Famille Summerbelle

My Little Voyageurs interview on my favorite kids friendly spots in Amsterdam

A few months ago, before we even had planned to move, I met up with Charlotte Burgoyne, the co-founder of My Little Travellers, a reference blog for traveling families.
We met in one of my favourite café near our home in De Pijp.
Charlotte is a well travelled French mum who happened to be visiting Amsterdam with her family so I was very happy to meet up with her while she was here as she now lives in Algeria with her husband and their two young daughters.
We could have talked for hours about far destinations and our passion for travelling with our family.
Head to My Little Travellers to read the full interview where I share my favorite kids friendly spots in town.

World Illustration Awards - Somerset House

I wanted to share with you some images of the World Illustration Awards exhibition that was held on 7th June at Somerset House in London. I was very happy to be there for the opening ceremony and to see my paper cut map of Copenhagen as part of the 200 shortlisted illustrations on display.

We all cheered the winners who were announced on that evening. The talented Stevie Gee won two awards. One as Professional Overall Winner for designing a range colourful and interactive boxes for Stella McCartney Kids underwear, and another one in the Advertising Category for his Here to Create campaign for Adidas.
One of my favourite was also the work of Swedish-based illustrator Monika Vaicenaviciene who designed a stunning book 'What is a River' who won an award for the Overall New Talent category.

A small description of the show by the Association of Illustrators who is the organiser of this wonderful event:
The exhibition, held in Somerset House’s Embankment Galleries, is the largest World Illustration Awards show to date, showcasing the full shortlist of 200 works. It explores what illustration means today, how it shapes our world and charts how the art form itself is changing. At once global and personal, visitors can expect to be inspired by this diverse, engaging exhibition. This annual survey of the best illustration globally will explore where illustration is now, and where it is heading in the future. As WIA judge Rob Alderson of WeTransfer says “in a visual culture dominated by photography, illustration provides a deliciously different way to see the world.”

Photo Credit Josh Redman.

Photo Credit Josh Redman.

Photo Credit Josh Redman.

My paper cut map of Copenhagen was shortlisted under the Design Category:

The WIA exhibition ends on 20th June but will go on tour in different venues in the UK and will also travel to Seoul Illustration Fair

Seydou Keïta at Foam Amsterdam

I had the most wonderful Sunday celebrating Mother's Day on a boat with the family. As it was early morning we took a flask of coffee and some patisseries for a very special breakfast in the beautiful canal rings.

Later my daughter and I went to the Foam Photography museum to cool down (it was so hot by 11am!) and to see the stunning portraits of Malian photographer Seydou Keïta.
As a teenager Keïta was given a camera by his uncle and fell in love with the medium while learning how to master the technical skills to shoot and to print in black and white.
In 1948 he opened up his studio in Bamako that became very successful with families, individuals, couples and children.
He liked to use a pattern backdrop and props such as music instruments, Vespa, hats, costumes and even his own luxury car.
He would also hang a backdrop in a courtyard and have beautifully dressed women queuing up to have their photo taken. The photographer would always gently direct them how to take the best pause.

A visit to Popham Design in Marrakech

If you think of cement tiles, no doubt you'll have one of Popham Design image saved in your Pinterest board (like mine on Floors) or in your Inspiration folder. Every single interior mag has been featuring stunning homes decorated with the highly colourful and bold patterns of Caitlin and Samuel Down-Sandes, the owners of the brand. They have revolutionised cement tile designs thanks to their vision and collaborative projects with international designers such as Claesson Koivisto Rune who designed the iconic Dandelion tile.

ZigZag and Do You tiles:

So when I knew we were going to Marrakech this Winter I immediately contacted their Head Office which is located at about 10mn car drive from the city center.

We were greeted by the lovely Mariam who proudly showed us around their beautiful showroom, with floor to ceiling examples of their most iconic designs.

Here is Lucien in his djellaba in front of the blue and white wall panel featuring the ZigZag pattern.

