in ruins

Whenever I go to work, I pass the old school, where I took Spanish language lessons ten years ago.

The school was out of use for a while, but since a few months there is a large fence around the old building and it is being demolished.

Today we sneaked inside from what is left of the school and I took one more look in my old 'spanish' classroom and walked through the battered building.

The mural in the stairwell was my favorite part of the building and it was still untouched.

The old school is completely in ruins, which is a pity actually. They could have built loft apartments in the building...

vrijdag

Facade with "lace" of concrete at Drukkerij Vrijdag in Eindhoven, by architect J. Gubbels in 1965.

I adore walls like these, it reminds me of the concrete patio walls from the seventies.

In case you agree with me, have a look at the lace-like facade of this building in Australia.

Enjoy your Friday!

get up and go

Spring has sprung! Yippee!

The change of season, also means change of wardrobe.
At the moment I've started unpacking my spring-summer collection from the attic, for the upcoming trip to Marrakech.
No doubt I will bring my kaftans in my suitcase to Marrakech. Some cardigans and sweaters, in case it cools down a bit in the evenings.

What to wear in the in-between-season?
Will it be cold, warm or somewhere in-between?
For heaven's sake, what do you wear when transitioning from season to season?
Right now, it can be a really confusing time to get dressed in the morning.
This week, I started wearing a woolen beanie on my way to work on my bike in the morning. Somewhere around lunchtime you can easily sit outside in the sun, wearing a cardigan.

My advice and solution; layer up with pops of color, to keep your in-between outfit bright.

I have found this nice snug sweater, not too thick and more comfortable than a woolen sweater.
Love the fresh and unusual color combination (exactly as the beanie) and that 'get up and go' attitude!
... and the palm by all means fits completely in my 'palm tree period'.

approaching spring

Happy Monday, friends!

How was your weekend?

On Friday we went to Rotterdam and started with coffee at By Jarmusch, the newest 'breakfast' spot in town.
We took a seat at the counter, where coffee is always brewed fresh and poured at your table by a waitress, dressed in an old style dinner lady uniform.
We already had breakfast at home, but if breakfast is your most important meal of the day, you can have it exactly the way you want it overthere.

Next we went to Ace & Tate to adjust my new frame, because the nose bridge of my new sunglasses was annoyingly uncomfortable. It was a piece of cake for the optician to adjust the shape and now it fits perfectly.

I am ready for sunshine and Marrakech-proof! (only 4 weeks to go...) Soon I'll be standing beside real palm trees again instead of street art palm trees.

I love this time of year, because everything comes alive and you know that within some weeks it's spring again!
Sure, the winter months were cold but now we’ve turned the corner into spring and the days are longer, warmer and brighter.

Have a great week!

'Palmtree' streetart by Gino Bud Hoiting.

instant inspiration

First Monday morning in March and I'm in the middle of all kinds of preparations for next month's workshops in Marrakech.

I am working on another new design for a daily cool crochet project.

Spring sun is on turn now (after a harsh winter week) and as soon as I open the wool locker, inspiration comes naturally.

budding bougainvillea leaves

The new leaves of the Bougainvillea in the kitchen windowsill are turning pink again.

This week I noticed the first pink leaves (yay!), followed by more after only a few days.
First signs of spring!

The window sill is a bright, sunny growing location and I hope within a while I can move the plant back in the backyard.

Sunshine is the most important requirement for this blooming beauty. The same goes for me...

year of vermeer

Last Saturday when we visited Delft, the Year of Vermeer started. (pure coincidence)

Up to Saturday there was not a real ‘Vermeer’ in Delft, the place where he was born, lived and worked as a painter. Finally after 320 years, one of his masterpieces 'Het Straatje'(The Little Street) can be seen in Delft until 17 July.
Just recently it became clear, where Vermeer painted his little street. There have been many theories about the exact location. But an old tax register proved that it was in Vlamingstraat 40-42, where Vermeer situated his painting. At the painting there are two gates, one is still recognizable today.
The Vlamingstraat is not far from the place where you can see the painting, at the Prinsenhof. The exhibition is called: Vermeer is coming home, the little street back in Delft.

We visited the Rijksmuseum last month and have seen 'Het Straatje van Vermeer' in Amsterdam, so we went to the Botanical Garden instead.