Nancy van den Boom

new site

2011-04-07T13:21:00.000-07:00

hi,

here you can find my new site

will you follow me there? Please take a look at the site my son built for me!

Nancy

New site

2011-03-20T08:02:00.001-07:00

Hi,

I hope you want to follow my new site at

www.nancyvandenboom.com

please take a look if you want to.
This blogger-blog will be empty from now on.

thanks,
Nancy

New Website

2011-03-15T11:28:00.000-07:00

Please visit me HERE @ WWW.NANCYVANDENBOOM.COM

You can follow me in my new personal website!

thanks!

Nancy

Personal Website On line Today

2011-03-14T09:06:00.001-07:00

Yes! Today my personal website is on line

www.nancyvandenboom.com

I hope you like what you see. Bas has put a lot of effort in this website and I think he did a great job.
Some of you will remember my question: how should I call my personal website. I got some nice suggestions, this is the name:

"Nancy van den Boom vibrant oil painted jewelry"

that is what it is!

If you feel like it, please follow my blog on the new website and comment.
I will be posting a post soon about a give-away (one of the oil painting jewelry-collection)! I will be making a special one for that occasion.

And to celebrate today's launch, I show our most Togetherpiece,
the Red Rose.

I hope my personal website will bloom just like this rose.

New Site

2011-03-13T03:33:00.000-07:00

This week my own website will go live! My son Bas made it for me. Bas is studying to be graphic designer/programmer and he is very good at it.

The result of his effort will be a crisp design, quite minimalistic, which I love. Besides this, my work can be found more easily on the immense world wide web, with my own site. This is important when you want to be known and sell your products.
This is all about SEO>>Search Engine Optimization.

When the site is ready I will let you know. I hope you like it enough to be following me there!

I see most of us use blogspot for there posts, in combination with links to their shops on Etsy or other webshops. And they all look personal and interesting.
KIM from www.viltalakim.com has her own domain too and I find her site very inspiring!

thank you Kim, for the inspiration!

RED ROSE, from work in progress to Saturday Shopping

2011-03-11T07:43:00.001-08:00

New pendant in the making. A round one, with just a simple touch of the silver.
A vibrant Red Rose in oil paint. Diameter pendant will be 35 mm.

The tiny painting

Cor sawing the round in the silver

And here is the result of painting and metalsmithing and taking beautiful pictures, please click on the picture for more information on ETSY.

For some more Saturday Shopping please visit the Saturday Shopping Blog from SANDRA!

Witchy

2011-03-05T22:25:00.000-08:00

Some of you know Witchy already. Here I show you some of the many (about 30) pastel paintings I made in 2006 about Witchy and her Friends in The Wood.
It was a great joy meeting Witchy and have a look into her hidden life in The Woods.
Thanks Witchy!

Under the Tree, Saturday Shopping

2011-03-04T12:25:00.000-08:00

My friend Jana from Helmitarha worked like crazy this week. First the Rose Cuff. And yesterday she finished the Under the Tree Necklace, our second Togetherpiece!

It is very exciting for me, to see what Jana does to my paintings. And we are planning to do lots more of these Togetherpieces in the future. It makes it very special to work together like this. The surprise and magic are very special and inspirational.

And here is the link to the listing in Jana's shop!

Made in The Netherlands and Finland. We wonder to which country it will travel one fine day!

Next piece will be pink!

Another Togetherpiece with Cor I will post later today.

BythewaY: 99 sales in my shop!

For more Saturday Shopping please take a look in Sandra's Blog!

Rose Cuff Togetherpiece Project with Jana

2011-03-04T06:24:00.000-08:00

Today the Rose Cuff Togetherpiece of Jana Trupovniece and me arrived!
I painted the rose, I sent it to Jana some weeks ago and Jana made the wonderful cuff with the rose as the heart! AND sent it back to me, in perfect condition and with a lovely note, beautiful giftbox, care instructions.....How perfect can something be?
The cuff is very comfortable wearing, with the soft suede on the inside of the cuff and the flexibility of the cuff...

Thank you dear Jana for your generousity by giving our first Togetherpiece to me!

I will wear this wonderful Cuff with much pride and think of our friendship and working together!

Our next piece will be shown and listed today!

Poppies

2011-03-03T22:14:00.000-08:00

A selection of some great pieces of art with Poppies. A flower I love so much (is this news?)

Poppy Earrings (click on picture for more information)

Poppy glass-set

Poppy Artwork 3

Poppy Handbag

Poppy Skirt

And this one by me, will be turned into a handmade silver pendant by Cor today!

Way too early to bloom in the Netherlands, but blooming on ETSY !

Here you find information on this "common" and so very loved Poppy!

If you want to add links to works with poppies in your comments, please do, then I'll add them in this blogpost. Thanks!

First Togetherpiece Sold

2011-03-02T13:20:00.000-08:00

We are very proud the first handmade silver pendant, made by Cor is sold today!

The necklace is sold to Rena Klingenberg and that is very special, since she is a maker of fantastic jewelry herself. She has a lots of websites, and written books about making and selling jewelry.

You can imagine how thrilled we are.

Thank you so much Rena for encouraging us even more ;-)

Love Bracelet as first result of working together!

2011-02-28T11:05:00.000-08:00

Some weeks ago I sent two tiny paintings to Jana because we thought it would be nice to work together! When jana saw the paintings she immediately had ideas what to do with it!

With the Red Rose Oil Painting she made a very romantic and lovely bracelet with very special beads and green pearls!

This is what Jana says in her blog: "The tiny precious painting is surrounded by glass seed beads, including vintage Czech Charlottes, and beautiful green freshwater pearls. Outside of the cuff is covered with red leather, but the inside is lined with soft ultrasuede".

We are up to working more together and we hope you like it!

And as we were discussing where and how to list this beauty, Jana surprised me to the bone with her wish to give the cuff to me. The first work of collaboration is special she said and she wants me to have it. What can I say else than : Thank You dear Jana?
I am touched by your gesture.

Thank you Jana for making such a masterpiece around my tiny Red Rose Oil Painting and being so generous to give this precious piece to me. I will cherish it as the start of a wonderful friendship and collaboration.

New pendants

2011-02-26T09:39:00.000-08:00

Today Cor and I listed our first 2 works of collaboration on ETSY: oil painting by me, and metalsmithing and taking awesome pictures of the result by Cor. To me it is amazing that Cor can make these beautiful pendants with only 1 day course at a befriended metalsmith. How lucky I am and I know it. Cor has a very technical background and has worked (when he was young(er)) with all kind of metals....that surely helps us now!

We are very happy with the result after all preperations and will be celebrating this evening.
I guess with painting and metalsmithing.

Red Rose in silver pendant

Pink Rose in silver pendant

For some more Saturday shopping see Sandra's blog!

New line of pendants work in progress

2011-02-21T07:57:00.000-08:00

Cor is on the go!

The pendant needs finishing with a matte effect, just like the first one in my previous post.
Cor ordered the brushes for it, but we wanted to show you this stage in the process.

The second one went lots smoother for Cor than the first. He's a brilliant self-taught student metalsmithing!
The tiny painting is "sunk" in the silver. When the pendants are ready, we'll take pictures to show this.

30 x 50 mm sterling silver
3 mm thick
39 gram

Today we ordered chains and clasps. Cor has plans to make his own chains soon.

Now we are designing a special pendant: a tiny painting of a Bluetit on a branch and the branch will go on in silver on the pendant...

I worked on the Bluetit today. Size of the pendant will be 35 x 35 mm, but Cor will use a different technique to make the pendant bit lighter!

Work in Progress

2011-02-19T10:25:00.000-08:00

Cor says: NOT READY YET. "You have to tell everyone that it is not ready yet!".

But I am so proud of Cors first piece of metalsmithing.
Two plates became 1 massive piece of wonderful first class silver and oh yes, including my tiny painting ;-)
I asked him to make the frame for the painting in the lower right corner to make the composition interesting....
and I think it works well.

The comments on Facebook encourage us to keep the clean look of the silver in combination with the effect of the painting.
The contrast works well we think too. First we thought the surface had to be hammered or get another effect, but this looks fine already, but needs to be finished properly.

When ready I will post pictures again, ofcourse.

measurements:
32 grams
3 mm thick
35 x 35 mm

1 House, 2 Workspaces!

2011-02-18T03:03:00.001-08:00

What a special day today.
I was painting in my tiny studio downstairs, Cor working upstairs in his workingspace with silver first time!

A beautiful piece of silver in Cor's hands

My beloved desk with all I need for painting

The tiny Robin for the commissioned necklace

We are some lucky guys here and we know it and cherish it.

