It’s Tuesday already! My weekend was quite a blur, it went by so fast and today, I do find myself quite exhausted once again. I know what you are going to say  – slow down, and don’t forget to breathe. I know, I know! And I am, I promise – Sunday I did get a moment or two to chill out, and Saturday I managed to squeeze in some much overdue yoga in between work. I loved reading all about your weekend plans in the previous post – you guys do the most fun things! It was wonderful to be able to live vicariously through you, it felt like you each popped into the (blog)house over the weekend like lovely neighbours do. Thank you for taking the time to let me know what you got up to.

This week I have two book launch events happening. The first one is a private book launch at The English Bookshop which I organised especially for the artisans and store owners featured in the book – a chance for all of them to meet and buy some books. I will be sure to take some photos of the event for you and post them right here in the (blog)house. The second event as you know is this Saturday’s wander. The wander is fully booked and I am so very excited – it is a great bunch of people that I am really looking forward to meeting and wandering with – for those who will not be able to participate on the wander there will be afternoon tea out in the courtyard of the boekhandel van Rossum at 4pm, so please meet me there for some tea and cake, it will be a lovely way to spend the afternoon. (below is a little sign I made for the shop customers)…

Right now, amongst a plethora of other things, I am making some pretty garlands for the van Rossum window display, would you like to take a peek at what I’ve made so far? Here you go…

I am using some of the left over materials from the American Book Center window. The peonies dotted around my home were the inspiration for the paper flowers. And Irene from van Rossum has made a super sweet canal house row. I will be going to the store tomorrow morning to put up the rest of the garlands so I’ll take some photos for you then so you can see.

And fyi, the window display I made for the American Book Center will be dismantled this Thursday (it’s been 3 weeks already 🙁 ) so if you live in Amsterdam, you have one more day to see it in all it’s glory.

xx

PS I may just be slightly obsessed with the handmade yellow striped paper, I really cannot get enough of it (except I just went back to vlieger and it’s all gone! boo hoo)

…at the dining table.

…at the kitchen sink.

…in a petit corner of our kitchen garden.

…by the window (these were a wonderful gift from a friend, to remind me to breathe during times of sheer exhaustion…like right now).

…standing at the dining table.

Well, I’m exhausted. I haven’t had a weekend since I don’t remember when and my nights sleep are short and erratic. When French Boy and I go to bed I can’t help but say “didn’t we just get out of bed like, 10 minutes ago?” when we eat dinner I say, “but didn’t we have breakfast just a moment ago?”. He laughs. I’m glad he thinks it’s funny! Anyway, I knew this month would be a big one to get through. I feel like Thomas the Tank Engine getting up the hill, be it the month of June “I think I can I think I can I know I can I know I can…”

Often people tell me they like to read my blog so they can live vicariously through me. (Apparently my goings-on are enviable?!! It’s time to dispel the myth!) But today, I’d like to hear what you are planning to do for the weekend so I can live vicariously through you. Please, indulge me…

xx

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve heard reports far & wide of some lovely press for my new book Amsterdam: Made by Hand. It has made the recent release of the book super special.  Below are some such mentions, in no particular order…

Cool Hunting contributor Karen Day posted a great review of the book, click here to read the full review. Thank you Karen and Cool Hunting!

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Inside Out magazine featured the book on their news page in the current July/August 2010 issue (page 34) – thank you Inside Out!

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And locally, Time Out Amsterdam magazine featured part of an interview between me and journalist Arun Sood (who also played the guitar at my booksigning on Saturday!) on page 61 of their current June issue which just went on sale. Thank you Arun, and thank you Time Out ! (click on the above image to read the article in full).

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Grace from design*sponge featured my window display last week! I was chuffed.  If you missed it, click here to read the post. Thank you Grace!

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And Traditional Home featured my little book in their July 2010 issue as you can see above. Thank you Traditional Home!

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It’s really exciting to see the book crossing media genres, reaching far & wide. If you know of some press mentions for Amsterdam: Made by Hand in your country or local area, please let me know. Thanks to everyone who has blogged about the book, or told your friends, neighbours, and colleagues about it. Your support is immense and I’m eternally grateful.

xx

I am very excited to announce another rather exclusive event that will be held in Amsterdam this month in celebration of the worldwide release of Amsterdam: Made by Hand…

With many thanks to boekhandel van Rossum , I’ll be taking 15 willing participants on one of my favourite wanders in the book on Saturday, June 19. yeah!! We will start at van Rossum bookstore, hop on the tram to de pijp and wander through the pretty backstreets to visit with some of the boutiques and studios featured in wander 10 (page 150). This is your chance to meet the artisans and shop owners directly through me, get a glimpse at what is on their worktables, buy little handmade, one-of-a-kind treasures (there will be many temptations!!) and be inspired. Along the way I’ll take you into some of my other secret boutique stops (that are not in the book!).

After that, we will head back to van Rossum bookstore and enjoy some afternooon tea out in the courtyard…

Excited? me too! If you would like to join this exclusive wander, please reserve your place by letting me know a.s.a.p by sending me an email as there are only a limited number of places left. We will rendez vous out the front of van Rossum at 2pm on Saturday, June 19 and I estimate the wander to be around 2 hours. For those who can’t make the wander but would like to join us for afternoon tea, we can meet you back at van Rossum at around 4pm.

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What? join me on an exclusive wander to visit some of the boutiques featured in Amsterdam: Made by Hand.

Where? meet me at van Rossum bookstore, Beethovenstraat 32 | 1077 JH Amsterdam | Tel.: 020-4707077

When? Saturday, June 19 at 2pm.

Cost? free! except you need to pay for your own tram ride.

Please note: this wander is only available for 15 people so to reserve your place you need to send me an email and I will send you a reply to confirm your reservation. This event is “first come first served” so be sure to reserve your place pronto.

…nikole’s gorgeous home recently featured on design*sponge (you already know how much I adore nikole’s blog and her spoons, I can never get enough of her beautiful work)…

… marie’s stunning necklaces – which she is kindly offering one as a giveaway on her blog, le voyage créatif! Make sure you write a comment on her giveaway post here.

…and fanny’s inspiring world, complete with pissenlits, poisson d’avril, and voiles d’été. Her blog, les contours du silence is one of my “blogs in the spotlight” this past week.

Enjoy!

xx