Amsterdam is an overwhelming, overflowing creative melting pot. And whenever I get the chance I like to give the pot a bit of a mix and see what surfaces. Then I carefully extract it, analysing and scrutinising this new found beauty for all our benefit, right here under the roof of the (blog)house. So what have I found for us today? The very fresh, very funky, and very very hip, MIR jewellery range…

You’ve all guessed why I love it so – designer Mirjam de Haan takes her inspiration from nature. And with this new range she has looked to the sea, with cuff bracelets that look like silver-dipped coral, pendants in delicate leaf shapes, starfish and seahorses.

“In a world where mass production is the norm, MIR prefers to retain the delicacy and sensitivity of handcrafted pieces. MIR jewellery is handcrafted to the highest standards.” Designer Mirjam de Haan

There are two ranges, the prêt à porter which includes the gorgeous coral piece you see above, and haute joaillerie which includes one-of-a-kind designs like this exquisite smokey quarts pendant on smokey quarts bead chain, featured below…

The range includes chunks of amber set on delicate bead chains, a jaspis pendant which I adore, turquoise rings and cute charm bracelets. Click here to view the full range on the just launched website.

This new range from MIR is so fresh on the scene that it has barely hit the Dutch docks. It has been featured on fashion shoots for Gala and La Vie En Rose (above), and I have no doubt you will be seeing these stunning pieces in more of your favourite magazines throughout the year, all over the world. I myself will be featuring some of the range in a shoot next week and will be sure to show you what we create. That’s if I can remove it from my own neck and arms and ears. Habit of occupation. I love my job!

All images courtesy of MIR . For stockists, click here.

Headline: my wallet dilemma has been solved…

(embarrassing to be wearing an un-ironed skirt as a stylist but i must confess i rarely iron at home as i do so much of it at work. baaaaaad confession.)

I received ‘the chosen one’ in the mail yesterday and threw my old milk stained one right into the bin (perhaps the milk will help it disintegrate quicker!). After heavy etsy searching and looking at everyone’s suggestions (thank you all!), I chose to go local with a little brand some of you will already be well acquainted with. So, let me introduce you to the new member of my handmade accessories collection…

This is a beautiful wallet from the very talented Megan Hoffman of Frank and Gertrude. The attention to detail is sublime, and her fabric combination I just love. This one doubles as a clutch purse so I do not have to carry a handbag everywhere. However, now that I have my first piece of Frank and Gertrude, I am very keen to buy one of their beautiful handbags, check out their store right here.

Also in the headlines: yesterday I received a ‘You Make My Day’ award from the lovely Mary-Laure at Aurea and it certainly brought a smile to my face! Thank you Mary-Laure, it means alot to know that I make your day as you do mine.

image by Jen at Simply Photos via Marie at Là

The rule is that I pass this award onto 5 blogs that make me smile so I will be passing it on back to Mary-Laure as she does indeed make my day! and will also pass it on to:

Josyln at Simply Lovely (and she is sick at the moment so she deserves a big pick me up so go and say hi), Jen at A girl and Her Polaroid, Liivian Talossa and Jo at A cup of Jo (and it is her birthday so how could I resist! but i just found out she is a year younger than me goddamnit)(and has a twin sister. lucky thang.)

As Marie at Là so succinctly wrote, the ‘you make my day award’ works like this…

1. write a post with links to 5 blogs that make me think and/or make my day
2. acknowledge the post of the award giver
3. tell the award winners that they have won by commenting on their blogs with the news.

Coming up soon: my heart wanders update!

Side Note: this post is best read with KT Tunstall’s Black Horse and The Cherry Tree in the background. Go on, try it, works for me!

My handmade pussy-willow front door Christmas wreath has just been revamped. I didn’t want to take it down even though I made it for Christmas so I decided to revamp it and make it into a ‘hurry up spring’ wreath. I removed the fairy lights to start with, and then the red velvet ribbon that was holding it to the door frame. The little fluffy white blossoms (not sure I can get away with saying ‘pussies’ here?!) still look fabulous after a few months although some are starting to brown but I quite like them that way. I ‘enhanced’ the wreath with the left over berry buds from my birthday flower arrangement and also added a lovely brown velvet ribbon to replace the red one. I am rather pleased with it, it looks quite striking but what do you think? I have decided to just keep adding to it once things die off – so instead of replacing or removing altogether, I will just add more to it over the coming months and see what transpires. I shall keep you informed on how it looks if you like. For further details on how it was made, see below.

Here is the full view of it:

To see what it looked like for christmas, click here (you will need to scroll down to the bottom of that post).

PS. I just added the direct ‘my heart wanders’ link to the sidebar here for you so you can easily check up on any updates you may have missed on the project. No deadlines have yet been set so don’t panic! But I will be setting one very soon. But before then we will check out some more inspiration for the project. And if I can remember how to do this sidebar thing I might add this little wreath too so you can click on it through the coming months and see how it changes. Ooh I’m having so much fun here in the (blog)house!

How to:

I am not the most patient of creators so you can be assured that whatever I make is super easy and quick. First I had a lightshade metal frame lying around so I cut out the middle bits. Then I cut the hard bottom stems of each pussy willow branch and bunched a few together (for time saving only) and curled them around the frame, securing them in two places with thin copper wire. I did this until I was satisfied with the shape and look of the wreath. Then I simply tied little leftover black and white ribbon in bows around some individual branches. I added little berry-like buds to the wreath and hung it up on the door with a brown velvet ribbon. It took approximately an hour to make in total.

Artist: Peter Callesen

Peter’s work was first introduced to me by Michelle, and then today I spotted some more of his A4 creations on 2 or 3 things I know… which I just discovered to be a pretty cool blog. Who else has poppy love?

love this shot, it is part of Aiko Machida’s portfolio.

I’m so distracted today. My procrastination is at it’s worst on a Monday. As you can see from the below post, it doesn’t take much for me to stroll off the day’s jobs. I have a floor plan on my kitchen table that must be finished and sent off asap but I can’t seem to stay focused. And I blame y’all! No, not at all, I do take full responsibility. But this post I will try to make my last distraction for the day. So on with it already…

Those of you who may have been reading my blog from the beginning (and I have just been informed there is at least one person, thank you loyal reader!), you may recall my post about ‘spilt milk’ – to be short, on one of my recent travels i took soy milk with me so i could have it in my tea along the journey and it spilt all through my handbag. i know, don’t question me please, i just do these things.

anyway, while i’ve been able to wash my handbag, the milk also went all through my leather wallet and is now a stiff crusty board and is rather revolting. well, it was kind of revolting to start with as it was well over 10 years old and was falling to pieces from overuse.

ironically, i am a bit of a perfectionist and the REASON i haven’t bought a new wallet is because all these years i simply haven’t found one i like! and that fits my rigid requirements. so with all you knowledgable creative souls out there, i thought maybe you might be able to lead me in the right direction, what do you think? my preferences for a wallet are that it be…

handmade

preferably from vintage/reused fabric

STYLISH and sophisticated (i love handmade but not a fan of crafty, girly patterns etc)

has a coin pocket

has a bank notes pocket

and sections for credit cards

that’s it, is that asking too much in a wallet? I’d be so happy if it came from one of you or one of your fave etsy stores so if you can recommend someone I’d be very grateful. I will be a good customer and I will spread the word on the designer to my clients and readers. Thanks everyone!