I’ll get to the reason for the title in a moment, but for now i delight in telling you that the sun is shining hard on Amsterdam today and boy oh boy does it make a difference!
Here is how:
1. When I sat on my bike seat it was warm – yes warm, as opposed to freezing cold and wet from rain. That is quite phenomenal. I’m not even sure if I’ve ever experienced that sensation here. Or if I have, it was so long ago that I’ve forgotten.
2. It hasn’t rained in more than 48 hours! Also phenomenal, also not sure I’ve ever experienced that in the year that I’ve lived here.
3. The water reflections are dancing on the ceiling again, and you know how I love that.
4. For much of the day I did not have to turn on the lights in the boat.
5. I had to squint while riding as the sun was right in my face. Right in my face! Also phenomenal.
6. Everyone is in the streets walking with a spring in their step and smiles on their faces.
7. All the cafes have their outdoor chairs and tables out and people are enjoying an afternoon beverage outdoors for the first time in months.
In other news, did you catch my debut on Design For Mankind’s Dialogue video series yesterday? I have just two words for you: total! dork!
No doubt I’ve ruined the fantasy that some of you may have had that I might be this eloquent being, full of wisdom and inner stylishness(or is that my fantasy?!)…
So I do apologise for that. Thankfully in the last decade or so I have developed a sense of humor about myself. So I am not losing sleep over the fact that I look like a total! dork!, but rather getting a fit of the giggles at the sight of my large head, little shoulders, & huge fringe/bangs combo. Next time I will ditch the fringe and sit back a little so that I’m in proportion. Or sport some shoulder pads perhaps.
But on a serious note, the topic was great! And I actually had a lot of fun answering Erin’s questions. I loved Lisa’s remark about ensuring she is not dependent on making money from her art so that her art stays pure. And also Erin’s remark about the more you earn, the more you spend. And did you know that Faythe is the author of Handmade Nation, and that she shot her sequence in the hotel room she is staying in Melbourne, Australia! Yep, she’s touring with her documentary and book, and she just happens to be in Melbourne right now. Check out her fabulous work here.
I will be back in a couple of episodes or so, for those of you who can see past my big head, little shoulders, huge fringe AND funny accent combo I thank you, and look forward to your company for my next appearance.
In other other news, I have come to the lowest point possible in my ability to keep a clean and tidy home. On the kitchen bench today sat 2 days worth of dishes. And my friend Riley just happened to pop in for a cuppa at which point I came to a halting realisation that I am a pig. So after apologising profusely the entire time she visited and trying to convince her (or me) that I am usually not like this, I spent my afternoon cleaning the kitchen and muttering to myself under my breath, “I’m such a bad housekeeper”. I even polished all the wooden trims. And now I’m off to bake cookies.
Riley darling, its safe to come back now.
Well, as far as the kitchen at least.
xx
back to basics & simple pleasures. you are a wise and adorable dork. 🙂
March 18th, 2009 | #
Well I think you look adorable in these screenshots. Can’t wait to watch the dialog. I’m sure you’re great!
March 18th, 2009 | #
I’ve just listened to the Dialogue. It was great! I like that you are so enviromental aware and honest.
March 18th, 2009 | #
I love your site. Being a bang-sporter myself, I think they rock as well!
March 18th, 2009 | #
Oh, you were adorable and enlightening! So not a total! dork! And your bangs are fantastic … which I could sport them without the halo of frizz I’m prone to …
Lovely photos, as always.
March 18th, 2009 | #
Pia you are SO beautiful!!! Look at you! Wow!
March 18th, 2009 | #
stop that my dearie! you look adorable and you and + lisa said all the perfect things. i currently make my living off of a variety of gigs and i couldn’t be happier. i have a very simple life and small budget and i love it!
March 18th, 2009 | #
we are our own worst critics, aren’t we? i think you looked adorable and you had very sound advice. the bottom line was – don’t spend beyond your means. simplify your life. what do you REALLY need? sounds perfectly logical to me and sometimes people really need to hear it.
on the tidiness front, i did a post yesterday about some of the ugliness around our place. it’s just keeping it real. most people don’t live in perfectly-styled sets, unless they’re wealthy enough for maids and such ;).
xo, cindy
March 18th, 2009 | #
Not dork at all! I loved your insights, congratulations!
March 18th, 2009 | #
Hiya! Have been dropping in on your blog for a few months and love it! I just watched the Dialogue video, and as a fellow Sydney-sider, it’s great to (literally and figuratively) hear the Australian accent out there in the design blog world. You come across as warm, generous and fun, attributes that also emanate from the snippets of your work you share. Congrats on all your hard work 😉
March 18th, 2009 | #
You were fine. I found it very enlightening. And the bangs look great! I love sporting bangs cut just above my eyes.
March 18th, 2009 | #
hello, stumbled upon your blog, i think you look adorable, love the bangs, you are totally sweet! thanks for sharing in the dialogue, a great reminder for me during these times as well.
have a happy day! 🙂
March 18th, 2009 | #
I’m so happy to see your adorable face and those cute bangs!
March 18th, 2009 | #
No, no, no, no, no….you are not a dork. You were terrific. Authentic. Honest. It was a pleasure meeting you ‘in motion’.
