Springtime in Holland

We are back from our fabulous trip in Europe. Never actually made it to France, Holland was just too charming & picturesque to leave! Early spring was such a lovely time to be there….I walked through acres of hyacinth fields, dramatic bands of deep blue, amethyst & coral made all the more powerful by the intoxicating heady fragrance. Swans preened in perfect form along the canals and marshlands, & the pastoral countryside abounded with infant lambs gleefully wobbling beside their wooly mothers. The sand duned coast with giant modern windmills turning in the sky created a surreal backdrop for the miles of grassy green dykes dotted with sheep.

I loved the architecture & atmosphere of Amsterdam, the Dutch have a wonderful design sense. I couldn’t help but peer into their homes as we walked along the cobbled streets, each one with it’s own charming vignette… oranges in a beautiful silver bowl on a clean white table with a shiny red bicycle propped against it….windowsills filled with potted succulents & orchids ….an ornate ‘over the top’ chandelier in a pared down room with distressed walls & a huge rustic bowl filled with faded rose blossoms. I kept mistaking personal residences for store fronts as their displays were so alluring!
Luckily, I did discover great curios shops & flea markets throughout Holland & have brought many treasures home. We stayed in a delightful B&B www.kunsthuiskort.nl in the remote northern town of Workum. This old converted school house was set atop their huge antique shop. The owner [who was also a painter /photographer!] had retained all of its original charm right down to the old school desks and classroom ephemera. Her garden courtyard was filled with rustic antiques & I spent the morning there in the sunshine packing my luggage with the all the antiques. I had found along the way. Old apothecary jars, enamel ware, mirrored art deco trays, mid century ceramics & offbeat little finds. Needless to say, I took many photographs on this journey & will have new works on display in the shop soon.
Of course I never stop searching locally for great items, & just this weekend I sourced out a beautiful selection of vintage ceramics, funky 50s glassware & very old bottles in all the soft watery tones I am so drawn to….so there is lots to choose from.

Wishing us all a wonderful spring and summer soon!
Heather