Something silver, something blue!

Sometimes the best time for me to be a bit creative is in the evenings. When it gets darker I lose some of that self criticism which can make the whole creative process slower. Last night I spent two hours cutting, sewing and making something blue...I really felt the flow of  getting the idea and then making it happen without a big plan.

I like the thought of Up Cycling things and I already did in Germany some bags and clothes from the old fabrics that I found from flea markets. I also used some advertisement materials that were going to garbage bin. I still have quite a lot material to use for my ideas. Last night I had to create a cover for the sofa pillows from our terrace. There is a lack of storage space if you live in Amsterdam. The Houses hardly have extra rooms for keeping things just for fun. Good thing is that you have to get rid of stuff and keep only the things that you really need.

These sitting pillows I will need in next spring time!! Now I have them safe from storm and rain. I used some old jeans and light coloured silver fabric to create a nice extra seat for living room. Another one will come to our bedroom later. 

I'm reading often books in English, but this below is my secret language. I will skip the translating this time!

It is nice just to mix and match the materials you just happen to have in your closet. Then you have to use things that are already available...making the process more interesting and challenging. 

Now out and get some fresh air!

Back home

First time burning some candles this autumn and trying to find my woollen socks. The temperature outside is not really cold, but the moist weather type makes me feel chilly all the time. More hot drinks, more warm lights, more blankets, more books to read and more indoors. Still, the contrast of hot and cold makes the wintertime so inviting. After a walk outside, fighting against the wind and then arriving home! 

Silent (sometimes noisy) and safe spot...own space to live, love and think freely. Place where I'm welcome and where I want/can stay. We were visiting friends this evening and it was possible to stay over a night there. I was surprised that my son wanted to go home to sleep, but also happy that he is a HOME BOY. We are curious and also part of the life around us, but home is the base. I wish everybody had a home, but that is unfortunately not the case. Many reasons and many tragedies, many people without a safe home. Cycling in the darkness and arriving to our street...I felt lucky! Keys in my pocket, opening the door and turning on the lights.

I draw this picture above almost 20 years ago. I found it last summer from a cartoon box and hang it on the wall. I don't know what was the thought behind this drawing, but it reminds me in a way that it is important to not only stay still and just be a mask. The person needs to be seen and learn to communicate with others. Life has to be lived....in your own honest way.

Good night! Let's see what tomorrow brings. Something green in the end. I'm waiting for my magnolia to blossom, but I think it takes a little bit time. Has to be patient. I think magnolia suites better for the spring time, but I'm sure these flowers will look very elegant. 

A Hidden lake between the dunes

We visited our friends yesterday in Haarlem and wanted to go to the beach. Instead driving there we ended up to a little artificial lake called "'t Wed" in the middle of the dunes near Bloemendaal and Haarlem. Walking through the forest to the lake was a magical moment. The sandy dunes invited us to climb on top of them and just admire this special, hidden place.

It's also possible to walk to the seaside through the dunes. There are marked walking routes and it's about 4,5 kilometres walk to the beach. We were too late for that, cos we didn't want to walk back in the darkness. This is definitely a place where I will come back. In the summertime it's also allowed to swim here. A great tip for the picnic, but grilling is forbidden! This area is part of the National park of Zuid-kennemerland and the nature must be respected.

The children really enjoyed climbing to the trees. It was like they were some characters from a game, trying to climb and run as fast as possible. There were few families having fun and also some couples having a romantic walk together. I also saw a photo shooting taking a place in the woods. Nice yoga- leggins on nice looking ladies.

I was so happy that we ended up here. We had luck again with the weather, but bad luck with the traffic jams. Sometimes a spontaneous  change of plans gives a bigger experience. I am familiar with the beach, but this nature oases gave me a smile on my face and a fresh start to this week! 

I highly recommend this. There is a visitor centre very near the entrance area and a good space to park your car or bike. Sunday, fresh air, good friends and some new inspiration...I don't need more. 

A piece of cake

I have to say that I've been waiting for the autumn. Every season has something different to offer and I am also a little bit different then. Like I am part of the nature too, experiencing the environment in a new way. Maybe it has something to do with the light. The evenings are getting darker and I seem to need more dramatic colours in my life. More burgundy red, more black, more dark green. For me these months before the new year are important.I look back, I think what I did and which things during the year brought me the joy and which things I learned about myself and other people. In a way the nature gives me the rhythm that I need to follow. 

I have been hunting for the signs of autumn. Wanting so badly to see the trees in different colours. Remembering how everything looked where I come from, when I was a child. I guess that is something that you never forget. How the seasons looked then, how they smelled and how they sounded. That is what I miss the most living abroad, the same feeling as in those familiar places. I think how we adapt to our environment, is the first thing that we learn as a small children...using all our senses. That is also something you want to give to your own children. The freedom to explore, to adapt and the feeling that you belong to that place and with those people where 

you come from. 

Playing at the playground...

Dipping to the sea...

And eating the burgundy coloured cake together. 

Festival feeling in Rembrandtpark

This morning was very foggy in Amsterdam. I was admiring how four swans were swimming quietly on the water in almost white looking landscape. While drinking my coffee, I was also hoping that the sky will get clearer and I can walk to Rembrandtpark in the west side of town. I had read from the newspaper that there was going to be the 10th Rembrandtpark Festival outdoors with performances, flea market, food, drinks and activities for the children. This happening is organised every autumn. Nice way to spent time on sunday with my two kids.

You can easily get to this park from the centre just taking the tram   number 1 or 17 to Surinameplein. From there is only few hundred meter walk to this green area. It is much more peaceful park than for example Vondelpark which is also close by.

There was a nice village atmosphere at the festival. A lot of local people and small businesses presenting their products. The festival area was between building playground "Het Landje" and "kinderboederij". This green area beside a little water element on the middle has been lately improved by the town. There are also some future plans to make this part of park more inviting for the visitors.

This wild west- lookalike view under is from the building playground "het Landje". Here the children can be architects and build their own houses. This is a great spot to spend time with kids. There is also many other activities like horse back riding with ponys, table tennis and little boats by the water. It is like a creative centre without all news technologies. Back to basics!

Every festival has of course also the usual entertainment for little  ones. Like this plastic shark with a slide.

The highlight of the day for me was our visit to the restaurant "17th floor" at Ramada Hotel, which is located just beside the festival area near the motorway A10 in Rembrandtpark. Here you have the most amazing view: you can see very far away in every direction. You can admire the silhouette of whole Amsterdam. There is not so many high spots in Holland as we know, so this is like being on top of the mountain in a local scale. In the wintertime you can even ice skate here on the roof terrace. I will make a report about it later this year! 

The building itself is quite depressing from the outside, but the roof terrace and the restaurant upstairs is nice and cosy. The food is supposed to be good too.

We had a good time together. Kids were creative and there was so many things to eat at the festival. I had to say "NO" for my children after a hot dog, pancake, popcorn and soda.