Camping Bij Ons (Campsite ‘Our place’) in Groesbeek

What’s so great about this place?
You will simply love the scenery and the cozy atmosphere at Bij Ons. The campsite is surrounded by lots of small nature reserves, which you can get to directly from the campsite via little rural walkways. The campsite is next to the Groesbeek (a small stream), so kids can play there, building dams and trying to catch small fish. Apart from the spacious tent pitches there are several special places to stay such as the two tipis, a gypsy wagon, a summerhouse, a covered wagon and the very latest addition: a sturdy hunting lodge. And how about their wood fired hot tub?

Anything good to eat on the campsite?
They have regular nights where anyone can pull up a chair and join them for dinner. Very cozy, everybody gathered around a long table, taking potluck, sometimes the owners bake pizzas in the outdoor ovens, all served with a wonderful local wine! Just add a campfire and an exciting after-dinner game of Werewolves.

Our tip
The best thing you can do around here is to take a bike ride along the vineyards, orchards and meadows where the cows and the sheep, the horses and the ponies are out grazing. Then catch your breath at the magical forest eatery Merlijn (www.merlijn.de) just across the border with Germany, on their lovely terrace surrounded by chestnut trees. If you fancy a trip to Nijmegen, why not have lunch at Sid and Liv’s lunch shop (www.sidenliv.nl) with all kinds of ecological products from the region.

There are different prices for different means of staying the night. A simple night camping in your own tent costs € 18,50 per night for 2 people, including tent.

http://bijonsingroesbeek.nl

Jewelry, accessories, home decorations… Nathalie had plenty of ideas but nowhere to express them until she quit her job abroad and started a web shop. (Mees is the Dutch name for the bird species tit)

Who is behind Meesie?
“I suppose that I, Nathalie, am Meesie the little free bird, with a passion for all the projects that come my way, just like my logo. Of course I am surrounded by lots of lovely helping hands and I work with Mike, who runs ByMike, – he’s great with his hands – on the home decorations. Whenever I have a great idea, but I find can’t make the parts myself, I collaborate only with small business owners. For instance, the base of the sterling ring comes from someone who turns over her profit to a cat refuge… One hand washes the other, so to speak.”

What is your training/background?
“I studied tourism management in college and then I got to work in all kinds of beautiful countries with interesting cultures for ten years. But ten years is a great number to end a chapter on and to take on a new challenge.”

Why did you end up starting a web shop?
“Working abroad sounds wonderful, but at the end of the day it’s just a job like any other. To enrich my life I used to have loads of hobbies, mostly creative ones. I made all kinds of stuff myself, but I had nowhere to sell them. Jewelry, leather passport covers, bags, luggage labels, I had all these brilliant ideas, but because I worked on a different location each season I had no solid plans that I could put into practice. ‘I’ll just put it on ice’, I used to say. Once I decided to stop traveling I thought: right, let’s open that fridge and see which frozen ideas I can bring to life! And a web shop is an easily accessible, safe way to play at running a shop.”

http://meesie.nl/

Hello! My name is Rebecca Green, but you can call me Becca.
I illustrate, paint, dabble in miniature sculptures, hand draw typography, and make a mean batch of banana cookies.

The first time my work was published, I was in kindergarten, and my underwater mermaid drawing was printed in the school newspaper. The treasure chest, the fish, the seashell bra – all details my teacher praised. From then on, I knew I wanted to be an artist.
I paint people and animals primarily, but also buildings and cities and cakes.

Most of the time, I paint with acrylic on wood, but I also like to experiment with watercolor, cut paper, and pencil. Currently, I am going through a party hat phase.

I am thrilled to have been invited to blog as a guest for Flow! This month, I’ll be talking about process, workspaces, and future endeavors. If you’d like to see more work before next week, visit me at www.myblankpaper.com. Until then, find something you love and share it with a friend! Posted by our guest blogger: Rebecca

Bed & Breakfast De Stadsboerderij (‘the city farm’) in Kampen

What’s so great about this place?
B&B De Stadsboerderij in the old Hanseatic town of Kampen is a beautiful listed building with a very special history. This building used to house the linen weavers guild. There are four guest quarters, including the Linen Room and the Guild House. The place is simply choc-a-bloc with lovely vintage items, such as an old-fashioned ticking alarm clock next to your bed or the venerable Aga in the Guild House. One of the apartments even has an traditional bedstead hidden away.

What’s for breakfast?
Breakfast in bed is a real feast here: there’s a tray with crisp croissants, Kaiser rolls, fresh juice and coffee or tea with a boiled egg, You can also opt for a simpler breakfast for only € 5,-. This will be delivered to your room.

Our tip
The municipal museum in Kampen tells the history of the town and you will come across beautiful portraits of the Dutch royal family’s ancestors. And if you’re up for some fabulous food, there’s a new Indian restaurant in Kampen called ‘Swagat’ that’s just opened its doors.

Prices for, for example, the Guild House (2 persons) are € 90,- per night, excluding breakfast. The full breakfast is € 10,- per person. The Guild House and the Linen Room can be connected so they can sleep up to four people.

www.stadsboerderij.nl

Nanda and Esther from Nijmegen found each other in their search for meaning in their life. 9 months ago they started this web shop together, which combines their love for all things pretty with their desire to do something good for society.

