From my bookshelves: Le Best of ELLE DECO (1997)

(Living room detail on the front - Designer Anthony Collett)

(Designer Francois-Joseph Graf)

 (Bedroom detail - Gilles Dufour)

 (Designer Pierre Le-Tan)

 

Living room of an auctioneer

David Gill

When I was still a corporate girl, secretly dreaming of a creative carreer I would often dive into a book store during my lunch break. One of my favourite store's in Singapore is Page One. It has the most amazing selection of Interior Design and Art books. I bought this French ELLE Deco book already back in 1998. My books are an important source of inspiration even if they are "dated". Good style never fades!
(Le Best of ELLE Deco, 1997 - ISBN 981-00-9078-1)

Southern Delights

 

Kruisherenhotel

Chateau St Gerlach

Winselerhof

Chateau Neercanne

Well I made my publisher's deadline. Yesterday I handed in 5 illustrations for  a new series of boxed culinary notecards. The illustrations will be teamed with recipes of the chefs of Camille Oostwegel Chateau Hotels & Restaurants: Kruisherenhotel Maastricht, Chateau Neercanne, Chateau St Gerlach and Winselerhof. Camille Oostwegel is a renowned Dutch hotelier with a passion for restoring monumental buildings. All his hotels and restaurants are situated in the South of Holland. His latest project the Kruisherenhotel is in the centre of Maastricht, a former Crosier cloister, dating from the fifteenth century. Together with the monumental gothic church, this complex has been transformed into a spectacular designer hotel. The interior has been created by internationally renowned interior designer Henk Vos. Throughout the complex designs classics by Le Corbusier and Rietveld and modern designsers such Philippe Starck and Roderick Vos contrast beautifully with the original stained glass windows, walls and ceiling paintings.

note: each illustration contains ingredients from its corresponding recipe. pieces of Maastricht's aardewerk (ceramics) serve as the Southern Dutch heritage"ingredient". 

Sneak Peak - "Woonbeurs" (Dutch "Maison et Objet" sept 25-oct 3)

 Artifort Model 553 (Piere Paulin) - Blue Bird Pillow (Mariska Meijers)

 Artifort Model 553 before restoration

 Playing around with objects & art

 To be or not to be part of the booth interior

Editing, editing, editing..........

Part II of the Majorca Files will come I promise, but today I have been busy in my studio playing with my new arrival which I just needed to share with you immediately! Newcomer is an Artifort swivel-lounge chair, model 553 designed by Pierre Paulin (1927-2009) in the 60s. I bought it second hand and had it completely restored. The chair will be one of the key pieces of the interior I am creating for my booth at the "Woonbeurs". It is the perfect backdrop for my satin silk pillows, teams up beautifully with my art and sits like a dream!

The Majorca Files - Part I

 Loewe window display (Palma de Majorca)

 Loewe Boutique (Palma de Majorca)

Coffee @ Cappuccino (Palma)

View on our way to the Lluc Monestary 

Lluc Monestary

View on our way back from Lluc Monestary

I know you must be wondering what I have been up to. One week on a Spanish Island with one of my best friends. No kids, no blogging, no nothing...... Here is a first taste of my definition "no nothing"!

ps there is still plenty of time to enter the give away of Pia Jane Bijkerk's book "Amsterdam Made By Hand"!

Pia Jane Bijkerk's "Amsterdam Made By Hand" give away!

Pia's  Amsterdam Made By Hand

Home Beautiful (September 2010)

Vogue Living Australia

with Pia at the American Book Centre in Amsterdam

YES HELLO I AM BACK!! Spend a great week in Majorca but failed miserably in my promise to do a few postings during my time there. It sounds like a lousy excuse but technique abandonned me completely on this beautiful Spanish island. I felt a bit like Robinson Crusoe in the Blogosphere. So today I am making a fresh start, glued to my beloved Mac, I have prepared a little suprise.

On a warm summer day last June I was invited to the book launch of Pia Jane Bijkerk's "Amsterdam Made by Hand". Lovely Australian Pia Jane Bijkerk is an internationally acclaimed stylist, photographer and author specializing in interiors, still life and food. She is the ultimate romantic globetrotter, working and living between Sydney, Paris and a houseboat in Amsterdam. Pia is not only talented but is also a wonderful warm person. Her blog is an absolute must read!


The suprise that I have for you is a signed copy of Pia's Amsterdam: Made by Hand. In this wonderful little book Pia uncovers hidden treasures of Amsterdam: small ateliers of talented artists and designers around Amsterdam's canals.

If you would like to win this inspring book:

1. Add yourself as a follower here and/or on FACEBOOK
2. Leave a comment
3. Tweet about the giveaway for an extra ticket

The winner will be announced on 31st August!