Update Friday Afternoon

Update 2

Cor worked on the two plates, and cut the frame in the upper plate. He also made the loop.
Everything needs a lot of work still ofcourse, but Cor surely is on his way!!

Good week!

2011-02-17T10:37:00.000-08:00

I like to share some happy stats for this week:

- Jana Trupovniece from Helmitarha and me working together on our secret project we are so excited about. Try to figure out what we're up to.

- Cor last supplies for the metalsmithing arrived

- My painted jewelry arrived safely at Cristina & Herman's

Cri-Cri shop at the Overtoom 303 in Amsterdam!

Cara Bella Cristina Pacciani

My necklaces close to the beautiful felted scarfs by Cristina

In the shopwindow, on the beautiful plate my "eye candy oil painted jewelry" as Cristina calls the rings and brooches!

Some more happy stats:

- Today I got a wonderful commission from a lady from the United States for a silver pendant with a Puffin and a Robin! It will be a present for her Mother end of March, when she becomes 70 (and her husband's name is Robin, that's great!).

It will be in a silver pendant like this:

- I made some tiny paintings for Cor's silver pendants already....soon to be shown!

- Working for 3 weeks now in my new job (still for the city of Haarlem) with my wonderful collegues and so happy with the move.

Bit early perhaps, but wishing you a wonderful weekend already.

Nancy

Short Visit

2011-02-11T13:11:00.001-08:00

I was working on my laptop this evening and suddenly I saw our cat Deurtje walking in. He lives with another family since 1,5 years. They adopted him, and he's their only cat, he likes that!
He left us because he thinks our other 3 cats are annoying. He's an adventurer and was travelling between his two homes for about 2 years (2 km in between the homes). He's a wonderful red tabby and with pain in my heart I let him go 1,5 years ago.

My heart jumped of joy when I saw him! And he was so joyfull! He looked very well and happy. He did not forget about us!

this is him, sorry for the bad pictures!

I fed him chickenmeat, he walked about a bit and left again....

Thank you dear Tomcat for the short visit, I am so glad you are doing well!

(ohhhh tough to say goodbye again).

Work in progress Silversmithing

2011-02-11T01:28:00.001-08:00

The last few weeks Cor has been working so hard to get his workingspace ready for silversmithing!
And it looks like he brought so much into his working room to be able to start and yet not all is here!
It's just incredible to me what you need to start making a silver pendant.....Our admiration for the
silversmiths is growing every day! My biggest example is Carita from JealousyDesign
Her work is amazing and I love her work since I started on Etsy.
There are much more wonderful artists that I admire in this area and Simone from Huismus is a great friend for us in helping and giving tips to Cor.

Thank you Ladies!

And now an impression of the workplace of Cor SO FAR!

Plates of silver!

and this (and even more) is needed to start making contemporary pendants for these tiny oil paintings....

New Necklaces

2011-02-04T22:13:00.001-08:00

This week I had the joy to be painting for a commission for a customer in Colorado.
It had to be daffodils.

While painting I was listening to the radio, about Egypt and I realised once more how lucky I am. Living in the Netherlands, in peace, no riots, no hunger. The courageous people in Cairo, I think of them.
And I have the luxury to be painting in my own tiny cosy warm studio, thinking what colour to use for the sky. Ceruleum Blue, Cobalt blue? And so many other people even don't have their basic needs fulfilled. I am grateful for my life.

Back to my easy life. This is what I made.

Necklace with Daffodils

Necklace Lady with Poppies

This special, art nouveau frame stole my heart! Is this necklace about the frame or the painting? I like the combination and both are equally important to me. What do you think?

Lady with birds on the wing

Thanks for watching. Have a good weekend!

For more Saturday Shopping look at Sandra's Blog!

Work in progress necklaces

2011-02-03T20:30:00.000-08:00

This week I got a request if could make a necklace with daffodils, for Valentines Day. Oh I wish! Time is running out to make something, have the miniature oil painting dried en ship it. Impossible!

I informed the customer in the US about this and his reaction was just great. He didnt mind, just make a beautiful necklace with daffodils and take your time. He was going to give the necklace on another occasion to his fiance. So I started working with a rich feeling: free choice for necklace and painting.

This is what I made so far. I thought it might be nice for you to see this phase where the painting and the frame are not connected together yet. Later I will post pictures of the completed necklace and send them too to Mr. Felipe to hear what he thinks of it.

During lunchbreak yesterday I went to the little shop in Haarlem, where I purchased the silver frame "Lady with the Poppies". I ordered 2 more, but the shopowner had 2 other frames for me, which I liked a lot too. This is the result so far. Cor has to adjust it from a standing frame to a pendant. I am so grateful for my private metalsmith!

I will work on them later today, and Cor will take pictures for listings this evening (taking much better pictures than I did here).

Lady with dandelions (or are they daffodils, not sure yet). I like the look in the distance, with the flowers in the foreground.

Lady with poppies

Those images of summer always make me happy. Now I am looking forward to putting together painting and frame. That is always very exciting!

Friends on the internet: Jana!

2011-01-29T22:31:00.000-08:00

Some time ago I wrote about the friends I found on/through the internet.

One of my best friends on the www is Jana and we met on the forum of the European Street Team of ETSY.
Here's her beautiful shop on ETSY: Helmitarha

This is the charming, talented, wonderful lady Jana (wearing my necklace she got from her husband)

I even can't remember how our friendship started, but it must be through the appreciation of each other's work.
The wonderful jewelry Jana makes caught my eye. The designs, the incredible patience she must have to make these amazing works of art. I felt through cyberspace how much love she puts into these works. And when she has finished a masterpiece she is also a very skilled photographer to make the most wonderful pictures of her jewelry. Multitalented very much.

Enjoy.

Dancing Dragon
My first favorite piece of her collection.

Forgotten World
My second favorite piece.

Majestic Swan
One of my other favorite works...

I love ALL of her works.
Most of all I like the friendship we have, thank you so much Jana.
Jana helps whenever she can. Even when I asked for her hand, she said Yes...;-)

Her hands are so pretty to display my ring with the tiny oil painting.

Cor photoshopped the ring on her hand. Thanks to friends, internet and technology beautiful things happen!

Below a picture of Jana with her cute little helper Liisa, in Jana's working space.
If you want to see her collection, please pay a visit to her shop some day. You will be amazed even more!
Her blog is here !

She's in my Treasury of Today too.

My mittens arrived!

2011-01-28T04:53:00.000-08:00

Today I received my own, felted, practical Ingermaaike poppypmittens!

Can you see that I can type in a phonenumber with my mittens on?? The picture is not very clear, but I beg of you: please take a close look!

They are wonderful! I am going to test them on my bicycle this afternoon!

Thank you Inger for the wonderful mittens, worn by you (on request) and the lovely extra's.

The Heart (of) Felt I am wearing too in the pictures. The felted soap will be used this evening and the kids ran off with the delicious chocolate. Thank you so much for e v e r y t h i n g

Here's a link to the mittens on Etsy!

EDIT 4.00 PM

I "tested" the mittens on a short bikeride into my village.....the mittens are warm, they feel great and I could try the flaps when going into a shop and paying, with my smittens on! They score 10 on 10 !

My painting Poppies

My earrings printed in Turkey

2011-01-25T11:54:00.001-08:00

Today I got a wonderful, exciting message from Kristin from Evihan (at Etsy)

hey Nancyyyy...this is really a nice coincidenceeee:-) I was out for lunch today...I was checking ALL DECOR local magazine...and there was a subject about on-line shopping...and also written about etsy-beside other shopping sites:-))) andddd I was really suprised to see a FP including youuuu as screen shot:-)))) I took a photo and attacheddd:-))))

how fun is this:-))))...

Kristin

With this picture:

Do you see my earrings with sunflowers third row, right position???

They are in the US already, but it is so exciting to see them printed in a Turkish Decor Magazine!

Thank you dear Kristin, for sharing with me!

Kristin makes lovely work

Please take a look in her shop

Friends on the internet

2011-01-24T12:26:00.000-08:00

I found some wonderful friends on/through the internet. Through Facebook, Etsy and Deviant Art.
It's not always easy to break through the "limitations" of the internet, but with some people that's not hard at all.
Like with Nicole Lara Lajeunesse Bøe

And what is one of the many things Nicole does? She makes wonderful organic soap and sells it here UltimateOrganicSoap

Doesn't this look very attractive?

Nicole is a great person because she has a crazy humour, is very direct and has an amazing fantasy. We often talk about plans and dreams and there seems to be no distance between us (I am talking of Norway and The Netherlands).

