beautiful bovine

Rosie

Lovely is the bovine

Who's shiny fur reflects the beautiful zesty spirit within.

Large eyes

and a big nose

Perky udder swaying in the breeze

before she climbs on new-bull-friend Arthur.

Rosie

welcome to our family

who are as full of character as you are.

And when you're done with Arthur

(who lives at the neighbours place)

we'll take you home

read you bed time stories

give you the moozley take-away food you seem to love

and tuck you in safely at night.

We love you Rosie

no trip to the meat works for you.

Instead a life of frivolity awaits!

A sweet milking Mooooooooooo is a

Beautiful Bovine.

designing

Why do we do what we do?
This is the bio I sent to Hemptech: the company who releases beautiful eco textiles in Australasia.

(My Cows and Couches design and the Footprints collection. Below with a Mooodlies cushion.)

"As a designer I work on many different creative projects: interior, furniture, product, and textile design. I work primarily as an interior designer. My passion however is: goats. I'm an absolute animal nut and yes I do talk to them too. On our 64 acre llifestyle block in the south of Otago we run highland cattle, saanen goats, turkeys, chooks and pigs. Inspiration abounds as nature is very much expressing itself on our property. New Zealand scenery is so powerful and beautiful. My heart is always outside running alongside the animals in gumboots, clad in overalls, having my hair in ponytails.


My designs reflect this happy attitude and I do adore the whimsy and playing. My desire to design for eco textiles stems from that inner sense of letting my love of living in New Zealand out. As a Dutch immigrant I am fully aware that this slice of paradise is not (easily) accesible to everyone on our planet. We do live in a wondrous place down under. So what could possibly be lovelier then sharing that magic energy at home with others?"
Why do you do what you do?

 

Photos: copyright: Mirjam Spronk and Hemptech ltd

design for a change

Changes on a global level have kept me occupied lately. To showcase New Zealand design today seems a contrast, yet I find Shane's work both crossing the boundaries of Art and his personal heritage interesting: Shane has Danish, Chinese and Maori ancestors. Isn't it wondrous how we human beings travel the globe and embrace other cultures?


I have been a fan of Shane Hansen's work ever since I came across it several years ago visiting the Gallery The Poi Room in Auckland. I have to find the NZ wood pigeon below as it really speaks to me.

Te Karanga Pitoitoi

Korihi ake nga manu

Takiri mai te ata

Ka ao, ka oa, ka awatea!

Tihei mauri ora

 

The birds call

The day begins

And I am alive


A bit of background on how Shane works: "Shane Hansen likes a strong, clean line. He has drawn constantly for as long as he can remember, but has never indulged in intricate doodles dredged up from the dark recesses of the mind. Instead, his creations spring from a world of bold colours and optimistic clarity, a pop-art invitation to a feel-good New-Zealand celebration." (source Shane's website: here)

"Shane studied art at high school but began his professional life as a fashion designer. He commandeered the sewing machine on which his mother had worked from home churning out nylon jackets and created the label Vampire. (..) He then trained as a graphic designer, eventually combining these two disciplines at Fly, where he was co-founder and creative director, carving out a niche creating innovative marketing and design strategies for corporate clients and retail stores." (source here - Gallery De Novo)

The scrummy bovine series is both hilarious as it is captivating. Shane used to make quite a bit commercial work whereas nowadays he works from home and focuses on his Art.

The bike must be son Nikau's one I imagine!

"The environment Shane grew up in was rich in culture. The walls of the Hansen family home in Manurewa were covered in paintings by Shane's grandfather and great-grandfather, both of Danish origins and both amateur water-colourists. Shane's grandfather took his descendants on painting expeditions that actively encouraged deeper contemplation and appreciation of the landscapes and objects around them.

