A conversation together with Miranda

Vibeke: Hi Miranda! I am so happy that you said yes to doing this conversation post together with me. First, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Miranda: Well, I’m Miranda van Dijk, and I live in the Netherlands with my husband and son. I’m the designer and maker of Puur Anders . I create fabric flowers and leaves with (vintage) photographs.

Vibeke: Three words that you would choose to describe yourself?

Miranda: Poetic, dreamer, impassioned.

Vibeke: You are the designer and maker of Puur Anders (means pure different in Dutch). I have been admiring your beautiful pieces for quite some time and I am curious to know the story behind the choosing of this specific name?

Miranda: The idea behind the name is that you can find beauty everywhere. Even in the normal things, they could be right on your doorstep. So common, but so extraordinary. Different. Pure different.

Vibeke: How were the idea of Puur Anders "born" and how where your path from making the idea into reality?

Miranda: Well, it started during my second year of the Styling Academy. I quit my dayjob for this school. I really thought being a stylist was what I always wanted. But what I loved most was the creating process. And doing something of my own and not working for a company. Now I think I’m more an independent artist than a stylist, but then I didn’t realized that. I felt a relief when I graduated and I remember saying to my husband: ‘Finally, I can do the things that I like.’

Between the school assignments I’d already created the story concept ‘Abandoned by Nature’ about the last woman on Earth who is abandoned by Mother Nature. For this concept I crocheted dark rubber flower jewelry. I started selling these items on markets and galleries and Puur Anders was coming to live.

Vibeke: What are for you the biggest blessing about beeing an artist and what do you feel are the most challenging about it?

Miranda: I like the creativity process. At the same time it is the most challenging. It can be a struggle when I have a clear picture in my head and it doesn’t turn out to be. During these down moments I’m starting to think I have to find a decent job. I’ve learned that I have to do something completely different to get my head clear. Fortunately, I’m still an artist. Independent and working in my own home. It is truly me.

Vibeke: Were you a creative child and what was your favourite thing to do?

Miranda: I can’t remember being very creative as a child. What I do liked was playing with the LEGO and Playmobil of my two older brothers. I created complete cities and whole stories. I was always busy changing my room, so maybe there is a bit of stylist in me, haha.

Vibeke: Can you tell us a little bit about how you work?

Miranda: Everything starts in my head after seeing an inspiring photo, magazine or something on the street. Sometimes I make a drawing of the idea in my notebook or make a note. I start collecting information, most of it are pictures to get a complete picture. And then comes the most difficult part, to start making. There are a lot of experiments lying in my drawer, unused. Or I leave them on my workspace. To look at it again and again when I’m not happy with it. I’ve realized I have to share these experiments on my blog and on facebook. Reading positive words about it, makes my heart sing and it is just what I need to finish it.

Vibeke: I LOVE the wrappings you do when one has bought something from you!! is the wrapping something you find especially important?

Miranda: Yes I do. My pieces are mostly a precious gift for someone. I want it to look like you’ve find a little treasure in your grandmother’s chest of drawers.

Vibeke: Are there any other crafts that you enjoy? Maybe there also is something new that you would have liked to learn/explore more?

Miranda: Well, I like crocheting and embroidering, but it is hard to find time for it. I would love to learn screen-printing and sewing. I got a sewing machine for my birthday last year, but it is still unused.

Vibeke: How do you relax?

Miranda: I always create time to be with my son. Playing with him makes me forget about my work. We go out for a walk with his bike or drink some coffee and tea at a nature visitor center here in the neighbourhood.

I have to deal with peaks in my work, like Mothersday and Christmas. During these months it is very busy and I have to work in the evenings. Than it is very relaxing to have a free weekend with my husband and son. Going for a forest walk of have some fun at sea.

Vibeke: What means the word creativity to you?

Miranda: Creativity is finding solutions, having an idea in your head which you can make for real and making things with your hands.

Vibeke: What inspires you?

Miranda: Everything, but most of all nature. Nature is such a wonderful artist. Every leaf is different, every flower has his own imperfections. I can’t get enough also of poetic and dreamy pictures of women in rough and romantic landscapes. I love the combination of these two. My pinterest account is full of these images.
Vibeke: I hugely enjoy your Pinterest, a collection of beauty and inspiration!

Vibeke: I LOVE your online catalogues, so beautiful! I read a quote there: "observing others is finding yourself"...really like these words. Do you have some quotes that you especially like?

Miranda: I love quotes too, but I’m not really good in remembering them. There one hanging in my living room: "Follow your dreams".

Vibeke: I know that nature is an important thing for you. can you share a little bit about what beeing in nature means to you?

Miranda: Beeing in nature is finding energy and peace. I find it very relaxing to walk down the river only 3 minutes from my home. I need it the most when my head is too full of ideas or troubles. It feels like the river takes everything with her. 

Vibeke: I know that you work with a lot of custom pieces and i would believe that there sometimes are some emotional stories behind many of them....are there a special one that you would like to share with us?

Miranda: Every item is special and sometimes you hear the story behind. Once I made a leaf of a birthcertificate. It was a motherday gift. The paper was very old and full of medical terms and it said that the little boy died direct after giving birth. This little paper was the only proof that this little boy had existed. No pictures, only a name and a date.

Vibeke: I am lucky to have some lovely penpals around the world and especially a couple of them are often sending me the most pretty dried leaves and flowers (i love nature treasures like that). The last leafs i got were some yellow ginko leaves, i love their shape. Because your pieces often consists of leaves and flowers i wonder if you have some favourites?

Miranda: I love tulips, snowdrops and daffodils. I always buy them in the grey months. They remind me that spring isn’t far away anymore. 
Vibeke: I also buy fresh flowers in the grey/dark and cold months so that i get a reminder of spring...it uplifts and refreshes me.

Vibeke: Where can one buy your work?

Miranda: You can buy my work online in my Etsy shop or in my Dutch shop. A couple of stores in The Netherlands sells my work too.

Vibeke: Are you working on any new ideas these days and if you do can you share a little bit about it with us?

Miranda: I’ve had many questions lately for framed work. Not everyone prefers a brooch or necklace, but want it to be an object in their home. I’ve always said no, because of the extensive shipping costs. But it gives so many more opportunities, like a whole branch with photographic leaves. I like the idea that you can have your own ‘family-tree’ on the wall.

I’m also working on new flowers, which you can put in a vase. And on a butterfly brooch. And…

There will be a lot of new stuff this year in a completely different concept. Just wait till spring!
Vibeke: BUTTERFLY brooch!!?? Oh, i can't wait for this one Miranda...*smiling*...

Vibeke: Winter is slowly starting to turn into early spring here in Norway now. I have learned to like winter more the last years but i am passionate about spring......i LOVE spring! What about you?

Miranda: I’m not very fond of winter actually. I love the winter days which are not so cold and with a lot of sun. Yesterday I heard the birds sing in the morning when I woke up. Finally! My favourite season is spring. Seeing the green come to live.

Vibeke: This has been such a lovely and inspiring conversation Miranda! And lastly i want to ask you about what you are most happy about in your life right now?

Miranda: Definitely, my family life. My son and husband. 


Links:
Blog,
Pinterest
and
Etsy.