March 18th, 2009 | #
I recently came across your blog and I’m hooked. Yay that you have sun! Fingers crossed it will continue and I’m excited to see more of your art as always!
March 18th, 2009 | #
Your blog gives me joy and makes me smile. Thank you.
March 18th, 2009 | #
after point 7 there is a point 8: 2 days of sun in Amsterdam and people start their little spring-cleanings. Go Pia!
March 18th, 2009 | #
I watched the dialogue last night, and, as I suspected, you were great! So lovely and genuine! I’d love it if you could share some details of your thriftiness. Unfortunately I don’t have a thrifty bone in my body, so I could use some help!
March 18th, 2009 | #
I DECLARE I HAVE TO BEST BUNCH OF BLOG-READERS IN THE WORLD.
You have all made me feel incredibly special, thank you so much!
Melissa – I had quite a bit to say about my thriftiness actually, but Erin needed to cut quite a bit out (I talk so much! remember, I am une pipelette after all) (for those who don’t know what I’m referring to just type in “pia la pipelette” into my find button at the top right of the blog and you will find my post about it… I haven’t worked out how to make links in comments yet:-) )
So yes, i’m thinking about what I could do with the extra footage I recorded – I’m thinking I could make an ‘actors cut’ of all the leftovers, what do you think? I thought it could be fun. or funny. and useful hopefully!
Hedy – so true!!
Thanks again guys, I think I might be brave enough now to give it another go.
xx
March 18th, 2009 | #
Oh, yes, please! I’d love to see an “actors cut”!
March 18th, 2009 | #
An actor’s cut would be so fun. And you are SO! CUTE!
March 18th, 2009 | #
It was fun to see you… tu es toute fraîche and spontaneous… the topic is great… so relevant… very good idea ! Bravo
March 18th, 2009 | #
yea! i LOVED it! your bangs are as adorable as your personality! xoxo
March 18th, 2009 | #
Hi Pia,
I have lived in Amsterdam quite some time and now live in the Caribbean. But I sure do remember these very first excited feelings of spring in the Netherlands, let alone in the city…
Wonderful description, it took me back to my beloved Holland for some moments, thank you!
Regina
March 18th, 2009 | #
not a dork at all… also can I ask how many languages you speak? I’ve been curious about a move to Europe recently as well but I’m not sure how much the language barrier will hold me back.
Cheers and Congrats!
March 19th, 2009 | #
hi kelly, thank you! i speak a bit of french and a bit of italian, but only enough of both to converse about very simple things – i cannot hold major conversations in either language! I am (sort of) learning Dutch at the moment but it really is not necessary for living here in Amsterdam – you can get by wonderfully with just English. I admit this makes day to day living MUCH easier than when I have lived in any other European country. Let me know if I can help any further with your decision making!
Regina, I’m so pleased you like the photos – how incredible that you live in the Caribbean!! That has always been a dream for me.
Sherrieg and Melissa, I will look into this idea! I might do it after the series is finished which will be in a couple of months. Yay! I’m excited about this!
Thanks again everyone!
xx
March 19th, 2009 | #
this video was so great, and you are so not dork like in any way! I can’t wait for more episodes.
I can identify with the washing up scene, my husband is away and I will most likely avoid the kitchen until the day before he returns.
March 19th, 2009 | #
i like your words…and all so true! love the way you describe your view on my city, will keep track of that 🙂 enjoy.
March 19th, 2009 | #
OHMYGOSH you are the cutest and best thing ever! and even if you WERE a dork (which you are not) that would be ok because dorks are cute. You were fantastic and I am so happy to know that you will be taking part in these wonderful videos. Go Pia!
March 19th, 2009 | #
you are so adorable and video was great! it was nice to put a voice to all your posts! thanks again
March 19th, 2009 | #
are we watching the same video? i don’t see any dorks. and you rock those bangs hard, girl! yes, i’d love to hear more of what you have to say about finance. xx
March 20th, 2009 | #
a-do-ra-ble!
March 20th, 2009 | #
you looked beautiful and it was so lovely to see you!
March 21st, 2009 | #
No need to fret, you are adorable!
March 21st, 2009 | #
I watched you on Dialogue and I enjoyed it very much. You are being way too hard on yourself. Good advice, from an enviromentally concious point of view, well done.
Jennifer
http://blog.jenniferlorton.com
March 22nd, 2009 | #
Pia, I saw the video in my reader, although I didn’t managed to concentrate and follow it carefully that day (I will take time to listen to it once again this week). As I saw you, I didn’t think, you are a dork, but I thought, you are such a natural and adorable person. At first I missed your smile – you were sooo serious 😉 -, but then later on you smiled, which made me smile too 🙂
March 22nd, 2009 | #
I loved it — the series is fantastic. Well done! And your bangs are sweet as punch.
March 23rd, 2009 | #
pia! i DID, indeed, see your video at design for mankind and adored every second of your darling accent and fabulous wisdom. 😉 ps – i heart the bangs.
March 23rd, 2009 | #
You look adorable 🙂
March 23rd, 2009 | #
As a bit of a random comment – Riley is such a brilliant name! I mean, that person must be very cool, right? And my house is always a tip. I’ve been trying to tidy things for the whole 33 years of my life – but never seem to make much progress.
April 19th, 2009 | #