dinsdag 18 december 2012

Winter Series ~ Knitted Scarf

This winter/autumn I started making myself some nice and warm accessories. Today we start with the first one in a serie: a cozy knitted scarf!


I actually started this project last year, but spring was already there when I was halfway..
So I finished it this year! It was even still autumn when I attached the little tassels. These photos were also taken in that time.


woensdag 12 december 2012

new 3D printed pieces!

As I mentioned in my Busy October post, I've ordered some new pieces on Shapeways. A few weeks ago they arrived! In the meantime I took pictures and made a simple video. Now I want to share these together with background stories / conclusions of the pieces :)



vrijdag 30 november 2012

Triple Chocolate Brownies

Last weekend a friend celebrated her birthday. Another friend and I threw her a little party, including party hats and cakes. There was an apple pie and I made her brownies. A few years ago I found a brownie recipe in a magazine. I tried it out and it was so perfect I never tried a different one. Almost every time I make these, someone will ask for the recipe. With this post, I can just refer to my blog ;)


Now let's make some brownies!

zondag 4 november 2012

Busy October

It already has been a month since my last post -.-
Life has been crazy lately, so I wanted to give a quick overview of my October.

School was pretty busy. I had to prepare and give two presentations. This means a lot of work for just 10 minutes of talking in front of your professors. Most people don't get that much sleep during these periods. This time I managed to get some sleep in :) But my presentations weren't that good.. maybe I should have worked all nights straight. Cause that's what being an architecture student is all about..

I've been doing a lot of other things as well. I finally managed to finish two other products for tiny purple treehouse to be 3D printed at Shapeways! Because of Sandy, the servers of Shapeways were offline for a few days. Fortunately they're back on now and they can process orders again. I hope everyone affected by the storm is doing ok now!
Also, I've been working on new different products for tiny purple treehouse. No 3D printing this time. For now it's gonna be a secret what they are..  I want to finish my prototypes first ;)

It's fall again! The weather in Holland has been the same as every other year. One day, clear blue skies and a nice breeze of fresh air. The next day, lots of rain, grey skies and a mean wind. No matter what the weather is like, I still enjoy the beautiful view of yellow and orange leaves falling to the ground. Plus, now I can finally wear nice warm sweaters and scarves again!
One night, my boyfriend couldn't sleep, so he decided to go outside and shoot some pretty pictures. Don't they reflect the perfect fall feeling?

I'm gonna get back to my schoolwork -.-
Have a nice week!

Xx
Anne Lien


maandag 8 oktober 2012

(free) Digital Design Resources

palette by Design Seeds and the parrot is from All Silhouettes
font is Caviar Dreams by Lauren Thompson on dafont.com

 I've been spending maybe a little bit too much time on the internet lately.. But I did found some awesome websites that might come in very handy when you like to design things on your computer!
I know there are many more useful sites out there, but these were my recent finds and some staples I wanted to share. Also, I like free stuff, so pretty much everything in this post is for free ;)

zaterdag 6 oktober 2012

Wedding in Phoenix

Time for a new post! Sorry for the long silence, but as the title suggests, I've been on a little trip to America. I've already been back for a week or so, but now I'm finally jetlag free and I have my head back together for a new blogpost ;)



zaterdag 15 september 2012

DIY ~ laptop sleeve

Last week I've made myself a new laptop sleeve! I've had this idea for a long time, cause the old one was actually not more than a T-shirt I cut and sewn to size. It was already shredded at the corners..

Awhile ago my mom got her hands on some interior fabric samples from a store. She said the best ones were already gone, but there are still some little jewels in there ^_^
So I've got a whole bag of samples. The nice part is, you have the same patterns in the same dimensions, but in different colors. It's a fun way to mix and match!
I've also made a little purse to hold my passport, phone and other stuff. It was perfect for my holiday in Spain! This is slightly more difficult project so that will be up after this. I'm also planning om making a shoulder/tote bag. So keep tuned for that as well ;)


In this tutorial I will show you how to make this laptop sleeve! Including measurement instructions so you can make your own custom pattern :)

donderdag 6 september 2012

My Projects ~ dark blue jacket with a touch of gold

I think I came up with the idea of making my own jacket/blazer about 3-4 years ago. Together with my mom I've searched fabric markets high and low to find that one perfect fabric for my creation. In a magazine I had already found the pattern I was going to use. After I found the fabrics I got to work. I altered the pattern so it would have long sleeves, pockets and it would fit my figure better. I was going ok with this project, but then I got busy or I got stuck.
So for the last 3-4 years I have worked on this jacket. I would work on it for maybe 3 days and then I put it away. Because the fabric gave awful blue stains, because the shoulders would look chunky, because I didn't understand what the magazine was trying to tell me, because I didn't have any room in my tiny blue apartment..
But last semester in March, I finally finished it! ^_^