We exchanged our craft. I have some wonderful soaps from Nicole and in Nicole's house there are 2 tiny paintings from me.
Isnt't that nice.

When you shop with Nicole, mention NANCYBLOG as the couponcode when you check out, for a discount of 15%.

I am happy to know Nicole!

Next featured friend: I dont know yet!

Painting with a Frame

2011-01-21T22:48:00.001-08:00

Yes, a Frame with a capital F.
The kind customers in the US bought this painting some time ago and told me they were having the painting framed.

The customer created a lovely Italian atmosphere, together with the terracotta vase.
It's amazing to see my painting in the new home, cherished and taken care of so well.
Not all customers send me a picture of a sold painting in their homes. Some do and that is very exciting.

Which reminds me, I have to have this beautiful painting (see below) framed. I got it for my birthday from my dear friend Sara in the United States. I still cannot believe she and her husband Jeff gave me this wonderful painting and managed to have it delivered the day before my birthday! It will be great to see the result I am sure. I will take it to Bussum, to the artshop where my paintings were in summer 2010 and where they frame paintings too. A beautiful frame will do this sunny painting justice!

Have a good weekend!

Nancy

Sunflowers and Poppies

2011-01-21T09:55:00.000-08:00

A different frame this time, silver, fine and strong. I purchased the frame at www.marijkemul.nl last week.

Two miniature oil paintings together. The poppy and sunflower both mean Tuscany to me....but also in the Netherlands we see lots of poppies, from the month of June till September. The poppy, such a delicate flower, stunning red!
The sunflower to me is a firm, strong flower and the colour against the blue sky is a wonderful sight.
In Tuscany I have seen rolling hills, full with all those sunflowers, with their heads all turned in 1 direction.
I must talk to Cor about going to Tuscany again. But Cor is only focussed on his new obsession: becoming a silversmith. Ok, I won't protest as long as the time will come again to discuss Tuscanytravels this year.

When painting poppies and sunflowers I can feel summer, although it's freezing outside...

For more information look @
Summer flowers: poppies and sunflowers and blue sky!

Sandra offers Saturday Shopping, so take a look!

Playing with paint and a new brush

2011-01-19T12:08:00.000-08:00

This evening I tried my new tiny brush from Anastasia

Size of this little painting: 4 x 4 cm (almost real size poppy).

The tiny brush was lovely to work with and felt comfortable in my hand!

Perhaps this poppy will be the first miniature painting Cor will be making a silver setting for, following the lines of the poppy!

I see that I have to blend the red and dark in the heart of the poppy bit more. Ha! Still work to be done, makes me glad.

Update on Cor's adventure becoming a fresh silversmith: he is surfing on the internet for equipment and expects to be working at the silver pendants somewhere in February (and after making about 3, launch my website with shop & blog).

The big brush has to wait a bit more. What a joy it must be to use this huge brush on a big canvas (like 1 x 1 meter!)
That moment will come for sure!

A wonderful swap for me but not very fair!

2011-01-18T11:46:00.001-08:00

Today I received 2 wonderful brushes and 4 beautiful cards from the very dear and talented Anastasia from www.laccentnou.etsy.com

Me holding the cards and 2 brushes. I am wearing a wonderful wrap from Inger @ www.ingermaaike.etsy.com

I was totally happy with this surprise as a reaction on my humble present to Anastasia: an Italian pebble.
I thought Anastasia could maybe use this pebble for a ring in her wonderful shop.

Anastasia showing the card I sent to her with the pebble.

The unintended swap (I expected nothing in return and was taken completely by surprise when Anastasia told me she would send me a surprise too), is great but I feel spoiled too much by her.

A big brush for the big painting works and a very tiny one for my miniature paintings. I promised Anastasia to show her what I have painted with her brushes!

Thank you so much Dear Anastasia!

Something completely different!

2011-01-14T22:56:00.000-08:00

Painting I do sitting. From now and then I get off my chair to get new paint, or a fresh cloth.
Listing my items I do sitting too.
When I have sold an item from my shop I get some "exercise", walking from my desk to my studio, gathering the wrappingpaper, businesscards etc. I know how not-efficient that is!

So, to get me off of my lazy chair where I am most of the time, we bought a crosstrainer and I love it!
I knew the "machine" from the fitnessclub, and it is my favorite trainer. And now I have one in my home.
Every day I am training now (about 15- 20 minutes) and at the same time enjoying a movie. What a lovely combination that is!

No, I am not posting a picture of me ON the crosstrainer!
Cor photoshopped me out of the picture. Thank you Cor.

For me it is important for feeling well and getting lots of energy (and paint better?), to exercise every day. And when I can, I walk too, "weather or no weather" (a Dutch expression).

I wonder how that is with you! I know about an ETSIAN who started karatelessons this week!

Meeting goldsmith Marijke Mul

2011-01-14T06:54:00.000-08:00

This morning Cor and I had an appointment with the wonderful goldsmith Marijke Mul in Haarlem, the town where we love to come and where I work too.

I started making wearable art in July 2010, by making pendants for my tiny original oil paintings. I found suppliers on the internet with pendants that were suitable for my tiny paintings.

My dream/aim is to offer a complete product, made by me and Cor. And pendants or settings of a high quality, in (sterling) silver, made by us. We realise this is a big step. The craftmanship of a jeweler/goldsmith is worked and studied hard for. This is something you don't get for free!

I met Marijke virtually, on the internet, I follow her tweets, her work is very special. She is a very open and inviting personality, with - ofcourse - a passion for jewelry and sharing her knowlegde of jewelry and how to run a shop. She is very succesful and her name is known for special, personal jewelry. So with my dream in mind, I approached her with my request for an appointment. Marijke was so very kind to say yes to my request to answer our questions, but she did much more than this.

This is Marijke.

As we stepped into her beautiful shop, she invited us to sit at her desk and offered us coffee and tea.
I showed her my "bare" tiny paintings and asked what her design would be, with a silver setting. She choose the flower painting I show below and she started to draw a form around the flower. As she was drawing I got the (very exciting) shivers, like "this is soooo right". This is what I want! Cor felt the same and it was a very special moment. Like a leap into something new and good.

This is the tiny painting we showed Marijke.

The flower painting in the metal locket.

We discussed possibilities, challenges. We are very "lucky" Cor has a technical education and background, and he knows how to do metalwork. To learn to work with silver is very well possible, Marijke thinks. She adviced us how to proceed and it looks very exciting and promising. Cor is investigating possibilities about purchasing equipments, knowledge on silver and much more. Marijke told us it is best, that I focus on painting and Cor on the making of the settings.

She showed us some great pieces she made and told some stories that go with it. For her bringing emotion into a piece of jewelry is part of her craftmanship and the challenge to make something really special. In conversations with her customers she finds out what should be brought into the jewelry. The way she captures this, is something I admire a lot.

As a start for our new plans, we purchased a lovely silver pendant. When I start painting for it, the impressions of the conversation with Marijke and Cor will meander through my excited mind, for sure.

I told Marijke about my ETSY-shop and she took a look and I think she might be interested in setting up her own shop on ETSY too. That would be great! Right now she's setting up her own webshop, to integrate with her beautiful site.

There's much more to be told, but I have to paint now ;-)

If you have the chance to visit Marijke's shop in Haarlem, don't let it slip away!

Thank you so much Marijke for your hospitality and sharing your thoughts with us and giving the advice we were looking for.
It is exciting and fullfilling to meet an artist and personality that is so inspiring.

I needed a hand, and got one!

2011-01-13T22:51:00.000-08:00

Lately I got some hints to start painting for rings, next to my necklaces, brooches and earrings. Please don't ask me to paint on shoes!

I was not sure about the ring-idea, but some of my friends were very convincing, so I ordered rings to paint on.

The tiny painting for the ring was ready and Cor was jumping to make the pictures for the listings on ETSY. We discussed what pictures would be best, we looked at listings from fellow-ETSY-ans for inspiration. And yes....we needed a pretty hand. It's very important to display my new rings in a beautiful way.

My own hands are NO option. I will not give you evidence. I have old hands since I was 15, so we had to look for a beautiful h a n d. My daughter's hand is too young (she's 16) and I remembered some beautiful pictures somewhere on ETSY or a blog and suddenly I knew it: it was Jana's hand.

I emailed Jana with the crazy request to make pictures of her hands, so Cor could photoshop the ring on her hand.
Jana liked the idea and the next day we received a wonderful pack of pictures of her hands in lots of positions.

