Fiep Westendorp's Economical Impact

An exhibition in the Stedelijk Museum of Amsterdam in 1956, was extremely important to Fiep. By then she had established a reputation as an illustrator and was asked to design the poster for the exhibition. In 1970, Fiep Westendorp made an award-winning drawing for a Unicef greeting card.

The figures of Jip and Janneke were first used by HEMA, a large and well known chain of department stores, in 1975. Fiep designed a series of products featuring the two children.

In 1991 Jip and Janneke were ‘rediscovered’ by HEMA, who wanted to put the silhouettes on their products again. They started a ‘bath and skin care line’ consisting of bottles of shampoo and shower foam. Earthenware mugs and plates with Jip and Janneke scenes soon followed.

The success of Jip and Janneke was unparalleled. They became the most popular children in the Netherlands, and they still are. Zaltbommel, the town where Fiep was born, honoured her with a sculpture of Jip and Janneke.

In 1997 the CPNB devised a special prize for Fiep, who had never won an award. This was a prize which was only to be awarded once: the ‘Oeuvre Penseel’.

Gioia Smid, one of Fiep's best friend who took care of Fiep when she got too sick, was asked by Fiep to collect all her oevre and an exposition was held on 13 September 2003 in The Kunsthal in Rotterdam, because of Fiep's study there. On 1 en 2 January 2004, a 50 minute documentary was broadcast on Dutch television about Fiep's life and work.

The drawings of Pim and Pom are apparently still so convincing, powerful and modern, that they will still be used on exercise books, postcards, autograph albums, etc.

One day after her death it was made known a Royal decision had been made for Fiep to received a high decoration, Officier in de orde van Oranje Nassau on 26 January 2004.

Fiep Westendorp's Work

Fiep Westendorp has got a very impressive work-history.
She started out in 1937, when she got her first commission, the illustration of the Zaltbommel tourist information guide. She did drawings of the many historic buildings in Zaltbommel.

In 1939, she was commissioned by the Lekkerkerk town council to make a wall painting for the newly decorated Council Chamber in the Town Hall and in 1941 she illustrated the poem Clara Eggink wrote: The Woman and the Cormorant.

During the war, when Fiep and her family were forced to move to Opijnen, Fiep worked at the Town Hall, forging documents and passports and she also drew ground plans of the banks of the Waal.

After the war she got commissions from Vrij Nederland magazine and Het Parool newspaper. Soon she also had many commissions from the previously illegal publishing house De Bezige Bij and illustrated novels like Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and The Red Shoes by Hans Christian Andersen. In 1945 she illustrated the children's book "Snow" by Henriette van Eyk, in 1946 her first illustration appeared in newspaper Het Parool and she illustrated "The Lost Sheep" by Han G. Hoekstra, a book of poems for children, in 1947. In 1948 she made illustrations for the magazine Mandril, that was based on the American satirical magazine The New Yorker. She became mainly known, at that time, as a cartoonist.

A weekly women's page featured in Het Parool in 1948, for which Fiep did the illustrations and when in 1949 a children's corner was added to it, Jip and Janneke (Bob and Jilly) made their entrance, accompanied by writings by Annie M.G. Schmidt.

Her star was rising and Fiep did many illustrations for books, newspapers and magazines and made drawings for various advertising campaigns.

Fiep Westendorp and Annie M.G. Schmidt worked together until Annie's death in 1995. Their first children's book appeared in 1958, but Fiep also worked for many decades with writer Mies Bouhuys, who took Annie's place in 1957, writing for the children's column in the news paper.

From 1968 onwards, every fortnight a story by Annie appeared about a little boy called Pluk and a book was published by Querido. In 1976 the children’s magazine Bobo asked Fiep if she would be interested in making colour illustrations of Jip and Janneke, which she had been drawing in black and white until then.

Many books appeared by Fiep and Mies Bouhuys, like Otje and Pim and Pom. In the meantime Fiep and Annie M.G. Schimdt's collaboration went on and they too published several books.

Their last project together was in 1990 when the Association for the Promotion of Dutch Books asked Annie and Fiep to make the gift book for the Children’s Book Week.

After Annie’s death in 1995, Fiep made the illustrations for the cover of the collection of fairy tales by Annie M.G. Schmidt. These would also be Fiep's last illustrations before her death in 2004.

Jip and Janneke (Bob and Jilly) celebrated their 50th anniverary on 19 mei 2003, which was announced also as Annie M.G. Schmidt-day.

For decades now, Fiep Westendorp has left her unique imprint on Dutch children’s books.

Laugh More!

I think we all know we feel so much better when we have a good laugh. It sticks with us for a while and we can face and take on so much more, it seems. It does not just seem like it, we can! Not only does laughter lift up the spirit, it also helps with pain relief.

It's always said: an apple a day, keeps the doctor away. That maybe true and I will investigate that sometime, hehe. BUT... it is now scientifically proven that a laugh a day, keeps the doctor away!

