How I became an illustrator & shop owner

Back in the days I studied, and later worked, as a fashion designer for divers companies in the Netherlands.
Although you wouldn't think so, this meant spending most of my time behind the computer making technical drawings of clothes.

At some point I started missing working with 'real material', drawing, cutting, and assembling.
That's why I decided, back in 2004, to go back to art school to study Illustration as I noticed during my work I loved making t-shirt prints the most.

In 2007 I started my own business as a freelance illustrator and since then I've been so fortunate to get many lovely assignments from magazines, social foundations and creative companies! I also teach illustration in Utrecht and online, which I greatly enjoy.

All went well until, in 2010 I went through a rough breakup with the boyfriend I had back then. I felt really low and thought: 'I need something to pick me up'.
That's when I came up with the idea of the Instant Comfort Pocket Box: a little box with a 3D illustration and a cheerful or comforting text you can put into your pocket to look at whenever you need some consolation.

I got many enthusiastic responses from friends and family, and decided it might be something others could do with as well. In february 2011 I opened my Etsy shop and listed the first comfort boxes!

Since then I've sold my items all over the world. I enjoy making different illustrative goods and hope to bring a little joy to everyone who buys any of my items.

By the way... the comfort box really helped... I now live happily together with a lovely man, our three year old son and newborn little girl in a small town just above Amsterdam.