Thank You Table Tonic Australia!

We are all girls (and boys) doing our best, every day with what we are and what we have (after Elizabeth Gilbert). Since getting into the blogosphere last year October I continue to be amazed every single day by the enormous energy, passion, drive and talent of the blogging community. A whole new world has opened to me. The mutual respect and support, new friendships, bucket loads of inspiration and food for thought. Yes it is virtual but at times also very personal. Today I "appeared" on Table Tonic's blog. Every day Louise Bell manages to post so many fantastic impulses for our brain that I keep wondering how she does it, being a mum of two, running the succesful Table Tonic webstore, happily married to an equal busy man.....A big thank you Louise for taking time to do such a wonderful posting on my work! And for those of you who are not a follower or client of Louise yet do check out her inspiring blog and delicious webstore.

Note: The winner of the give away "You are a Gem" by Dutch artist Anook Cleonne will be announced this Friday. Entries are still welcome (we extended the period due to the 2 week May holiday in The Netherlands). For information click here!

Women with Passion - Elizabeth Gilbert

"I get up every single day and I do my very best with what I am and what I have.."
"My head isn't a neigbourhood you would want to walk in,  alone at night at certain times..."  Elizabeth Gilbert

YES I have on online subscription to Oprah's newsletters :). My daily good vibe injections.  One of the feautures today was a talk by Elizabeth Gilbert, gifted author of Eat, Pray, Love. A woman which many of us can relate to. She is clever, funny and knows oh so well she is only human as we all are with our shortcomings...She advocates not to beat ourselves up all the time as we are merely doing our best!
Do check out the video on Oprah.com to see her wonderful, up-beat talk. I can assure you it will make you smile at yourself (with maybe a little tear here and there..)!

NEW STUDIO - DAY 2

Progressing slowly but steadily. The feature wall is purple and we have been moving easels, cabinets and lots more to the new space. My house feels a bit amputated. I have gotten so used to having everything around me. With time it will grow back I am sure.

NEW STUDIO - DAY 1

Yesterday after signing the contract and receiving my keys first thing that had to be tackled was cleaning the space. My parents have always said that I must have fallen into the wrong nest because I am just not born for cleaning. Thank god I took the fabulous Patricia with me who made it all more bearable.
My new space is in an office building from the 70s that has been renovated to accomodate the growing population of Urban Creatives here in Amsterdam. Working from home is great but here I am surrounded by the creative vibes of others. Today we are going to paint and start moving stuff. Tomorrow I will post pictures of the progress. The feature wall is going to be purple, but it took me a a while to decide on the shade after Will's (Bright Bazaar) inspiring purple posting !

Making a Move!

This morning I am getting the key to my new studio cum showroom. I am so excited! I will keep you posted on the progress, the before and after. Another space to play with....

...oh and I have put my old banner up on my blog again because some of my followers have indicated they prefer that one. I am not sure yet and it doesn't fit the recent changes I made on the layout (the banner is too short). well it wil just have to do for the moment!

Going in Circles

There are days that I feel I am going in circles. Too long behind my Mac browsing, tinkering with words and with one eye staring to the canvas on my easel. I am in the first place an artist and designer and find my self struggling with not enough hours in a day, trying to find the right balance between spending time on my art and designs, social media, marketing/sales, motherhood, book keeping, being a lovely man's girlfriend.... I love my work and have therefor decided to take action. I have rented a wonderful studio/showroom just 10 minutes cycling from my house where I can focus more on my creativity. No worries I will keep on blogging and reading and responding, but I will do it more "concentrated".
In the pictures my currrent workspot and the design I should have finished by now to send to my textile producer. All pictures are taken by gifted graphic designer and photographer Petra Bullee.

To my Mum with Love

 

My Fabulous Mum

I love my mother to bits but when I was younger we had our differences at times. Especially in puberty I could be a daugther from hell. Walking away when I felt she wasn't right about things. I would smash the front door screaming "I hate you and I will not come back".. Oh boy.... Once you have children of your own you start to realize and consequently appreciate more and more how valuable your mother (and father of course) are. A mother will alsways be a mother and you will remain a child to her. Age is insignificant. She will continue to be the protective lioness. My last few years have been turbulent. Divorce, giving up my corporate carreer to pursue my artistic dreams. Diving into deep water leaving my comfortable life behind.  My mum (and dad) lovingly support me in all my drastic, at times scary decisions. I love you mum, happy Mothers Day xoxox 

...and don't forget to submit for the give away "You're a Gem" from Dutch artist Anook Cleonne. A beautiful gem pin!

Painting The Town Orange - Queensday revisited

Yesterday it was Liberation Day so I better do my post on Queensday (April 30) now before it is long overdue. On Queensday Amsterdam turns into a crazy town. People start claiming a spot on the sidewalk already days before the actual day by using tape, flags, ribbons etc. The freemarket starts at 6 a.m. in the morning and people often sleep outside overnight. It looks like one big homeless people town but eveyone has fun and it is difficult to explain if you have never seen and experienced it. All pictures are actually taken in one of Amsterdam's most expensive neigboorhoods (Amsterdam Zuid). On the day most people wear something orange and everyone is allowed to sell almost anything without having to have a permit. I took many photographs but here are just a few to give you a taste!

