One of my favourite blogs that got me inspired to enter this blogging world was that of Irene Hoofs who created the very chic and sophisticated Bloesem and Bloesem Kids. And if you’ve been a fan of her blogs too, you will have noticed she has been taking us all on a world tour with her blogging friends. Today, on her last day of the world tour , she invited me along to join this gorgeous gang to share with her readers about where I live now, and who my favourite artist is that has inspired me the most. So click here to read about my favourite wander through Amsterdam, and click here to read about this very special artist who I am thrilled to introduce to you.

I will be revealing more about him in the coming posts too, taking you on a full tour of his magical property in Bathurst, NSW, and talk to you about his work and why it inspires me so. I will also let you in on a little secret now…

…it was a wander through his mudbrick home a few years ago that I spotted the above wandering heart, which begun the whole My Heart Wanders journey we are all on now. So make yourself a cup of tea or pour yourself a glass of vin rouge and go and read all about it at Bloesem. Pour yourself another glass and catch up on the other posts from the world tour which include bloggers like Jo in New York, Madhiti in Germany, and Julie and Kathyrn from Perfect Bound reporting from Winnipeg. Have fun! And drop by here again soon to see more of this inspirational artist and his magical home.

It’s been killing me, but I was waiting for the tulips to bloom and the sun to shine before I showed you my home, and finally that moment has arrived.

I will post heaps more photos in the next post but for now, this is the little sneak peek on Grace’s site, and this is what I get up to , all exposed in Erin’s Dailies. …hmm, I am feeling rather naked at this moment.

(PS are you wondering why I didn’t make the bed for Design*Sponge? I’m wondering that too, what was I thinking?!)

but wait there’s more!

and then i saw the sign to wagga…

… and I realised I’d been tricked – for all aussies know that wagga wagga is nooooooowhere near the ocean. What wonderful witchery was this? It’s a place called zaandvoort and is one of The Netherlands beaches, complete with beachside cafes bearing Australian flags. French Boy and I took the half hour train ride and hung out here all afternoon, lapping up the sunshine + sea breeze, and sipping wine. It was just what the doctor in me ordered (yes I’m known to self-diagnose and self-medicate on a regular basis). The pipelette in me ran riot, telling sydney seaside stories, and creating crocodile dundee-style legends.

Needless to say a few friends back home got a few late night text messages from me. I’m (sort of) sorry if I woke you guys.

I also spotted this little photo shoot, which I thought was rather magical…

Yep, I am happy now everyone – I know exactly where I can go to get a dose of home. I just won’t look at that strange fomey stuff that wobbles on the shore, and I’ll imagine the water is blue and not brown, and that the waves roll high and that the sand is golden and nice to the touch. Yep, nearly there. Thanks Holland, for creating a little home away from home just for me…

I love meeting new people.

It’s one of the things I love about my job – I am always working with different people, and although sometimes it can be a bit trying on such intense shoots, most of the time it is heaps of fun. And this is one of the things I love about being a blogger too. I’ve made so many new friends, all of whom I hope to meet in person one day. And some of which I am very lucky to have already met in person.

You already know I’ve met Danielle, from the ever popular Style Files, who I’m very looking forward to catching up again with in coming days. And just recently I had the pleasure of having drinks with gorgeous Mary-Laure and the oracle Benjy, from Aurea, and her sister Celine who has just moved to Amsterdam. Thank you Mary-Laure for posting about your visit with me, it made me chuckle and blush. And while in Paris I met the very talented Rachel who I will be writing more about very soon.

Josephine from Red Thread recently came to Europe as a 3 week birthday treat for herself and we were able to hang out in both Amsterdam and Paris while she was here. If you catch her now, she is writing some awesome posts about her time in Antwerp, she has already written about Stockholm, and she has just finished posting about Amsterdam, all complete with photographs. Click here for her floral fixation post (oh Josephine, I wish you were able to see my tulips in bloom!), here for Amsterdam’s gorgeous chinatown which I frequent often, here for her design and art walk, and here for her post about her time with me. Apparently she thinks I’m funny, and I couldnt be happier about that, someone who actually laughs at my humour! We had a fun time, both of us pipelette-ing away, the boys couldnt get a word in unfortunately. Tough luck boys.

And soon I’ll be introducing you to one of my friends who will be arriving in the guest quarters any moment now (he’s a bit late, he’s a very busy boy). But I can tell you this much – he makes me laugh, he loves my little piano concerts, and he is a hit on the dancefloor.

But here are some links I’d love you to check out in the meantime from my new blog friends. Also, please check my blogroll for new links as I always put new ones in but sometimes don’t have the time to write about them in a post.

Danielle just posted about Taschen’s new seaside interiors book here.

Felicity posted an AWESOME interior spread here.

Yoli continues to inspire me daily with her beautiful blog here.

Tiny K posts some really inspiring interiors here.
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All photographs are from the “Subaquatic Beauty” spread shot by Alix Malka via Nyla and Yoli

It’s been spectacular weather here in Amsterdam for the past week and I thought you might like to come with me on a mini trip around the canals. The lovely Davo, our guest in the (blog)house, has invited us all out on his weekend runabout, and who would say no to that? David has been an awesome guest – sharing his photos, photographic tips, and latest projects with us, and now this boat trip – he is definately welcome back to the (blog)house anytime! But sadly we have to say ‘dag’ to Davo as a new guest is arriving shortly. So let’s say our goodbyes now (no tears, he will be back, I promise) and enjoy the weekend touring the canals of Amsterdam…

So what about the soundtrack you ask? Ah, click here to open it and come back to this page to scroll the pics below. Have you got a glass of rosè? and would you like some cheese? Here you go. Enjoy…

Thanks to Eddie Vedder for supplying the music (via some strange you tube user). Have a fabulous weekend and I’ll see you back here on Monday with another little something special.