Today I found myself flicking through Paris: Made by Hand in search of a shop address for someone (it’s so handy having my ‘little black book of Paris artisans’ in one neat little place!) and when I saw this image, it made me smile. It is one of my favourites from the book. Everything from the tools, the colours, the floor tiles, the rough surface of the wooden post… it takes me straight back to the moment I took the photograph: I was in Thierry Grave’s studio (page 187) on Rue Durantin in Montmatre and I remember being completely in awe of his creations.

As with so many of the artisans I feature in Paris: Made by Hand and Amsterdam: Made by Hand, I feel so privileged to be invited in to their private worlds, capturing intimate details of their studios and chatting openly about their work. They are each so passionate, enthusiastic, and talented I am always in awe and when I leave, I feel like I’m walking on clouds.

Anyway, I digress completely because this post was just supposed to be a reminder about our haven workroom giveaway! It will close tomorrow (since we are all on different time zones I will make it in the afternoon for us in Europe = late night for Aussies and New Zealanders = evening for everyone in Asia = morning for North Americans). So, make sure you leave a comment on the giveaway post so you can be in the draw.

So here it is, the official invitation to the official book launch of Amsterdam: Made by Hand.

What do you think? I know I said I’d post it yesterday but I spent all night working on it, as with all my endeavours, they always take longer to create than I initially planned! Anyway, I am so very excited about the event for so many reasons, it’s going to be grand. Other than the above mentioned treats on the day (personally signed copies, enjoying some wine, nibbling on homemade nibbles and listening to some lovely music), I will also be making a special window display for the American Book Center, so by the time the 5th of June comes around, this awesome bookstore will, well, be even more awesome!! If that’s possible.

I am going to reveal more details of the event in the weeks to come but for now I just wanted to officially invite you all. Below is a little snippet from the press release, please help spread the word…

I will also be sharing some more Amsterdam: Made by Hand goodness with you soon including the announcement of some more very special events. I am excited to tell you that the book has already received some excellent press around the world, I will share these with you too! Mostly, I can’t wait for June to roll ’round so you guys can get your hands on them.

xx

I’m not the least bit bashful to admit that I’m quite alot in love with haven workroom.  This wonderful atelier based in London is run by New Zealander Cassandra Ellis who creates custom-made contemporary quilts, cushions and lampshades from vintage silks & cottons, as well as restoring and up-cycling vintage furniture. It’s a dreamy space (both online and offline) of inspiration, great ideas and loads of gorgeous fabrics for making all kinds of marvelous…

Cassandra runs quilting workshops at the papered parlour (i’ll write more about this fab place in coming weeks), and has also recently started taking orders for quilts made with your own personal collection of fabrics (read more about it here)…

…a little montage of inspiration I compiled from haven workroom.

A couple of weeks ago while I was in isolation-writing-retreat mode, Cassandra wrote to me with a very special thought: she wanted to offer you guys, my dear readers, one of her beautiful handmade cushions in lieu of my absence. I thought that was the sweetest and most thoughtful idea ever!

So we chatted back and forth (a bit of “no don’t be silly!” from me and a little of “it’s my pleasure, don’t think twice about it!” from her and so on) and I decided that instead of announcing her offer to you then when I was not blogging so much I decided to wait until today, in celebration of me (and hopefully you) being back regularly here in the (blog)house…

Cassandra even let me pick out the cushion to offer you from the haven workroom online boutique and since I know how much we all love shades of aqua, turquoise and ruby red combined, I thought this one would be utterly perfect…

This gorgeous cushion is made from vintage japanese silk backed in hand-loomed cotton and measures a generous 50 x 50cm, for more of a look-see, click here.

Now I must admit, I’m a little envious that you guys get a chance at owning this cushion! But I know you will love it as much as I would and that makes me happy. So what do you have to do to be the lucky recipient? Well I’ve decided that it would be wonderful if you could all visit cassandra’s blog, website, or shop – have a browse, have a wander and then all you have to do is leave a comment below: It’s about sharing the love really.

That’s it!! That’s crazy good.

I will choose and announce a winner randomly via some fancy-random-selector-computer-application-thingo this Friday, May 7th. But you have to make sure you have left a comment on this here post otherwise you will not be in the draw. Cassandra will send the cushion to you the following week.

As you know, giveaways don’t come by here regularly (the last one – and first one – was over a year ago!) so you know then that this is super, super special.

Thank you dear Cassandra! And thank you, my dear readers,  for your company, generosity, enthusiasm and encouragement over the past 2 or so years that I’ve been a blogging lass.

xx

PS tomorrow I will announce the details of the amsterdam: made by hand book launch! Oh, this week in the (blog)house is already so gooooooooooood…

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“When I was four years old they tried to test my IQ, they showed me this picture of three oranges and a pear.  They asked me which one is different and does not belong, they taught me different was wrong.”

Ani Difranco

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Thanks bob.

Also if you are going to do one inspiring thing today (beside hanging out here in the (blog)house with me of course) I suggest you do this: take a wander through amanda’s flickr favourites. You are bound to find some kind of wonderful in there that will knock your socks off. It’s where I found the above beauty from  sara + h . Enjoy.

Oh yes, I have another post coming up today.  This next one will surely have you singing your way through the day.

Once upon a time when I was a retail shop owner, I visited design & gift trade fairs throughout each year in Sydney, Melbourne and Hong Kong (which I only went to once, that was enough for one lifetime!). Each fair takes days to explore and after my third or fourth visit to a trade fair (i.e. year 2 of my business), I was over it. There was just too much stuff, too many people, the fluorescent lights hurt your eyes after a few hours (so you can imagine how they feel after a few days), and your feet hate you forever. I don’t know why I went in the first place, I suppose because everyone else was and apparently that was the thing to do and lets face it, I was only 21, fresh out of Uni  – I had no idea. I soon realised that I didn’t want what everyone else had in their shops anyway, so I instead searched out local artisans,  craftspeople, and designers + importers who cared about the environment and their artisans.

So today, when someone mentions the phrase ‘design fair’ to me, I shudder. And being here in Holland where design is ‘the thing’, there is a lot of peer pressure to go to the fairs. Well, forget it. I am just not interested. And these days, I am less likely to do what someone expects of me than when I was a 21 year old impressionable entrepreneur.

Having said all of that, I have thoroughly enjoyed perusing the recent blog posts of stylist Imke Klee and  designer Kristina Klarin, who have both managed to capture the best during the recent Milan design fair with little or no explanation, just pictures: perfect! Granted, the stuff that I like looks as though it’s not even in the main fair but instead at spazio rossana orlandi. Which means if I ever want to go back to Milan (I lived in a little village not far from there when I was a teenager), then I will look this special place up and take a wander.

Above are a selection of Imke’s gorgeous images, take a look at her blog for even more beauty. And below are a few of Kristina’s, check out her inspiring blog for more…

It’s Monday! I have some great posts for you this week. Well I may even post all the great ones today, just because I’m feeling in a posty mood. Today is the day to be visiting the (blog)house, come one, come all!

xx