Pentagone design:


Splinter asymmetrical design:

Mariam offered to give us a tour of their nearby factory and ask the kids if they wanted to make their own tile. The answer was a cheerful YES! OUI!
Our first impression beyond the amazement of the fine craftsmanship was the smile and the warm welcome we received from the artisans. They were so happy to share their skills and knowledge of their craft with us. It felt like entering into a large friendly family.
The children were fascinated by the process of layering the pigments, marble powder and cement into the different sections of the moulds. Each tile is entirely made by hand by these skilled artisans.

ZigZag design with a different pattern layout.


Check out their Pinterest, Instagram and website for an overview of their huge collection and colours.

Dutch Design Week 2017

The Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven ended last Sunday. I wanted to share with you some of my highlights.
Ophelia and I left early morning by train from Amsterdam to meet with my younger sister Charlotte in Eindhoven. Charlotte studied Product Design at the Design Academy, she knew the town very well and most ex-students exhibiting so we were very pleased to have her as our guide!

We started with a coffee and chocolat chaud at Usine to plan our day as there were so many events and things to see in one day. We knew we couldn't see everything. Imagine an entire city devoted to design, it's pretty overwhelming - in a good way! Btw I would recommend to have some sort of transportation to go from one event to the next as some venues are located on the outskirt of town. The DDW offers some taxi (free) rides but there's often a long queue.

Hot chocolate with chantilly anyone?!


Cute green little kids corner at Usine.

Our first stop was Hardcore exhibition by Core Studio. It took us a while to find the entrance, after realising that the event was on the lower ground floor of a car park.

Ophelia was intrigued by this foamed bookshelf by Onno Adriaanse.

Envisions:
This year Envisions collaborated with the Spanish wood manufacturer Finsa. The idea was not to show the final product but instead to show the process that is rarely shown to the public. Envisions believes that experimentation is key to good design and leads to new ideas and innovation.
That is the driving force of Envisions, a Dutch collective directed by Sanne Schuurman and Simone Post, presenting everything except the final product.

Envisions books are available to purchase here.

Recolored, A new way of recycling by Jessica den Hartog.

Self reflection in a Lex Pott and David Derksen oxidised mirror.

Lex Pott, detail of Fragments of Nature Log.

Stripe paper yarn by Dienke Dekker.

Huge balloons covered with Sunbrella fabric, by Charles Pétillon.

GOLD Limited Edition City Map Paper Cuts

Just in time for the holiday season, we've introduced a very special GOLD LIMITED EDITION of our most popular city map paper cuts such as Amsterdam, Paris, London, San Francisco and NYC.

It's the perfect gift just to yourself or a particularly special family member!

Every single parcel that leaves our building is lovingly gift wrapped, so it's ready to be dispatched directly to the lucky recipient.

Happy Holidays with love from La Famille Summerbelle!

Would you like to join La Famille Summerbelle?

The Friends Book is here!

I am very happy to finally announce the launch the Friends Book, Vrienden Boek in Dutch.
It’s been such a pleasure to collaborate on this book with my friend Esther from Babyccino Kids and the wonderful Snor publisher. We started to work on this project back in September so I can tell you it is really nice to finally hold a copy in my hand and show you some images.
I was very excited when Esther ask me to work with her to design all the illustrations of the book, I mean how fantastic is to work with a friend on such a lovely project.

This is a book for your children to share with their friends. It’s about who they are today, about their family and friends and what they would like to become one day. They are really sweet and fun questions such as ‘what is the best thing you and I have done together’ and there are spaces to draw ‘your dream house’ or even ‘I made this for you’.
There is a double page for the owner of the book and for each friend to fill in and lots of funky stickers to spice up the pages.

As you can see the book is written in Dutch, so this is for you my Dutch friends readers! We’re hoping to launch an English version of the book soon for the non Dutch readers like me!

If you are in Amsterdam this Sunday 19th April, come over in De Pijp to the new kids concept store De Kleine Parade for the launch party of the Vrienden Boek.
An old VW van will be parked outside the shop with a photo booth inside so the children can have their passport photo taken to stick in the book!
From 14.30 until 17h. 142/144 Gerard Doustraat, Amsterdam

I hope to meet you there on Sunday!

You can also buy a copy of the book here.

