Bloesem

We are Home!

Living in two worlds... that is how I often feel, getting the best of both worlds truly applies to the life-style my husband and I are living. We love living in Asia and getting to know this interesting culture, but we also love being Dutch! When I arrived at Schiphol airport yesterday and stepped outside at 7 o'clock in the morning the crispy fresh air felt as, how crazy it may sound, as a warm welcome... Perhaps I love wintertime even more in the Netherlands than the summer time. Our country is so authentic at this time of year and during the December month I believe the Dutch are at their best.

Flavourites, Flavourites Live and Flavourite Blogger...

 

In 2007 Marije & Natascha started Flavourites, a 'best webshops' guide with a strong focus on the Dutch market and Dutch readers... this wonderful website has grown into what I believe is the best portal to find great products and online shops. Tomorrow a special event takes place: Flavourites Live where you can actually visit many of the online shops, 3 days - 150 shops in the Overkant in Amsterdam. Would I have in the Netehrlands right now I would definitely go there and do some Christams or Sinterklaas shopping!  {ps. thanks you ladies for the lovely write-up in your online magazine!}

 

 

 

Monday's Quick Start : Lisa Congdon's Studio Tour...

I am going to start this week with a studio tour showing Lisa Congdon's atelier beautifully photographed by Victoria right here.... the honest, pure and inviting feel of the post really appealed to me and made me realised that I never actually wrote about Lisa Congdon or her work before on Bloesem...  I have never met this creative artist in my life, but her appearance on many other blogs, twitter and elsewhere makes me feel as if I know her :) ... funny right? You can find Lisa’s work here on her blog, website, and etsy shop.

 

 

I call it the 'Golden Book' ... interview with Grace Bonney

Good morning do you already have a copy of Grace her first book? I haven't but I can't wait to hold it in my hands and see what this very inspirationallady has created for us. All of you know that Grace was a big inspiration for me to start Bloesem and I so understand the succes of her blog and now her book. Her passion for interior design, arts and crafts is unstoppable and her energy is contageous for many of us. I'm very happy she took the time to answer some questions I had for her about 'Design*Sponge at Home'

What was the main reason for going from 'online' to 'offline'... why a book?
I've always been someone who loved print (I actually started the blog in hopes of one day getting a job at a magazine) so I knew I wanted to try my hand at it down the road, but I waited a long time to tackle a book project because I wanted it to the perfect situation- one in which the publisher understood our goals and supported them. When we met with Artisan they immediately got what I wanted to do and embraced my desire to work with the web design team and illustrator (ALSO and Julia Rothman) that we always work with, so it felt like it was meant to be. 

 

     
 

Carly and I like...

Carly and I share the same love for 'illustrations on ceramics' ... enjoyed seeing these posts from her on her blog and hope one day soon I can try and do this too... have you ever tried ? And did it work out?

and via Carly likes I also discovered the wonderful illustrations on ceramics by Esther Coombes, aren't the Seed Markers not just great?

Welcome Tiffany...

I have been looking quite some time to find the perfect person who could help me author columns for Bloesem and BKids. Someone who understands our blog community and what you 'dear readers' like to see and read on the Bloesem blogs.... well good news, I found someone and I believe she is wonderful, her name is Tiffany King and you might know her from her blogs here and here...

Her first contribution is today's new Mom Story for BKids. Tiffany will from now on also prepare the Art in Your Home series and organise giveaways for Bloesem.

 image above is from Nerissa's studio... a Mom, blogster and entrepeneur living in Vancouver, who shares her story right here with us...