A heartfelt welcome
Welcome to your little sanctuary on the web, Storyholding, a small studio with a big heart.
My name is Rochelle Van Der Merwe and I am a multidisciplinary artist with a special interest in storytelling through the written word, contemporary collage and fine art photography.
Happy clients
Donna Caffrey
Rochelle is a very generous instructor. I had a great time and left happy with what I made. Thank you Rochelle.Mixed nutsI recently attended a workshop and discovered the wonders of collages. Rochelle is extremely welcoming and passionate about sharing her own journey but also empowering us to explore, create and enjoy making our own collages. I really enjoyed the session - 3 hours passed so quickly. I'd highly recommend Rochelle to anyone who would like to be inspired and discover their own power of creativity!Aparna RavikumarMy kids went to the storyholding holiday workshop for the first time and truly had a blast! It was three hours of creative brainstorming and putting together their ideas incorporated with a lot of other skills they gained such as using the cutters and scissors, selecting their designs and patters from so many books and options provided …. altogether a unique and very worthwhile experience. Rochelle herself was very patient and the kids had so much fun chatting and spending time with her .Remi MessengerIn August, I spent a wonderful Sunday in a fascinating Vision Board collage workshop with Rochelle & 3 other lovely people. Cozy in a beautiful studio at Montsalvat. I found the experience fulfilling, challenging in the best way and fun! The visual medium is not my first go-to. I come from theatre. I love words, language, poetry. Yet the mix of gathering and arranging images was such stimulus to my imagination and aesthetic eye, and a link to my creative unconscious. Profound and pleasurable. Now as I glance at my collage (on the wall), reading the poetry, “feeling” the photos, appreciating the overall impression, I see a meditation of images, a little slice of my life and my purpose. Collage is brilliant. Rochelle is such an enthusiastic, gracious and skilful guide. I certainly recommend her workshops and I hope to return. RemiBetsI wish I could give more than 5 stars to Rochelle's beautiful studio and offerings! After attending a holiday workshop, a sip & snip, and a vision board workshop, I am hooked and can't get enough of collage! Rochelle is an incredibly warm, talented and generous (in so many ways!) artist and person. She oozes joy and authenticity, and looks after her students with kindness and care. Her studio is divine and the grounds of Montsalvat truly grounding and magical. The vision board workshop is like a mini-retreat and I can't recommend it enough. Just do it!Tracey OrrI booked this as something creative to do as my work is so left brained. Rochelle is so passionate about her craft and has created the most gorgeous studio to work in. Being at Monsalvat adds another stunning dimension. I highly recommend.Christina CerqueiraAs an artist, I often find myself attending different art classes; to broaden my skill base, to try something new, to bring inspiration, and to shake myself out of a funk. Rochelle's class delivered all this and more, an evening full of fun, magic, and laughter. It was a last-minute booking, and I'm glad I did. Can't wait to bring my daughter along.Jade Cahill
Beautiful location, cosy little studio where you can be creative and present in the art of scrapbookingDawn Rieniets (Kangaroo Spotting)Rochelle is an incredibly warm and welcoming host. Her studio feels like a magical little cottage from a time long ago which was the perfect setting for creativity. As a painter, I felt like collaging helped me tune into a different part of my imagination and now I’m brimming with ideas. I would love to go back again!JillThe sip n snip workshop is such fun. Rochelle is wonderfully warm and welcoming for all. I recommend it for anyone looking to try creating art through collage in a relaxed, non judgemental environment.