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

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

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

Are you ready for Christmas?

Klaar voor pakjesavond en kerst!

Ready for Christmas!

De afgelopen weken heb ik weer heerlijk zitten werken in mijn studio in Accra. Terwijl buiten de roodstaart papegaaien verkoeling zochten speelde ik met de Afrikaanse stoffen en Hollands karton. Elke keer als ik weer naar Ghana vlieg, sleep ik zo'n 10 kilo aan karton mee in mijn koffer, naast kaas en drop. Dit karton is namelijk acid-free, en het lokale karton (uit China) niet.

The last couple of weeks I have been working hard in my studio in Accra. While the grey parrots are hiding from the burning sun, I am playing indoors with the African fabrics and Dutch cardboard. Every time I return to Ghana I carry a load of cardboard with me in my suitcase, and cheese of cours! This cardboard is acid-free while the local board isn't.

Dit leuke stofje zit inmiddels om een doosje heen.

This charming fabric has found its way to a box.

De hanger aan de deksel is een vogeltje van brass. Het is de zogenaamde Sankofa vogel, een Adinkra symbool uit Ghana. De betekenis is dat je ook moet kijken naar wat er in het verleden gebeurt is en daarvan te leren.

The tassel on the box is a Ghanaian Adinkra symbol made out of brass, the so called Sankofa. The meaning of this symbol is that you have to look back to your past and learn from it.

Some other boxes

De doosjes staan nu in mijn Etsy winkeltje te koop!

These boxes are on the shelves of my Etsy shop right now!

www.geckoboxes.etsy.com

Groetjes, Hilde

Spiderweb design on African fabric

Het spelen met de verschillende Afrikaanse designs blijft boeiend!

Wat vind je van dit spinnenweb motief?

It's never a boring moment when playing with the different African designs on fabric!

What do you think of this spiderweb design?

Dit doosje is 12 x 16 cm en 8 cm hoog

This little box measures 4.5 x 6.5" and is 3" high

Het is elke keer spannend hoe het motief zich om het kartonnen doosje vouwt

Every time again it's so much fun to see how the designs wraps around the cardboard box

De schuine zijkant maakt de doos geschikt voor (business-) kaartjes.

The slanted side makes this box suitable for (business-) cards.

En zo ziet de stof er in zijn geheel uit!

This is how the whole piece of cloth looks like!

Groetjes, Hilde

Fun with African Wax Print 'Nsu Bra'

Een van mijn lievelings-designs van de Afrikaanse prints is de 'Nsu Bra' print. Dit betekent in de Ghanese Twi taal waterput omdat het lijkt op de kringen die in het water ontstaan na het gooien van een steentje. In Nigeria heet de stof Plague-Plague omdat het ronde ontwerp volgens hun lijkt op de vinyl langspeelplaten. Het design staat prachtig op de sieradendoos met lade!

One of my favourite designs of the African fabrics is the 'Nsu Bra' print. This is from the Ghanaian Twi language and means water well. In Nigeria it's  called Plague-Plague because the circulair designs reminds people of the vinyl records. This design works great on the two-tier jewellery box!

Zo ziet 1 yard van de stof eruit

This is how 1 yard of fabric looks like

Nsu Bra on 'white cloth'

Groetjes, Hilde