Marjolein Bastin facts for kids
Marjolein Bastin (born in 1943) is a famous Dutch artist, writer, and illustrator. She is well-known for her beautiful nature drawings and for creating the beloved character "Vera the Mouse."
About Marjolein Bastin
Marjolein Bastin was born in Loenen (aan de Vecht), a town in the Netherlands. She studied art at the Academy of Arts in Arnhem. There, she met her husband and manager, Gaston Bastin. Her father, John Henri uit den Bogaard, was an educator and photographer.
Marjolein and Gaston have two children: a daughter named Sanna (born in 1973) and a son named Mischa (born in 1974). Sanna now manages the "Marjolein Bastin Kadowinkel," which is a gift shop featuring Marjolein's artwork. Mischa works as a lawyer in Kansas City, USA. Marjolein and Gaston spend their time living in country homes in the Netherlands and Missouri, and they also have a tropical home in the Cayman Islands.
From 1960 to 1965, Marjolein worked for different advertising companies and publishers. Soon after finishing her art studies, she was asked to draw a special page for a popular Dutch magazine called Libelle.
In the early 1990s, a designer from Hallmark Cards discovered Marjolein's amazing artwork during a trip to the Netherlands. Hallmark Cards is a very well-known company that makes greeting cards and gifts. They started a special collection called Nature's Sketchbook by Marjolein Bastin. This collection includes stationery, greeting cards, and home decorations. These items became some of Hallmark's most popular products.
Many of Marjolein's drawings are also available as cross-stitch patterns through a company called Lanarte. You can also find her artwork on jigsaw puzzles made by Heye Puzzles.
Marjolein loves to draw everyday nature. In an interview in Good Housekeeping magazine in 2003, she said, "I love the familiar and ordinary." She also explained that "The world that lies before us every day is just as beautiful as what's exotic and rare. Nature makes us all rich." This shows how much she appreciates the simple beauty around us.
In 2004, Country Living magazine described her garden. It has both neat, trimmed areas, like topiary (plants shaped into designs), and also wilder spots. These wilder areas are designed to attract many different kinds of animals.
Marjolein Bastin's Works
Marjolein Bastin has created many books and other works, often featuring her famous character, Vera the Mouse.
- 1985 – My Name Is Vera (Vera the Mouse Series)
- 1985 – Vera's Special Hobbies
- 1985 – Vera Dresses Up
- 1985 – Vera and her Friends
- 1986 – Vera the Mouse
- 1988 – Games With Vera
- 1988 – Vera in the Garden
- 1988 – Vera in the Kitchen
- 1988 – Vera in the Washtub
- 1991 – Nature Diary
- 1991 – A Little Dog for Vera
- 1994 – Flowers A to Z
- 1994 – From My Window
- 1994 – Nature's Sketchbook
- 1995 – Gardener's Companion
- 1995 – A Walk in the Woods
- 1996 – Seasons of Friendship
- 1998 – Butterflies - Winged Miracles of Nature
- 2004 – View From a Sketchbook: Nature Through the Eyes of Marjolein Bastin (with Tovah Martin)
In 2000, Vera the Mouse even starred in her own 30-minute animated movie called "Vera the Mouse: Mr. Mole's Surprise."
