From my bookshelves: Plan B by Sabine Leenhouts

 Journalist Sabine Leenhouts proudly on the cover of her first book

a peek at the 12 page interview

 my Sunday reading spot

Friday I found a package on the doormat. It was from Bruna publishers. Inside was the book "Plan B" by driven, charming Dutch journalist Sabine Leenhouts. For her book she interviewed 20 people who radically changed their careers (and lives), sometimes forced, sometimes voluntary. Giving an insight on how they (finally) got to follow their own heart, THEIR passion, in stead those of others. With the book Sabine wants to share that nothing is impossible and inspire people to dare to chase their own dreams.
I had a wonderful, inspiring afternoon with Sabine when she interviewed me and I feel honoured to be part of her book.

The book can be ordered through http://bol.com (available in Dutch only). With 20 illustrated portraits by talented artist Lisette de Zoete.

2011 - New beginnings

Well it is here: 2011! I have a great feeling about this year as there is still so much more to do, to learn, to gain and to lose :)), especially after enjoying the Austrian cuisine which is not particulary known for its lightness.


2011 has in any event begun well for my designs. As of today a selection of my pillow collection is sold in Norway through trend setting webstore HVIIT.

I wish you will a fruitful year. Follow your path with passion. Be persistant and patient. PERSEVERANCE is key. Always remember:

"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."

Franklin Roosevelt

                                        

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Today I am packing as we are leaving for the Alpes. I am looking forward to snowy slopes, great food and lovely company. But before I do just a few words about this year:

I 

learned, I cried, 

I laughed, I failed, 

I was succesful, I failed some more,

I was confident, I was insecure, 

I took action, I left my path, I regained focus,  

I got many NO's and was even more ignored, 

I got YES, YES, YES, I got attention, 

I love life the way I am shaping it,

I love the way life is shaping me,

I don't regret my choice

to chase my OWN dreams

MERRY CHRISTMAS

to you all

xxx

Getting Ready!

 Christmas tree in the Meijers' residence

my loyal car!

5 hours! That is what I spend in my car last Friday. Stuck in traffic chaos caused by heavy snowfall. There was no escaping. A distance that would normally take me about 15 minutes. I completely under estimated the situation and thought I could easily make a delivery to a client...
Well there are worse things in life. I am enjoying one of the most relaxed weekends I had in ages. The tree is up and I am getting ready for Christmas. I feel blessed!

Miami Snippets

 The A Team: Bobby Berk, moi, Eric Garcia (store manager BBH Miami)

and Eva Roepers

 with blogger Catherine Michelena of Inspire Bohemia and her mum

 happy clients

 with Chef Charles Harris, Adelaide Price of DWR West Palm Beach

and interior designer Sandy Napoli Cowper

 all smiles

 Bobby Berk Home and Mariska Meijers designs make a great combo!

 more happy clients....

 with Dutch colleague artist-designer Alexander Tempel 

of Artists not Armies

Alexander Tempel, Eva Roepers, Daphne Plug and blogger-interior designer

Natasha Haastrup Huang of Northern Light

I know that it has almost been a week since I returned from Art Basel Miami so finally here are some snippets from my show. On the way in I had huge delays because of the weather conditions in Europe. Being rerouted via Boston made me miss the Vogue party at the Raleigh Hotel (boohoo), but the most important thing was that I arrived in time for my own event!
Once in Miami I received a warm welcome from handsome, energetic Bobby Berk, founder of and creative brain behind  Bobby Berk Home, who together with Eva Roepers of Interdecorations hosted the cocktail and viewing party. I had a wonderful time, meeting interior design bloggers, shop owners that carry my products and clients, but even friends and colleague artist-designers from Amsterdam!
With only 4 full days in Miami I had a packed schedule both business and pleasure. I am grateful to my US distributor/agent Eva Roepers and Bobby Berk for all their wonderful arrangements and support!

New press - GLAMOUR and Wining & Dining

  

Just got back from Miami on which I will do a "report" later this week but first I would like to share some new mentions in the press. The December issue of GLAMOUR (Latin America edition) features my painting Chair & Circles and Wining & Dining (Dutch edition) features the boxed note card series  I created for Camille Oostwegel Chateau Hotels & Restaurants. I big thank you to both magazines for exposing me to their readers!

New Arrival: Red Flamingo Pillow

Red Flamingo @ the Meijers residence

Whenever I get new designs in I am overly excited. I have taken a few snapshots (apologize for the quality) to give you a taste of my latest arrival: the Red Flamingo pillow. My hand painted design printed in The Netherlands on beautiful linen. The back panel is also in linen (neutral) with distinctive velvet trimming. I will be taking the first few to Miami tomorrow where they will be on  show at Bobby Berk Home!
So my next blog will be from the otherside of the ocean....

The Act of Juggling

The online Oxford Dictionaries define to juggle:
 "[with object] continuously toss into the air and catch (a number of objects) so as to keep at least one in the air while handling the others"

You may have noticed that I have not been very active blogging lately. It is not by lack of inspiration, but it is simply by lack of time. Focus is what I desperately needed. Although blogging has opened a whole new world for me full of inspiration and beautiful new frienships it has also been interfering with my focus. I have to keep telling myself that I am first of all an artist-designer. So that is what I have been up to lately. Back into my artistic mode. Tomorrow I will be picking up my new pillow designs from the atelier. I am really excited to see how they have come out. And... then this Wednesday I am off to Art Basel Miami where Bobby Berk and my agent Interdecorations are hosting a cocktail and viewing event at Bobby Berk Home in the Design District 2nd of December. I will be in Miami until the 6th and I promise to blog about my (ad)ventures!


