie bags.)

It was lovely to meet Mitsy and her beautiful daughter. Mitsy was on the same panel as Kim, sharing their experience and expertise about selling on Etsy. I will try to round up a list of Etsy shops and links to the other people I met, but first I'm off to get some breakfast, see the grad show at the Eindhoven Academy and then take the train back to Amsterdam.

Thank you, Marta, for organizing a great event. Thank you to everyone at Etsy for your hospitality and generosity.

hello, hello etsy

/

This afternoon I went out exploring Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. (Pictures to come!) Then I headed over to Piet Hein Eek's amazing complex of studio, galleries, restaurant and design shop to see the Hello Etsy set up and make sure my presentation will work well. I look forward to hearing him speak tomorrow and sharing more images with you.

For now, here are some iphone shots of the speakers' dinner, held in the studio of Nacho Carbonell. As part of Dutch Design Week, Smalle Haven offers dinners catered in various artist's studio across the city. Although we were really cold and partially warmed by space heaters, it was a cool venue with great company. I'm kind of glad that my presentation is first (!!!) tomorrow morning so that I can get that done and enjoy everyone else's presentations stress-free. See you soon.

hello Etsy!

/

I have been invited to speak at Hello Etsy. In the Netherlands!

Hello Etsy: Small Business In A Big World, is a day-long gathering for small business owners who want to connect with their peers, learn new skills, and be part of the movement to build a better world. Taking place on October 27 in Eindhoven, The Netherlands during the internationally-renowned Dutch Design Week, the summit will investigate the changing global economy, and will offer valuable insights on how you can not only find financial success, but also reimagine your business as a tool for building a more fulfilling and lasting world.

I will have three days in Eindhoven and three in Amsterdam. An UPPERCASE meet and greet is being planned for October 29 in my fabulous stockist in Amsterdam, Athenaeum—more details to come. If you're in the city, please do stop by and say hello.

Do you have any suggestions for what I should see and do? Suggestions of people or studios to visit and interview for the magazine? Thank you!