Fortunately I still love the fabric even though it's quite a bit out there. Also, I found the most amazing buttons ever! At first I had silver buttons, but I think the gold adds just that little more 'oomph' to it. (I'm going through a gold-accessorize period right now)
I have sewn some bags and clothing before, but I was still quite amazed I achieved this, if I may say so about myself. It was a fun journey and I've learned so many new techniques ^_^ not sure if I'm gonna do it again soon though.. I'll tell you in about 4 years about that ;)

It's almost weekend!
Xx
Anne Lien

maandag 3 september 2012

Gift DIY ~ wrapping paper (kraft paper look-a-like)

Here's another gift inspired DIY. This time it's a gift wrapping idea.
I really like how this kraft paper looks, but I didn't have any.. and it was already in the evening so I couldn't buy some. For some reason I always come up with an idea when it's getting dark, not a good thing when you're trying to make clear photos. Luckily I had my boyfriends camera now instead of my old iPhone ;)
So, I've used up a few rolls of wrapping paper recently and I kept the cardboard rolls that were inside.These have the same look and feel as the kraft paper. It's only a bit sturdier. But it does the job! I wouldn't try to wrap anything but box-shaped items though.


woensdag 29 augustus 2012

All-time favorite iPhone apps

Today I'm gonna do a different kind of post. I have my iPhone 3GS for about three years now I think. And I have a lot of apps, my friends are always kind of surprised of how many I have.. haha
I don't know I just like to have a lot of choice.. or something.
But there are a few apps that I just keep using. Besides the standard FB, Whatsapp and Instagram apps of course.


I've got 4 games and 4 non-game/useful apps I want to share.

zondag 26 augustus 2012

Gift DIY ~ birthday coupons

A friend of ours turned 21 recently. We got her some gifts, but we also made a little coupon book for her. I know it sounds kinda cliche and like something you would make for Mothers Day. But this study year we will all be doing something completely different in different cities, so we wanted to have some kind of guaranty we will meet up again. Also, it's a great way to come up with funny ways to spend time together haha


maandag 6 augustus 2012

fashion DIY ~ little bow

Hello!
I'm back from my holiday ^_^

Before we left for Spain I had bought a nice top with lace detail on the top. Unfortunately there were some holes in the lace, but it was on sale so I didn't really care, I thought I would be able to fix it.
I decided to put a little red bow on top. This way you wouldn't notice the holes and it would add a nice pop of color to the top! 
I decided to go with a 'perfect' handmade ribbon instead of a normal knotted ribbon. Simply because it looks a lot more cleaner and pretty. 

donderdag 5 juli 2012

Holiday

For the next three weeks I won't be posting any new stuff, cause I'll be in Spain! =D
I have some DIYs in progress so they will be shortly up after the three weeks ^_^

Enjoy your holiday!

woensdag 27 juni 2012

Home DIY ~ pin board (out of foam and wallpaper samples)

It has been awhile! School has been crazy busy so I hadn't had much time to blog. Actually I'm supposed to be learning right now.. Time to take a break! ;)

I've made this pin board some time ago (can you tell I like penguins). It's still hanging and looking nice so I consider it as a successful project ^_^ (my little storage unit is also still standing!)
When I visited the hardware store I picked up some nice wallpaper samples. I didn't had a purpose for them until I wanted to create a pin board for my empty wall. The samples together make a cute and colorful surface for a pin board! I used foam because I needed a super lightweight material since I would hang it on the same wire as my photo ropes.

woensdag 30 mei 2012

Home DIY ~ little storage unit

Today I'm feeling a bit restless. I finished up an earlier post, did a bit of homework.. I decided to clean up my apartment. There is this particular place in my room that has been bugging me for a while.. It is messy and I can't find my stuff when I want to go out. I decided to reorganize this area!

Since my apartment is soooo tiny and I have way too many things, it can become quite messy over time. When I'm not happy with the way my stuff is organized, I start looking for things around my apartment which I can use to create a new storage unit.

This is what I found:
Ok without the utility knife and the pen..
I found a box used for transporting some kind of fruit (from the grocery store) and two strips of mdf. I have a massive amount of scrap material from building models for school, so there is always something I can work with.

3D printing software

If you ever want to start designing your own 3D-printed jewelry or other amazing things in 3D, you have to learn how to use 3D software. There are many different programs at the moment. Some are free, or rather expensive. Some are quite easy to learn and others take some time to understand. Here I will list some of the software I know or use. There are many more out there, but this is a way to get started.
Shapeways also has a tutorials page to get you started. This will be helpful when you've started designing.

First I will talk about the software I use or have used/tried.

Rhino interface ~ own work (Girl Robot Ring)

maandag 21 mei 2012

Recipe ~ grandma's pastadish

Today I wanted to share a little recipe. As the title suggests my grandmother used to make this dish for us when we were little. It's supposed to be an Indonesian dish, but that's kind of questionable since all the ingredients are more Italic... anyway I'm making this an one-person-dish since I only eat this when my boyfriend isn't here (it's not his kind of dish) and since I'm a student and all.. it's just handy.
When my grandmother died, the family made a little book with some of her famous recipes. She just loved to cook! In the recipes there aren't many measurements.. she just did what she thought would taste good. So I have to do the same here ^_^

zaterdag 19 mei 2012

City shopping ~ Amsterdam

Yesterday I went to Amsterdam to visit a friend of mine, we were just wandering around Amsterdam and visiting some cute shops ^_^ Thought I'd share some of the nice shops Amsterdam has to offer!


