We Have a Choice is a reflective essay for art collectors about consuming less and valuing care, attention, and time. Through everyday observations — a crooked plane tree, shared books, waiting behind a garbage truck — the text explores an alternative to fast transactions. It reflects on living with art and objects as a conscious practice, asking how we choose to relate to what already exists and how small, careful choices can open other ways of being.

This essay reflects on waiting as a way of being. It moves from a quiet moment before a Pilates class, through memories of blossoms, poems, and missed expectations, to objects resting in a thrift shop. Waiting appears not as delay, but as presence — in making, in daily life, and in allowing time to unfold without expectation.

In a time when decluttering and pushing forward are often seen as solutions, this reflection explores a different kind of perseverance: staying. Through studio work, materials in progress, and moments of care and attention, the text considers protection without aggression, clarity that comes too early, and responsibility toward materials that have meaning. It reflects on staying with complexity — with materials, illness, climate, and friendship — as a way of remaining present

I often start without an end in mind. I work with what is already present: the place I’m in, the tools I have, the material, my own strength and mood. By breaking familiar patterns—sometimes gently, almost invisibly—I discover new possibilities. A work is never truly finished; it keeps shifting, waiting to be reopened, seen and understood anew.

Social media divides us into bubbles—we must push back by creating genuine connections and feeling comfortable while being vulnerable.

Self-compassion is key in both art and life. Just as gentle brushstrokes shape a painting, kindness can reshape our relationships.

Explore the rhythm and texture of art through needlework. #TextileTales with Erica Fraaije’s art. #CraftingWithPassion, #messageoftextile