Sharing a good chuckle with a loved one or co-worker not only feels good, it is good for you. Studies have shown that laughing boosts your immune system, reduces stress and stimulates blood circulation.

Let’s face it, though: Most adults don’t experience much spontaneous laughter on a daily basis. So a growing number of people are turning to hasya yoga to “fake it until they make it.”

Hasya, or laughter yoga, began in 1995 with an Indian medical doctor named Madan Kataria. The unusual discipline, which uses playful activities and guided breathing exercises to trigger laughter, since has spread to more than 50 countries, with about 200 clubs in the U.S. alone.

For people with chronic pain, laughter’s physiological benefits can serve as a powerful form of pain management, says Sebastien Gendry, director of the American School of Laughter Yoga in Pasadena, Calif.

“When you laugh, you release endorphins. Those are feel-good hormones, as well as natural painkillers,” Gendry says.
Janet Wilson, a registered nurse in Flagstaff, Ariz., who has fibromyalgia, became a certified laughter leader in 2005 after learning about the World Laughter Tour. Wilson now runs laughter clubs in Flagstaff.

“I have had chronic pain for 12 years. I love leading laughter sessions because it elevates my mood and provides pain relief that lasts for about two hours,” she says.

To try a taste of laughter yoga, Gendry suggests pretending to take a “laughter pill,” building from a simulated giggle to a belly-shaking guffaw as soon as it “hits” your tongue.

Or consider joining a laughter club. Because laughter is contagious, enjoying a few rounds of pretend chortling with others may inspire a serious fit of the actual giggles.

To find information about laughter exercises or joining a laughter club, log on to http://www.worldlaughtertour.com/, or http://www.laughteryoga.org/.
~By Genevieve Rajewski, Arthritis Foundation.

Well, there you have it. Laughter is the best brand of pain relief medicine you can get and it doesn't cost you anything. Not even a trip to the pharmacy!

Redneck or Genius I

I would like to show you our mansion. To be honest with you, it's nice to have all that space, but it's a little too big for us. Besides, the cleaning is a pain. Oh well, as we say here: The sky is the limit!















At least the grass is done real quick.
















So you won't have any problems getting to the guest house, whenever you come over.















Ohhhh, we will have a cook-out, while you're styaing. We got this new grill and it works like a charm! Actually, it is multi-functional. It's a grill and microwave in one.















You may call us Rednecks, but you gotta admit, we are pretty ingenious when it comes to inventions! grin.

About Fiep Westendorp

Fiep Westendorp is a famous Dutch illustrator for children's book. On 17 December 1916, Sophia Maria Westendorp (Fiep as she was called by her family) was born in Zaltbommel as the second child of elementary teacher Willem Westendorp and Hannetta Campagne. Fiep had a brother Joop, born in 1913, and a sister Aja, born in 1919.

As a young child, she loved to draw. Her parents have always been very supportive of her choice of drawing, even though her drawings represented small figures in odd poses.

After elementary school she studied at the local college, where her art-teacher saw no talent whatsoever in Fiep's drawings. Fiep continued her study at the Royal School for Art, Techniques and Trade in Den Bosch and in 1938 she was admitted at the Acadamy of Art in Rotterdam.

For a while she lived with her aunt in Lekkerkerk and moved in with Clara Eggink and Jan Campert in The Hague, where she stayed from 1941 till 1943. All her work at the Art Acadamy was destroyed by a bombardment in 1940. Fiep moved back in with her family during the last years of the war. They were driven out of their house by the Germans, because the town was a strategic spot. The family found shelter at first in Haaften and later in Opijnen, The Netherlands.

In 1945 Fiep permanently moved to Amsterdam, where she established herself as an illustrator and throughout the years she became famous with her extra-ordinary drawings of Jip en Janneke (Bob and Jilly), who were based on the characters of children's book writer Annie M.G. Schmidt.

Fiep Westendorp apparently never got married and she died on February 3, 2004 in Amsterdam, of a pulmonary infection and a heart attack. She was 87 years old.

See also post:
Fiep Westendorp's Work
Fiep Westendorp's Economical Impact

A Rewarding Career

One of our daughters has been talking about pursuing a medical career training. She works for a company that provides medications for Hemophilia patients and a medical training would definitely be an advantage.

To locate the best educational programs for medical careers, all she has to do is go online and every information she needs, plus the health care training programs, are right at her fingertips.

I have great admiration for those in health care. It takes a lot of love and care and I can only imagine how rewarding it must be!

Another Act of Love

There are many not so nice things going around about people nowadays. It is said selfishness and indifference rule.

This little story I found in the mail and it touched me deeply. I had to share it, because it makes up for all the harshness in life. :-)

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey.
She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her.
I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.

I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, "To Meredith , " in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, "When a Pet Dies." Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven.

Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.

Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.

I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.

By the way, I am wherever there is love.

Love, God.

