Orange

Dear Queen,

You're at home and tired now. And probably relieved that everything went well . I just wanted to say (since we didn't get the chance to talk today) Happy Birthday and to thank you for inviting us to your party. wasn't it great how everybody sticked to the dresscode ? The day off was a big treat and we had a great day. Good night dear queen, may God bless you.

Yours sincerely,

Anna

Corner View: aninmals

One of the advatages of getting lost, like I did today, is that you discover new things. Among those things was an overloaded little messy secondhandshop. I found two books (1 euro :)) of 'Nijntje' (Miffy) of Dick Bruna, in very good condition. His drawings are so simple, yet so genius..

PS I hope my little nephew agrees.

(More animals? --> check sidebar 'corner view'!)

Celebrating Lightness

I love how the sun makes everything seem lighter. It helps me a lot to put things in persective. It's almost like heaven says: Chill out, it's gonna be okay. So I am celebrating spring today. The lantern were bought at this lovely little shop

My head is also literally lighter: I got a new haircut. I only go a few times a year and it always feels like a big treat!

4 men & a magnolia tree

(my little nephew -heart-)

It sure was a sunny sunday. I was supposed to cook for fifteen people, but it was so warm and we ordered chinese. More time for chatting and photographing. One of the wives joked, when I showed her the photos: 'everybody looks good in front of this tree'. And they do :)

(Someone told me about a movie that called magnolia tree..? I have to find out, cause a movie with that title has to be a good one..)

Seek the differences

One bouquet of flowers, two totally different interpretations. (mine -first pic- turned out kind of fussy, but it was fun to do). Wouldn't it be interesting to ask an outsider which painting belongs to which person?

(So glad I'm feeling a lot better again, tomorrow I'm planning to spend a lot of time outside, cause its gonna be WARM. Hooray!)

No, no, no

Go away stupid stupid bad cold, muscle aches, sore throat. My plans for the weekend are way too much fun, the weather is going too be way to good too stay inside!

I got mail!

I was the lucky one that won piens give-away. Don't you love the packaging too?!
Thanks Pien, you made my day!!!

Corner View: Earth Day

Like Kath Kelly I love turning a need into a creative challenge, extra motivated by all the benefits that come along with it. Less waste. More simplicity. Saving money. Still enjoying a good purchase but consuming consciously. Enjoying all the things that I already have and all the beautiful things that are for free.

Check sidebar 'corner view' for more views on 'earth day'!

Flower Power

Need I say more?

Being an Explorer

1. Museum of Modern Art Arnhem 2. Fiona Tan.

My favorite part of the art museum we went to on thursday in Arnhem was 'Fiona Tan. Disorient and other works'. For me it brought back the feeling of being an explorer. Being an explorerer, especially in the 15th and 16th century must have been amazing: Traveling all over the world and making detailed descriptions and drawings of plants, animals and people that were unknown before. I imagine it to be the same feeling as you have as a child and the smallest garden is a world to discover. That excitement of discovery, is in my opion one of the best feelings there is and when I think of it the common denominator in all the things I love to do*.I wish you a happy weekend with a lot of wonderment!

*) Arts, Science and Education

Corner View 1 year!

One year ago Jane of spain daily came up with the idea to give our view on a theme every wednesday from our corner of the world: 'Corner View'. Now, a year later, lots of people are participating in this weekly worldwide Safari. Hopping from the Netherlands to Asia , from Spain to the USA in just a few seconds. Always something to discover. Yes, it's a small world after all.

Congratulations Jane (& all the others of course)!

Tired & Uninspired

Sometimes I am a little ahead of myself..This weekend was filled with people and today I felt really tired and unispired. I try not to be to frustrated about doing so little today, but just accept that I need the time to reconnect with myself a bit.
This figure is showing up a lot in my sketchbook lately. I love her ability to reflect my mood.

Beautiful Strangers

(click to see bigger)

Ida challenged herself and others to take twelve pictures of strangers in twelve weeks. That inspired me to go through my archive and look for pictures of strangers. I honestly didn't know there were so many! That it is a challenge you can tell, cause they are all a bit blurry, small or taken from the back. But as a whole I like it. People never bore.

Corner View: Vending Machines

Left: Subway Berlin

Right: Groningen

I'll tell you a secret. Sometimes I can't resist vending machines with chewing gum and surprises. I still feel the magic they had for me when I was a child and 25 cents was an enormous amount. Standing before it for ages because you can only spend your money once.

Now I sometimes feel like life is like a vending machine. It has so much to offer. Choosing is difficult and sometimes its random, you throw in your coins and your not always sure what your gonna get. Like the 25 cents you can only spend your time once. So spend it wisely.

Do you have some coins left? Choose a 'machine' in the sidebar under 'corner view'

Paper Work

1. Lino cuts (LOVE doing it) & experimenting with the best way to reproduce them

2. Composition of coloured paper.

And now I'm off to the less fun paperwork that needs to be done too.

O Happy Day

Songs I sang today: 'Happy Birthday' (to C) 'and 'O Happy Day'.

Happy Easter!
(and now I'm very happy to go to bed :)

On my wall

Time for new images on my wall.

1. I made this yesterday, 'flying in different directions' (acrylic, pencils & ink on paper)

2. I keep expanding my card collection. These two really make me happy.

3. Old & new..These were hidden in my inspiration map.

P.S. Thank you all for your nice comments on my birdies yesterday :)!