Liberation Day - Making Waves

"DUTCH WAVES" design for my URBAN STAR scarve collection

Today we (the Dutch) are celebration Liberation Day to mark the end of the occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II. It is a day that all the flags are out and so is mine in the form of my Dutch Waves design!

ps don't forget to enter for the "you're a gem" give away, a gem pin handcrafted by Dutch artist Anook Cleonne. To enter click here.

You're a Gem - Dutch artist Anook Cleonne (and it's a give away!!)

Anook

The "You're a Gem" pin for you to win!

Flower Drawing by Anook

Flower Drawing by Anook

SORRY dear blogger friends! I know there are promises from my side to report more on Paris and notorious Queensday, but today I make space for wonderful artist Anook Cleonne as I had lunch with her last Saturday. Actually it was supposed to be just a coffee from which we moved to lunch and then to a bottle of white wine :).
Anook is a wonderful artist who graduated cum laude from the prestigious Dutch Art Academy "The Rietveld" and her work is in the collection of various museums. We had great inspirational talks and we could have gone on forever (and we probably will).
Anook recently started the initiative "You're a Gem". A very original gesture/gift to say thank you. She handcrafts wonderful gem pins: a porcelain pebble glazed in real gold, mounted on a silver pin. None of the pins are identical.
And guess what! She has donated a pin as a give away!
Here are the details to ENTER the GIVEAWAY:

• Visit her website Je Bent een Kei  and take a peek (she also has a website on her work but it is in Dutch only)
• Leave a comment in this post letting us know that if you were to win the gem pin WHO you would give it to and WHY

The winner will be chosen on Monday May 10!

To illustrate that Anook is more than the Gem girl I have included 2 images of her fabulous flower drawings which are on my wishlist!

New Press - Stijlvol Wonen ("Stylish Living")

I know you have all been expecting another post on Paris today and I promise REALLY  that it will come in the next few days. But today I just want to share my excitement as the new edition of Dutch/Belgian magazine "Stijlvol Wonen" hit the news stands with a 7 pages peak into my homes/studio/office. I feel honoured that Editor in Chief Tim Torfs was so kind to also mention me in the editor's letter! Pictures were taken by gifted photographer Dorien Ceulemans and I was interviewed by bubbly Wilma Tjalsma. A big grateful thank you to all three and EPNinternational Publishers (part of the Sanoma group). And if my Blogger Sisters want to blog on please do!
I am off now to celebrate Queen's night and day (our outrageous national holiday) on which I will also be reporting on my blog. Long live the queen (and me just a little bit as well today)!

Hermès versus YSL

Choices, choices. A stay in Paris is never long enough and one has to be flexible with plans. The weather was beautiful which meant that we spend a lot of time just sitting outdoors, little bars and brasseries, taking in all that passed us by. My brain felt like the Satorialist. One of the choices that had to be made was visiting the Hermès exhibition at the Institut du Monde Arabe or the Yves Saint Laurant Exhibition at the Petit Palais. I am a fan of both so we flipped a coin.
The Hermes Exhibition honours brilliant Leïla Menchari, who has been for many years the inspiration behind the outrageously beautiful window displays of the Hermès store at 24 Rue Faubourg Saint Honoré. I was not allowed to take photo's inside but the bill board and orange entrance way were photogenic enough already! Sorry Yves I missed you but I have your wedges to wear. What would you have chosen if you would have been in my wedges :) Yves ou Hermès!

More about Paris tomorrow!

To unpack or not to unpack - ode to Starfish & Sundresses

Returned from Paris today. My suitcase has been staring at me for quite a while now. Unpacking is my least favourite part of travelling. To make my unpacking a bit more pleasant I decided to bring an ode to blogger friend Lindsay of Starfish & Sundresses. Lindsay dreams of having her own boutique in the future which I am convinced will be a succesful venture considering her sas and style! She gave me great packing advice for Paris so be sure to check out her blog. My ode to Lindsay may seem a bit odd as I will share some of my "dirty laundry" with you but I am sure Lindsay (and you who know her blog) will recognize her influence!

In the "dirty laundry picture just a selection:
- H&M pale pink silk top
- Vintage necklace with green beads
- Dutch jeans - G-star
- YSL wedges (second hand :))
- Kate Spade bag
- Zara blue & white silk blouse
- Zara multicoloured scarf
- Hermes necklace
- My favourite silver Bikkembergs' sneakers (essential when you are biking in Paris)
- American Vintage bottle green T shirt
- Mina Perhonen embroidered silk green top ( a beautiful Japanese (yes Japanese !!) brand that I recently discovered)
- Monoprix blue & white stripey T shirt
 
On the wish list:  Goyard suitcases!

Over the next few days I will share some of my Paris adventures with you and thank you Lindsay for your stylish advice!