"With a little help of my friends"

Ok, this is a ring, beautiful picture, but yes we need a hand to show the ring on. So Cor photoshopped the ring on Jana's hand and I think it turned out very well.

I will use the picture of Jana's hand for the future rings too and credit her help in my listings by mentioning her shop with amazingly beautiful jewelry. Please take a look. I am jealous of the patience Jana has to make these wonderful necklaces, brooches, earrings and lovely sets. Not only patience, also lots of skills, talent for design and making great pictures of her work. She's a great friend too. Her blog is here.

Thank you Jana for your help en Cor for bringing hand from Finland and ring from The Netherlands together! Long live internet!

I want to thank Estella from Staroftheeast for believing in the idea of painted rings and your beautiful ringsettings.

And Angi too, from Design and Ink for having the courage to purchase my first ring with the tree.

1000 hearts

2011-01-11T08:06:00.001-08:00

I am not sure what to feel with this number, but I do smile!

1000 people hearted my Etsy-shop in my first year here.

I contacted the 1000th hearter Toshigirl19 and asked if she likes to receive a free piece from my shop!

Thank you all for your wonderful support!

Nancy

Painting history

2011-01-08T23:09:00.001-08:00

When I started painting in 2004 I wasn't very focussed, I did so many subjects. From portraits to still life and fantasy.
I worked every day and I learned a lot painting every day, working quick.
When I look back at these works, I remember the joy from discovering that I could paint!
Most people know me from my trees, my wearable art, the miniatures, but this is where I "come from"!
So, just for fun: my painting "history", since 2004!
Hope you enjoy.

I painted over hundred works, but I thought for this post this is more than enough!

Have a great, creative Sunday!

Nancy

Back to "work", Saturday Shopping

2011-01-08T00:58:00.001-08:00

After a long period of non painting ("thanks" to the flu) I could paint again this week!
Made me very happy!

Boom in het voorjaar en in de winter

A tiny metal locket with protecting glass.

Lady with Poppies

This is my favorite piece! I love the combination of the awesome pendant (which I did not make myself, but I did discover in a cute little shop in Haarlem) with the tiny vibrant oil painting works very well I think. I was happy to sell two of these kind of pendants lately so I made a new one and this one is different with the very clear blue sky.

For more items for Saturday Shopping, see lovely Sandra's blog @ ZsaZsaZsu

Have a nice weekend!

Nancy

A ring to paint

2011-01-03T07:18:00.001-08:00

Today I got the request if I "do rings", with paintings!

These pictures are from StarofSupplies

Estella from StarofSupplies came up with the idea of painted rings and offered me rings some time ago, but I thought perhaps the idea was just too crazy and the painting too vulnarable wearing on a hand.

Perhaps it is and yet I should try it and find a way to protect the painting. So I sent Estella a convo, to ask and order 2 sizes rings and give it a try! Perhaps fill them up a field with poppies, sunflowers or a red bench tree? I don't have the rings yet, but I can hardly wait to start.

Don't those rings look awfully empty stll?

BTW: I am 1 year on etsy now!

My own stamp

2011-01-01T06:53:00.001-08:00

A wish I have for a long time has come true: my own stamp! My name and address in a beautiful design, like printed!

I purchased it at Etsy from DESIGN AND INK
Very quick delivery, good conversation and a very proud artist like all of us!

To show you the beautiful print of my own stamp I chose to use my beloved journal from Baghy

And this is how it looks on very thin green paper.

I love my new stamp! I will use it in various ways like on businesscards, on envelopes, letters.
The combination of calligraphy with printed letters, such a clever, appealing idea, executed very well.
The design of my name with the address surrounding my name, I like it!

I love poppies

2010-12-29T05:14:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I sold my favorite piece of my section wearable art in my shop:

Lady with the Poppies

First time I could not let go easy. It's good to be able to sell, but to let go is something else. I missed the Lady in my shop already. I am so glad the customer in the US will cherish the necklace.

This weekend an other lady on Etsy asked me if I ever would make such a piece again, but I wasn't sure to be able to purchase such a frame again, this besides the fact I don't want to make a copy of a painting.

I phoned and asked the shop in Haarlem and yes, they can sell me another frame indeed. This new piece will have a kind of similar image, with a lady (in the frame) overlooking the oil painted field of poppies. But ofcourse, every painting is a one of a kind and I will put other elements into this tiny oil painting, to give myself a new challenge.

Soon I will be concentrating on the new miniature oilpainting for the new customer and I hope she will like it.
I can't wait to start it!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T23:01:00.001-08:00

Witchy celebrating Christmas in her own special way, with Cat.
I am wishing you all a wonderful warm hearted, lighted, Christmas and all the best for the new year to come.
Love and creativity, the warmth of friendship and last but certainly not least: a good health for everyone!

2010 was a very good year to me, I hope for you too.

I made a selection from my happy stats:

* happy home
* my kids doing so well
* Cor being there for me a l w a y s
* my "regular" job for this beautiful city of Haarlem being fun and giving me so much space to work and enjoy
* painting a lot
* discovering painting for wearable art

* starting my Etsy shop
* finding so many friends through Etsy, especially in the European Street Team
* finding new friends on Facebook too
* my paintings and necklaces flying to many places in the world, my work is liked
* seeing so much lovely work on Etsy, and the love and passion from all of us here
* being able to donate to Oxfam Novib, a very good cause to reduce poverty in the world.

Enjoy your holidays!

Nancy van den Boom

Haarlem in the morning

2010-12-21T08:03:00.000-08:00

I was up early today and went to work at 7, arriving just after 8.
Just before I entered the office in the townhall of Haarlem, I could make this picture with my Iphone.
Quality "could be better", but I like this snapshot a lot myself.
The colours make me want to paint an impression.
I am proud to work for this city that inspires me.

Winterbirds

2010-12-19T07:24:00.000-08:00

Pictures made by Cor

Beautiful tiny (and some bigger) birds in our garden!

This is the robin I painted for a brooch and sold on the Sunday Market last Sunday.
Yesterday evening I received an email from the customer she enjoys the brooch, which made me very happy.
I found it hard to let this robin go, now it is ok.

New oil paintings

2010-12-18T01:39:00.001-08:00

I hope you enjoy seeing my new items I made this week.

Moon and Winter earrings oil painting miniatures

Summer Tree miniature oil painting on wooden stand

Poppyfield and hills miniature oil paintings for earrings

Sandra's Saturday Shopping is hosting several friends with beautiful items on her blog for Saturday Shopping! I am there too.

Feel free to comment on my work if you like.

Witchy Sis

2010-12-17T02:36:00.000-08:00

Phyllis is my Witchy Sis. I met her through my son, on the internet about 12 years ago, we met in real life 10 years ago and I love her to pieces. We are connected.

Some years ago Phyllis sent me my first Witch:

She keeps me company in my studio.

And yesterday I was very naughty, opening her Christmaspackage.

This beautiful handmade Witch is for me!

There is a detailed description of the Witch, she is awesome! One Of A Kind.
Her name is Fette, a Danish Tradition for Health and Happiness and Good Luck.
I read that the maker Gunhild Ludvigsen died in 1992 and this doll was kept in storage.

Some years ago Cor and I made a video for Phyllis and shared it on youtube where I read the story of Witchy, the Sweet Witch with illustrations I made.
I sent the book to Phyllis and she used it at the school she works in Durham, North Carolina, US.

We are connected through good Witches.

Let's fly Sis!

Snow in the Netherlands

2010-12-17T02:19:00.001-08:00

My garden and bike covered with snow....

and 2 hours later:

Birds are eating under the table, I feeded them!

It still snows!

Three Cats

2010-12-17T01:58:00.000-08:00

Being home sick is not something to choose for, but there are many happy moments.
Like yesterday, when Jana's snowflake flew into the tree...
And this morning, the three cats enjoying their breakfast together. Sometimes changing their position because of the different tastes catfood....

Zorroluna (black), Eva (white) and Keesje (black & white). Eva has a allergy and has lost some hair on her back. She is on the mend now.
We used to have a red Tomcat too (Deurtje) too, but he has found himself a home where he's the only cat ;-)

Friendship and snowflakes

2010-12-16T05:55:00.001-08:00

I am sick since 2 days. I try to enjoy myself inside the home. I waited for the mail, but I feared the mail was on strike again in The Netherlands today. 5 Minutes ago I heard mail falling on the doormat! And my day was good already despite being sick, but this lovely small package made my day.

A letter from Jana from Finland! My dear friend from Etsy.

A wonderful card with beautiful and lovely wishes for Christmas and a tiny lovely bag with my own snowflake from Finland, made by the talented Jana.