Ophelia & Lucien's creative corner

The best thing we did in the kids bedroom is to have a long desk with a chest of drawers on both ends for their little belongings and enough desk space to draw, cut, make collages and other things. Ophelia and Lucien love spending hours on their desk after their come back from school.
The desk and chest of drawers are both from Ikea.
The star garland from Engelpunt
Rabbit print and House box from Famille Summerbelle :-)

Baby Téo

This is a belated announcement on the blog (sorry my dear blog followers!), we had a new addition to our family at the beginning of March: a little baby boy named Téo!
We are so happy and excited to finally meet him, especially Ophelia and Lucien who were very eager to see him after this long 9 months wait...
Téo was born in Amsterdam, not at home which is very common here, but in a very nice birth center, in a room with a large bath. I was able to relax in warm water during the whole labour. It's wonderful how the warmth of the water can ease the pain of contractions. My amazing midwife Paloma who was there Lucien's birth 5 years ago came especially from Paris to Amsterdam for the birth of Téo. This made a huge difference as I was so relaxed to have her with me.

Téo was born at 1am and I was back home in my bed by 4pm. This is the Dutch way! If you have a natural birth (with no epidural, cesarian or any complications) you don't stay in hospital, you go straight home after the birth. I was actually really pleased to go home. I felt good after the birth and I just wanted to go home to sleep in my own bed.

The amazing thing here in the Netherlands is the care after birth. The day after you give birth, a nurse - called a kraamzorg - comes to your house for 8 days to look after you and the baby. She will assist you with breastfeeding, look after the children, make you lunch. She will make sure you get enough rest. You stay in bed with your baby while she looks after the house. I had a lovely lady looking after me.
This was the best recovery I had so far after the birth of my children (Ophelia was born in London and Lucien in Paris).

Téo is doing very well. He is feeding a lot and keeps me awake most nights so far but surprisingly I feel very good! Here are some photos I wanted to share with you...

Have a nice weekend!

The children are in the French Alps with their grandparents while I'm patiently waiting for baby number 3 to arrive next week...maybe!
Have a nice weekend!

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you all a very happy and merry Christmas with your family and friends!
Big love from la Famille Summerbelle.

Christmas spirit

Less than 10 days to go until Christmas! It is going so so fast and so much to do. This is some Christmas inspiration from my Pinterest Christmas board. Oh I love Christmas and how creative one can be around that time of year!


1.Paper doily xmas trees DIY.
2.Advent calendar from Mokkasin.
3.Paper tree origami garland from Nurin Kurin.
4.Antique glass trees found on Anthropologie.

5. Merry Xmas biscuits by A Table for Two.
6.Hand painted pine cones by Torie Jayne on Flickr.
7.Glitter reindeer as seen on Sweet Paul.
8.Proof!

Our Christmas tree

I love the excitement we all have every year when the time comes of choosing and buying the Christmas tree; bringing it home and getting the boxes from the basement with all the Christmas decorations nicely folded in tissue paper from the previous year!
This is what we did this weekend.
It was so cold outside (below zero) here in Amsterdam that the only thing we wanted is to put the fire on, sit by the Christmas tree while watching Miracle on 34th Street!

A couple of years ago I made these stars to decorate our tree.
They are very simple to make and it is a nice activity to do with the children (Lucien painted the stars while Ophelia did the glitter).
Buy some clay (the one I used was just plain/normal clay), cut about 20 shaped stars, let them dry.
Paint the stars with a paint primer to protect the clay (ie:Gesso) and then use your favourite colour (acrylic paint) and lots of glitter!

New product: HOUSE BOXES and a new website!

We are so excited to be able to share with you what we have been working on over the past few months, our House Boxes!

Our pack of four colourful houses is a fantastic solution for storing all of your small objects in a stylish and fun way.

The House boxes come as a pack of four colours (pink, blue, black and mustard) and the design is featured on all sides, so you can keep turning and playing with combinations!

Featuring our familiar paper cut style design, these four house boxes are made from strong cardboard. Great solution for living rooms, bedrooms and offices.

The 4 houses are shipped as a flat pack in reinforced packaging.
They are incredibly straightforward to assemble, and can be dismantled and rebuilt as many times as you need!

