the story behind the atelier
Hello, I'm Rani
Wastikikier is my brainchild. By day I'm a nursery teacher; in the evenings and at weekends I disappear into our little home atelier, where I lovingly make soft baby essentials — for little hands and for the moments you want to keep forever.
How it started
It started small, as the loveliest things often do. With a scrap of fabric, a sewing machine I honestly couldn't work yet, and the wish to make not just a gift, but something to cherish. Small things like a bib, bandana, comforter, blanket, pacifier clip — grabbed and carried along every day, and sometimes passed on to a little brother or sister.
In a way, I did pick it up at home after all. It began with a school assignment, and my mum — who doesn't actually enjoy sewing — still took all the time in the world to patiently show me the very basics. The rest I taught myself, through trial and error and plenty of seams that had to come undone again. When my godchild was born, I wanted to make something that truly belonged to someone, and so a hobby that had got out of hand slowly grew into Wastikikier.
“Some gifts are kept for years. Others are cuddled every day and taken everywhere.”
What Wastikikier stands for
I make every piece by hand, with care and — I'll admit it — a healthy dose of perfectionism. I deliberately choose calm colours and soft, safe fabrics that feel lovely against a baby's skin and stay beautiful, wash after wash. A skipped stitch no one would notice, I'll happily unpick until it's just right. And I finish my bibs on both sides, with an embroidered side and a printed side — two in one, really.
Above all, it may be personal. A name, a colour, a design tuned to your birth announcement: it's those small details that make an item truly yours. As a nursery teacher, I see every day how a child lights up when they recognise their own name — that's the feeling I want to put into every piece. Something that finds a place in your everyday moments and may later become a treasured memory.
About me
I'm a full-time nursery teacher in a toddler class, and I love working with children — I fully intend to keep doing so, however busy the atelier gets. Wastikikier grew up alongside it, almost by accident: out of a school assignment, a newborn godchild and the stubborn urge to keep trying until something was truly beautiful. A perfectionist through and through, so yes, I'm hard on myself — but proud as punch with every finished piece.
By day I'm in the classroom; in the evening I disappear into our little atelier — often with a cup of coffee or tea within reach, sometimes a glass of wine, and music in the background. There, stitch by stitch, the items I make with so much love come to life — hoping they'll find a warm spot in your home too.
So glad you're here. Have a look around.
— Rani
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from the same family
A little sister — literally and figuratively
In fact, it was my sister who gave me the final nudge: she makes handmade soaps with just as much love, under the name Wariekikier. Standing at a market stall by her side is what gave me the taste for showing my own creations too. Two small ateliers, one family — literally sisters, and figuratively sister businesses that love to lend each other a hand (and to remind each other, at the market, when a coffee break is well overdue).
Discover Wariekikier →from the atelier
A selection of past projects
Every piece goes out with a personal touch. A small selection of what I've already made.
from the atelier
Tips & inspiration
On the blog I regularly share tips and know-how — about baby care, materials, safety and original gift ideas.
- Van kleuterjuf tot atelier: het eerlijke verhaal achter WastikikierAchter de schermen bij Wastikikier: ik ben Rani, kleuterjuf, en vertel eerlijk over stikken leren, twaalf meter natte stof over de deuren, twijfels en trots.
- Origineel kraamcadeau: 10 ideeën die écht bijblijven (met budgettips)Op zoek naar een origineel kraamcadeau dat blijft hangen? 10 warme, handgemaakte ideeën plus cadeau-advies per budget, gelegenheid én relatie.
- Welk slabbetje kiezen? Complete gids: bandana, hydrofiel & badstofWelk slabbetje kiezen voor je baby? Complete koopgids over bandana-, hydrofiele en badstof slabbetjes, met stofsoorten, tips per leeftijd en onderhoud.
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