His mother's side of the family is a mixture of Chinese and Maori influences. His grandfather emigrated to New Zealand from China's Guangdong province and established a market garden in Pukekohe before starting what became a family of 14 children with Shane's grandmother, a woman of Tainui descent. Creativity seems to run deep on both sides of the family" (source: Shane's website)

Shane work is definitely colorful and has a clear identity. It is expressive and focused. Its boldness and presence for me are very much linked to the relative young country that is New Zealand, the ruggedness of the mountains, the clarity of its waters and the brave attitude of its people.

An in depth interview with Shane can be read on a different blog: here.

Merry and Happy

The best wishes are yet again zooming around the planet. Christmas is close at hand. And summer holidays too for all here down under!


The best story I have heard in the last few days was from a dear friend. I won't repeat it here but it was incredibly hilarious. Smiling at things is a blessing. It takes the seriousness out of a situation and makes us relax and have fun. I mean, it's Christmas after all. What can you do for others to cheer them up?


Here's a toast to a kiwi (New Zealand) summer! Wishing you a most wonderful time too, wherever you are.

all in a name?

What's in a name we often ask? Or... a title?

I was reading Nicole's blog post today: about her discovery that she is in fact not a hand-bag designer. To her this was a very important discovery. To others it is probably not that important. Then I remembered reading this leaflet in the car long before I got to work and came across Nicole's blog post. The said leaflet informed me on the different design streams within the local Polytech. I was reading about product design... yes familiar.... fashion design.... not my field... interior design.... yes work in that one.... communication design.... huh? This lovely umbrella of Communication Design covered the whole spectrum of what I have been doing for many years, excluding the activity of goat herding - somehow that is not part of their curriculum. Interesting to read though. I thought: ah! now I can do away with all the summing up of what it is I do, this umbrella would suit me fine.

Sometimes I observe that we have the tendency to either make things unnecessarily complicated, too interesting then it really is or simply too darn wordy. Being concise has benefits. People get a quicker grasp on what it is we do. Of course the questions is: do we wish to be labelled? Does it matter? And: we are often labelled whether we agree with it or not! Do we make enough time to explore more about a person we meet? Look past the label or title enough?

Just recently I met this lovely couple through my work. They live only 10 minutes away from where our farm is and they needed a solution for their interior. A few years ago they helped us with our highland cattle as we had been shifting them from our farm to the neighbors. Then last Saturday I finally discovered what it actually was what the husband does for a profession. He hunts Moose. In New Zealand. With a bunch of cameras. In a very dense large stretched out area called Southland. Apparently he is quite well known throughout New Zealand and I hadn't had a clue, because I hadn't heard about any of it before. His work is controversial and many New Zealanders think that his work and theories are a bunch of crock (as they say here) because no one has seen a live Moose since the 50s. The fact that Ken is relatively famous is not interesting, but the funny fact that it took me a few conversations to finally clue in on the fact that of course there was a lot more to these lovely people then met the eye, as my main priority had been to help them with their interior.

A title or name can be useful, but being labelled can have negative connotations as Ken has found from time to time. Either we choose or accept the label we like/are given or we decide to just play the part we want to ourselves regardless of it. It's not so much what we're called, it's what we do that makes a difference. It's what stories we share ourselves.

More about the topic of labeling here (excellent post)

Interview

Interview

Shauntelle Hamlett of the wonderful interior blog A Beautiful Abode, has done an interview with me a while ago that has been published last Friday: oh my goodness! I'm sharing it with you here (slight delay on account of visual layout hiccups):

INSPIRED BY LIFE: AN INTERVIEW WITH BONVIVANT DESIGN’S MIRJAM SPRONK

Mirjam and Nico of Bonvivant Design

I have a treat for you today– a new interview!

I actually virtually met interior stylist and designerMirjam Spronk of Bonvivant Desig

almost exactly a year ago via Twitter. Immediately I was drawn to Mirjam’s unique 

style and, most specifically, to the way she draws inspiration from her New Zealand 

surroundings and incorporates it into her design products.

