… a what machine?

You might be wondering where I got the name for this website. When Isabella, my daughter, was only two years old she was quite obsessed with big rigs and trucks. Until one sunny day, she was sitting on the bike with me, we drove passed a building site when she yelled “GAAFMACHINE” and pointed at a big yellow truck.

a cool machine

She meant to say graafmachine, which is Dutch for excavator or shovel, but could not yet pronounce the letter -r-. I thought it was funny because gaaf, in Dutch, means cool. The new made-up word combines -gaaf- with -machine-. And the name of my website was born.

It’s been a while. Here’s One Thimble #21

september 4 | 1 reactie op It’s been a while. Here’s One Thimble #21

It’s been a while indeed! Not only the long wait for a new and shiny issue of One Thimble, but […]

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Are you ready for the newest issue of One Thimble? #OT20

augustus 15 | Geen reacties op Are you ready for the newest issue of One Thimble? #OT20

It’s that time again! The newest version of One Thimble is here :). OT#20 is again a great issue with […]

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Summer in the city!

juli 30 | Geen reacties op Summer in the city!

As some of you might know, it’s hot outside! Summer has never been so much Summer here in The Netherlands. […]

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Sansahash Summer Blog Tour 2018

juni 9 | 9 Reacties op Sansahash Summer Blog Tour 2018

When I read the shout out of Mgeni from Sansahash for a summer blog tour I just had to apply, and […]

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There we go, One Thimble #19 is here!

mei 12 | Geen reacties op There we go, One Thimble #19 is here!

It’s that time again! There is a new issue available at One Thimble. Can you believe it, it’s already issue […]

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The Nina Blouse featuring polar bears

maart 19 | Geen reacties op The Nina Blouse featuring polar bears

Brrr…I thought Spring had arrived, but suddenly it’s really cold again here in The Netherlands. When I told Isabella I […]

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nelleke362x362

I am Nelleke and yes it’s official, I am a sewing addict. I just can’t seem to avoid any beautiful fabrics, patterns, ribbons, buttons and so on! So, I have to keep my stash at a level that I do not panic when I want to start a new project on a Sunday evening and I do not have enough fabric or a challenging pattern. I want to start right away! Hmmm, that sounds a little like an addict right? All harmless since I do not bother anyone (or should I say; my husband?) with it, hehe. My daughter Isabella is loving all the things I make, so that makes at least two people happy! I started when my mom had enough patience to teach me the basics of sewing. Simple things and many hours of practicing.

Later on my parents gave me my first sewing machine (which I am still using!) , at that time not realising that it would become one of my best friends…J. And then when Isabella was born in 2011 I started making clothing. With lots of projects ending up in the bin and much more patience and persistency, I finally managed to get to a level that was good enough to wear. A few years later, most of the dresses and skirts Isabella is wearing a made by me.