Wishing you all a wonderful week full of focus and don't feel guilty in doing this (like I sometimes do..). People do understand and if they don't it is their problem!

Picture: courtesy Cirque du Soleil 

My secret life as a Gourmet Groupie

 salt crusted sea bass, long pepper and olive oil

one of Aurélien's favourite wines: Les Jardins des Babylones

 

marinated sardines, red cabbage jelly, orange zest and green asparagus

 turbot tartar, king crab, fennel ceviche and avocado cream

  Oysters ‘Creuses’, grapefruit, passion fruit and tapioca

 

with Executive Chef Aurélien Poirot

I have to come clean. Je suis une gourmet groupie. I became one through dear friend and business partner, culinary author and journalist, Lise Goeman Borgesius. A  few years back she started to take me behind the scenes of the culinary world. I am intriged by the high level of creativity and discipline of Les Grandes Chefs and their teams. So whenever I have the opportunity I "dive" into their kitchens.

Food inspires. I just love giving my artistic interpretation of a beautiful recipe. My latest series was commissioned by 5 star hotel Sofitel The Grand in Amsterdam.  I illustrated 5 recipes for Executive Chef Aurélien Poirot of The Grand's restaurant Bridges. The illustrations have been published in the form of culinary boxed notecards. 10 cards with enveloppes, 2x5 designs, blank inside with recipies on the back in English. The boxed note cards will be available through selected book, museum and department stores throughout the Benelux. For store locations outside the Benelux please go to store locations on my website. For online orders webstore.mariskameijers.com.

The Glamour Files - Part II - All about Brass

The Brass Shelves found and lost :)

 Studio last Sunday..

Pierre Vandel coffee table with brass detailing (in my sitting room)

 Brass shelves as seen on The Decorista

 Spot the beautiful brass shelves in the back - Maison21

stunning brass lamps & antilope - Maison 21

or just a tiny brass wall fixture - Maison21

 

Yes I know I promised to give updates on the editing of my interior. Brass is one of the ingredients with which I am spicing up. Ashlina, The Decorista, and I are on the same wave length when it comes to brass. She happened to do a post on brass shelves at the very same moment I was about to purchase some!
So last Friday I was oh so thrilled with my new conquest that I decided to "flaunt" the shelves first before putting them in my appartment. There they were bang bang bling in my Studio where I was hosting a lazy Sunday afternoon drinks & viewing party. BAD IDEA..... a dear client convinced me to sell it to her (along with some pillows from my collection of course :)).
As you may guess since Sunday evening I am frantically hunting for another pair of shelves but it is not easy. I saw the most wonderful pair but I would have to cross the ocean to get it as they are over at Maison 21.  But I think the ocean is there to protect me, otherwise I would buy up its entire contents. The tasteful brain behind Maison21 is Christian May, "a Los Angeles based interior decorator with decided opinions about design". And NO I am not getting any commission from CM, it is simply love!

So the current status of glamming up with brass is down to the brass detailing on my Pierre Vandel coffee table and matching sidetables. C'est la vie!

DESIGN REFUGE - MONTHLY COLUMN "THE LEARNING CURVE"

Today you can find my first monthly column over at Design Refuge. Each 3rd Monday of the month I will share lessons learned during my passionate mission to build a brand. Simply because oh boy my life is not all pretty pictures :)!

If you haven't heard of Design Refuge yet it is the largest meeting place online for design bloggers worldwide! Tastemakers like Table Tonic, Bright Bazaar, Little Blue Deer & A Diary of Lovely are members so if you haven't registered your blog yet what are you waiting for! Get daily inspiration from contributors such as The Decorista and founder of Design Refuge Dagny Thurmann and interact.

Art Basel Miami & Bobby Berk Home

Well it is all set. Eva Roepers of Interdecorations who is doing a fabulous job at representing me in The States will be hosting a cocktail and viewing event during Art Basel Miami together with Bobby Berk Home on December 2nd.

Urban chique Bobby Berk Home is smack in the middle of Miami's design district. The store features a great selection of hand selected items from around the world showcased through faultless design vignettes. Bobby Berk Home also has  Flagship store in trend setting Soho, NYC.
As you can imagine I am delighted to stir a cocktail (or two) with my bold, colourful artwork and designs at such wonderful location. Thank you Bobby and Eva! And...if you are in Miami at that time please join us (rsvp eva@interdecorations.com)

Ivy & Piper - a new wonderful online interior design magazine!

Lazy Saturday. Time to catch up on some blogs and I immediately hit the jackpot with Ivy & Piper! A fabulous new online magazine on interior design
Dive in and get inspired by contributions of trendsetters like Anna Spiro. I am not going to reveal more as you just need to check it out yourselves!
Founders Melanie and Elizabeth can be really proud of their first born. Congratulations and thank you for this new wonderful source of inspiration.

images from the magazine Ivy&Piper, Anna Spiro, Kelly Green