Originally I intended to publish this interview earlier in this year but ya’ll know how life

has a way of derailing your best intentions, right?  I’m glad that I am finally able to 

publish Mirjam’s interview now and I know that you guys will find it just as interesting

as I did!

Although I’m familiar with your background from reading your blog, Mindpopsicles, 

would you share a little bit about yourself with my readers?  Are you originally from 

New Zealand?  How did you go from earning a degree in Mixed Media to becoming an

interior stylist and product designer?

I was born in the Netherlands and lived there most of my life. My husband and I emi-

grated to New Zealand in 2002. We fell completely in love with the vast spaces, 

abundant nature and the great variety in scenery. The people are friendly and helpful, 

still having that trusting trait that the Dutch society seems to have lost due to its 

‘hardening up’ as people live so close together.

After 5 years of study with a BA of mixed media, I had set up my own design studio; 

work consisted mostly of graphic design work with incorporated illustration: I designed

logos, brochures, stationary, leaflets and book covers. I also had a stint at a publisher

firm and a Real Estate agency before heading out to Down Under.

My first job in New Zealand was apple picking. This is a great idea for meeting the 

most interesting (local) people, building stamina and losing weight. I have fond memo-

ries of that time, even though it was very hard work! But being outdoors, in the most 

beautiful scenery that the Otago region has to offer, all that sweating and cursing made

it absolute gold.  It was a very de-urbanizing experience and an eye opener too.

Beautiful New Zealand

copyright photo: Nico Vos

After that we traveled New Zealand extensively and decided to head up to the biggest 

city on the north island, Auckland. I found work as a sales person working for a furniture

 and interior accessory store and after 3 weeks I was asked to become the branch

 manager. I worked my hardest and learned a lot. Not only was the styling in the store

 and advising customers on their interior a learning curve, so was dealing with 3 staff. 

Acquiring managing skills through experience taught me many things about New 

Zealand culture and people in general. It also gave me experience by trial and error on

what works in interiors, and what doesn’t.

When we moved South, I found work as a branch manager for a furniture and interior

design store.  Styling interiors comes naturally to me and I really enjoy it.  My boss used

to say that good interior design comes from breeding it in to you, not from going to 

school.  I certainly think an education helps, but you do learn most from experience, 

training your eyes on shape, form and designing in 3d.

Hemptech "Cows and Couches" Fabric

When I visited your website, Bonvivant Design, I was immediately drawn to the fun

“cows and couches” pillows and was excited to discover that the fabric was your original

design.  I’m always talking to my readers about learning to draw inspiration from any and

everywhere.  You definitely epitomize that idea in the way you use your natural environ-

ment to inspire designs for both your interior products and your jewelry line… Can you 

share with us your process of moving from inspiration to an actual design?  Does this 

process change for you depending on the project (i.e. is it different for creating jewelry 

versus styling rooms versus fabric)? If so, how do you approach these different types of

 projects?

The reason I started (graphic/product) designing again was because it is my passion 

and I was missing it in my daily work. I am a creator, so whether this is 3d (interiors) or

 2d (graphic/product design), they both have their place in my world.  My predicament is 

that I have too many ideas!

From inspiration to actual design– there are two ways of going about this.  If I receive a 

brief then I stick to that. If it’s free range , I can bounce ideas around and try different 

things.

Designing for www.hemptech.co.nz has been fun as Lynne lets me run riot with New 

Zealand based themes. We simply started talking about it one day and the fact they are

an eco/sustainable New Zealand fabric manufacturer gave me the angle for ‘celebrating

 kiwi identity’. It’s a niche and it’s brilliant.

Drawing Inspiration from Nature

I have an affinity with New Zealand nature so that’s what I started off with.  I basically 

sketch on the computer using Adobe Illustrator. I also utilize what I may have brain-

stormed around with before.  For the Hemptech project, I started by drawing a con-

ventional sofa. I was thinking of an ad I’d seen that had a sofa sitting in a field of grass.  