It is so encouraging to see and hear there are loving, compassionate and caring people. Even without knowing this family, the need was seen and met. Without reservations, without wanting anything in return. Just out of love. May God bless this person and may we all be more mindful of one another.

It is better to give then to receive. On that note, I wish y'all an extremely blessed day, filled with lots of joy, hope and encouragement.

Tips II

Don't you wonder sometimes where all these tips and tricks originated? I do!

My guess is, it is a matter of trial and error by someone who was obsessed to find a cure for the problem at hand, or it may just have been a coincidence.

Personally, I think it may be a little bit of both.

Reheating Refrigerated Bread
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

Newspaper Weeds Away
Start putting wet newspapers in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Put layers around the plants, overlapping as you go. Cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic but they will not get through wet newspapers.

Broken Glass
Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.

No More Mosquitoes
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

Squirrel Away!
To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

Flexible Vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Put a pin in the leg seams of your slacks and -- ta da! -- static is gone.

Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

Foggy Windshield?
Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

Reopening Envelope
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.

Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up th e conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair...

Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it with a 1/2 ' of Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

Oh BTW, since I haven't tried the last two, I can assure you there were no animals harmed, or killed, during the making of this post!

Max Velthuijs' Economical Impact.

His most well-known character is "Frog". The books have as subjects topics related to real life, like sadness, death, but also joy and happiness. But the main one is friendship!





His work has received many international awards, for instance, twice the Golden Pencil in 1977 and 1986. In 2004 he was rewarded with the international "Hans Christian Andersen" award. His "footprints" are all over the Dutch culture of children's books, as it is today.

Velthuijs produced 45 picture books, which have been translated into more than 50 languages and sold more than two million copies worldwide.

He never got to finish his 13th Frog book, which he was working on before his death.

Bad Credit? No Problem!

Having a bad credit can be a real hindrance. Suppose your car breaks down, but you need it to get to work. Where are you going to get an auto loan?

Good news! Many lenders offer bad credit loans. You can even get approved quick and easy for credit cards for bad credit.

Applying for bad credit credit cards will also work in your advantage, in more than one way. It will help you rebuild your credit and get you back on your feet!

Max Velthuijs' Work

His education was for graphic designer/painter. After his study he worked as an office-clerk and a salesman in a hat-store and also was a teacher at the Art Academy in The Hague for several years.

He drew political images, stamps, record and book-covers, and made some TV-adds as well. He designed all kinds of posters and prints, while working in the advertisement business for many years. His drawings appeared in several communist-leaning publications until 1953 when he left the party.

The first illustrations for a children's book dates back to 1962. He published a book with old folklorists rhymes. His work was appreciated right away and the book was chosen to be one of the best 50 books of that year. This sped up his career as an illustrator in this branch. In 1964, his new books with illustrations established a connection with a Swiss publisher and many of his books were published in co-production. He wrote the books himself as well, and the ability to write and illustrate was a golden combination.

Steal The Show

Have you ever watched DJs at work? I have seen it on TV several times and all the scratching they do is quite impressive. I consider it an art to be able to do that and still make the music sound good.

One may think all they need is a vinyl record, but that is not entirely true. Like any other art or hobby, this requires good equipment and accessories as well. The most important is the slipmat. Any self respecting DJ nowadays has his own Custom Slipmats. Even the hobbyist and producers like to have a sleek looking, eye catching slipmat.

It is quite easy to purchase one totally designed according to your wishes or needs even. Fun, professional looking, printed with logos, anything you like can be custom printed on high quality slipmats.

Create your own artwork or upload your personal design and orders will be delivered within a few days.

A DJ can make or break the show. Now he can also steal the show!

About Max Velthuijs

Max Velthuijs, illustrator and writer of children's books, was born on May 22, 1923 in The Hague, The Netherlands.

Both his father and his mother were teachers. Max showed a great passion for drawing and cartoons at a young age and dreams of making cartoons. His parents disapprove of being an artist and send him to Trade school. Max didn't like it at all and left school to go to work.

During the war, the family was forced to move to Arnhem and Max was finally allowed to study at the Art Academy in Arnhem, but his study ended abruptly in 1944, by the Allied assault on Arnhem.

After the war he married Belleke Dolhain and they had a son Enno, born on February 28th 1948, a boy who had some psychiatric problems later in his life. In 1967, Max and Belleke got divorced, but Max got remarried in 1973 to Charlotte van Zadelhoff, who was much younger than himself. They too had a son, Viktor. Unfortunately, this marriage ended in a divorce as well in 2000. Max and Viktor moved to the center of The Hague, near Max' work shop.

As a tall, sociable man, he was a keen chess player and a fine guitarist, loved jazz and cats.

In 2003 Max was diagnosed with lung-cancer. His physical decay went rapid, but his optimism never decreased. Max died at the respectable age of 81, on January 25th, 2005.

See also my posts:
Max Velthuijs' Work
Max Velthuijs' Economical Impact