Thank you so much dear Jana. I am so glad your beautiful snowflake cannot melt, although my heart did for sure.

I feel priviligded I got this lovely mail, just today when I am home.

Please take a look at Jana's wonderful job with amazing beadingwork.

Jana is a talented, skilled and very patient (!) artist, but most of all a wonderful friend.

I wonder, did you let it snow all over Europe with your amazing, delicate snowflakes, Jana?

Nancy

Jenny The Artist: nancy van den boom

2010-12-14T07:22:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Jenny featured my work yesterday. I am very proud of it.

Jenny The Artist: nancy van den boom: "Art Necklace original oil painting poppies on copper pendant with chain 'My name is Nancy van den Boom (Nancy 'of the Tree') and I live in ..."

The necklace I sold this morning. It will fly to California in the morning.

Thank you Jenny!

Painting big again

2010-12-13T13:23:00.001-08:00

After the tiny paintings for pendants and earrings I wanted to paint big again.

These paintings are really big: 6 x 8 cm and 7 x 7 cm....

After painting the tiny ones 6 x 8 cm feels huge again. Amazing effect I must say!

I think I will paint really big this weekend (50 x 60 cm) again!

Thank you Cor for making the lovely pictures.

Impression of Funky Christmas Sunday Market Amsterdam

2010-12-12T11:39:00.000-08:00

We had a perfect day at the Funky Christmas Sunday Market in Amsterdam!
Lots of visitors in the Westergasfabriek. It was very well organised, with a live band and good facilities!

I met Swee (my neighbour on the market) and Bai, with her beautiful booth just a bit further away.
Here you see my shop and the beautiful long hair of Bai and Swee, her daugher and me behind my booth.

Some pictures to give you an impression of the colourful atmosphere.

Here you see Swee, me, Bai and on the right Liesbeth from Pinipiru

I took this picture for the crazy colours in this booth.

I visited the booth of Mermaid and I admired the wonderful bags.

Another booth with very special bags from recycled materials from Toostassen

Lots of booths to be visited, there were about 200 participants, and it was just impossible for me to visit all. I had to be in my own booth as well ;-)

Cor was with me too and he took care of business while I was hopping around a bit.

This is the very sweet Bai with her amazing smile. When our ways seperated she handed me a present and I looked at it on the way back. I am very happy and proud with your scarf dear Bai! I was proud too Bai asked me to look after her shop for a few minutes when she and her husband went looking for a special item for Rob on the market. In the meantime I admired the skirts, scarfs, bags, dresses and capes from Bai.

Swee is the Best Neighbour to have on a fair! Her little daughter stole my heart and she sold me 2 wonderful brooches! This is the only moment (before opening) Swee did not have visitors at her booth. All afternoon she had so many visitors and customers!

How about this special booth.

We left at 6 pm, very satisfied with the atmosphere, meeting each other and many visitors.
I feel inspired to go on painting for wearable art. I got many positive and surprised comments on my tiny paintings for the necklaces and brooches. My work seemed to be surprising, new, not-very regular. "Cute" "Tiny" "Colourful" "Is this a Van Gogh"? Ha!
The most touching comment on my work came from a local Amsterdam boy of about 9 years old, who looked at one of my thick-painted-roses and thought (and shared this thoughts) my work was "cool". He only had 2 euro's and thought it was a pity he could not afford it. Now I think, wish I had given him the necklace.

Yaay my work is cool!

Phew, long impression, I hope you enjoyed!

The Silver Brush

2010-12-05T01:29:00.000-08:00

Painting for the purpose of wearable art it is my passion. I think you all know that by now.
My eye is on necklaces.

And from time to time I see work from fellow Etsians that touches my heart. I purchased beautiful work from Brenda (L'Indecise) and also from Stephania (Lepetitfoyer).

And for my upcoming 51st (why not telling) birthday December 23d I 'could not help' falling in love with a wonderful silver brush necklace from Jasminstudio in London. Cor was very sweet and purchased this beautiful piece of work for me. It arrived quickly despite the snow in London and The Netherlands.
Cor saw no sense in waiting till my birthday and offered the necklace Fridayevening. I could not resist that offer and did not want to resist either....What a way to start the weekend.

Thank you Cor for being so sweet to hear my wish (and act upon it) and thank you Jasmin for making this beautiful, inspirational necklace.
(Yes indeed I am wearing the brush on a shorter necklace on the pictures).

And here the full view of this beauty (picture by Jasmin)

Jasmin made this beautiful piece with the spirit I appreciate very much (being a Van Gogh admirer myself).

This is her description:

"This is how I imagine Van Gogh's favourite brush to be - ample, soft, giving, well used... a hefty brush to apply the characteristic short strokes to the master's work".

How easy can falling in love be?
Reminds me I want to see Van Gogh's work up close again soon in Kroller Moller Museum. Wearing my Silver Brush.

Have a great day

Nancy

Saturday Shopping with Sandra

2010-12-03T23:29:00.001-08:00

Another week has flown by. It's Saturday again.
Lots happened and in between I painted.

Come look what we present to you on Saturday Shopping Day with Sandra !

It's not all about shopping to me, I also just like to show you what I made and hope you like it.
It's the immense joy of making it and sharing with all of you.

Earrings Wren and Longtailed Tit
in oil paint

Tuscany on a mahogany brooch

Have a nice Saturday, shopping or not, be creative!

And for my Dutch Friends who celebrate the birthday of the "Children's Friend" Sinterklaas, have a great celebration!

Sunday Market Funky Christmas

2010-12-03T05:37:00.000-08:00

I am over the moon! I just heard I got a booth in the Sunday Market - Funky Christmas Market in Amsterdam!
I was on the reserve-list and now got confirmation I am in!
So I was counting and checking my necklaces, brooches and earrings....
40 necklaces, 7 brooches and 1 pair of earrings I will display in Amsterdam.

It is in a crazy spacious exhibition hall, called the Westergasfabriek.

Outside

Inside

Time: from 12.00 - 18.00 hours.

Are you too there? Who will come to visit?

and much more!

Saturday Shopping with Sandra

2010-11-26T23:33:00.001-08:00

Come shopping with Sandra!

I started working on a pair of earrings with a sunflowerfield, this morning.
Tiny canvasses, tiny brushes and BIG fun to make.

This set will be for sale, when ready (!), will list it later today. I heard someone asking: do you make earrings with the hills of Italy and sunflowers??
Yes I do.

For other wearable art, please see my shop

Happy Saturday Shopping!

My Working Space: Colours in oil paint

2010-11-25T23:58:00.001-08:00

I am working on a set of earrings and a brooch (red with green leaves).
Also on a set with two lovely tiny birds (for Petronella), with a Robin on a brooch.
I thought it would be nice to show work in progress in my workspace.

Saturday Shopping With Sandra

2010-11-19T23:15:00.001-08:00

I made some new wearable art and show you here in my post for Sandra's Saturday Shopping!

Wooden art brooch Poppies and Sky oil painting

Summertree on wooden leaf Brooch

Pink Roses Art Necklace">Pink Roses Art Necklace">

Winterbrooch

Art Necklace Daisy

have a lovely Saturday Shopping Day!

My green set on Sunday

2010-11-14T02:10:00.000-08:00

Gorgeous green leather bag from Ira Grant

The bag and jewelry are on an incredible soft nunofelt scarf from Inger Maaike

Lovely earrings with handmade green Christmaslights (the link shows the red version, also great!) and a very fitting bagchain from Star of the East

Printed fabric: found somewhere, can't remember where, but it looks so nice here!

Have a great Sunday and check these shops, enjoy!

Thanks for watching.

Nancy

Saturday shopping

2010-11-06T02:32:00.000-07:00

Hope you like my items for Saturday Shopping!

Winterbunnies

Winter- and springtree

Lady with poppies

Solo tree and cloud

For more Etsians offering Saturday Shopping guides:
Look at Zsazsasu's blog!

And here's a treasury about my new website!

Making pictures of your listings

2010-11-03T23:12:00.000-07:00

I will not write about light cubes, composition, depth of focus, contrast, enhancing pictures....
I was looking at new items this morning also this awesome one from RealFairy .

And I got the image (...) how the shopowners of Etsy (and so many other online shop communities) all over the world are busy taking pictures of their products. Rearranging, changing the set, the light, the props.....

"Where will I take the picture of my new item
How will I drape my new scarf
Is the light allright
Is the atmosphere what I want
What picture has to be the close-up
What angle should I take"

And then upload them in the pc, editing, cropping.....

I found it touching that so many passionate crafters are so busy taking pictures of their items.

