From my bookshelves: The Chinese Pavilion

Over the years I have gathered many inspiring books, books that are a part of me. Today I have picked my out of print copy of The Chinese Pavilion by Ake Setterwall, Stig Fogelmarck and Bo Gyllensvard (1972). It is the most delicious book especially for those of you who love chinoiserie. While living in Stockholm about 7 years ago I instantly fell in love with the Chinese Pavilion at Drottningholm (one of the Royal Palaces in the vicinity of Stockholm).  The pavilion was a birthday present (1753) to Queen Lovisa Ulrica from her husband King Adolf Frederik.
It is a only small palace but so beautifully conserved and I was simply capitivated by its beauty. I went back on many occassions, convincing friends and family visiting from abroad it was a must see. Not everyone agreed with me but to date it remains one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen. Leaving Stockholm I just knew I would miss the pavilion and I was happy to find a used copy in a small bookshop. Browsing the book again this morning made me feel happy and inspired. I just made some snapshots of the book for you to see and if you would like to put the book on your wishlist there were 2 used copies available through amazon this morning!

Weekend YEAH!

 Rob Ryan's book: You can still do a lot with a small brain

Vicky Archer's (French Essence blog) picture of Castelbajac's window display at Selfridges London

 

It is simple love vintage Kelly Green office dress

Finally a weekend that is not completely filled with work. Don't get me wrong I love my work but it is great not having any particular schedule. The weather is just beautiful, the doors to my balcony open, I am sipping my latte and munching on a croissant while I am browsing on my Mac. Here is a selection of things I loved this morning. Happy weekend to you all!

The week in pictures

having a quick coffee during photoshoot

going wild creating new work

with Dutch couturier Peter Rommers at our joined event Fashion & The Arts

with the team (Arno Cnossen, Paul aan de Wiel, Fabienne Budding) filming for SBS6 (Dutch television)

Yes I am still alive!  Just to share a few things that have have happened over the last week!
Last Thursday my little roller coaster ride started with a photoshoot and interview at my house for Bagazine. Friday some busy but wonderful time in my studio, inspiration flowed. Saturday the Japanese event about which I blogged earlier. Sunday I hosted an art-fashion event together with Dutch couturier Peter Rommers at his flagshipstore in Amsterdam. Yesterday franticly organizing my house for SBS6, a Dutch television station making a programseries about special houses/interiors. Thank god they didn't open any closets! The crew was great, very professional and made me feel at ease. They filmed and interviewed without to many takes. The program is scheduled after the summer.
So today finally some time now to catch up on emails, blogging and moer time to paint.
Wishing all you equal busy bees a wonderful rest of the week. Wouldn't we just get bored if things were to quiet down.....

11 days of giveaways @ Flourish Design + Style blog!

 Delightful Sarah

Flourish Design + Style

It is celebration time as Sarah of wonderful inspiring blog Flourish Design + Style can blow one candle on the cake! To make it even more festive Sarah is hosting 11 days of giveaways, including Lisa Roy Handbags, Janis Nicolay Photography, Emersonmade,  EIO- A kids store + Tamara Taggart, The Cross Decor & Design, Pillow Mint, Alice Lane Home Collection, Veritables Seattle, Tracery Interiors, Red Ticking and today Mariska Meijers! So what are you waiting for. Hop over to Flourish Design + Style and join for all those delicious giveaways! And Sarah really wonderful how you have all gathered this together so tastefully!

Daddy's girl!

A little bit of shame on me as I realized that for Mother's day I blogged about my mum and what did I do yesterday I a quicky on soccer before rushing of to the next event...So a day too late my father is gracing my blog! He came into my life when I was about 5 years old. My mum had divorced and moved with her three little girls to Maastricht (a town in the south of Holland) to study Opera at the conservatory on a scholarship. My dad was handsome and single. All the women were chasing him but he fell madly in love with my mum and her three little girls. Although my dad is not my biological dad, it has never felt that way and he is everything I could wish for in a dad. He is supportive and understanding. He provides guidance and advice without being judgemental. He have learned a lot from him. What I am today is thanks to him (and my mother of course). Dear dad I am proud to be your daughter!

