{The Mission of H.R.H. Prince Claus - Husband Pieter's Trip to India}

With special permission from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs I am allowed to use this photo from His Royal Highness Prince Claus

His Royal Highness Prince Claus

Page 53 of the book: The Royal House

Prince Claus 1926-2002 ←(click it) was also a Diplomat in the Dominican Republic for 3 years.

The Kingdom of The Netherlands...

The Royal House is a book that we received from the Dutch Consulate General in Houston, TX for use at local schools when we had to do programs about our birth country.

It is published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Hague 1996 

Available at Amazon: The Royal House: Kingdom of the Netherlands ←click it.

On September 25, 2014, I received permission, shown above... translated below in English.

Dear Mrs. Van den Munckhof-Vedder,

Thanks for your mail message. As long as the source is mentioned, you can use the pages.

With kind regards,

Merle Tip

Editor in Chief

Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal ←click it for link

Dutch Parliament States General

As you know an official delegation headed by H.R.H. Prince Claus, as Special Adviser for Development Cooperation, has visited India in February/March.

Clausgate ←click it for link

In early 1981, Claus went as officer of the Ministry for Development Cooperation to India, as the leader of a delegation who was going to speak about Dutch development projects.

Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal ←click it for link, see pages 4 and 5

Based on the visit of an Indian horticulture mission to the Netherlands, discussions are going on about a joint program for cooperation in horticultural areas. This will result in a number of projects, of which currently a project in the area of seed production and a mushroom cultivation project are in an advanced stage of preparation. Also in the field of animal husbandry cooperation will come into being.

~

So now I finally can start with the story about my husband Pieter's trip to India, for the Dutch Government, following the Mission of H.R.H. Prince Claus in 1981.
On September 9, it was exactly 45 years ago that in The Netherlands the 1st and ONLY practical Training College for Mushroom Growing in the world, had its official Grand Opening by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery, a branch of the Dutch Government. My husband Pieter founded it and he was the Principal and one of the active Teachers for decades until he became Vice President Training & Development for +Campbell Soup Company in charge of their Mushroom Division in the USA, Canada and Australia.
Stay tuned for the story of the actual trip to India...
A trip that greatly impacted both of our lives!

Related links:
{My Teacher, Mentor, BOSS & Husband over 44+ Years} | previous post by me

Pieter J.C. Vedder | LinkedIn profile

Mariette on Google+

{Silk and Wool Birds as Gift from Pond's India}

Before, I did show you our birds as artwork from India, that we purchased.

Today I want to show you some special birds, made by hand in wool and silk.

 Distinctive chain stitch embroidery, done in Kashmir, the northern part of India. We both received the bigger wool chain stitch embroidery for our work period from Pond's India. It has a canvas back and it shows lots of birds in it. Most of you know the Pashmina shawls from Kashmir, they have been quite a fashion statement. Luckily for those poor people, for having an outlet for their artistic work.

Above it is on top of our solid French oak blanket chest in the guest bedroom.
It used to be just an open planter box but my talented brother Harry made a solid oak lid for it. We carried it back on the plane with us... 
Those were the good days without stupid restrictions on maximum baggage weight!

My husband Pieter has seen the women in Kashmir actually make this kind of embroidery during his trip to Kashmir earlier.
He was sent in 1981 by the Dutch government as a committee member, of the special Mission of H.R.H. Prince Claus, see link below post.
 Women did this work but their teacher was a man. Somewhere we must have slides from it, but for now I cannot add them... one day when I find them I will do that! Look below; link has been added!

For another work period as consultants, both of us did receive an identical chain stitch embroidery done in silk. That fit beautifully  above the two solid French oak twin beds in our guest bedroom. 

Detail of the silk chain stitch embroidery, worked on a cotton Aida cloth. 

The silk embroidery has a very nice hand; meticulously done.

We proudly came home on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines with these treasures.

They make for a lasting memory, of working with pleasure over a decade for a great company!

Related link:

{The Mission of H.R.H. Prince Claus - Husband Pieter's Trip to India} | previous post by me

{Part X Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Srinagar, J & K Silk & Wool Rugs - Pashminas} | previous post by me showing the embroidery being done

google.com/+MarietteVandenMunckhofVedder