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!

 

Miami here I come!

Just packed my suitcase for Miami. It includes a new dress I bought today at candystore Holt Renfrew, designed by one of my heroines Diane von Furstenberg (it was on sale mom!). Here is a glimpse of what I think I will be wearing on Saturday  for my opening/cocktail party. Of course I have a few more options packed as I can get so indecisive, especially at those moments I NEED to be ready. Expect a detailed posting on my exhibition at Design Within Reach (Coral Gables studio), the cocktail party on Saturday and my other Miami adventures!
Apologies for the quality of the pictures. No photoshop on my sister's laptop.

A little confession about Dutch television

Still in Toronto. A full but wonderful program every day. A great balance between business and pleasure. Enjoying time with my sister and kids. Moments to reflect. One of today's moments resulting in this posting. A confession to you, something I didn't feel comfortable sharing. My first appearance on Dutch television (already) in November last year. I felt naked, like in this dream that you are standing in front of an audience only wearing a towel that is basically not covering your whole body. No make-up, no styling, just me, answering questions about what has driven me to trade my old comfortable (corporate) life for an insecure future. But let's face it, the bottom line is that there are no securities in life even if you think you have a full fledged guarantee. My radical change has brought me happiness. It has made me more gutsy and eager, more appreciative of many things whether they are big or small!

Note: I apologize to my followers that this broadcast is in Dutch only without subtitles

The Toronto Files - Part III

Work is always with me when I am travelling. My head stores impessions and is ever busy with ideas ready to burst into new creations once back home. Toronto is a vast city with many things to explore and full of inspiration. I especially get tremendous energy from encounters with kindred spirits. Last Friday I visited Kosoy & Bouchard and met with bubbly artist Michelle Kosoy. Michelle creates exquisite ceramic pressware. She didn't want to be in the picture but here is a peak at the studio-showroom that she shares with her husband, glass artist Pierre Bouchard. If you are in Toronto make sure you visit their studio and don't miss CocoaLatte a few doors down. They serve excellent coffee!
I apologize that there are no close up pictures of the products. I am posting from my sister's spare laptop that doesn't allow me to crop pictures nor haven't I figured out how to make screenshots. How I miss my Mac, next investment will be an Macbook for sure!
Wishing you all a great inspiring week and I will post some more about Toronto over the next days. 

Note: In Toronto both Michelle's ceramic pressware and my pillow designs are sold at interior design store Hollace Cluny!

The Toronto Files - Part II

Josh Chalom, artistic director and lovely Kim of Cube Works Studio

Since a few months my son Mauk is completely into the 80s iconic puzzle Rubik's Cube. When we were going for dinner in Toronto's trendy Distillery District last weekend we came across "Cube Works Studio" a gallery filled with amazing artwork made out of Rubik's Cubes. My absolute favorite piece: Mick Jagger with the Union Jack. The creative brain behind the concept is charismatic Josh Chalom. If you have the chance don't miss this mind boggling art!

The Toronto Files - Part I

Can't believe how time flies here in Toronto. I am enjoying taking it easy, spending time with my sister and watching our kids having fun together. My sister lives in an area called The Beach, which is right on Lake Ontario. It is a lovely area and the kids spend a lot of time playing outside. Of course we do the tourist routine as well. Last Sunday we visited Niagara Falls and I have to admit it was spectacular to get so close to such "violent" energy. More from Toronto tomorrow and that is a promise!

New Press - Emirates

Before I flew with my kids to Toronto yesterday there was a suprise in my mailbox. Some wonderful publicity in interior design glossy Emirates Home. Since recent I have a representative in Dubai, Fleur Stoffels, and she made it happen. So a big thank you to Fleur and to Emirates Home for featuring my In Bloom Green and In Bloom Orange pillows!

In respectful memory of Marija

  

In respectful memory of lovely Marija of Holding Court who pursued her life with passion.

"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth -- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up -- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had."

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Something arrived from Australia...

 My first Australian Artwork on the left (framed in white)

Yesterday at the Studio there was a package waiting for me from Australia. It was send by my dear blogger sister Kerry of A Tranquil Townhouse as I was the lucky one for her give-away.  It was wrapped tastefully with purple and orange ribbons and had a card with some personal words that touched my heart.
On the front of the card is a quote from Anatole France (A French Nobel Prize winning writer 1844-1924): " TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS, WE MUST DREAM AS WELL AS ACT."
The content of the package "Cloudburst" a glass artwork made by Kerry's dear husband Richard has found an honourful spot in my house. For me Cloudburst will forever be symbolic for Anatole France's quote. Thank you Kerry and Richard I will continue to act!

Cured from Orange Fever

 before the World Cup finale Holland - Spain

the day after.....

Annechovie

Oh boy what a disappoinment yesterday evening. The Dutch lost in the World Cup Final from Spain 0-1. I watched the game with friends in a local bar avoiding the crowds at the Museum square. You can imagine that all spirits were terribly down after the loss. I had one advice up my sleeve "Keep Calm and Carry On" the text of the poster produced by the British Government during World War II to raise the morale of the British. This brings me to actually say a big thank you to colleague artist Anne Harwell of Annechovie who interviewed me for her blog Annechovie. Talented Anne creates beautiful decorative pieces beaming with color. Anne and I are definitely (and proudly) from the same school of "non avant-gardists". So THANK YOU Anne for having me on your blog and for those of you who do not know Anne yet do visit her inspiring blog and fabulous Etsy Store including "Keep Calm and Carry On" screenprints! Wishing you all a great week MX.