Do You Read Me?

3rd Aug '09: BERLIN

Super good book shop in Berlin. While we were there, Lucy recognised a guy called Andy de Fiets who worked in W139 in Amsterdam. He had his photograph on the front of a little book called 'Letter to Robin Kinross'. We both bought a copy.

Hey Ladies; Ray Bans; Shhhhhh; Mwah

Back to the trip posts...

2nd Aug '09: BERLIN

The black and white strip photograph booths in Berlin are the best.

Getting old and moving to the big smoke

The lack of funds situation also means I have been making cards. It was my mum's birthday yesterday (I made sausages roasted with cherry tomatoes, garlic, onions, rosemary and thyme and mashed potato - success!) and my friend Alex (who showed me how to make the concoction) starts his internship today. However, he is Mr Got-no-credit and so has not managed to tell me his London town address. The card is therefore still being kept flat in my moleskine.

No money, no jumpsuit

How amazing is this jumpsuit? I stalked it on ebay for days, trying to work out how a bank card that keeps getting rejected could buy it. It would seem it can't. The white dream was not to be. Job hunt must begin.

Stick arm island

31st July '09: FLEVOSTRAND

Waiting for the ferry to the tipi island (in Flevostrand, The Netherlands), we notice all the other campers have boxes upon boxes of food and supplies. Lucy and I have nothing. Oh dear. This really could be stick arm island we joke. Thankfully the man that moulds us into one ("Lucyahhhhhhlizzie" - I also become known as Lizzie for the weekend) takes us back to the mainland to purchase food. He also gives us a courgette from the island's vegetable garden. It certainly perks up our pasta which we cook on the little stove in the corner of the tent.

Our sahara tent (we can't afford a tipi) also appears to be home to an alarming amount of insects and bugs. Earwig massacre has to be performed. Aside from this, it is very homely. There are hammocks dotted about the island, a huge communal tipi with a fire in its centre, workshops that tipi dwellers can join in with. I swum in the lake and rowed around in a boat singing "Be my baby" rather too loudly.

The island and lake are just beautiful. It is so peaceful. Really pleased we visited a really interesting project and saw a bit more of Holland.

"City of contradictions"

30th July '09: AMSTERDAM

W139 is quite a contrast to the Red Light District in which it sits. Another good example of mine and Lucy's 'city of contradictions' jests. The front of the store has a wonderful collection of art and design books, but as you come to the back, the space opens out into a huge kitchen and communal dining area. I was there on an evening when they were cooking up a storm - it all looked very exciting. Turns out you can email to book yourself a seat at the dining table. I wish I'd have known about the project beforehand.

The rather dashing chef duo would have been an added enticement to the evening!

Slide along

30th July '09: AMSTERDAM

My dear friend, Brigitta introduced me to the wonderful Droog a couple of years ago. Their showroom-cum-shop in Amsterdam did not disappoint. Seats made for queues with marbles under the seats so you can slide along, swings, high chairs with markings of where to saw so as to allow the furniture to grow with the child: it eventually becomes a chair. All very inspiring. I would like to design something that Droog would stock, or work for them.