Dear people,

In between a lot of things I was doing today, I got an e-mail from a very good friend telling me he has a new exhibition coming up. The mail-message also showed a lovely painting he made of the Irish countryside. Being born in Ireland, it kept my thoughts occupied all day long. So I decided to give you an Irish recipe for Brack, to get it of my mind. Brack is an Irish cake: I could eat the whole thing all by myself. Without any help.

I got this recipe from our old neighbors and I still make it now and then. Even in our restaurant it’s often on the menu.I made this one in the picture for Margriet Magazine. Louis Lemaire took the picture and Judith Beahner was the prop stylist.

Please try it!

love,
Yvette

I’ve been hoping to gather some spare moments lately to share some of my new adventures, discoveries, creations and inspirations with all of you. This week I’m going to attempt to spill all, working my way backwards from this weekend just past, to the one prior.

Starting with this weekend just past: It was an ‘open studio’ weekend in the north of amsterdam which means that many private art studios are open to the public for two days only. Just like Paris, Amsterdam is filled with artists. The open studio weekends are a great way to see a part of Amsterdam in more intricate detail, meet well-known and upcoming dutch artists, and get a glimpse of what goes on behind closed doors… and you all know how much I love peeking into artist’s studios!

So, on Sunday I went with Yvette to visit her sister Sophie who is a wonderful artist and illustrator and who was part of this particular open studio weekend. Little Marie (remember our photoshoot helper?) tucked herself up against my leg in the car and then once outside, showed us the way to her aunty’s beautiful studio …

Marie led us over bridges, past quaint dutch houses, and down a beautiful cobblestoned pathway…

…straight to Sophie’s studio, filled with incredible illustrations and portraits. I was mesmerized, not only by her stunning work but also her beautiful home…

On saturday, dear friend Zoë, French Boy and I went to more of the ateliers, catching a ferry from centraal station and working our way around with the aid of a map made just for the occassion, as well as following little signs and flags. We met lots of wonderful artists, and discovered a whole part of Amsterdam that we didn’t know existed…

…including a beautiful forest lined with little private gardens. We were able to walk along the pathway and take a peak inside the gorgeous plots with their tiny tucked away sheds and glass houses…

I was in heaven – can you imagine how giddy I was after a weekend filled with inspirational artists, a peek inside their private studios, a wander through private gardens, and a stroll through nature?

Amsterdam, oh how I love you so!

from munich time-lapse, found on brittany’s beautiful blog. I like it teamed with this song – click on this link which will open the song in a new page, and then come back to this page and press the play button above. enjoy…

The sun has set on ol’ Amsterdam, casting beautiful shades of blue across all that I see. I made a little patchwork for you…

If the trees were instruments they would be playing this song for me tonight. I have poured myself a cup of fresh camomile tea and I am ready to crawl into my netted bed. Goodnight, mes chers amis…

Have you heard of an australian band called middle east? i had not, until this morning when I read on one of my friend’s facebook status that this very talented band from townsville in queensland, have made their song blood available for free download through itunes. The song is featured in the teaser of a new film which had its world premiere recently at tribeca called accidents happen. It’s directed by andrew lancaster and stars geena davis.

The song is gorgeous, to say the very least. I’ve been listening to it over and over again today, and I highly recommend you download it right now as tomorrow (june 16) is the last day you can get it for free!

Click here to listen to the song on middle east’s my space site, then go straight to your itunes account to download it.

And a very big congratulations to andrew for his first feature – the cinematography looks stunning, geena is awesome, and I can’t wait to see this film!