Records and books

Just for fun i've started a new blog where i will post the records i have collected thru the years. I have a very open music taste so the posts will vary from (modern) classic to rock to industrial and everything in between. Also i'll post some curiosa sleeves i collect. The music isn't good, sometimes it's funny, i just bought these kind of records because of the curiosity factor. So check it out here.

I've just received a copy of my Blurb book Silent echoes and i'm very, very pleased with it. It just looks great and very professional. ;-)

Then finally i have the right form for my website. Maybe it need some little improvements but i'm very pleased with the basics so far. Now i can upload my work there if i can find the time.

Book

First of all a welcome and sweet greetz for all new dreamers who wander through my world. I haven't been a great blogger lately because i was busy busy busy and therefore in the evening a huge lack of energy. Too tired for blogging and commenting all my favourite blogs. I don't know exactly if this lack of energy has to do with my disease or with aging or maybe both. But it sucks big time. Very frustrating.

In my shop you can buy three booklets of my work and that takes lot of work. Updating the shop, spreading the url, taking orders, check them, send them etc.... i don't mind the work, it's fun but if there is an easier way i sure will try that. So i tried a new way. Inspired by Caio i also made a book with Blurb. The program booksmart is easy to use. I'm very pleased with it all. I make the book and upload it to Blurb. They take care of the business. I don't have to print lots of books (as i did before). Blurb print it if there's an order. Besides; the price for the book is less expensive as with my other print-company. And you can check the book on the website, also a big plus. I think the book looks great and there will be more books in the future with my work. So many possibilities.

This means that my first booklets will be even more special, because the impression of the book is just 50! Ánd ofcourse there is a real original drawing at the last page of each booklet. So pick your choice! ;-) And here it is, my book Silent echoes

Momo Luna S!gnals by Monica Croese |

I haven't worked on new drawings/paintings lately, so i leave you with an old one: some details of the painting The pomegranate.

Maybe you still remember the give-away i had some weeks ago? And after a week or so, ALeksandra had her book in the mail. And Jasmin, Laura and Jayne were happy after receiving their card. But i didn't hear from Rachel about receiving the book. I was checking on her, after 3-4 weeks or so, and it became clear she didn't receive anything. So i was trying to find out where the package had stuck. Unfortunately i had no luck, i didn't find out where the package had stuck. :-S


But then i realized that i probably had made a stupid mistake. I always make a little original drawing on the last page of each book with my drawings. One of a kind. So i thought it would be great to place something special on the last page of Organic worlds as well. Therefore i made a nice little bag with seed in it. Seed of the nightcap poppy, which gives beautiful flowers. I didn't realize that this could bring trouble at the border. I think that's the reason why Rachel never received her book in the first place. Although i can't find out if it really stucked at the border.

So i've send a new package to Rachel, without the seed but with a little drawing. I keep my fingers crossed, hoping all goes well this time.

Enjoy your weekend and dream sunny poppy dreams.

Fun stuff and a GIVE-AWAY

Today Holland is coloured orange everywhere. Because today it's Queensday and that means lots of old folklore but also lots of music, theatre and free markets. People partying, having fun, wearing the strangest hats and for some people it means also lots of beer. Since i have kids i behave myself, thank you. ;-) It also means many people on the streets, very, very busy. I don't like that myself. Not anymore. But there are also activities in the parc.

Tomorrow is also partytime because it's Chris' birthday. It would be nice if you leave a comment on his blog. :-D Time flies, he becomes 14! Sometimes i think he's growing too fast haha. But he thinks he grows too slow.

And sunday also a little party. The presentation of a new book 'Nu je er niet meer bent.' (Now you're gone) It contains letters daughters wrote to their mother who has passed away. Daughters who lost their mother at young age, daughters who lost her when they are middle aged themselves etc... Some stories are cheerful, some sad, some funny or all three at the same time, but all stories are touching. I have written a letter to my mother also. The book is in Dutch. More information you can find here.

Because of all these fun things, ánd because of the expansion of my website with webshop ánd because of a new booklet; Strange organic worlds and also new cards, i think it's great to celebrate this with a give-away. Also as a thank you for all the nice and sweet comments, greetings, support and e-mails i received from you. That's so nice and much appreciated.
.

I wanna dispose two of my booklets: Strange organic worlds and also 4 x a beautiful card (of your choice). You can see pages of the booklet here. If you are interested and wanna take place in the lottery, just leave a comment. Saturday 8 may i will pick the winners.

Also i wanna welcome the new follow dreamers of my blog. Nice seeing you here.
Enjoy your weekend and dream about orange balloons!

All good things

Isn't blogging fun? I love it; to write, to post my art, to visit other blogs that inspires me, to read all sweet, wise, supportive comments. To receive a comment from you is always like a little present for me. It certainly makes my day, feeling happy. Last week all good things came my direction, that is related with blogging.

