A new instruction video on my YouTube channel

Oops, I noticed I never published the 3rd part of the box making tutorial for the second level box on my YouTube Channel! This tutorial guides you through the proces of measuring and cutting the panels for the inside of a box likes these ones.

At my YouTube channel Hilde Hoogwaerts you can find different instruction videos of how to make boxes from scratch. 

What kind of board do I use

The basic ingredient for my boxes is grey board, aka cardboard or binder board. This kind of board is Ph neutral or acid free and is long-lasting without causing dis-colouring the material you will add on top.  You can find these kinds of material on the internet in the States under Davey Book Binders Board, Lineco Neutral Ph (or Acid Free) Binders Board or under bookbinding grey board. I normally buy sheets with a thickness of 2mm (0.07"), 2.5mm (0.098") and 3mm (0.118").

This is the video:

Subscribe to my channel

When you like my instruction video's why not subscribe to my channel! You will stay up to date with new video's I plan to publish! 

Can you do this with kids? Yes you can! They just need a little supervision when using the box cutter to cut the grey boards. I have had many kids to my box making workshops together with their moms and they always loved to make their own storage box for their pencils or scrunchies to name a few things.

Groetjes, Hilde

https://hildehoogwaerts.com

Geckoboxes instagram

For the love of African Fabrics

Still from my introduction to Box Making video

A few days ago I was interviewed by Miriam Galadima - Benson of Quilts Africa Fabrics in Nigeria. We talked about our passion for African Fabrics and I showed her a few of my quilts. Due to delayed internet connection the video is sometimes blurred and not always in sync. This created hilarious moments! ;)

The interview is now on my Youtube channel.

In the first part of this video is a short introduction video to box-making included. At 21 minutes the interview starts where I tell a little bit about my creative journey and show some of my African Quilts.

Introduction to Box Making video

If you would like to watch the introduction to Box Making video only (or have a better sight) click on the link here below! Maybe even better: subscribe to my channel!

Have fun watching!

Groetjes, Hilde

Facebook event about the African Fabrics this week!

This week you can join the online summit organised by Quilt Africa Fabrics! For free!

For 4 days, from the 8th till the 11th of July, every day from 1PM - 4PM EST (7 - 10 pm Amsterdam time), there will be 3 speakers who will talk about their inspirations and their work with African Fabrics.

All the speakers will be live!

And I will be there too!

This coming Saturday, July 11th, at 2PM EST (8PM Amsterdam) I will show you in a short video how I make a box using a bold African print, followed by an interview with Miriam from Quilt Africa Fabrics.

The only thing you need to do is register for this Live Facebook event HERE.

If you can't watch the artists life you will be able to watch the sessions on a later time.

Hope to see you there!

Groetjes, Hilde

Spring Sale at Geckoboxes!

Since all craft markets, exhibitions and you name it have been canceled for the coming months I had to make up my mind!

I was supposed to have a stand at the Textile Festival 2020 next month and made

 quite a few boxes in different colours and sizes. As some are bigger than others and I have not really the space to keep them all hiding until next year's Festival, I decided to have a SPRING SALE at my Etsy shop!

Hop on over to my tiny WebShop and have a look around.

I ship worldwide ;)

Groetjes, Hilde 

A new quilt in Purple and Green

The combination of Purple and Green is one of my favourites.

This combo just brings me joy and happiness. So working on this quilt was simply fun!

This is an American size Twin quilt measuring 67" x 87" (170 x 220cm) and

it's available in my Etsy Shop!

To show it on a single bed I had to bring the spare bed outside as my working table is in the quest room!

Don't worry, our guests can sleep inside whenever they stay over for the night! I just need to clear my studio when they come! ;)

The backside fabric is a soft cotton in green and beige and made by Julius Holland, one of the better companies that make African prints in The Netherlands.

All fabrics from the top are bought in Ghana.

Handmade with love

The final stitches are made to put the label in place.

Me, my dog and my love for making!

Groetjes, Hilde

A Box Update!

As promised: a picture of the final result of the hatboxes with their clasps and handles! 

The blue coloured leather matches beautiful with the fabric.

And on to the next deadline for my handmade boxes! 

In about 2 weeks time I will be joining the 'Wintersalon' of the Maaskoe Gallery in Rotterdam. Together with other artists I will be showing my boxes and some of my quilts and wall art! The walls and tables will be full of art and all will be for sale!

However, since we have a Parson Russell Terrier puppy my time in my studio is much less than I thought it would be! He is very interested in the cardboard pieces of the boxes... ;)

Still I managed to make a nice selection of different boxes like tea caddies,

gift boxes and boxes for all kinds of little treasures.

If you are in the area and still need some handmade Christmas presents please hop by at the 

Maaskoe Gallery and maybe you will find the perfect gift for your loved ones! 

The exhibition is on from December 14th until 29th, Thursday through Sunday 12.00 - 17.00.

Groetjes, Hilde

Back to the studio!

It's been a while since I posted last time but that doesn't mean I haven't been doing anything! My strength is coming back, physically as well as emotionally, and very important: it's starting to itch to go back into my studio and start making again!

I was lucky to have had an order to make hatboxes and slowly get back into making. First I made a sample with African fabrics which turned out really well if I may say so ;)

The front

The back/bottom with the hinges made out of fabric

Done!

After this one was approved I was asked to make 8 more with fabric provided for by 'Queen of Your Castle', a special coaching program for women to build up inner strength.

They embroidered their logo on the fabric for the lid before giving it to me. The handles and clasps will be added onto the boxes later by the client. Hope to show you a picture later!

Happy to be making again!

