May 29, 2013

lately.


when you think of the netherlands, riding amongst the tulips whilst eating hagelslag on toast all the while dressed in orange spotting every windmill that goes by may come close and this isn’t too far off what i get up to around these parts. aside from my measly attempt to re-write my prehistoric resume, i’ve always been really good at balancing work and play. the past three months have been 100% play. i know, lucky doesn’t even come close. i thought i’d stop by to share what i’ve been up to lately. as the weather has been a little unreliable (hello european summer), there hasn’t been too much bike riding through fields of coloured wonderment but a couple of train trips, some vintage finds and an inspiring trip to ikea that have made this expat a happy little camper. but the good is often balanced with a little dose of sadness and a couple of weeks ago my family found out that our beautiful dog was very sick. residing in san francisco with my parents for the last two years (and loving every minute of it), his 10 years of life had last week, come to an abrupt end. it seems like just yesterday we picked him up as a 6 month old pup from the rspca. from the moment he stepped foot inside our home to begin his new life with us, he has enriched every minute of it.  i would like to take this opportunity to thank the many of you that shared their supportive comments on instagram when it was hard for me to find the words. there’s nothing like puppy love, and i am a better person for having shared my life with him. i have a few (20!) new designs underway for new screenprints, one inspired by the boy himself. for now though, i am consoled by the beautiful memories and the words of my favourite poet when he so beautifully says, nothing gold can stay. 




the crafty swanmarket where the pre-loved and handmade come together.


mixing colours. love. it.


the sun came out to play after a week of gloomy skies.


new projects underway.


the beautiful weather calls for a walk in the sunshine with this guy.

last saturday's colourful market finds. (soon to be new projects)

been searching for a beauty just like this so for 1 euro i was sold.


my swanmarket treasure. dutch floral canisters don't get any better than this!


best way to spend a rainy public holiday. reading and snuggling up with my boys.


i'm dating a masterchef and hooray, asparagus is in season!


an afternoon treasure spotting in utrecht.


wardrobe hunting yesterday with the guys.


no trip to ikea is complete without pineapple glasses (and napkins!)


a perfect peony present.


May 18, 2013

hello saturday.


saturdays around these parts are often spent sleeping-in (cat included), brunching instead of breakfasting and a bit of treasure hunting and yummy treat gathering at the local markets. with the rain easing this morning we took the opportunity to ride into the city for a wander. i had my pink papered to-do list, my winter coat on (in spring) and my boy in tow. the market visit is a common routine that i have enjoyed doing with him since i first arrived here. i practice my bad dutch asking the prices of vintage teapots, he finds the best deals on chillies and we often snack on the nuts and olives we've planned to eat as a pre-dinner snack. a whole variety of treasure can be found in one place and i've even met a stallholder that promises to keep an eye out for any suspected cathrineholm that may come her way. we had a good chat today about some beautiful pastel dutch dinnerware and i left feeling completely charmed by her knowledge of the pre-loved. i picked up a couple of cheap treats of my own and some incredibly beautiful hortensia. i initially had peonies in mind but the pastel pink of the hortensia petals had me bewitched from the get go. this afternoon saw me brownie baking, the boy preparing his famous chilli for dinner and then me again pushing pom poms in jars, putting finishing touches to painted blueberries and now settling back down to support our dutch pride in the eurovision. hello saturday.




a teapot find.


seriously? i'm in love. 


yeah, i know.


my favourite stall and her gorgeous compositions.


wish i was eating rather than painting them. (more taste research is needed)


 wouldn't be a saturday without a photoshoot.


earning brownie points with the brownie.


yes, that would be a regular sized teapot and an extra large russian enamel mug. perfect.


do i need to explain? #loveinajar


May 15, 2013

modern loves.