What did you do before you started the shop?
Nanda: “I graduated from HBO-V (Nursing college). As it turned out, it really wasn’t my thing, so other plans popped up; I traveled for longer periods of time with my boyfriend.”

Esther: “I trained in several different fields, including Occupational Therapy, Care Sciences and Real Estate Development. My last job was as a Policy Officer within a housing organization for the elderly. ”

So now you are developing and selling products. How is it going?
“We obviously don’t have the skills to make the products completely by ourselves, but we do have the ideas. The first version we always put together ourselves. Structurally, it’s always a mess, but esthetically it’s usually pretty close to what we were aiming for. Which is usually the most fun part of the development. Then we go and find the right people to make the final product. Our biggest challenge is sourcing suitable used or residual materials. We started out collecting absolutely everything, as we didn’t have a clue what we might be using it for. By now we know you need to start with a good idea for a product before you start looking for materials!”

What are your dreams for the future when it comes to work?
“Dreams galore. As we both have a background in caring for people we pay special attention to people who cannot achieve what they’d like on their own. I am recycled tries to create work for them so they feel they are contributing to society while doing something they actually enjoy. In the future we’d like to find a way for our business to start more of those kinds of projects.”

http://www.iamrecycled.nl/nl/

Hello and goodbye

I have to be honest; when I was first asked to be a guest blogger for Flow I was nervous. I’ve never written a blog before. I was also a little bit worried about when I would fit it in to my busy week. Honored, grateful and committed, I knew I would make time.

This is my final piece and I will miss my weekly sit down for Flow. Writing this five-part blog has given me a ‘window’ for myself. It has allowed me a space in my busy week to reflect on my life and days. It has also given me the confidence to consider my very own blog. Thank you Flow for an unexpected gift! I’m going to make a celebratory coffee. (Good things happen after good coffee!)

Before I go I wanted to share my new favorite thing – love letters! Not in the romantic way but in a thankful sense. I had a beautiful experience in an out of town cafe so I wrote to them and told them just how happy it had made me.

I’ve invested in a pile of postcards and a pack of stamps. I will be sending regular appreciative notes. Imagine how good you would feel if you received an ‘out of the blue’ love letter. It doesn’t have to be an essay, just a few powerful sentences.

As I mentioned earlier, my very own blog will be happening in the near future. Follow me on Facebook so you’ll know when its out… Posted by our guestblogger: Hayley

Applied artist Ellen Cornelis likes to spread atmosphere, humor and joy with her illustrations. She also has a very healthy entrepreneurial motto: ‘Selling yourself means appreciating and respecting yourself.’

What else do you do in your day-to-day life?
“I’m a freelance illustrator and a graphic designer and I write books as well. In Belgium I am known under my own name, Ellen Cornelis. I made a series of craft books for kids. Max goes for a visit, Max celebrates the seasons, Max in the museum, Welcome to Max’ house. These books inspire children to take an interest in art, drawing and crafts. I have very specific ideas about these things… I think experimenting and developing your own personality is very important. And that’s what I am trying to say with these books.”

Why did you choose ‘applied’ art in bags and such?
“It was a coincidence really. I went to a children’s book fair in Bologna last year, I wanted to make a bit of an impression so I made a big bag featuring my work. The Italians were very taken with the bag and kept coming up to me to ask where I’d bought it. I kept having to explain that I made it myself. I was very pleased with all the great responses; even little old ladies stopped me for a chat.”

Where did you learn your craft?
“I went to the best art school in Ghent, the College of Science and Art, formerly Sint-Lucas. I received rigorous training there. It takes a very long time to learn to draw and paint and develop your own style. There’s much accounting for taste. It molded me into who I am now. The quality standards they maintain there are very high. I even went back for an extra year when I was pregnant and on leave. It’s still a struggle to live up to those standards. Drawing is something you never really get the hang of, there’s no end to it, there’s always new uncharted territory. Which is why you need to define your style. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all there is to learn…”

www.etsy.com/shop/WoodyEllen

My working week takes 80% of my time and energy. The other 20% is for my husband Neil, my dog Daisy, my family and friends, nature, good food and charity shops.

I never really switch off from The Window but after three years running my coffee shop I’ve found a way to manage. Routine is crucial! I’ve learnt to say ‘no’. This doesn’t feel natural but its empowering to do what I know is best for me.

My perfect day is Sunday.  Always spent with Neil and Daisy. The alarm clock is never set! Fresh eggs and bread for breakfast. Brewed coffee, newspapers and then we head out to nature. Norwich is surrounded by beautiful, unspoiled countryside. The North Norfolk coast is wild and spacious with spectacular beaches.

I’ve always loved to travel. Australia has a MASSIVE place in my heart – its where I discovered coffee. As I get older I’m quite happy to stay closer to home though.

I think everyone has to work at feeling ‘content’. I meditate each morning on my walk to work – I simply pay attention to what’s happening around me instead of getting caught up in my minds dialogue! I notice the sky, clouds, trees, buildings. I’ve stopped trying to control my life and the ways of nature. I trust in the universe. She knows best!

Posted by our guest blogger: Hayley