Room with a view

It's raining in São Paulo and I think about all the victims from the torrential rains and devastating landslides near Rio de Janeiro. At the same time there is the news about Brisbane and surrounding areas and the high waters in my home country Holland. One of the biggest difference is, as far as I can see, that mainly poor people are effected in Brazil by this natural disaster, and I have no idea if their neighbours will reach out to them when rebuilding their lives. This compared to Australia, where many stand up to help out their effected countrymen.

This past week I finished one more block for my House quilt and... I have been to the quilt shop not too far away from my place! There were some lovely ladies who really tried to understand what I wanted to say. The language is some sort of a roadblock that has to be taken and I am working on it. In the meantime I am happy to have this shop Ida e Kika (click here for the link) so nearby to get inspired!

It is pouring at the moment and my dog Bikkel is scared for the thunderstorm that is nearby. Today is the last day the apartment is empty and the thunder echoes through the bare rooms. Tomorrow the movers are bringing in all the boxes and furniture that has been standing in the port of Santos for the past 6 weeks. Can you imagine how thrilled I am, never have been so much, to have chaos in my house for the next coming days?!!

My sewing room is ready to receive the table, cabinets, books, cardboard, papers, fabrics etc. The room is not so big and therefor difficult to take a picture. I hardly can't wait to see this room transformed into my new art-room.

In the meantime I hope this weather will pass quickly and all victims and survivors of the landslides will get help as soon as possible. Hilde

This past week...

... I have been seeing many more colourful corners, walls and objects while walking around.


The kids are back to their own places and I try to get back into the routine of sewing.

I started a block with a quilt-shop for the Japanese house blocks and all the time I thought about the Quilters Palet in The Hague. They have moved a few doors and had their opening of the new shop this very weekend. Glad to read on their blog (click here) it has been good! Hilde

New look!

My DS made me a new business card and helped me to chance the picture of the above header. What do you think of it?

Next step will be to chance the logo on my website. That will happen when I know how and when and where the workshops are going to take place.
I am very eager to get started! Hilde

The back of my new green(!) business card ;-)

Colourful inspirations

Last week we went to a small town just outside São Paulo named Embu. It is a bit of a touristy place where souvenirs are laid out in almost all the shops and an artist market on the town square sells home made stuff. We didn't buy much except for a hammock for many wonderful lazy afternoons to come!

The colours of the small houses, the ironwork tables and chairs, the paintings on the wall and the laid back atmosphere all created a good feeling and new inspirations for my house blocks and other projects to come. Hilde

First stitches...

The last month of 2010 has been such a hectic time, a roller coaster of emotions and impressions that I want to sit down and take time to relax and read, listen to the music and do a bit of sewing. My first stitches of 2011 in my new home in a new country!

From one of his clients Paul received a bottle of wine in a wooden box. Just what I needed! Of course I mean the box! ;-)

In Holland we have the word 'lappenmand' which means remnant basket. Well, this one from now on is my lappenmand until our container comes with my real stuff! There is hope: maybe in 2 weeks time it will all arrive on my doorstep.

The weather forecast for today spells rain, rain, rain. I love it! Time to sit down, relax and make a few stitches. Hilde

Street Art in São Paulo

Every where I go in São Paulo, and I haven't been around a lot yet, I come across graffiti: beautiful paintings of airbrush, spray paint, paintbrush, marker, chalk and sometimes even with parts of magazines. They are made by famous local artists and amateurs alike.

Today DD and I went to Vila Madalena, a hip neighbourhood of São Paulo with some lovely eateries, shops and galleries. We walked around for a little while looking around and soaking up the bohemian atmosphere. Unfortunately many shops were closed due to the Holiday Season.
When we wanted to take a taxi back home, we had to walk a bit further down the road and stumbled upon a street full with amazing graffiti. I want to go back and spend more time looking at all these colourful street art.

Back home I looked for more information about this kind of urban art on the internet and found that "the Pixadores, as graffiti artists are called in São Paulo, find room for their art alongside city freeways, on the walls of abandoned warehouses, and even atop high-rise apartment buildings. While it's still common for police to prosecute pixadores for illegal graffiti writing, many artists now receive government commissions to display their work in public spaces."

Hilde

My first Christmas in Brazil

These pictures are taken outside a restaurant near our apartment. I thought these Christmas figures were very funny, unfortunately the quality of the picture is not so good as it was already getting dark.

Outside temperature today is 32 Celsius and the streets are very quit. Usually there is a lot of traffic on the roads and noisy Harley motorbikes are speeding around the corners. But today families are enjoying themselves in the park playing ball games, walking or having a lazy picnic on the grass.

We enjoyed a peaceful morning with fresh breads from the bakery on the corner, yes, this one is open today! Sun on the terrace and music from the kids' itunes collections and coffee with panettone. My DD and DS have to warm up a bit after escaping the cold weather from London/Holland and New York.

People often wonder what language we speak at home when we live abroad, outside of the Netherlands. Well, I can assure you we speak Dutch and our daily life does not make any difference from the way we live in Holland! It is basically the same as anywhere else, except being in a different location.

Fresh products @ the grocery, the gas is finally installed and a funny face on the broom

What does chances are the products in the shop, the climate you have to adjust to, setting up your social life and the language you speak outside your home.
At home we always speak Dutch, although the kids are more comfortable in English. They have learned the Dutch grammar during their secondary and high school years (lagere en middelbare school) and that is something I always found very important. It is simply a way of installing their Dutch roots while living overseas.

This Christmas quilt is still in the container with all my other stuff, but I found the picture on my computer. I made it while living in Singapore, about 7 years ago. Hopefully the container will be released in about 2 weeks time by the custom officials. Too late for this quilt to be put up on the wall, but I will hang it out just to give it some fresh air after being stored for more than 18 months...
Until that time we explore our new city and do all the washings by hand ;-)

Enjoy your weekend! Hilde