Since Cor will be away for the weekend I will have to work on that myself for a change...he "normally" takes the pictures of my necklaces and this weekend I will have to do this myself and ask myself the questions most of us are working with all the time.

I would like to know what's on your mind when making pictures of your listings. Feel free to share it if you want!

thanks and have fun making pictures of your items.

Nancy

Painting "sky opening up" work in progress

2010-10-31T14:00:00.001-07:00

I had some nice hours this morning painting.
Sun breaking through the clouds. I love when this happens.
I painted this from imagination.
While the rain was tapping on my skylight I painted heavy clouds....
canvas 30 x 40 cm.

phase 1

phase 2

phase 3, ready

I hope you see some sun coming through the clouds today!

Nancy

Keesje, my Hero

2010-10-27T06:09:00.000-07:00

Two years ago my then 16-years old cat Keesje escaped at the vet's building and I was devestated.
He disappeared and I was very very worried (understatement). I looked for him everywhere, but ofcourse he got away in bushes somewhere.

I put posters at all places with his pictures, we looked and asked for him everywhere. Nowhere found and it was one of my worst nightmares. I thought he's so vulnarable, he never gets away from the house, he is helpless.

Next morning: I was up early, couldnt sleep. I feared the day. I came downstairs and you can guess it perhaps...who was sitting there at the place where I feed my cats? KEESJE.... His little feet hurt, I could see that, he was so tired and hungry, he had walked home in the night! Only about 1 kilometer, but he never walked that way before.
It was one of the happiest moments in my life, that he was home! I spoilt him with the best food and all the attention he deserved. He wanted to get home and he managed! I felt proud of him (after feeling very guilty that I let him escape).

Yesterday he had to visit the vet again for his yearly injection and I am glad my husband did this for me...I am so nervous after the event of 2 years ago.

Everything went well ofcourse and Kees was very confident and not scared at all.

I think my Keesje is very special. He's 18 years now and such a wonderful feline.

Nancy

Picture below: Keesje and Cor

Nuriana day 3

2010-10-24T06:34:00.001-07:00

And now the big question for me is: do Nuriana's parents recognise their sweet daughter in my portrait in oil paint (50 x 60 cm)?
This is always very exciting because they can tell. I sent Ira Grant
a convo with this picture to ask her and tell me what to work on!

Nancy

Bag has arrived

2010-10-23T07:10:00.000-07:00

Ira's bag has arrived!! The bag is gorgeous. Lovely colour, details, lining, soft leather!
thank you so much Ira!
But I cannot stop painting!

Nuriana, Work in progress, day 1

2010-10-22T02:30:00.000-07:00

I started the portrait of Nuriana today. This sweet girl is Ira Grant's daughter.
First stage of this painting, that's part of the swap (portrait for bag/bag for portrait).

some time later...

and early this afternoon...

I find Nuriana has such a lovely face to paint....when I paint I feel like getting to know her a bit...
my kids said she has a firm character, I think so too ;-)
My neighbourlady came looking and said I am on the good way with this portrait!
I told her about the swap and she was positively surprised such swaps exist!

Friday 4.20 pm

Update Saturday:

Bag for Portrait / Portrait for Bag

2010-10-18T11:15:00.000-07:00

Hi!

The dear Ira Grant and I
have decided to make a wonderful swap!

This is Ira's lovely daughter Nuriana! I promised to make a gorgeous portrait in oil paint of this wonderful model with that sweet look in her eyes! We are talking about the size of the painting right now and Ira and her husband will let me know what they prefer.

And in return I get this awesome bag from Ira's shop.

I am going to paint my fingers off to make it a wonderful portrait that Nuriana and her parents will be proud of.

Thank you dear Ira for the faith in my work. I know your bag is gorgeous and you trust me on the result of the painting.
That means the world to me. I wont let you down!

Nancy

Painting the human face

2010-10-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

(Picture taken this evening, with bad light, will do better tomorrow, that's a promise).

Still to be continued. Working on wrist and hand!

I longed for painting a human face again after all those trees and miniatures. So I did on 30 x 30 cm, and I had a great afternoon painting this beautiful lady.

I used an illustration from my Dad's course "Famous Artists" (from 1960!). Three books about painting, drawing, and how to become a professional artist.
I still use these books for inspiration and the idea my Dad used them and made his homework for it, still works for me.

Going back in time: The first sketch, early afternoon.

Painting outside, lovely weather!
Background painted.

Cookybox and tea close at hand, very important.

Oops. I painted an hour and forgot to take pictures!
I worked hard in that hour.

I love painting this. The colours, the face, the pose....a lovely lady....

Working fast, that's the sport as well. So I go back to the painting now, getting it ready before it's dark (and freezing in the garden!)

Update Sunday 5 am:

thanks for visiting.

Nancy

Painting for dollhouse

2010-10-11T23:39:00.000-07:00

My lady boss Hetty asked me to paint her a cherry blossom for in the doll house she built herself. As the manager of facility services she has a very fitting hobby!

The painting had to be in scale 1:12, so with this tiny painting in real life it would be about a 120 x 100 cm painting.
The tiny one isn't ready yet, but I liked showing you this tiny wip. When Hetty has put it in her doll house I will ask her to make a picture of it. I like this combination of my creativity with someone elses.

A Tree of Creamy Lace

2010-10-08T00:43:00.001-07:00

This tree invites me all the time to work on the creamy lace of flowers. But I decided to let it rest now, after some joyful hours of painting.
I look outside and see the colours of autumn appearing in the trees, and also in Treasuries on Etsy, in products (even in my own shop). In other parts of the world it is spring, with blooming trees, flowers. That is so amazing to me, four seasons and in betweens all over the world.
I am happy with this bit of spring in my studio with the beautiful autumn in Europe.

Wishing you a warm and creative weekend.

Nancy

Lady in the Mirror

2010-10-06T13:24:00.000-07:00

This painting is from my early years a a painter. It is 60 x 80 cm.
I painted it in 1 hour and this is something I can hardly believe myself now.
I liked the image from this lady before the mirror and seeing her face in the mirror.
That part intrigues me...I used a drawing from the course Famous Artists ( I got from my Dad), but as I painted I made my own interpretation with colours and strokes.
What I love about the image is that she looks so pensive. I am not sure what's on her mind.

Work in progress, without words this time

2010-10-06T12:55:00.000-07:00

Preparing "Italy in a locket"

2010-10-04T22:20:00.001-07:00

I love painting Italy for the lockets.
4 x 4 cm only. To catch the character in such a tiny space is a joy and a challenge too!

Japanese Cherryblossom WIP

2010-10-03T09:34:00.001-07:00

Finally the first layers were a bit dryer today, so I could work on the lush blossom. I intend not to work out the flowers in detail this time but I aim to give the impression of thousands of flowers that all together look like cream all over the dark branches of this old tree in Japan. This is not the entire painting, as promised .
This tree grows in between 2 rocks, in a city-center. I am amazed.

thanks for watching.

Nancy

Working Space

2010-10-01T09:53:00.001-07:00

Since the huge painting still is wet, I have to enjoy myself with smaller work....
Here you see a bit of my working space!

Proud to see!

2010-09-29T13:25:00.001-07:00

This is an old painting I made years ago. I just like to show you. I present to you, 2 potatoes in a Delfts Blue Bowl.....

But this post is about something else!

Today I got an email from Samantha, Cor's daughter, that she was interviewed for the Dutch Handmade Blog!

Here it is, I present to you!

Interview with Samantha on Dutch Handmade!

She is working on her Etsy shop now and will launch it in a short while I think.

I wish her lots of readers and comments on her wonderful work and talent!

Thanks for reading,

Nancy

Work in Progress

2010-09-28T11:49:00.001-07:00

Worked a bit on it tonight.
The paint has to dry. Come on paint, dry...
then I can get on with it.

BTW My shop on www.nancyvdboom.etsy.com has 700 hearts today!

WIP

2010-09-27T11:24:00.000-07:00

The knife works just fine.
Well, that is what I think.
I guess you are thinking: what's this all about?
I agree, still looks like a mess.
Don't worry. I need all these layers.

Work in Progress in bits and parts

2010-09-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

Had lovely hours of painting today.
Don't feel obliged to comment every time I will upload pictures of wip.

thanks for watching, friends!

Nancy

Starting a new painting

2010-09-25T23:26:00.000-07:00

The palette of a previous painting is facing me....
what a mess really.

Eva knows I'll be spending many hours in my studio and she loves to be here....
Her fur fits so well to the white stretched linen! But not for long.
This doesn't imply I am going to paint her.

