BIRTHDAY card!

What a cute birthday card i got!, and the new dog "coming soon" is in it too.. What a coincidence...!

BLUSH DESIGN IN FULL COLOUR

Visiting a very nice exibition in the Stedelijk museum of 's Hertogenbosch: 'Blush Design in full colour'- Scholten and Baijings

HOLIDAY BREAK

Eating fresh fish straight from the sea......when can i go back?

PHOTOSHOOT BOBJE

Taking pictures of Bobje in a very stylish house in the city centre of Amsterdam

QUEENSDAY

It has become a well known tradition to dress up in orange on our Queen's birthday and roam the 2nd hand markets...Yeah off we go!

COLOURFUL STAY

Antwerp is a nice 'getaway' when i do not want to travel far. This time it was a colourful stay in the Sir Plantin hotel just at the edge of town. A modern and warm atmosphere with their own parking. Certainly a convenient adress to remember!

SUMMER BLUES

Blue was THE new colour of last year... in all it's hues that is. For this summer brights are conquering a very important place in our colourcards. Nevertheless blue is still there! Also try blue in different jeans washings combined! This light blue set really does it for me.

But hey......... i love also these pastels and brights!

CAFE RESTAURANT STORK

After a good day's work it is time for a drink! ..and time to check out the new cafe restaurant Stork in Amsterdam! It's a huge place in the former Stork factory, in fact, the interior speaks for itself. They just opened the doors in januari of this year and it's a promising place. Fun detail are the tables in the lounge area... the authentic pub table cloth in plastic!!! I can imagine a good terras for coming summer! The bar is of a good size and so is the restaurant. When it get's dark it's a real treat to watch the ships go by! 

EAUX DE VIE made in Holland

A few weeks ago i was invited by my friends to a very idillic place in the Betuwe region in Holland where Bas Lubberhuizen en Henk Raaff brew their own exclusive eaux de vie. 

The brewery is situated in characteristic restaured fire station building right next to a 14th century church tower two steps away from the river Waal. 

I found it more than inspiring to see how they make a pure product using the various fruit from the region. We spent some time labeling the bottles listening to Chopin and Beethoven.

Ofcourse i was seriously tempted when i saw a kind that i had never seen or tasted before: HOLLYBERRY! do go and try it yourself! it is delicious!

CERAMICS

In the museum S.M.A.K in Gent i came across the works of Yang Jiechang.. a perfect match with my love for Delft & China blue! But also see Ah Xian's work!

Yang Jiechang

Ah Xian

SOFT TONES

More soft tones..but now for summer!

mind the orange lipstick

FRANK GONZALES

Came across the works of Frank Gonzales. Wouldn't they be nice blown up to mega size?

BEREND STRIK

My first 'inspiration trip' in the new year is this last minute visit to the works of Berend Strik (untill 9 januari 2011 in the Valkhof museum Nijmegen) He makes his photo's into unique pieces of art by applying pieces of coloured fabric, stitching and placed embroideries. Like this he influences the contours of the images. Sometimes he is led by the contours and sometimes he totally ignores them. I love the contrasting way myself!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Best wishes for a happy and creative 2011 to everyone!

LOOKING BACK 2010

MERRY X-MAS

DRIVING HOME FOR XMAS...

I love the postcards illustrated by Ed van der Hoek, especially his image of the teckel driving the Mini.

Illustration: Ed van der Hoek

Lately my teckel Bobje doesn't take 'NO' for an answer when i tell him to stay in the back seat while i'm driving....If it's up to him he even takes over the steering!

Note: we were going fast while parked safely on the ferry when i took his picture..

KNITTING TREND

It has been extremely busy last month with work on various projects in my home and a short 'escape' to Copenhagen.

In Copenhagen i wasn't just inspired by the monumental city itself, 

the fashionable people and the warm xmas atmosphere... 

I was immediately in love with the knitted items in the collections of all the beautiful Scandinavian brands. 

Not only for the innovative styling but also because of the high qualities.

Knitting has been popular for a while now and has even infiltrated it's way into interior design. A lot of it in a very humoristic way.

This short film made by Laura Neuvonen from Finland illustrates just how dangerous this addiction can become!

SOFT TONES FOR WINTER

WOONBEURS 2010

The colour groups that i included here are the ones that grabbed me the most. 

Ofcourse i am a huge fan of blue's so there was no escaping that. 

But more and more the reds and oranges are beginning to intrigue me. Especially when they are used in a surprising way.

When it comes to fashion & garments, bright colours will provide nice accents to all the greys and blacks that we have seen anyway. I will get back to that later!

WATCH THIS!

These were the preparations for the photoshoot of my friend Eline's very first home decoration book called 'Eline's huis'. 

The photographer has made a cute little slapstick film of us working on the set!

Next saturday she will officially lauch the book in Lelystad, read all about it on Eline's blog!

LIGHT MUSEUM UNNA

A very special experience is a visit to the Centre for International Light art in Unna Germany. 

It's the first and only gallery in the world devoted exclusively to Light Art. 

The museum is located in an old brewery and the various artists each give new meaning to the underground spaces.

The tour through the museum in small groups is escorted by a guide. 

If you are lucky you have a private tour! 

The idea behind the art is explained in a very nice way and there is time to ask questions and discuss your experience...if you understand the German language that is..

The artists which impressed me: Jan van Munster, Keith Sonnier, Mischa Kuball, James Turell and Olafur Eliasson.

Some installations make you aware of the fact that your perception can be different to reality.

One of my favourites surely was Christian Boltanski with his work called ' Dance of Death from the series 'Theatre d' Ombres'.

NEW HOME

Every day me and my dog Bobje pass the house of one of my neighbours who happens to have a huge collection of poodles in her little 'museum window'. 

I sometimes stop to have a quick peek but i always feel a bit shy...

Than one day i was strolling around at our local antique market and stumbled upon this cute little doggie on a table full of goods. We looked at each other...and i bought it.

The neighbour i did not actually know yet, or ever meet in the street, but i rang her bell and she loved the little purchase. So from now on i am happy to announce this lonely little poodle has a new owner and home as well as lots of neighbours.

CERAMIC MUSEUM

Whenever you are on your way to some place and you have a little time to spare, make it an enjoyable ride and stop over for some inspiration. On the way to Groningen i noticed this ceramic museum in Leeuwarden. It appears to be the only museum with just ceramics in Europe! If ever you are in the neighbourhood don't think twice and have a look inside!