How can we mentally endure a heatwave without calling an air conditioning company—only to hear about a waiting list of several weeks? How can we find strength and intentionality in our daily rituals? That’s what Marga and I have been texting about, and we’d like to share our no-brainer (yet subtly effective) advice.

Cuddles can also be playful—think of young cubs tumbling together in a mock battle. Or cuddles can lull a baby or a pet into sleep, their little bodies so deliciously safe and protected that they drift off without a care.

Why do we feel extra inspired when we take a holiday? Is it the newness of an unknown environment, or is it our relaxed mindset? Why does inspiration come to us so easily during a breakaway from home?

A quilt or patchwork blanket holds a special magic. It’s far more than just a piece of fabric—it’s a labor of love, a testament to time, patience, and craftsmanship. For generations, quilts were painstakingly made by hand, sometimes from leftover fabric scraps, sometimes as carefully designed patterns. This rich history often leads enthusiasts to wonder: Is it wise to buy a quilt from a thrift store?

Keep a stack of multi-purpose tenugui towels on hand, and you’ll always be prepared for anything.

This tote was specially designed for garden-lovers who love browsing their local garden center—whether you’re stocking up on seeds, tools, or plants. With its roomy, easy-clean interior and reinforced straps, it’s made for 'green fingers' who value both function and flair. 🌱

And the Sisterhood, the women closely involved in the textile and embroidery work for (William) Morris & Co. Think of Jane Morris (William Morris’s wife, embroiderer, textile designer), Elizabeth "Bessie" Burden (Jane’s sister, embroiderer), May Morris (William and Jane’s daughter, embroiderer, textile designer, later a leader in the Arts and Crafts Movement), and Jenny Morris (William and Jane’s other daughter, also involved in textile arts).

In Ancient Greek religion, Hestia is the goddess of the hearth and of harmony within the family. She is the goddess that many mothers identify with. Perhaps women identify with Aphrodite when they are young, with Athena when they are -for instance- battling for a better education for their children, but certainly they might often feel in the role as Hestia when they work around the clock to create harmony (and health) for their family. Even fathers or home keeping men are allowed to identify with Hestia's harmonizing and health promoting qualities.

When I design a Chanel-style jacket, I enjoy having textile leftovers. 

Inside our homes we like to surround ourselves with practical art. We buy the nicest dinner plates and tasteful designed furniture. Feng-shui, Chinese traditional practices used to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment, also uses practical art. Specific animal artworks are put up in different areas of a home; they are believed to have different functions. These animals can be shown as statutes, ceramics, paintings, etc.

Feng Shui's elements can stimulate, support, harm, and calm, each other. Wood supports Fire (this one is easy, think of a camp fire), Fire supports Earth (think of Earth's core), Earth supports Metal (Earth stores minerals and metals), Metal supports Water (bit harder to remember but metals/minerals enrich water), Water supports Wood ('trees need water').

I remember a mystical remark by a Sufi master. He explained that all we see and experience is Creation creating itself to see itself, to engage with itself, to see itself being reflected back at itself.

When fashion moves faster than ever and trends appear and disappear within a season, it is easy to forget that textiles were once deeply treasured. Clothing was not simply consumed — it was cared for, repaired, passed on, and loved.

Feng Shui's five elements are interesting to identify and to work twith, you are probably already doing so. Have you stepped into an office building and felt awful? Too much white with too many shiny, metal surfaces? Observation: too much mental element.

On today’s NOS Journaal (16 May 2026), there was a segment about the urgency of transitioning to a circular economy. We must use raw materials, waste, and components more efficiently—it’s no longer a voluntary choice, but a necessity. A deadline has even been set. So, let’s get to work, everyone!

I noticed an old postcard in a stationery shop. It’s an illustration from a 1920s book on Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement. The card flooded me with memories.

Not because it is perfect in the commercial sense — but because it carries intention, time, attention, and care. In a world increasingly filled with mass production, algorithms, and disposable trends, handmade work quietly offers the opposite: connection.

My daughter bought HOMEWORK for me because she had noticed I was looking (if not struggling) for ways to set up a perfect home. Our family needs multi-functional rooms but we live in an urban apartment that seems to have done all the design thinking for us. Not that I like that. Like the Austrian architect Hundertwasser, I believe that truly good architectural design allows owners (or renters) to decide for themselves how to utilize a space. Maybe they need adjustments for their health.

For many years, platforms such as Etsy offered artisans and independent makers a valuable place to present handmade creations to an international audience. In the beginning, these marketplaces were strongly connected to craftsmanship, originality and small creative businesses. But over time, the landscape has changed considerably.

Three adults -we sit around the table- and we try to define some luxuries of life.