Life is a Marathon (ok make it a double:))

Just Do it!

Because we need to burn 3 Michelin Star Chocolates!

With 3 Michelin Star chef Thomas Buhner of La Vie and his
agent Lise Timmer

Sleeping in Walhalla (yes that is really the name of this hotel!) 

Having my wall papers photographed for the website

Photo shoot at my home for Dutch Glossy

tools for the shoot

Make-up please!

My own line of scented candles made in France has arrived!

Sunday morning: breakfast in bed for my kids....

Feet up!

Life is not all about pretty pictures. In my last post I was writing about peace of mind, and yes I am continuing to try to live a life less stressful and not too much anxiety for my doing. What helps me tremendously in times of emotional and/or work related stress is running. Over the last year or so my running habit slowed down and so did my overall energy level. It was a downward spiral and it was quite a mental and physical struggle to get myself out of it. Before the summer holidays I promised myself to take a turn for the better and I kick started my daily runs while on holiday.
Running helps to clear my mind, to focus and feel happy. A friend pointed me to the Nike+ running app which I have been using now for about a week. I love it because I was quite clueless about my distance, pace, calorie burn etc. Click here if you want to know more about Nike+.
Running supports me in running my life's marathon: JUST DO IT!
Above are some snapshots of last fortnight's 'marathon'.
Wishing you all a fruitful week ahead! x

Peace of Mind

Happy designs at our Store: Challieres bird lamp made in Paris

Our Challieres bird lamp and the Store mentioned in LINDA wonen!

In love with Skyler Chen's water color portrait (and yes bought it!)

Love my routine: Running in the beautiful Vondelpark

Blown away on my way to the Store: Amsterdam = biking!

Addicted to coffee breaks.....

At work with Sally preparing for new production (pillows)

Just love Feinedinge handmade porcelain from Vienna (available from my Store)

Always nice when my designs are featured (Het Parool)

Designing for charity project (Stars, Food and Art)

According to Wikipedia "Peace of Mind" may refer to "the absence of mental stress or anxiety, and the presence of serenity, calm, quiet, comfort of mind." Pffffff ok got it, try to work on that one every day. There are victories here and there sometimes small, sometimes big and failures some futile and some that spiral me back into spending the night with Mr Insomnia. But overall my journey is continuing positively up hill.

The Store is doing great, we are working hard on our new website to be officially launched towards the end of this month with the new collection. I would not be able to accomplish all this without the wonderful support of friends, family, fans and a great team of people! G R A T E F U L !
Here are just some snapshots from my daily life. Want to get more frequent updates follow me on Instagram and/or facebook!

Maison et Objet Paris Adventure

Here is a whirlwind post on my 3rd participation at Maison et Objet! For the first time we engaged a professional booth builder who did a fantastic job. So much better then the DIY shelvings we used before and a dramatic difference compared to the curtained booth we had to deal with at the NYGF!
The new collection "Jungle Fever" has been received well and we will be adding new exciting clients in a variety of countries. Pictures courtesy of Vosges Paris!
Spot my first wall paper and carpet design :). If you want to receive more regular updates please follow me on Facebook and Instagram. I am afraid these Social Media tools are overtaking my blog frequency as they are so easy to share.

Recovery Mode

Photo via Instagram

My last post was about striking the right balance. I have to confess that while writing that post I was more off balance than ever. Returning from holidays I was hit by a sledge hammer while on the balance beam. It made me crashing down resulting in the worst concussion. All metaphorically speaking of course but still....I had the symptoms of one. Confusion, headache, nausea, vomiting.....

For the last 3 weeks (which is the average recovery period for a concussion) I have been mulling over what hit me, a painful and very personal process. I am still confused but the world keeps turning and there is no use in lingering. Luckily the store and having to prepare for the Maison et Objet has kept me going. However, I could not have done this without the wonderful support of family and friends. Thank you for being there for me xox.

"We have a choice of how we view the obstacles on our life path.
One choice makes us slaves to circumstance,
while the other empowers us, and motivates us
to follow our dreams - and our happiness."

Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Striking the Right Balance

Annemarth & Mauk

Yes I have been off the radar for a bit. It has been such a busy year so far. Especially setting up and running my flagship store in Amsterdam has been extremely demanding. Everybody is suffering from less attention on my part. Not only friends and fans but especially my family, my loved ones, two of which happen to be my son Mauk (14) and daughter Annemarth (16). Didn't I change careers to have more (free) time.... I can't help wanting to be successful in what I do whether it was in my previous banking life or now with my art and designs. And well... actually as a single mum I can't afford not to be successful otherwise I would need to look for another job! It is hard and I struggle everyday, mostly with a smile, finding the right balance. But what is the right balance....what is "right", who decides what is "right" and for whom...? It is so personal and there are so many involved that it is seems almost impossible to do it "right" for everyone.....
Aarrrrgh this is what is keeping me awake tonight, a sort of "Carry Bradshaw" column like question. It makes my head spin and so does the jet lag as we just arrived back from New Orleans. We (my kids and I) bounced around the US visiting friends and family (and of course I squeezed in a bit of work here and there) but by the smiles on their faces I dare to say that at least for them I stroke the right balance during this exciting trip (and build some credits along the road).

"I get up every single day and I do my very best with what I am and what I have.."
Elizabeth Gilbert

Friends Steven & Isabel (left) riding the Street Car with Annemarth & Mauk (New Orleans)

#INTERIORSPHOTOMONTH #INSTAGRAM

#interiorsphotomoth #candle

#interiorsphotomonth #couch

#interiorsphotomonth #natural

#interiorsphotomonth #bargain

#interiorsphotomonth #light

#interiorsphotomonth #books

Besides working my a.... off I am having fun everyday with #interiorsphotomonth on #instagram. Everyone participating is so creative taking shots of one interior subject a day. Join the fun today and experience how others see! Don't know where to start? Click here to follow initiator Jen Bishop of Interiors Addict and look up the calendar with subjects.

In the Press (Netherlands, UK, US)!

Dutch Women's weekly Vriendin

My store on bright young thing Will Taylor's blog!

More store tales on Louise's 30's magazine

From the UK. Thank you Carole!

And last but not least from the US Kiki's list

Just to share some of the latest media attention (Netherlands, UK & US). First of all a beautiful 4 page spread og my home (before I painted everything dark grey) in Dutch Women's weekly "Vriendin" and furthermore online tours of my shop on Will Taylor's colorful Bright Bazaar, Louise de Miranda's 30s Magazine, Dear Designers (by Carol King, editor in Chief of HeartHome magazine) and Krista Salmon's Kiki's list.
Thank you all! HAPPY FRIDAY!

Focus (mwaaaaa)!

#Vignette in my livingroom #interiorsphotomonth via Instagram

Do you ever have trouble with focus. I do, big time. My mind is always racing in thousand directions. When ever that happens a run usually works to clear my mind, but today even that has not helped. I am sitting behind my Mac and have been going back and forth between emails, Twitter, Instagram, blog, Facebook, internet banking, Iphone, landline...I feel that I have achieved nothing today. Hello FOCUS where have you gone? There is sooooo much stuff to be done and all I want to do right now is play with my paints. I keep telling myself that the best thing to do is to let go. Leave the long "to do" list for what it is, start playing without feeling guilty and start over refreshed.
One of the things that got me side tracked today (in a fun way) is the #interiorsphotomonth on Instagram which I happened to come across via Table Tonic's Instagram (Louise I keep admiring you how you manage it all!). Today is #vignette day. #interiorsphotomonth is an initiative of Jen Bishop of Interiors Addict.

Off to attack some paper and paints to relax my cluttered mind!

Shop Tales: just some random Instagram pictures

Vintage cup on MM birch wood tray surrounded by MM color popping pillows

Mariska Meijers Electric Ikat Tray with vintage Limoges plate

Flowers & Mood Board

Store front on Singel 434, Amsterdam

Detail of an Interior painting I am working on in the store

part of my creative space in the store

I must admit I just love having a shop! Talking to clients gives me such positive energy and inspiration. The beauty is that they come from all over the world. Small problem (currently ahum) is time management. I midst designing new items for the Maison et Objet in September, including wallpaper and carpets, finishing some paintings, mentally preparing for a US trip with my kids, redecorating my house.....call me crazy....So here is some random pictures  of the store I have taken with Instagram, a very addictive iphone app (which you all propably already know!). Care to follow my creative adventures on Instagram?

Our Flagship Store in the Press! Naturelle Magazine

In the summer of 2005 I met Annemique de Kroon. She was doing a feature on me for Joie de Vivre Magazine. At the time I was still married living in a "grown-up" house and at the start of my creative journey. By the time the article was published I was in the middle of a divorce and living on a houseboat. Things change, evolve, for the better....
7 years later Annemique steps in to my store on the Singel canal. Suprised to find me there in a place which has my name on the windows! Like me Annemique has taken the road of entrepreneurship. She has created Naturelle Magazine. A beautifully styled online magazine about interior decorating, travelling, cooking and living well, green and consciously. The issue includes amongst others an interview with Yogini Seane Corne and features the inspiring homes of Maryam Montague and Martin Paternotte. Thank you Annemique for giving my store attention (and I did not mind being on the same page as Shannon Fricke :)). To read the issue click here!