First of all: the book The pictorial consequence of Caio Fernandes arrived. Wow! this made me very happy. At first i had difficulties with ordering, but Blurb mailed me directly their advice and that worked. And i got the book sooner than i (impatiently) hoped for. Than the book itself: i had high expectations, but this beautiful book was even more than i could imagine. I turned page after page and noticed i was holding my breath. I am a fan of Caio's work, but to see all his work together in a book overwhelmed me. You're so right Caio: the internet doesn't do justice for your work. I was amazed by all the beautiful colors in your paintings. Colors that i didn't notice on the net. And your blue is far more deeper and intenser than i thought. I only can imagine how intense and emotional it must be standing in front of your work. I'm sure that will take my breath away. I really hope that some day i have this chance; to see your amazing work for real. But i am very, very happy with the book!

Second: i had the trade post, maybe you remember? Three cards i had to offer for some other pearls. And three lovely people were happy to trade with me. I had my packets waiting to travel to their new homes (your packet is now on the way Yvette) and i received some nice packets back.

William Michaelian traded my card The torch for his book No time to cut my hair. His book also arrived last week. I already have (read) his book The painting of you. A beautiful story about his relationship with his mother, which is moving and humorous also. The William Michaelian humour which i like a lot. And his book winter poems; beautiful painted images thru even more beautiful words. So you can guess i am very happy with this new book. I'll read it very s l o w e l y because with his work i always find it a pity when it's finished. The photograph on the cover from this book; a little William with his grandfather, is sweet. Nice hours reading this book is what i'm looking forward to.

As i visited the blog of Ria for the first time i was intruiged. A strong woman who is surviving two cancers and translates this process, this journey into strong images and words. I love her art a lot in which you also can find the influence of Frida Kahlo. The transformations of the women on wellknown famous paintings is very ingenious. Visit her blog and you know what i'm talking about. She traded my Wild lady for three of her cards which pleases me a lot. They have find a good place between other cards, little statues etc. which are close to my heart. These cards she has submitted for the Book about death exposition in New York. You now also can collect them at the same kind of exposition in Sao Paul, Brasil and (soon) Scotland i think. More information on Ria's blog.

The third trade with sweet Yvette is on it's way to her home. :-) This trading project is such fun! There will be following more soon.

If that wasn't enough i received another parcel. As i wrote before; i won a beautiful brooch from Whitney- Anne. It came with a sweet postcard, was packaged in soft blotting paper, in a heartshaped box that smelled like sweet soap. Very lovely and i'm happy with it. It's fun to wear this lovely brooch. Thank you Whitney.

And to make me feel even more like a birthday girl (it's not my birthday yet): last week i also received my new book; Momo Luna's organic world. William is the first one to have seen it. :-) I'll post more information later. And today i received new passe-partouts for my drawings. Great! Ánd the postcards i've printed from my drawing The beginning. They look wonderful i think. :-)

Another happy thing: I'm working on a mandala, because Shana Goetsch has asked me to join the Art that circles the eart project. I love her art, so i decided to join. So exciting.

And last but not least: i am trading a drawing from me and some other surprises (i cannot blab yet) for the painting Holland dreams by Brian of Inkpunk artworks. Isn't that great? I love this painting a lot. And that it is painted with memories of Holland is such a nice circle.

You should see me glowing with happiness these days. And to complete this happiness: spring is showing a tiny, tiny bit of her face the last two days.

Since i've been very, very busy lately, i haven't had the chance to visit all my favourite blogs. But one of these days i'll pop up again, don't worry. ;-)

The beginning * Double card

Pakjesavond: two give aways.....

Tomorrow evening, the 5th of december, we have in Holland 'pakjesavond' also known as Sinterklaasfeest. It's a very old Dutch tradition, a special event for the children. But even when the children are older or grown up this evening stays special. Drinking hot chocloate, eating chocloate letters or 'pepernoten', enjoying each others company and giving each other presents accompanied with little rhymes. Also we make some teasing presents with funny rhymes to point out someones flaws. For instance a game which needs lots of patience for the impatient ones. But you have to make the teasing present yourself. And it's fun to make these surprises.

I thought it would be fun to play Sinterklaas myself. Two give-aways i have; 2 x my two booklets Drawings 1994-2006 & Drawings 2007-2008. So if you're interested let me know by commenting this post. Next sunday, 13 december, the 13 will be a lucky number for two of you readers. My son Emil will pick two names from a Sinterklaas bag and they win two booklets each.

I wish a warm december with lots of joy for all of you.

I proudly present

Ladies and gentlemen, i proudly present you my son, who shows you his favourite pages of my booklets. "Now i am famous, right mama?" he asked me. ;-) Sweet, isn't he? But yes, i am also proud of this 2 booklets i made with some of my best drawings (i think) from 1994 till 2008. In it also some poems and information. If you are interested, you can find them in my (new) blogshop. Soon to come more booklets, cards etc....

And for now two lovely pictures of my youngest beloved one: