My Story

French Cartonnage is the art of crafting boxes, folders and folios with its origins in the 18th Century. Since 2003 I have been reinventing the artisanal savoir-faire of French Cartonnage in respect of the traditional techniques inherited from the master makers of the 18th Century.

I started HOUSE OF CARTONNAGE in 2003, driven by a desire to create, though it took me a while to discover the right path. My journey began when I attended a box-making workshop, learning the art of French Cartonnage.

Since then, I’ve been crafting boxes and cartonnage designs by hand, following traditional French techniques.

I live with my husband Edwin and our two sons Bruno and Caspar in The Hague, the Netherlands. I studied ‘Boekhandel en uitgeverij’ (Bookstore and publishing) in Amsterdam.

I am always busy with something and find it difficult to sit still! I describe myself as creative, enthusiastic and an optimist, but also a perfectionist. I'm a team player, but I don’t mind being alone. I love to listen to the radio (80s and 90s hits!) and to read magazines about interiors and design. You can often find me in a thrift shop. I only wear blue (& white)! I prefer lunch to dinner and enjoy a good cappuccino with a slice of carrot cake.

I am a benefactor of Stichting Handboekbinden (Foundation of Handbook Binding) (www.stichtinghandboekbinden.eu) and friend of Museum Meermanno (House of books, www.meermanno.nl) in The Hague.