the weather’s been a tad dreary around these parts and it looks to hang around for at least another week or so (as i write this the sun is beginning to shine her happy face.) i don’t always see that as a bad thing but an opportunity to get in some valuable gallery time. the boy thought likewise so we grabbed our pre-purchased train tickets, our museum cards and a heavily flavoured starbucks and made our way to amsterdam. the train is so accessible and can be reasonably priced when you get a good deal, i'm like a kid when i board the train, first in and a window seat secured. i so love hanging out with the boy. he watched me squeal as rows of coloured tulip fields rushed before my eyes and i attempted to snap photos amidst the dirty windows and power lines. this is only the third time i’ve been to amsterdam, but like i’ve said proudly before, rotterdam is my beloved new home and sometimes i neglect the small calling of her nearby big sister. both of them individually unique and charming in their own ways. i also like to shake it up everytime i go, no vintage shopping or nine streets wandering this time, but an incredibly inspiring art fix delivered perfectly by the newly renovated rijksmuseum and the awesome home of modern art, the stedelijk museum closeby. we had plans for van gogh, but as any art lover will know, you can never determine just how long you’ll spend looking at works, especially when there is a huge array of your favourites in such close proximity. the rijksmuseum was obviously busy, very busy.  at one point, after 4 shoulder nudges and pushes from impatient art onlookers, i was getting a little over it. did i mention that this was within 15 minutes of us stepping foot inside? an incredible collection and an even more impressive renovation process, the building is simply stunning. i was told that the number of visitors had jumped from 3000 to 10000 per day, a crazy thought that makes GOMA’s numbers seem pretty sweet. i saw some beautiful dutch history (including some never seen before rembrandts) but after a couple of hours i was ready for some time with my modern loves. the stedelijk was beautifully quiet, and as we wandered into each room, my heart would beat even faster. confronted with some rauschenberg, rothko, sherman, kelly, mondrian, matisse, de kooning, flavin and lewitt  and then topped off with some gispen and eames design, i was in heaven.   my favourite of the day? a perfectly pastelled de kooning inspired by his time on long island.  won my heart on first glance. as the day crept on and the temps dropped we sought refuge in the newly opened marks & spencer. anyone that knows me well (or follows me on ig) knows that i am a fiend for british food. i grew up with it and would choose a scotch egg over a cupcake anyday (well, maybe 70% of the time). so i grabbed a bag and filled it with treats that would make my nanny kit proud. custard creams, walnut whips, hot cross buns, mini pork pies and some scotch eggs were the chosen ones. i look forward to venturing back sooner rather than later, i can’t deny a vintage wander for too long. amsterdam, you were damp and dreary yesterday but in rain, hail or shine you’re a great city with some amazing art. as any true rotterdammer (or surrogate one) would say, you’ve graciously earnt your second place ranking. wink wink.  




pretty girl.


time to take my new pants and shoes out for the day. 


favourite. (de kooning)


i love art you can walk on. (carl andre)


a sol dewitt masterpiece and my love.


mondrian and his pastel love. 


stunning botanical gouaches at the rijksmuseum.


love a bit of (upside down) ellsworth kelly.


view from the train. 


May 12, 2013

treasure.


oh boy, have i wanted to write this post for so long. but of course as more treasure accumulates i hold off for another week. as you may have seen on my ig feed, vintage is very reasonably priced here. sometimes too reasonable and it's a crime to walk away. i will warn you however, there are 20 odd photos in this post of treasure that might just bore...hang on...nah...you'll love it. i've discussed a few of my favourite places to find vintage treasure and as a general appreciater of most (ok, all) things that come with a little history, was made in the 70's or might have been something my grandmothers once owned, i tend to collect things. i did so quite successfully in australia and then ended up packing 98% of my belongings in storage and moving across the world. it wasn't THAT hard, i had a big heart yearning to be in europe and these treasures were kind of holding me back (albiet in a beautifully adorned vintage world)...but i had to let go. just a bit. so i came over with very little and knew, oh boy i knew, that it wouldn't be long until i was back in the hunting and collecting game. infact, i think it was 3 days into me being in the UK that i unearthed a boxed set of staffordshire mugs for  2 pounds. the opshopping urges that i had supressed for so many months attempting to save some sort of money for europe were delighted and had been let out of their mothball scented cage. it's only taken me a few weeks to set up my little creative world, merge design aesthetics with the boy and discover a new (and terribly strong) love for european design. i am still on the lookout for the notorious cathrineholm, so the many fleamarkets we've ventured to and the many more yet to come are where my thrifting wishes for such a find are kept. for now i'm suitably content with my 1 euro delights and like many of you know, it's most often the bargain finds that are enough to set one's heart on fire. 




my favourite find so far.


already being put to use with my baking ingredients.


this beauty for 1 euro will be a studio delight.


attracts a lot of attention at parties. display only.


the perfect picnic rug.


found this 1978 gem on the street. yuhuh, the street. 


cup cuties. 


1 euro of floral amazingness.


fleamarket tablecloth love.


german beauties and one of the above mentioned staffordshire gem.


unearthed a lovely lady's paris journal. so many gorgeous photographs and vintage goodies inside.


this barkcloth gem was accompanied by sheer delight as i took it to the counter. 


another gem from the paris journal.


some pillowcase delights.


it was love at first sight. 


a girl can never have too many canisters. all now filled with washi tape and rusk treats.


the boy and i seem to have a german pottery radar. 


the most perfect apple green hat box. (currently filled with fabrics)


no explanation needed.


german goodness and more tin delights.


instead of breakfast cake, this tin holds all of my drawing utenstils.


vintage contact, glass jelly mould and vintage trim all courtesy of my trip to london.


buy one for a euro and get one free, you bet. (soon to be wall mounted)


so it's a little faded but it was cheap, what's not to love?