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

…advance copies of my paris book just arrived by courier!!

I have been a nervous-wreck for the past week, ever since my publisher told me they were on their way – the realization that I would see the book in the flesh for the first time was almost unbearable – over a years worth of work in one compact little package. I admit I was fretting, not knowing if I would be happy with the final outcome.

But guess what? I LOVE IT. I’m so happy!

And I just had to tell you that.

Have a wonderful weekend my dear readers!

xx

PS yay!!!

PPS here is a little snippet of the front cover!

…detoured into the art store today.

I may or may not have loaded up on the most amazing art supplies and spent the whole afternoon painting while the rain fell on the roof of le petit bateau.

and I may or may not have begun painting my first self-portrait in a long long time. which I may or may not show you in coming days.

For now I leave you with this fabulous quote…

………………………………………………………….

“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.”
William Wadsworth Longfellow

………………………………………………………….

bon weekend mes petits!

xx

this is as far as i got today in creating a post for you about my trip back home. as it turns out, i am suffering from a severe case of what i like to call the girl lacks time management skills. it seems i have developed a list as long as my left arm (it’s the longer of the two), and today i realised its all getting out of control. at the top of my list was ‘clean houseboat’. I’ve always found that when i am in ultra creative mode, the housework does not get done. do you find that? do you think being an artist and doing housework just don’t mix? i do, it’s like doing taxes and being creative – they cannot be done in the same breath. well, in my humble experience anyway. or perhaps i’m just no good at multi-tasking.

so, i’m afraid i totally neglected posting my promise today. but i’m hoping this photo might suffice. I took this on the plane going over australia – it is one of my favourite places to be – in a plane, heading over my homeland. it is one of the most beautiful scenes ever. and i’ll tell you more about it soon.

now i must dash for i have a date! with french boy. who is FINALLY taking me out for my birthday dinner, as promised. this is the only time we’ve had to do this since we’ve been back. We are going to a restaurant that i’ve been wanting to try for. like. ever. so, if it’s good i’ll tell you all about it tomorrow! if it’s not good, i shall not waste this precious blog space on it as i have so many wonderful things to share with you.

xx

oh and i totally got side-tracked! i was going to tell you that due to the list as long as my left arm, i think i will hold off on my sydney posts until next week. instead this week i have a whole bunch of posts i want to publish, one of them being the results of one of my latest shoots which i’m hoping you will like. until then!