So here it is, the full spread from my last shoot with Maria magazine. And I am very sad to say it will be our last shoot with the magazine as it recently announced that it will no longer be published, like so many others. I loved working with Yvette (recipe writer + food stylist) and Jeroen (photographer), and I would really like to keep working with them as we make a great team. So, if anyone out there needs a fab food production team, please email me. Yvette and I have a number of awesome stories suitable for international publication that we are itching to produce, and if you’d like to see our previous work please click here, here, here and here.

This shoot, as Yvette mentioned in her post in the (blog)house kitchen, was shot at her mother’s beautiful home. I had just arrived back from sunny Sydney and had developed an horrific flu. I was barely able to walk, it was the middle of winter here, and I needed to create a Springy atmosphere! in the freezing cold! The pressure was on… but I made it through the day! with thanks to Yvette and Ms. v. Boven helping me through with plenty of hot cups of herbal tea while I stood outside with Jeroen “creating Spring”. By the end of the day I flopped onto the couch while Yvette and her mum cleaned up. I felt so guilty for not helping! But I was in no shape to do so and they wouldn’t let me. Bless their little cotton socks!

Here is what we produced, I do hope you like…

I will tell you more about the menu and the story of the shoot next week, with some behind the scenes.
For now, I give you these, and two of the recipes in English, posted in the (blog)house kitchen with many thanks to Yvette.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! I am going to indulge in a computer-free weekend myself, which I will be sure to tell you all about next week. I will also be gorging on chocolate, but what’s new! Lately it’s with no thanks to Green & Black’s making the most delicious easter eggs ever.

See you back here on Tuesday, mes chers amis!

xx

…………………………………..

Lente Ladies Lunch courtesy of Maria magazine.
photographs by Jeroen van der Spek.
food styling and recipes by Yvette van Boven.
styling by Pia Jane Bijkerk.

image from here via here.

With the long weekend coming up, i thought i’d share a quick list of blog favourites with you! First of all don’t forget about the ‘in the spotlight’ section to the right – each week I spotlight 5 blogs that I am currently loving. Right now I’ve spotlighted:

oh joy!
little doodles
stash studios
odette ny
grijs

all of these blogs are based in different parts of the world, and are so unique in their own way. Please spend a little time on each of these blogs and you’ll soon learn why I love them so!

on top of that, i wanted to share the following with you…

dumbo feather’s editor kate wrote a great post about the ‘global financial crisis’. Her words are my sentiment exactly. I haven’t written anything about the crisis here on my blog because 1. i can get rather worked up about such topics and 2. I like the blog to remain “day enhancing”. And I think Kate’s post is totally “day enhancing”! So please read.

photographs by victoria pearson via simply lovely

josyln has been very active in making positive changes in her family life, with thanks to the economic changes going on, have you noticed? along with her spending hiatus, she has a ‘new normal’ which is all about living larger lives. I’m not sure I have the right to be proud of her, but I am! I’m just so thrilled that people are taking the time to assess their lives – it’s what the world needs: a time of reflection. For some reason I started this reflection rather early in my life, so if you are worried about your own outcome of making such changes and aren’t sure if it’s the right thing to do, take me as an example and know that everything will be fine, and life will be large! I couldn’t be happier with all the decisions I made, as daunting as they were at the time because I was the only one ‘doing it’. I’ve raised a number of eyebrows throughout my life, put it that way. but my ethos to enhance the everyday was started long ago, and I wouldn’t have my life any other way.

Oh I have hope in humanity once more!

Read more on josyln’s post here.

from 3191

Speaking of living larger lives, I’m really enjoying 3191 these days. Have you been reading?

That’s all for now. If you don’t have much on this weekend then I hope this will keep your mind active and lift your heart! Also, don’t forget about the other rooms of the (blog)house! Riley (via me) has a message for you here, and ms. food stylist extraordinare Yvette has two delicious recipes for you here. Enjoy! I’ll be back this afternoon with another fun post.

xx

PS Thank you to all who have sent me such beautiful emails about my (blog)house recently – I’m just so glad you are all enjoying it, it makes me very happy. I will try to reply to everyone but if I am not able to, please forgive me!

