Currently reading...

I'm about half way through 'Six Suspect', by Vikas Swarup. I don't think I can say I have fallen in love with the book yet (mind you, it might still very well come) but I definitely enjoy being absorbed into a completely different world, namely the warm and busy streets of India, its different social levels, customs and beliefs.
And as the title gives away: there are 6 suspects and I really can't wait to know which of them is guilty.

Photo credits:
Left: number 6 at the Colosseum (Rome, Italy), photo by me :-)
Right: The Witness, Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi, photo from Karen Knorr's India Song collection (via)

wonderful wallpaper week 18

Pez Pájaro, by PATTEN

DIY gold patterned beasts

When I came across cheap (and slightly ugly) plastic animals in the toy section of one of our local stores I remembered these golden beauties and decided to make some of my own.

Here is a quick tutorial for those of you who would like to make some too.
You will need:


Step 1: Start by spraying your plastic animal(s) with an even layer of spray paint (I used black, gold or white depending on the animal). Make sure you do this in a well ventilated area, and that you use something (cardboard in my case) to protect the area you're spraying on.

Step 2: Once the paint has fully dried, you can start decorating the animals. I used a gold metallic pen to draw spots or lines, or to cover parts of the bodies (such as paws, tail or head).


Step 3: Once you are done, make sure you let the animal(s) dry some more before handling them too much. I've noticed that the golden paint stays sticky for a while and will get onto your fingers.

Step 4: Put them somethere pretty and admire!

A copy years later

Today I stumbled upon photographer Irina Werning's 'Back to the Future' series (via).
Irina chose old photos and asked the people depicted in them to pose for her in order to recreate identical shots years and years later.

I was completely drawn to each set of pictures, trying to imagine the thousands of things these people must have lived, felt and seen between their two shots. It's beautiful to see how people have grown and changed, yet how some of their features stay exactly the same...
And I am amazed by Irina's tremendous attention to detail: everything is so precisely reconstructed!

All photos from Irina Werning's website (BACK TO THE FUTURE and BACK TO THE FUTURE 2 (2011) collections)

To see more incredible pairs, check out her 2010 and 2011 'Back to the Future' collections of photos...

And if you enjoy looking at old photos and imagining people's lives, there's also 'Dear Photograph'. It's kind of in the same vein.

Pink tulips

One of the amazing things about living in The Netherlands is how beautiful, fresh, and cheap flowers are. I love it!

wonderful wallpaper week 17

Land Ahoy, by Deanna Halsall

Blogging time

Everyone (or almost) has two days off over here in the South of the Netherlands; it's Carnival!
Even though it's an incredible celebration enjoyed by thousands of people dressed up in amazing costumes, it's not really my thing and so I'm super happy to just have some quiet time at home.
It's a beautifully sunny day, I have some music on (mostly this song on repeat actually, hehe), and I'm working on some guest blogging I'll tell you about in due time. I'm enjoying it so much I only just noticed that it was 3:11pm and that I still hadn't eaten anything for lunch... :-) Time for a piece of Sarah's orange cake which I made the other day!

This time last year...

This time last year we were on Rottnest island, in Western Australia.

I have to say I really wouldn't mind walking on a beautiful sandy beach right now. And watching the sun set in the ocean... aah, I can't wait to go back soon(ish)!

Cuberdons

Pretty sweets bought in Ghent (Belgium) when I was there last weekend with my students. Not only is their colour, shape and texture absolutely beautiful, they also taste darn delicious!

wonderful wallpaper week 16

Two Tigers, by Ping Zhu

Why should love be pink?

I have seen so many Valentine's day decorations in a multitude of pinks, reds and purples that I was getting close to reaching a complete overdose. As a remedy, here is a good measure of fresh minty greens inspired by the beautiful typography (pictured in the middle) my friend Claire posted today.


Photo credits: (clockwise)
Chocolate letter
Typography by Claire from Fellow Fellow.
Photo of New York’s Williamsburg Bridge by Mon Zamora (via)
Fluo elastic with seeds and beads necklace by Turina.Jewellery
Bird No.17 by Geninne

Faces

Don't you love finding cute faces in unexpected places?
I spotted this adorable little one back when we were putting this lamp together.

Tabs

You might have encountered them already, but for those of you who hadn't, please meet... my tabs!
They've been there for a little while now, but I though I'd point them out anyway.
The last one [ diy / tutorials ] is probably the most exciting one as it regroups all the crafting and baking I've posted on this blog since the very beginning. Just click on the category you're interested in and you'll see all the related posts appearing in front of you!

This time last year...

This time last year we were in Sydney sampling sushi for our engagement party.

wonderful wallpaper week 15

No title, by Leo Flores

On the frozen pond

Freezing weather

It's been incredibly cold over here lately, with temperatures staying well below 0 degrees Celsius day and night. We put on our warmest clothes and went for a walk in the sun yesterday afternoon, to see the frozen pond in the park and pay a visit to the animals who live there. We gave little branches and dried leaves found on the ground to the deers and goats - they loved them! The geese and pigeons were a bit disappointed that we didn't have anything for them though.
Photo 5 is a little river in the park, in the process of freezing over. Isn't the pattern just beautiful?

Bits of purple from the past few months

Bits of mint green from the past few months

Bits of navy from the past few months

Bits of grey from the past few months