We are very happy to have collaborated with the talented photograph and stylist Aurélie Lecuyer from Le dans La for this new collection. We have worked with her for our previous collections and it's always a pleasure to see her beautiful photos.

We've also had a little makeover at Famille Summerbelle. Check out our new website, with a clearer navigation, larger images and an easy way to look at our products.

I hope you'll like it as much as we do!

Last couple of days: enjoy 30% off our birch wood trays!

Only 2 days left to receive 30% off our collection of birch wood trays: £17.50 instead of £25!

Dutch Design Week 2014

The Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven is one of the biggest event happening in October in the Netherlands and it is really worth going (18-26 Oct). The quality of work from Dutch designers is outstanding and so inspiring. The event is taking over the entire town of Eindhoven, offering numerous exhibitions, seminars, workshops, parties, food and drinks. Altogether there are more than 300 events at 80 different venues!
My sister Charlotte is graduating in December from the prestigious Design Academy. She invited my family over to spend the weekend in Eindhoven to show us the different events and to visit the graduation show at her school. We had such an amazing time, thanks also to the most beautiful weather. It felt like Spring time!

I will show you a selection of images of my favourite events and designers I discovered over the weekend:

We Make Carpets by Dutch trio Bob, Marcia and Stijn. Not the kind of carpet you would expect. You cannot walk on them. From a distance they may look like a carpet but come closer to discover a carpet made of pasta, colourful sponges, beer bottles, fire crackers, pegs, wooden sticks or some other everyday product.

Wooden model by Floris Hovers:

Graduation project at the Design Academy by Anne Ligtenberg:

Graduation project from the Design Academy by Debby Yu.

Lunch on the sunny terrasse in the Strijp Area. There is a huge skate park right next door. We also went for a coffee at Pastry Club located in a reconverted factory.

On Sunday after a long breakfast sitting outside in the sun, we all went to visit the Piet Hein Eek factory where he reconverted an old Philips building into his workshop, showroom, shop, restaurant and studios for up and coming Dutch designers. It is such a wonderful and inspiring place to visit.
Piet Hein Eek huge workshop:


Piet Hein Eek signature table made of small recycled wood blocks:


Wood patterns:




Ceramics rENs, exploring the colour red on different ceramic objects.

Furniture and textures by Dirk Van Der Kooij:

Ceiling lampshades by Lotty Lindeman and Wouter Scheublin.

Light Forest by Ontwerpduo:


Tallow candles by Ontwerpduo:

Dutch sky

Sunday on the beach, 30 minutes drive from Amsterdam. No wind, delightful temperature, lunch in the sun and a long walk on the beach. More Sundays like this please.

Holidays

Sorry for the lack of blog posts over the past weeks. We have been away in the South West of France, in Cahors where we go every Summer in August to spend time with my family. We don't have internet connection in our country house and I have to say it is really nice to be disconnected! Twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays the most amazing food market is taking place in front of the Cathedral in Cahors. I love going there to buy saucisson, garlic, olives, Cabécou (the local fresh goat cheese) and large juicy tomatoes that taste so good! I wish we could have this kind of fresh and tasty food all year round!

Inspiring 48h in London

I wanted to share with you some inspiring photos I took while I was in London last week. I was there to work in the Famille Summerbelle studio in Finsbury park. On Saturday I met with my younger sister Emeline (we call her Milou!) who lives in Shoreditch for a nice breaksfast at Albion. She took me in all the cool shops in the area. Oh and I also went on Regent street to Anthropologie and J Crew. There were so many nice things to buy!

The Handweavers Studio on Seven Sisters Road.

Anthropologie, Regent Street.

J Crew, opposite Anthropologie on Regent Street.

Albion on Boundary Street.

Nice pattern on the front of the building Forge & Co on Shoreditch High Street

Opposite, Ace Hotel and Hoi Polloi restaurant with the pretty That Flower Shop.

Custom made umbrellas at Lockwood Umbrellas on Shoreditch High Street.

You Can Now shop on Rivington Street and I really recommend reading their magazine.

Labour and Wait on Redchurch Street.