Amsterdam shopping     Here is an overview of the shops we visited


maandag 14 mei 2012

My Projects ~ Book purse

I've made this book purse awhile back for my minor 'Advanced Prototyping'. The assignment was to take any object and turn it into something new. It was pretty fun to do!


I can fit my iPhone in there along with my important cards and I even made a pocket for some change or lip balm =) 

They liked it so much they decided to keep it at school for a year! But I have to miss it :(
So I decided to make another one ^_^  a friend of mine also wanted one so we made them together. When I finish mine I will post a tutorial! ;)

 
Bye Bye ♥
Anne Lien

woensdag 9 mei 2012

Home DIY ~ photo clips

Let's begin with a very easy DIY project, the only thing you will need are paperclips! And your favorite photos of course ;)
I was into lomography for a while, I had some nice photos printed out but I didn't quite know how to display them. Since I have a rented apartment (and concrete walls), I can't hang photo frames on the wall. Lomo had some photo clips I thought would be really handy but they're quite expensive..

 

dinsdag 8 mei 2012

tiny purple treehouse ~ 3D printed jewelry


So I told you guys how tiny purple treehouse got started, now I will show what I've made so far..



So first up is this Girl Robot ring. This particular one is printed in Stainless Steel. The nice thing about Shapeways is you can decide in what material you want your products to be printed. Also, I added a function so you can order the exact ring size you want!
Okay so I'm a bit biased, but I'm loving this ring! I wear it everyday, it's nice and heavy so you really feel it on your finger. At first this was a bit weird, but I got used to it quickly. It's so heavy because Shapeways has restrictions on the thickness of the materials. In Stainless Steel you need to have a wall thickness of at least 2-3 mm. You can go smaller, but they won't always accept it, because the chance of breaking the product in the progress is quite big.
Some people say this material can rub of on your skin. I did experience this, when it's wet outside the ring rubs of a slight grey color on your skin. But this goes away ;) and I only had this in the beginning.


 


Next ring I designed is this BranchBirdie ring. I got it in Stainless Steel with a matte antique bronze finish and in Red Strong and Flexible.
I don't really wear the plastic one, because the color is quite bold and it feels vulnerable. But I already dropped it on the floor and it's still alright! ^_^ Another thing is the weight. It's really light so it doesn't really feel like jewelry to me..
The Stainless Steel one I do wear. Less than the robot one, but that's because that one fits better with my clothing style most of the time ;) After wearing the BranchBirdie ring a while I was disappointed to find out the matte antique bronze finish slightly disappears at the edges.. On the other hand it gives an even more vintage feeling to it!





My latest addition to my jewelry range:
A Girl Robot pendant! I also got this in Stainless Steel, I love to wear this together with my ring! The pendant is quite small, it's only 3 cm high.
The one at the bottom is in White Strong and Flexible. This one is from a friend of mine over at instagram: yurigurlie207, you should check out her cute stamps! Anyway she painted the little bow red! how cute is that >.<

So these are my designs so far.. I'm planning on doing so much more! But my study takes up a lot of my time.. Fortunately, summer holiday is almost here! So I will have plenty of time to design more things ^_^

Bye Bye
Anne Lien



First Post!


Okay so I finally found the time (and courage) to write this first post..

Let me begin by explaining the name of this blog, 'tiny blue apartment', it's quite simple, At the moment I'm living in a tiny blue apartment ;) I'm a student so I don't have a lot of choice where I want and can live. I was lucky enough to be long enough on a list to get a tiny apartment for myself!

But there is more to this name. At the first half of this college year I got to do my minor. I choose for 'Advanced Prototyping'. This minor was being given by the faculty of Industrial Design as well as by the faculty of Architecture in Delft. I've learned a lot! One of the most exciting things I learned was 3D-printing. We've experimented with different kinds of printers and learned about the limits and the creative freedom of 3D-printing. One of the assignments was to design your own jewelry that would be 3D-printed. I was really excited about this assignment. Especially because we were introduced to this website called Shapeways. Here you can upload and sell your own models as well as buy the models of other people! So I wanted my little shop there as well. I came up with a jewelry brand:

tiny purple treehouse

I got my shop and a facebook page!

So now I have a blog and a jewelry brand with matching names ^_^
On this blog I will share my new found love of 3D-printing, tell a bit about how to get started on designing your own amazing things and show interesting creations of other people. Also I will post my new designs once in a while.

Next to this I will also share all the other things I love to do, see, hear, eat, create and so on.
So I hope you will find something you like :)

See you ♥,
Anne Lien

ShareThis