Fork carpet // Image Courtesy of We Make Carpets
We Make Carpets is the creative collaboration of visual artist Bob Waardenburg and designers Stijn van der Vleuten and Marcia Nolte. Their carpets are constructed by hand with ordinary every day materials in a very extraordinary way. Take for example their first, called Forest Carpet, which made its debut at the ‘Instant Nature’ exhibition during Dutch Design Week in 2009.
Forest Carpet // Image Courtesy of We Make Carpets
The carpets are temporary, made on the spot with no thought out plans or sketches beforehand. There is something quite striking about the impermanence of each carpet. They are so elaborate it is sad to think that they aren’t meant to last forever.
The artists choose a material and commence on a journey together where they lay down the chosen materials one after the other in intricate patterns. The three designers bonded over this “in the moment” approach to creating, and their style seems to fit quite well –each carpet is a handcrafted masterpiece.
Coffee Carpet // Image Courtesy of We Make Carpets
Wounded Carpet // Image Courtesy of We Make Carpets
Wounded Carpet // Image Courtesy of We Make Carpets Whether it is pasta, pine cones, coffee cups, or band-aids, the shape of the carpet seems to take its cue from the materials used; they dictate the patterns and designs. When viewing from afar, the patterns are breathtaking, complete with colors that pull your eye in and act in a hypnotizing fashion. One forgets that you are looking at an object that you may have never thought of in the context of “art” before. 
Pasta carpet // Image Courtesy of We Make Carpets
Pasta carpet // Image Courtesy of We Make Carpets
Take for example, the Fork carpet that was shown recently at Dutch Design Week 2010. It’s true, the materials are mere “cheap plastic forks” but the pastel colors and well-thought out fashion in which they are placed reveal a spectacular “carpet”. Who would have thought forks could be so mesmerizing? The same goes for ziti and elbow macaroni in Pasta Carpet 2 --and mustard seeds, the chosen materials for their smallest carpet yet, Mustard Carpet.
Fork carpet // Image Courtesy of We Make Carpets
Fork carpet // Image Courtesy of We Make Carpets
Mustard carpet // Image Courtesy of We Make Carpets
Army carpet (also on display at the recent Dutch Design Week) is made entirely out of plastic army figurines in two colors (army green and sand color). This could be their most impressive yet seeing that the shape of the figurines adds an entirely new level of intricate detailing and dimension to the piece.
Army Carpet // Image Courtesy of We Make Carpets
Army Carpet // Image Courtesy of We Make Carpets
Perhaps the most charming aspect of We Make Carpets is their ability to deliver the element of surprise over and over again as they transform common household objects into exquisite works of art.
470 m2 Brick Carpet // Image Courtesy of We Make Carpets
photo by Boudewijn Bollmann
470 m2 Brick Carpet // Image Courtesy of We Make Carpets
photo by Boudewijn Bollmann
470 m2 Brick Carpet // Image Courtesy of We Make Carpets
photo by Boudewijn Bollmann
Clean Carpet // Image Courtesy of We Make Carpets
Clean Carpet // Image Courtesy of We Make Carpets