The stretched linen, 100 x 100 cm (40 x 40 inches)
This is the last picture where you can see all of the surface of this linen.....before it's ready.

This is much better.

My painting jacket is waiting for me....hanging on the ironing board ;-)
.(no ironing for me today....nor tomorrow....) When did I iron for the last time?
Perhaps Greet can help me out ? www.fleurfatale.etsy.com

While I start working, Eva does a little nap on my desk....

And the first lines of sketching are here:
Not very interesting, is it?

The coming week I will post only fragments of the painting, to make it a bit more exciting for you to watch the image grow.

When the painting is finished I will show you the entire painting.

Thanks for visiting!

Nancy

Update Sunday 3.30 pm

Summer Memory

2010-09-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

This painting I made as a commission for my 4 nieces in Belgium a few years ago, the days when I did a lot of portraits. It was a present for their parents, my uncle and aunt for their anniversary. It shows my nieces in the midsixties, in happy days on vacation.
Now my aunt let me know through my Mother this painting moved to the house with special care where my uncle lives since he can't live at home any more, since 2 weeks. I hope he enjoys it every day.
To me it is such a wonderful happy sight, those 4 little girls, Ine, Marjolein, Anita and Hettie.

The painting is 80 x 80 cm, bytheway....in oil paint.

Nancy

Painting Dutch Landscape Sold

2010-09-19T02:49:00.001-07:00

This painting I sold today to a customer in the United States. She says : This sums Holland up.
She spent holidays in Holland when she was young and this painting evoked nice memories she told me.

I am so proud of this!

The painting is for sale at Loods5: http://www.kunstpakker.nl/product/details/2276

but the customer saw a listing of a print of this painting in my Etsy shop at www.nancyvdboom.etsy.com

The gallery let me negociate with the customer and I am so glad we could make a very nice deal for both of us.

Just wanted to share this good news with you!

Hanging a heavy, wet painting on the wall.....

2010-09-18T09:15:00.000-07:00

Today I wanted to move the painting from my studio to the livingroom. Making space in my studio and being able to look at the painting from a bigger distance...

Picking up a wet oil painting is an adventure. Lots of concentration needed, watching out with such a big painting not to touch anything on the way to the spot on the wall.....Once at the spot, working together nicely (....) and yes, the painting hang just right. I painted some spots on the down-side and we looked quite satisfied at it.

We both went on with other things until we heard a big BANG and I instantly knew the painting had come down again (not so difficult to know is it?).
The only big question then is: how was the landing and what happens next and is there any damage? Did it fall on the painted side?

Well, it didn't fall on the painted side (pfffffewwwww) and rested against the wall.....such a relief!
Cor came running in and checked it. What happened? The wire was not broken, but because of the weight of this heavy linen, with lots of paint, the wire had unfolded itself and jumped out of the hook (is this a story about an painting or an animal breaking loose?)

Aha, thicker wire needed for SUCH a heavy painting....
Picking up the wet painting again (we should have had it filmed), Cor between painting and wall, struggling to get the wire behind the hook on the wall......;-)
I was just holding the painting a bit off the wall...."bit" stressed indeed.

Always use thick wire to hang your heavy paintings!
Cor is chasing me now.

Friday Night Outfit

2010-09-17T03:11:00.000-07:00

>
I invite you to go out on the Friday Night!
This is my outfit!

THE BAG from Starbags

THE DRESS from darrylblack

THE NECKLACE from FreshyFig

THE BOOTS from LeshasWorkshop

99.9% ready

2010-09-17T01:13:00.001-07:00

I am not stating the painting is ready, I want to have the space to change a little bit here and there ;-)
But I managed to bring the blossoms up front and I am happy with this painting.
Finishing a painting is also like a goodbye. Knowing this one will be replaced soon for a new stretched white linen...

Hope you like it and thanks for taking time to watch.

Nancy

New Necklace and Earrings by L'Indecise!

2010-09-16T10:45:00.001-07:00

I came home in the pouring rain, on my bike, from the station, I was soaking wet!
Then I saw the mailman had brought a small brown envelope, from Geneva!
My necklace had arrived!

From: www.lindecise.etsy.com

I took off my cloths, put on the shower and in the meantime, very quickly opened the envelope!
The beautiful wrapping with lace and card and note.....making me nervous and impatient and most of all very curious what I'd find. (The shower was running!)
I saw the lovely necklace made by Brenda Romero from Geneva! And a big surprise: the earrings that fit so beautifully to the necklace.
After the shower I took some pictures, but I looked so crazy with the wet hair....;-)
So I waited for Cor to come home AND make some proper pictures of me that hopefully do the jewelry by Brenda justice!

Now I have my own tree with the moon above!
Thank you so much Brenda. You are such a lovely, skilled artist!
Now we both wear each other's necklace....
Nancy

Almost Ready WIP

2010-09-15T08:14:00.000-07:00

Will leave the painting for a few days and look at it with a fresh look later to see what needs to be done to finish it!

Work in Progress Cherry Trees New York

2010-09-15T02:11:00.001-07:00

Lots of hours and even more oil paint in these blossomming trees!

Still hours to go, but the impression is there already!

Hope you like it.

Thanks for watching,

Nancy

Work in progress "moving pictures" ;-)

2010-09-12T06:55:00.000-07:00

Hope you like the short impression Cor made!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=532158053

This is the picture of the painting so far...

To be continued, of course....

Thanks for watching

Nancy

Work in Progress part 2

2010-09-11T10:21:00.001-07:00

Hi,

Worked about 3 hours on the painting today...
I had to buy more white oil paint and bought some fine brushes too ;-)
I feel like I have to explain this is just the beginning, so be gentle with me ;-)
The paint has to dry so I can add highlights. Those highlighs are going to "make" the painting.
But I won't explain that, no I won't....
Hope you enjoy the first stages.

Thanks for watching!

Nancy

Central Park Work in Progress

2010-09-10T07:59:00.001-07:00

I started my wonderful painting-working day at 8 am!

After working on many miniature paintings for my necklaces I really longed for a big canvas instead of 2 x 2 cm.....

The huge white stretched linen (120 x 100 cm) waits for me! and I am ready for it.
See the picture below!

Below:
The light background....with buildings of Manhattan in the distance....to create the contrast of man-made and nature (citytreescape)

I am always glad to start painting the trees.....although without leaves yet....

the light green leaves are growing fast....;-)
They are hiding the grey buildings already...

I will not finish the green leaves yet, first work on the cherry tree blossom, first layer. Mostly red, violet and bit of pink/white.
I have to be patient....

Close up of the first work on the flowers....lots of work to be done, thankfully!

The last picture below is crazy. I mean, can this ever become a good painting ;-) ?
I need the first layer before I can go on with details ofcourse...
I have to be patient and work on. (Are there any mice that want to give a little hand with this?)
When this layer is bit dryer, I can focus more on the shape of the thousands of flowers....the real joy is yet to come.
I am glad I can paint the stems of the old blossoming trees. They spice up the pink of the flowers, I can see that already now.
The picture for reference I look at only a few times.....most of my own imagination.

After working 7 hours I am satisfied for today. To be continued....tomorrow.

Hope you liked watching Central Park grow in this post!

Nancy

Europe for Charity

2010-09-05T22:07:00.000-07:00

Hi!

These and many more items are donated by amazing artists and crafters from European street team for humanitarian relief.
Take a look in this shop please and see if you can contribute too!!!

LOODS5 PART TWO

2010-09-04T10:23:00.001-07:00

I was very proud to find my paintings hanging so beautifully in this light and spacious gallery of www.loods5.nl
The keepers had made so much work of it, to hang my paintings just right......very professional.
In one of the pictures made by Cor you can see me enjoying, with myself, being here in this light space with so many artworks, mine included....;-)

Hope you enjoy!

Thank you Cor for the wonderful pictures www.corvanderplaat.nl

New Exhibition part ONE

2010-09-02T10:13:00.000-07:00

Hi!

After a very nice exhitibition for 3 months at Robbert and Tonnie's lovely art- en frameshop www.artsoflecadre.nl in Bussum, I brought most of my paintings to the wonderful artdepartment of www.loods5.nl in Zaandam, the Netherlands.

I am so happy 9 of my paintings will be exhibited here. It's a wonderful light and spacious department of a huge living/housing shop LOODS5 with lots of trendy and cool shops.

This is the wonderful space where my paintings will be shown!

Here the ladies are discussung which paintings they want for their exhibition. I was very glad they liked the colourtrees (including the dancing one) and the citytreescapes. Even the smaller Abruzzo orchard can have a try there and the Dutch Landscape as well.