New Zealanders have a great passion for living on their deck in summer.  Looking at 

the sofa on the screen it reminded me of a cow illustration I had done some months 

before. I opened the file, copied the cow into the sofa file and worked from there.

The zebra was a trial and error as I wanted to introduce an exotic element.  Most Kiwis

in their early 20s depart for what they call their big O.E. (Overseas Experience) or they 

will go in their 50s.  Many of my customers tell stories about Italy and France, but also 

about Africa.  Hence the zebra pattern implemented in the ‘Cows and Couches’ design.

My design work has foundation and it has reason, but a lot of it is playing around. One 

idea leads to something else, and I like a dose of humour in my work. Life doesn’t have

to be so serious. Why do we let it become like that? So my design process is a big jump

and skip in my brain. First I have the parameters, then the fluffing and playing, and then

the reality check to see if what I set out to do has been achieved.

Bird of Paradise Pendant - Bonvivant Designs

My jewellery work is again celebrating that New Zealand flavour. I also design 

fun things that I like for myself, for example an eccentric peacock based on a real life

one that friends in the Netherlands still have. The design process usually has me 

looking up wildlife pictures and information online, checking the anatomy, what 

characteristics it has. I aim to hone in on the specific elements that underline New 

Zealand based design. As my life is here, I don’t see the point of incorporating Dutch

elements, although I’m a huge fan of Droog design and Marcel Wanders.  They too 

possess whimsical and surprising elements. I love that. Bold and strong: great 

impact and massive wow factor. I guess I never was one for subtleties.

People are often hesitant to start creating living environments that they really love 

because they’re afraid they will make a mistake.  Have you ever started a project and 

felt it was headed in the wrong way?  How did you handle that challenge?  What 

advice would you give people to overcome this fear?

Yes I have started out on projects in my early days where due to lack of experience I 

had to muddle my way through. Of course I wasn’t very proud of that, but one has to 

work with what one can. Usually I would see later where I could have done better, but 

we always work with what we have available to us. So don’t beat yourself up! I think the 

interesting thing is that whatever you feel comfortable with, or what you like is a great 

starting point. Hold on to what you love. Don’t throw out important story pieces just 

because they clash with the latest trendy sofa. Something may not appeal to for 

example a friend of yours, but it’s confidence that makes it all work.

Seating Area designed by Mirjam Spronk

I suggest what really helps is taking magazines and simply cut out what you like: work

per room, so have a binder that contains tabs and sleeves in which you can insert pictures 

of what you like. From say 6-10 pages you can then deduce what jumps out and what 

describes your taste. You can make a list of what needs to be done in the room: do you 

really need to paint? Is it worth wallpapering? If you got very snazzy furniture or Art it may pay

 to forgo elaborate wallpaper altogether! Generally I would say: the walls are the least of 

your worries unless the existing walls can’t be cleaned or have ugly wallpaper: the key is 

to be aware of what draws the eye and work on that. Do you have a very busy carpet? 

Take it out, there might be a great floor underneath. Otherwise cover it with a plain coloured

 carpet, which is easier on the eyes.

Here in the States, we’ve really been suffering from the recession.  I imagine that this has 

probably touched you and your clients down in New Zealand as well… Would you share 

with us your top three tips for cutting costs while meeting your design goals?

1) Re-upholster. One of the biggest things I have discovered this year has been that 

re-upholstery jobs have shot through the roof!  If you are considering doing a recover, check

 whether your chair or sofa is worth salvaging.  It may be worth buying a quality piece that 

is newly made if it costs only a fraction more than a re-upholstery job.