Cheers, Hilde

My final days in Accra

En dan is het dan eindelijk zo ver: mijn laatste week in Accra - Ghana is aangebroken.

Met gemengde gevoelens ga ik voor de allerlaatste keer naar de Makola markt waar talloze stalletjes en winkeltjes tot de nok toe zijn gevuld met stoffen, zowel lokaal geproduceerd als Chinese namaak. Gelukkig weet ik na 3 jaar waar ik goed kan slagen.

At last my final days in Accra - Ghana are there. 

Filled with mixed emotions I went for one more time to the Makola market to buy just a little bit more fabric. So many stalls and little shops are filled from floor to ceiling with local and foreign (China counterfeit) fabrics. Fortunately, after 3 years, I know where to go for my fabric stash.

Shop assistants at Perpetua's GTP fabric shop

Nog een keertje ga ik langs bij de sjieke Vlisco winkel in Accra Mall waar het prima is uit te houden in de heerlijke gekoelde lucht. Heel wat anders dan op de markt! De prijzen liggen natuurlijk een stuk hoger met deze in Nederland geproduceerde stoffen!

One more visit to the Vlisco fabric store at the Accra Mall can not be skipped! In this air-conditioned shop you can only find fabrics produced in the Netherlands for the West-African market. Prices are significant higher, and so is the quality!

Mijn kleine quiltgroepje heeft een afscheidscadeau gemaakt met lokale stofjes...

My quilt group friends made me a farewell present with local fabrics...

In de afgelopen maanden heb ik mijn kennis van het dozen maken mogen delen met een paar jongens van een klein bedrijfje in Accra. Ook van hun moet ik helaas afscheid nemen. Maar ik weet zeker dat ze met hun nieuwe vaardigheid vele mooie doosjes zullen gaan verkopen.

In the past few months I had the pleasure of sharing my box making skills with a few boys from a small company in Accra. Unfortunately I had to say goodbye to them as well. But I am pretty sure they will be able to use their new skills and make beautiful boxes for the local market.

You can find these guys on Instagram @nyosgh

Voor twee lieve vriendinnen heb ik op de valreep deze 2 mandjes gemaakt met repen stof en katoen touw. Een heel leuk werkje waar ik over een tijdje nog eens mee door wil gaan.

For two dear friends I made 2 baskets from strips of fabric and cotton rope. So much fun to do, I definitely will do again in the near future. 

En dan is het koffers pakken geblazen! Omdat ik niet weet hoe lang het zal duren voordat de spullen met de verhuizer komen neem ik zoveel mogelijk stof zelf mee... 

Finally the moment is there to pack my suitcases.Because I have no idea how long our shipment of personal effects will take I try to take as much fabric as possible with me on the plane... 

2 suitcases filled with 40 kilo of fabric 😂

Good bye Ghana

One day I will be back

Groetjes, Hilde

It's been a bit quite over here...

Het is de afgelopen maanden stil geweest op mijn blog. Mijn wereldje stond op zijn kop door ziekte en uiteindelijk overlijden van mijn vader. Gelukkig kon ik mijn ouders bijstaan tijdens het ziekteproces dat ruim 2 maanden duurde. 

Mijn creativiteit was ineens tot stilstand gekomen totdat ik een verzoek voor theedozen binnenkreeg van een Cottage Retreat in Ghana. Dat gaf mij precies de goede afleiding.

It's been a bit quite over here due to family circumstances. My world turned upside down when my father became ill and died shortly afterwards. Luckily I was able to be with my parents and support them these past 2 months.

My creativity was on hold, until I got a request for some tea boxes for a soon to open Cottage Retreat in Ghana. This was the perfect distraction for me.

De stoffen komen uit Helmond dus als ik in Nederland ben kan ik heerlijk fijn blijven spelen met de Afrikaanse prints.

The fabrics are made and bought in Holland and this gives me the opportunity to keep on playing with African prints when I am there.

Deze kleine doosjes (9x9 cm) zijn ook gemaakt met stof uit Nederland en zijn besteld door een winkel in Accra. Dus ondanks een lange afwezigheid heb ik toch een beetje kunnen werken.

 These small gift boxes are made with Dutch wax prints as well and are for a shop in Accra. Despite a long absence from my studio in Accra, I was able to do a bit of creative work.

Nu ben ik weer voor even terug in Accra. We gaan namelijk weer verhuizen....

Maar eerst heb ik deze dozen nog verder afgemaakt met een mooie kraal als afwerking.

I am back in Accra just for a short time only. We are going on the move again...

But first I finished these boxes with some beads for the finishing touch.

Groetjes, Hilde

Gecko Boxes Parade

Mocht je je afvragen of ik misschien ook nog doosjes maak tussen de quilttops door, dan kan ik je geruststellen: kijk maar hieronder

If you have been wondering if I still make boxes in between sewing quilt tops, then the answer is yes! Just have a look:

Tea Box with 4 compartments

Tea box with 6 compartments

Two boxes to hold postcard and letters send from around the world

De volgende dozen zijn aan de buitenkant bekleed met boekbinders linnen en decoratief papier en aan de binnenkant met een Afrikaanse print.

The following boxes are covered with bookbinders cloth and decorative papers on the outside 

and an African print on the inside.

Farewell present for a friend

And one more friend was leaving Ghana...

En als toegift:

Last but not least:

Mocht je nu zelf een doosje willen maken, kijk dan bovenaan deze pagina onder het kopje Tutorials Box Making. Daar vind je alle instructiefilmpjes waarmee je zelf aan de slag kan gaan!

If you want to make your own box check the tap Tutorials Box making at the top of this page. There you find all the instruction videos which gets you started with making boxes.

Groetjes, Hilde