I am enjoying my apple pie a lot in the cafe of LOODS5, together with Cor (behind the camera of course, where else could he be?) , celebrating this wonderful new chance to show my work. In the background you see the artshop!

What a happy day!

Saturday we'll go back and take pictures of the paintings hanging on wonderful white high walls....My four citytreescapes will hang there together.

To be continued...part TWO will be there soon

Thanks for reading

Special Find

2010-08-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was looking for something special....a silver photo frame I could use as a pendant for my miniature paintings....
and look what I found in a tiny shop in Haarlem where I work...in this shop, thousands of old silver and gold necklaces, chains, pendants, rings and I was so excited when I found this frame. Cor adjusted the back of the frame for the purpose of a pendant and voila, here my new Art Niveau Necklace is!

I am so happy with this one. I will definitely look for more special frames this weekend....
Hope you like it!

This necklace is in my shop at www.nancyvdboom.etsy.com
This one is very special to me....the best in my shop for me....Right now I am not sure if I will be happy when I sell it. In a few days this will change, I know this.... Do you recognise this?

Thank you Cor for taking such wonderful photo's. Without his skills and talents I would not be able to show you my work like this.
www.corvanderplaat.nl

Er is veel meer.....there is much more

2010-08-21T22:18:00.001-07:00

Hi dear Followers!

About 4 weeks ago I re-ordered my jewelry boxes online. I sent the shopowner a picture of my necklace in a jewelrybox, to show her how lovely my necklaces look in her jewelryboxes. Chantal replied she liked my art necklaces and perhaps they could be an item for her webshop at www.erisveelmeer.nl (free translation: there is much more.....) This is an online new age webshop.

We "leveled" very well as Chantal calls it and talked about it and she ordered 2 necklaces! One with an angel/rainbow and one with a Boedha/Tree of life. Those subjects fit with her webshop very well. I started to paint right away, when ready I sent Chantal pictures and she liked them a lot. She bought the 2 necklaces (they will be in her webshop soon). In the meantime I received the jewelryboxes!

We had conversations about possible subjects for necklaces for her webshop or Etsy. Like a wolf and eagle, meditationflowers...
I painted a Wolf and an Eagle, listed the necklace on Etsy, showed Chantal. A few days later she kind of (...) adviced me I'd better match a Wolf with an Indian in 1 necklace (some of my necklaces are doublesided). Chantal had shown pictures of the necklace of Wolf and Eagle to people she knew, to be able to give me feedback. Eagle and Wolf don't go very well together she explained. I have to learn a lot still and I like it! Thank you Chantal!
So I started to paint an Indian, to go with the Wolf. it has to be right!

Same day I got a convo by Amy, a customer on Etsy and she asked if I do customorders. She loved the necklace with the closeup of the Eagle, but would like to have an eagle on a further distance on the other side instead of the Wolf! The symbool of her kid's school is EAGLE....
She couldn't know I just had taken out the Wolf, because Chantal told me so ;-)
I replied I'd love to do the custom order ofcourse.

This is the new necklace with Wolf and Indian in my Etsy-shop:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/53835510/handmade-ooak-art-necklace-wolf-and

And this is the reserved listing "Eagles" for Amy from the United States
http://www.etsy.com/listing/54372795/reserved-for-amy-art-necklace-eagle

Happy in my Arboretum

2010-08-13T22:38:00.000-07:00

I work 4 days a week in my "regular" job and I really like the job and all that goes with it. The only thing is it takes so much time! And just to throw in a question: what is a regular job?

I had 4 weeks off and will start working Monday again. Since we had a stay-home vacation I had so much time for working on my shop and paint paint paint and some other things in between like walking, citytrip, motorbiking, enjoying the sun and rain.

In the first week of my vacation I listed the first Art-Necklace with 2 mini-oil paintings as wearable art. Lots of friends adviced me to prepare my shop for the holiday-season so I painted, only not when sleeping....
Thanks for all the encourament, I think I found my niche with the art necklaces.

Currently Cor, my hub, is preparing a webshop and you know I was looking for a name. You helped me with focussing on the right name and yesterday I had the pleasure that a customer emailed me with a great suggestion too.

VanDenBoom Original Art & Jewellery Arboretum

I LOVE the word ARBORETUM.......

The last 4 weeks were wonderful, to start the day painting, painting in the afternoon and just before dark ;-)
And when I almost forgot about the exhibition in Bussum with my HUGE paintings (compared to the 4x4 cm paintings in the necklaces) the big Tuscany painting was sold. This painting moves to France, to the second house of a very kind businessman.

The owner of the gallery where my 11 paintings are, wants to have some necklaces too. And that's what we'll do today.
I take 10 necklaces with me and we'll see how things go ;-)

My 4 weeks off work were hard work - in a different way than "work". I enjoyed the seas of time. The sea of time is almost over but I am grateful for my day-job and will paint in the evening...Cor is preparing my workdesk with daylightlampbulbs (what a word) so I have good facilities to go on painting in the early-dark-evenings to come. And in this way autumn is welcomed (not yet, almost!)....

This was one big happy stat.

Love,
Nancy

Etsy on vacation

2010-08-10T03:58:00.000-07:00

Our trip to Maastricht was Lovely...
We enjoyed the country so much. City too....but our heart is with nature, trees, streams, fields!

Etsy (the bag) was with us on our wonderful walks in the hills.
All Etsians on the Sunday Market Amsterdam received a bag from Matt.

Picture below: This is the house of my great-grandparents with the carriagecompany they had here from about 1920-1943 (should ask my Dad for details).
Lots of horses went in and out here. It was very special to be here and feel the presence of my great-grandparents and that I share their love for horses so very much. This was an emotional trip to my roots....

This (picture below) is an old cornplant Cor found. It looked so cute I thought. It has done it's work and is not appreciated by the farmer (completely clear!) anymore but we do!

And so many special trees we encountered!

We will go back there hopefully one fine day!

Thanks province of Limburg for your hospitality! I came back with so much inspiration to paint!!

My creative space

2010-08-04T22:27:00.000-07:00

Without words

Tree

2010-08-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

Some time ago I read this non-fiction story of a man that was called by the hospital where his very sick mother was. The situation of his mother got worse and he should come right away. His mother talked about the place in the North of France, where she heard that her parents had not survived the concenrationcamp in world war 2. She was a young girl herself then, just after the war. She told she had cried underneath a tree and now, at the end of her own life, she needed to know if that tree still was there. So the son told his mother he was going to France, to look for that tree.

This story touched me so much and I really do hope they found the tree.

Nancy

Happy Stats

2010-08-02T00:12:00.001-07:00

Hi!
These are my happy stats for last week:

1. being off work, having so much time to make my pendants
2. after many years: riding on the motorbike myself
3. my daughter Roos coming back from holiday in France, she looked wonderful
4. all the inspiration I find around the house and the fields nearby with wonderful yellow flowers
5. my mother feeling much better after her fall and she felt so well she bought 2 necklaces

Nancy

Webshop / give-away

2010-07-26T11:57:00.000-07:00

Hi dear followers,

I am planning to - besides Etsy - to set up (have set up by Cor, my hub) a webshop for my necklaces and paintings and I need a really catchy name for it.

Was wondering, hoping on your creativity too and would love to see where you come up with.
For the Dutch-speakers among us: could be a Dutch name too for I will focus first at the Dutch market and set up in English too, so both would be great!

Specifications:

- oil paintings
- necklaces with lockets with 2 tiny oilpaintings
- vibrant oilpaint depecitions
- Dutch
- original art
- affordable
- unique jewelry

With these elements (combined, compact, most import mentioned in a creative way) I would love to build the name of the webshop. If you find any other elements important since you know my art.....feel free to use it in the name! My name doesnt have to be in it.
I know lots of you have a way with words, wordplay and thus creativity, so.....

But nothing for nothing....when someone gives me a push in the right direction or even THE BEST NAME POSSIBLE, I will let you choose between a painting or necklace for free.

I hope you feel challenged now! If you have any questions, please let me know!

Thanks,

Nancy

Inspiration around the House

2010-07-24T22:09:00.001-07:00

I find lots of inspiration around my house....
My garden is very tiny, and I love it...
Some days I just stay home and enjoy my house and garden...
The wonderful umbrellatree, the one apple growing, bubblesoap, flowers, colours, grapes, front door with flowers, the window of my little shop ;-)
the cats enjoying the garden as well, the little statue, the old cupboard with a lot of nice mess....
Size of my backgarden: 12 x 6 meters, a small lovely world.

Hope you enjoy!