Good luck and enjoy your Sunday!!!

ps  if you do not win Pia's book can be ordered through Amazon! Also available through Amazon is Paris Made by Hand.

Out of Office!

Forgot to tell you :). I will be in Majorca this week. I am still without a laptop so full report when I come back. BUT I have lined up some posts for this week including a posting about a gifted Australian stylist and a wonderful giveaway from her hand! So please keep an eye on my blog this week while I am enjoying my week on this delightful island.
Here is a picture from last friday morning. I love that moment of the day bwhen the sun starts pooring into my living room.

News from the Studio

 A glimpse of the new project

The week has passed in a blizz. I have been working non stop on a new project. 5 small oil paintings that will be published as boxed notecards with fabulous recipes by some excellent Dutch chefs! I will disclose more of this project soon which also includes a new exhibition at an exciting location!
Have a wonderful weekend!

Flashback - Mumbai 2006

"Being an artist means ceasing to take seriously that very serious person we are when we are not an artist. "
José Ortega y Gasset ( Spanish essayist and philosopher, 1883-1955)

Mumbai March 2006. Midst, divorce, renovating my new home, giving up my banking job I went to India with friend and colleague artist Margre Mijer for our exhibtion at Club Zenzi in trendy Bandra. Looking back I sometimes wonder how I all managed it.
At the time I was still completely oblivious of all the things to come let alone finding myself on the frontpage of the style section of the Hindustan Times with a beer bottle in my hand!  Oh my....I SERIOUSLY almost wet my pants with laughter when I saw the newspaper.

Feeling Good!

A new week full of challenges. Like any other person I have my highs and lows, I worry and struggle too, but I am happy with my chosen path. To speak with Edith Piaf "Je ne regrette rien".  There are many songs I can relate to. Here are the lyrics of Nina Simone's "Feeling good! The movie was kindly put together by Domina Ball. Wishing you all an inspiring week!


Birds flying high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Breeze driftin' on by you know how I feel
 
(refrain)
 
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good

Fish in the sea you know how I feel
River running free you know how I feel
Blossom on the tree you know how I feel

(refrain)

Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don't you know
Butterflies all havin' fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
That's what I mean

And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me

Stars when you shine you know how I feel
Scent of the pine you know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel

New press - Bagazine

Gradually working my way through piles of mail. After 3 weeks of absence it is a bit of a challenge. Luckily there was plenty of fun mail including a package from Bagazine, a magazine published by tas design a wonderful creative Dutch company with whom I am will be working on packaging material for my products. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Still on my feet!

 some nick nacks and books my sister and I scooped up around Toronto,

including a wonderful small chinese ancestor painting

 returning from camp, cousins Lukas, Mauk (my son) & Jake

 the beacher cafe close to my sister's house, great for breakfast!

Rug Company display at Avenue Road (Toronto)

The stunning flagship showroom of Avenue Road

Lunch at The Hazelton (designed by Yabu Pushelberg) 

with Jane Henderson of Avenue Road

Chilling with my kids

HAPPY sitting on the lap of my sweet BF 

who came for a short visit

on our way to a business meeting at the historic 

Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables

a glimpse of my agent's house in Miami where I stayed as a guest

my pillows at Hollace Cluny (Toronto)

with wonderful supportive Susan Fowlie, owner of Hollace Cluny

Toronto, Miami, Toronto, Amsterdam! I have landed again still on my feet, but with a buzzing head. I feel like I have been clubbing. My body and soul need some recovering.
I have enjoyed my time in North America and it was a good balance between family fun and work. Today I am sharing some moments from my trip!

Miami Update

The team: Eddy Prieto, Rebeca Suarez, moi, Eva Roepers

Impression of the Studio

Monique Libier (Dutch consulate), Dutch consul Arend Gouw, moi, Eva Roepers

White Knights

White Ladies: Monique, Cheryl & Karen

with Jonathan Auty (Director of Sales, East @ DWR)

with Maria Juliana Garzon (editor Glamour)

In love with each other and with my painting

"Conversation Piece"

Well it is done! The first step into the US has been taken with my opening event yesterday at the Coral Gables Studio of Design With Reach. My agent Eva Roepers of Interdecorations did an amazing job together with the studio proprietor Rebeca Suarez and her team. My paintings, screen prints and pillows were beautifully displayed throughout the Studio. Great food was served by raw food bar & grill Tarpon Bend and we had wonderful crowd, including guest of honor Dutch consul Arend Gouw. I feel exhausted today but happy and confident about the next steps! Here are some pictures to give you a little taste.

A big thank you to everyone who has supported me. I am grateful!