Hasta La Ideas

I was experimenting with my camera (nikon D7000) last week … i am the person who loves and cherishes small things that were either given to me or bought my self … every little item has special value to me …

image above: my new threads from Angela Liguori … I have so many ribbons from her already and couldn't resist buying some spools of this gorgeous wrapped cotton thread too , the spoon I bought in china town and the felt brooch was a present from Arounna from Bookhou a long time ago … she should be selling these too don't you think?

image below: new ribbon from fog linen work, the brooch again 🙂 , paper stars given to me by Jurianne Matter the first time we met, a little candle holder that i bought in a thrift shop and the copper key is from an old clock my parents had at home and a glimpse of one of my new fog linen trays. 

Hope you like my little gems too … 

Good morning lovely readers I hope you have missed me the last couple of weeks … I certainly missed you and am super happy to be able to post this morning. I have had a wonderful vacation in Spain with my family and am enjoying some quality time in the Netherlands right now with my friends. 

Luckily for me I can stay in our own Amsterdam apartment which normally is rented out but tenants moved back to their home country and I am currently doing a huge re-decoration/renovation so new tenants can move in after the summer. 

Great to empty out many boxes that were stored about ten years ago when we left this place. I found this huge pile of old wallpapers (1998 – 2003) and was happily surprised with the still sublime-looking covers. I believe back then wallpaper was a bit more trendsetting and new then nowadays but I admire them for being around for such a long time on high-quality level. 

I think I am going to keep them … still very inspirational.

..wallpaper magazine

All images by me, Irene.

{image: pompoms from Engelpunt}

I could not have wished for a nicer celebration for Bloesem's FIFTH year anniversary than the lunch that was given to me today by de 'Drukke Dames' (= Busy Ladies) in the design and art shop Friday Next in Amsterdam. 

When Jurianne Matter heard about me coming to the Netherlands this month she immediately emailed me with an invitation for a get-together with some of her creative friends. Most of them I had met online during the last five years but none of them in person before.

{image: Christmas angels by Jurianne Matter available at BijzonderMooi}

It felt like a real blind-date, exciting and inspiring!

And this blind-date was a just wonderful and exactly how I like it, personal, intimate, honest and real. Not a big party but simply enjoying the fact that Bloesem has done this for me… bringing me together with super creative and talented people:

{image: Sonia's brick and morter shop in Blaricum called Gosto-design}

… Klaartje from Keecie, Claudette and Annemarieke from Uitgeverij Snor, Sonia from Gosto, Twirre from Handmade-Heaven, Sandra from BijzonderMooi, Jasmijn from MadebyGup, Leonie from Amorim, Sabien Engelenburg from Engelpunt, Sanne&Anke from StyleCookie and Natasja from Collegien and last but most certainly not least the beautiful, energetic and very inspiring Jurianne from Jurianne Matter. 

Thank You!

Wallets on the left by Keecie and on the right by Handmade-Heaven.

Welcome to you, the new reader, who has found me via this article in Dutch newspaper, Het Parool. And thank you Maaike Schoon for the very kind words you have written about Bloesem and me. I was delighted to hear that you were going to write a story about design/living blogs and wanted to hear my opinion and background. The five other blogs you mentioned, Apartment therapy, design*sponge, Emmas blog, desire to inspire and the selby, are also big favorites of mine so happy to see them too. 

And how cool is that… Het Parool even used a picture of my home for the cover. Love seeing my vintage cabinet by German design label interlubcke and the design lamp by possibly Joe Colombo for Italian brand iGuzzini that I bought last year in the Netherlands in a vintage shop. I wish it is possible to still use my vintage Ericsson Cobra phone, probably the best phone design ever. 

Marjon Hoogervorst made the picture for the cover.

…and then I was even more lucky last week when this book arrived in my mailbox. Another gift from another friend… she is expecting her first baby any day now and I helped her creating the birth announcement, perhaps I can show you soon on BKids. The new Orla Kiely book has been on my wish-list ever since I saw it appear in the blogland and I can only say the book will not disappoint you. Pattern by Orla Kiely is absolutely very inspirational and a true feast for your eyes… who doesn't love Orla? Thanks Marjolein!

{All images by me, Irene from Bloesem}