My dear friend Riley and I just spent the morning in the Van Gogh and the colours of the night exhibition which opened today at the Van Gogh museum here in Amsterdam. We absolutely loved it. We both adored the sketches and letters presented, in particular the “study of two cottages”. We also loved starry night over the rhône.

There was a collection of old books with incredible photographs of the moon, dating back to the early 20th Century. Stunning. I will be heading back to this exhibition soon as there was just so much inspiration.

For more information, please click here.

I’ve been researching wallpapers for inspiration for an upcoming shoot and I just can’t go past Deborah Bowness’ incredible collection. The two featured above have captivated me so. They are from her wallpaper kits range. I adore birdcages in any interior setting don’t you? But I don’t like real birds inside them unless they get to fly freely around the house, like this gorgeous macauw! Click here for stockists.

xx

PS I have something fabulous lined up for you this afternoon. Shall I give you a little hint? Okay, its a house. A rather glorious house. That features one of Deborah’s wallpapers.

…yes, I have lots of them. And I am busy busy trying to get them completed. It’s at times like this that I forget to eat. When my mind is alight with creativity. When I start one thing and then another, and another, and another and keep going in this strange manner led by some innate direction. I can’t create a routine or prioritise my work, no matter how hard I try. I just fly in what appears to be some crazy, chaotic pattern for an undetermined period of time.

I take photos when I should be writing. I write when I should be recording. I record when I should be taking photos. I pick up a pair of scissors when I thought I was going to pick up a pen. I start cutting something that I thought I was going to stitch.

And at some point I suddenly feel it is the right time to stand back. And observe. And sign my name.

But I’m not there yet. I’m still flying about the place going from one project to the next, forgetting to eat. I look forward to the time when I feel it’s right to stand back and say “I’m finished”.

…while I wait for the kettle to boil.

PS The fabric is by Maramiki – it is hand drawn then screenprinted onto cotton. I bought one of Maramiki’s remnant stashes a couple of months back and have been using them endlessly in my shoots. I will show + tell soon!

This is one of my all-time favourite Van Gogh paintings. Do you know the story behind it? Well, on January 31, 1890, Theo (Vincent’s brother) wrote to Vincent to tell him about the birth of his son whom they named Vincent Willem. In response to this wonderful news, Vincent, who was very close to his brother, got out his paint brushes and painted these blossoming branches – his favourite subject to paint. He sent it to his brother and sister-in-law, and they put it in pride of place above the piano.

On January 31, 2009, I finally bought myself the Dutch museum pass so that I can visit this painting anytime I want for the whole year to come. It is one of the best birthday presents I’ve bought myself to date.

xx

PS There is a fabulous exhibition starting at the Van Gogh museum this Friday February 13 to June 7, in collaboration with the MoMA in New York. It’s called Van Gogh and the colours of the night. It will be the first exhibition to be devoted to Van Gogh’s representations of the evening and night. I can’t wait to check it out!

PPS And yes of course I am also excited to visit all the museums with my new pass! And I promise to report back here after each exploration.