Japan vs Holland!

 impression of the cards unfolded with recipe on the back

to buy click here

handing HOLLAND to deputy Ambassador to Japan minister T. Jshii

You MUST get tired of me sometimes with everything that is going on. I get at least tired of myself once in a while, but mostly with a smile and YES just like you sometimes with a cry too.
This weekend is fully booked with events.
Soccer is a big thing in The Netherlands and the whole country is painted orange. People plan events around every match and I attended a Japanese event yesterday while Japan and Holland were playing against each other. Holland won 1-0....So in stead of waving the Dutch flag I have put the HOLLAND boxed notecards up on my blog. A series with 5 different illustrations based on the Delftblue collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam teamed up with typical Dutch recipes. 10 double cards 2x5 designs, blank inside, recipe on the back. Recipes by Dutch culinary author & journalist Lise Goeman Borgesius. And the good thing is that they are availabe in English now! Interested to buy click here.

Just a few things

 

 my booth design "in the works" for Dutch interior decorating fair "Woonbeurs"

Wishing True blog

 Chic Modern Vintage blog

I can hardly keep track of all the things that are happening at the moment.

First I need to thank Tonia of Chique Modern Vintage and Kate of Wishing True for doing wonderful postings on my work. It means so much to me when talented inspiring women blog about my work. It is so motivating and supporting. If you do not know their blogs I can highly recommend to hop over and check them out!
With the summer vacation coming up I am getting a bit nervous getting everything "done" in time. I am working hard on new paintings, putting the design together for my booth at the interior design fair "Woonbeurs" end of September in Amsterdam, creating new pillow designs, had two magazine interviews and a photoshoot this week and I have a television crew coming in next Tuesday! Oh yes and I have two events this weekend one of which will be at Dutch couturier Peter Rommers where we will showcase our designs together....So as said just a few things :) Keep you posted!

Pillow Talk in Toronto - Hollace Cluny

 Lamps by glass artist Tracy Glover available through Hollace Cluny

 Coco chair by Sarah Richardson and my blue bird & in bloom purple pillows available through Hollace Cluny

 Hollace Cluny, Toronto

Alanna Cavanagh's murals at Hollace Cluny

Very proud to share with you that my pillow collection is now available at chique boutique Hollace Cluny in Toronto thanks to owner Susan Fowlie who believes that my designs are a welcome addition to her stylish collection. Her store is a feast for the eye. Susan is known for creating a signature style, mixing established international brands such as Knoll with boutique brands and unique pieces from local artisans and artists. I would love to put the complete content of the store in a big container and ship it to Amsterdam. But if I could just pick a few I would definitely go for a pair of stunning handmade lamps by glass artist Tracy Glover and the elegant Coco Chair by Sarah Richardson which I find perfect to team up with my pillow designs.
What I love about Susan is that she doesn't "go" for just the usual suspects in (interior) design. She creates possibilities for new talent like gifted illustrator and printmaker Alanna Cavanagh for example who made wonderful murals for the shop.
A big thank you Susan for having my collection and looking forward to meeting you again in July!

Miami in the works!

Adelaide Price, Studio Proprietor of DWR West Palm Beach

Oeps last blogpost was last Thursday. I have been locking myself up to paint. The upcoming events in Miami at Design within Reach (DWR) at their Coral Gables and West Palm Beach studios have inspired me to create some new oils.
Last Friday I had a visit here in Amsterdam from the West Palm Beach studio propietor, lovely Adelaide Price who gave me me valuable feedback on my work. She will be hosting an event on August 28 (the event at the Coral Gables studio will take place on Juy 31). I am excited and a bit nervous showing my work for the first time in the US. Above is a peak at new work in progress.....and thank you Adelaide!