PPS and how about a song? I thought this one might be appropriate, since I’ve gone and pipeletted-away. again.

i love this mag! inside out is most definitely in my top 5 absolute favourite interior magazines, for so many reasons. I shall attempt to list as many as possible here for you now:

• it features homes of REAL people – artists, shop owners, farmers, and sure there is the odd celebrity but they’re real celebrities – you know, the ones that feel like they could be your neighbours, or that you went to school with (ok I did grow up on the northern beaches of sydney after all, home to many an aussie socialite).

• the layout is STUNNING. and unique! it never fails to be beautiful throughout every single issue.

• it is filled with fabulous ideas for your own nest – there is always a great range of stockists to peruse, including plenty of web shops and suppliers from all over the world – the style team reach far and wide to find interesting homewares across the globe.

• it is a really creative magazine – always pushing the style boundaries to the very edge, but never going over it. They have crafty ideas here and there that aren’t too difficult but are super stylish and sophisticated.

… how is that to start with?

many of you have revealed to me in the last few days that you are looking for a magazine to ‘replace’ domino (although it can never be replaced! but there is a hole in out nesting hearts, i know). Well, may I suggest inside out for you: It’s by no means the same, but for me it really fits the hole rather snuggly and you might find it will too.

Yes the magazine is based in Australia, but why would that stop you?

Australia is filled with talent, and alot of it is packaged neatly in inside out! And like I said, the style team reach far and wide so it’s not all about Australian homes. In fact, the story I have decided to feature is set in Tuscany, Italy. A couple decided to pack up their corporate lives and renovate a 12th-century farmhouse, just an hours drive from Florence. I think many of us dream of doing this, and I think this couple did it so perfectly, filling their home with found objects and insisting on natural materials and finishes throughout. The walls are coated in sand and lime while the pine floors are finished al-natural with beeswax. The spaces are real, authentic, and full of life. I adore the pop of colour throughout – the use of red and blue hint at (the owner)Karin’s Dutch heritage.

The vegetable and herb garden is organic, and even the lake! which is called a biolago – a naturally filtered lake especially for swimming.

I’ll leave you in peace and let you take a wander through some of the spaces now…

All the photographs for this article are by Mark Seelen, with words, styling and production by Marc Heldens.

At the end of each home story inside out create a section called “in detail” (as above) to show where you can buy similar items, or items inspired by the home decor. Many magazines do this, and it is one of my favourite features of this particular magazine, as well as marie claire maison.

So, what else can I tell you that’s fab about inside out ?

Well, how about the fact that they just started their own blog! so welcome to the blogosphere inside out. also, their latest issue looks awesome – just read the editor’s letter here, and check out what’s inside here.

but most of all, what I am dying to share with you is this: if you subscribe to inside out right now, you can go in the draw to win a luxury holiday trip to PARIS…

How unreal is that? I only just read about it myself on their website, and I thought I just have to tell you! Click here to read all the fabulous details (like business class tickets + spending money), and here to read the terms and conditions, and here to subscribe!

Ok, I must eat now, it’s dinner time. But I do hope you consider subscribing to this beautiful magazine.

xx

PS again, I think I should be in sales! and again, I am not employed by inside out in case you thought my sales pitch was that good. I’ve never worked for them actually, boo hoo!! perhaps one day when i’m not so far away.

PPS one more thing – if you love this farmhouse as much as I do I have something to tell you… you can stay there!! Here is the link, filled with more beautiful photos, maps and information. Enjoy.

a message from pia:

riley has been very busy with guests this past week (hmm how does it happen that my guest has guests?! that’s not supposed to happen!) and has been unable to post. However, she asked me to wish you all a big HAPPY EASTER! and she will back next week to post some more.

In the meantime I decided to post this photo she took some time ago. I love riley’s home, and this little vignette is one of my favourite places to sit and enjoy a cup of tea when I visit.

We miss you Riley! But are looking forward to playing with you next week here in the (blog)house. Until then, HAPPY EASTER!!!

xx

peachey from purple bottle sent this to me today, in light of my absolute favourite interior magazine series. i just had to share it with all of you too. thank you peachey!

now on with the series… hmm, which magazine am i going to showcase next? any guesses?