2) Auctions!  I’m not sure if you have quirky auction places in the US but you sure have a 

few here in Dunedin.  At these auctions you can get lucky and pick up a few pieces (that you

decided on beforehand so you don’t get carried away!) If no auction rooms are available, try 

E-Bay. I would use auctions or E-Bay to find second hand drapes for bedrooms or studies 

for example. That will save you quite a bit. Also lamps are great to find on these sites, or 

even wallpaper for a great hallway.

3) Save before you buy! It makes sense to get a few quality pieces and work with what you
have already. Quality lasts and you will see the difference!  Make a plan to get a piece in say

6-12 months and put away a certain amount a week in a separate bank account that will go 

towards your interior. You’ll be surprised how small amounts per week add up over 6 

months!

Living Room designed by Mirjam Spronk

Final question… and it really relates back to the idea of people being afraid of making

mistakes in their homes.  I think a lot of people settle for “safe” looks in their homes 

because they don’t have confidence or trust in their own design eye.  People will buy 

matched sets from some retail store and live in homes that don’t exactly reflect their 

spirits because they don’t believe they can buy individual pieces that speak to them and 

actually pull a cohesive look together.  What advice would you give a person in regards to 

learning how to develop and trust their own sense of style and design?

I still remember seeing this old lady getting on the bus on my way to high school. She 

was wearing this shiny leather coat that was very trendy, a bright pink scarf and a cooky 

hat. Now, everyone in the bus was staring at her and there were some snorts from the 

young crowd, but everyone followed her later getting off the bus. Why? Because she had 

the guts to go bold.  It’s all about attitude. If you genuinely want to create a wonderful 

unique interior that is yours, then go with your instinct.

I will tell you an interior design secret that I discovered many years ago through hard work:

• if in doubt, whatever you do in a room, if you stick to a 3 colour rule you will 

have to  try very hard to go wrong.

For some reason the magical 3 brings harmony and it’s a great rule of thumb. If the sofa is

brown leather, the drapes are blue and the rug is plum, you can bring in orange vases for 

example. But not green as well.  That makes seating one colour (1), drape or rug as another

since blue and plum are in the same family (2), and accessories another colour (3). I’m 

counting table lamps etc as being part of the accessories. Now, if you have paintings or art 

work it would help that the 3 colours are in there or the largest part in there. Naturally this is 

an over simplified solution, but it is definitely harder to pull of a dazzling interior with more
colours then 4. It takes quite a bit of experience to get it right.

Bedroom styled by Mirjam Spronk

My other rule of thumb is group the ornaments and declutter.

I have seen numerous fireplaces with dotted bits n bobs on the mantel piece. There is 

a place for knick knacks, but I would not suggest having them scattered through out the 

house. Try to group them, either on one shelf or on a hall table in, for example, one 

dominant colour way. This creates peace and stability. Too many distractions on the eye 

creates un-ease. For the same reason de-cluttering is vital. A more zen like approach 

creates peace. Clarity in the home brings clearness in the mind they say and I have to 

agree. You can still have fun in a room and add zing, panache and vavoom, just try and 

keep it organised in some fashion so you can take in the room in one swoop and not 

hurt your eyeballs with too many distractions.

Dutch Design Inspired Animal Lamps

Dutch design: by Moooi design

Finally, have fun! Decorating or styling your home can provide tons of energy and 

satisfaction! Try not to do it all in one week or a month–good things take time and it’s quite

alright spreading your renovation out over a period of time.

*********

You can learn more about Mirjam by visiting her design site, Bonvivant Designs or by 

reading her blogMindpopsicles (which is a great place to find inspiration and positive mojo 

when you’re having a bad day!).  You can also follow Mirjam on Twitter.  I hope you’ll leave a

comment here to help me show our appreciation for Mirjam taking the time to share with us– 

and there’s an extra big THANK YOU to her from me for being so kind and understanding 

when this interview wasn’t published any where near the time I told her it would be!

’til next time, happy budget decorating!

xoxo – Shauntelle

Thanks everyone for making the time to visit Shauntelle's beautiful blog and Shauntelle for her time!