Women with Passion - Anna Spiro

 Interior Decorator Anna Spiro

 Absolutely Beautiful Things

3 pictures above: Anna's magic touch

One of the first blogs I started to follow was Anna Spiro's Absolutely Beautiful Things. Anna is a leading Australian interior designer based in Brisbane. She has this certain magic touch, whether it is Black&Spiro's delightful window displays, client projects or her own interior. Personal, eclectic, colourful, fearless, everything with a soul, simply irresistible! So what happens if someone I admire blogs about my work....goose bumps, a big big smile and lots of energy to continue my creative journey.

Thank you Anna. I am grateful for your vote of confidence  xox

...and for those of you who don't know Anna's blog (which I can hardly imagine) it is an absolute must :)
Absolutely Beautiful Things

Sweet Dreams

Okay, confess, soooo tired I am off to bed, but I am not going to zzzz without leaving something to inspre you. The French oh la la ils avont un style que j'adore! From my files: this bedroom featured on the cover of Maison Francaise (Octobre/Novembre 2007). Sweet dreams x

Moodswings

 moody detail of my appartment

Just a quick one today. Since my move to the new studio cum showroom, my appartment feels a bit empty. I have been moving around furniture, trying to get a bit organized in my newly gained "territory". I am missing my artistic clutter and have to find the right balance again. It will come I know. My interior is ever evolving and with big changes it ususually takes a while before I am perfectly satisfied again with the new arrangements. In stead of decluttering I will reclutter. That is in the end what makes me happy. Off to my studio now to paint!

.... and don't forget to enter the give away over at The Decorista!

Six to Bliss and Give Away @ The Decorista

Ashlina The Decorista

Ohhhhh I am running embarresingly behind (again), but all for a good cause as I spend some down time with my kids at the beach this weekend.  Beautiful inspiring blogger sister Ashlina of The Decorista did a wonderful posting on me (already on Friday!) in her Six to Bliss series. In conjunction with this posting we took the opportunity to emphasis my role as a Decorista sponsor by including a give away of boxed note cards Blossom and Okura (with Japanese recipes) AND one of my limited edition pillows! So if you haven't done so rush over to The Decorista to make a chance! And if you don't win all procucts can be ordered from my webstore. Thank you Ashlina for your enthousiasm and daily dose of inspiration!

NOTE: FOR ORDERS AND DELIVERY WITHIN THE UNITED STATES GO TO INTERDECORATIONS!

The Common Reader

I recently bought a Harvest Books edition of Virginia Woolf's "The Common Reader". I have been buying quite a few of her books recently, not in first instance to read but as props for my booth at Dutch interior design fair "De Woonbeurs" (end of September). This edition instantly attracted me because of its cover design by Rudi Bass, but reading the back page I was sold!
"The common reader," says Virginia Woolf, "differs from the critic and scholar....He reads for his own pleasure rather than to impart knowledge or correct the opinion of others. Above all, he is guided by an instinct to create for himself, out whatever odds and ends he can come by, some kind of whole-a portrait of a man, as sketch of an age, a theory of the art of writing." Reading these words Woolf's reader doesn't sound so common to me. Should it have been "The Creative Reader" in stead?

Bright Young Things - Will of Bright Bazaar

 Image from Bright Bazaar posting which was the inspiration for my purple Studio wall

Bright Young Thing Will

 Bright Bazaar

We all work hard and some of the best motivators to keep going are appreciation and recognition. I only started blogging in October last year and the blogging world continues to amaze me as it brings so many talented kindred spirits together. We want to share ideas and our creativity, inspire each other  across oceans. Yesterday "Bright Young Thing" Will of Bright Bazaar gave me so much honour in his blogpost about me. Pure rocket fuel which will fly me to the moon and back! Will is a talented blogger, he has a great eye and sparkling style, he loves abundance, like me he is allergic to minimalism. For everyone who loves my blog Will's Bright Bazaar is right up your street so check it out! Thank you Will I am really over the moon :) xox