Laura Does it Again!
Have you seen the cover of Paper Wishes? With that super-cool pink tin? Designer extraordinaire Laura Nicholas made that, and I think it’s amazing and beautiful. This week’s Webisode has step-by-step instructions for making it. I’m thinking of doing something similar for my mom when I go back to the States next month—July 9, I can’t wait!
This weekend Keith and I took the train to Haarlem, which is only a 20-minute ride from Amsterdam. We rode our bikes to Centraal Station, where we parked them on the top floor of a 3-story parking garage filled with bikes. As you search for an empty spot, you’ll see people wandering along, trying to remember where they parked!
The minute we got to Haarlem it began to pour so we sought shelter in the Franz Hals museum, which has a fantastic collection of 16th and 17th century Dutch paintings. The paintings are phenomenal and the exhibition about life in 17th century Haarlem was really well done: They enlarge a painting so it covers the whole wall. Arrows point to the various “everyday” elements in the picture, like the food or the scenery or what the people are wearing and give a historical explanation. It was a really cool way to look at paintings from a different perspective. The originals of the paintings were in the main gallery, which is around a beautiful square courtyard garden.
The buckets of rain have finally stopped coming down and we’ve now had two full days of summer weather. Amsterdam is gorgeous in the sunshine, with everyone out at the sidewalk cafes and riding their bikes and boating along the canals. The one thing I’m getting used to? Mosquitoes! Unfortunately we left the window open yesterday and now I’m absolutely riddled with mosquito bites. Keith was chasing them around the apartment last night with a rolled-up magazine but I think there’s still one or two lurking around.
PS. I’ve put some new pics in the Gallery, including a photo of my bike…no, it’s not the one dangling over the canal!
PPS. Thanks Denise, for the dishwashing soap translation. I might need to consult with you and Belinda-Joan before my appointment with the hair stylist in a few weeks!
Comments (5)
Hey, Sara, I'm beginning to think I am the only Paper Wishes customer that is following your blog, but I simply love it! The "diary" of your travels in Amsterdam is so much fun to read and I LOVE the pictures you post. It's been many years since I lived in Europe but I am enjoying Europe all over again, vicariously, through your blog. Thanks for sharing! Rhonda, in Tennessee~~~
Posted by Rhonda | June 26, 2007 7:06 PM
Posted on June 26, 2007 19:06
Hi, I just found the gallery. Great photos. I love reading your blog especially since your now in Amsterdam. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by jean | June 26, 2007 9:09 PM
Posted on June 26, 2007 21:09
Hi, Haarlem is a nice place to visit. Whenever you're again in Haarlem, visit the restaurant of the warehouse V&D at the top floor. You'll enjoy the view, you can look all over the dunes.
Don't you love to bike in Amsterdam? You can get everywhere in no time. I Love the Vondelpark. From June till august 19 you an visit all kind of theatre and musicevents on Thursday - Sunday.
Bye,
Posted by Belinda-Joan | June 27, 2007 12:26 AM
Posted on June 27, 2007 00:26
Sara,
I love reading your blogs.
Have you tried to put some dryer softener papers around to deter mosquitoes? There is a frozen custard stand at the Lake of the Ozarks that puts those papers in the overhang...and they don't have flies!
Betty
Posted by Betty | July 4, 2007 4:59 AM
Posted on July 4, 2007 04:59
I just received your catalog and everything is reasonable priced and very easy to follow. But the thing that did really catch my eye is that I have a tomboy, and my girl really dislikes the color pink, and you had a wide variety of not so female but still looks great ideas for her. The other thing I would like to complement on, is that I have only one boy and it has been so hard for me to find scrapbook ideas for his scrapbook and you have a great selection to choose from. I also have 4 other girls and they like that pretty pretty look and you have the right touch on making it coordinate. The is the best place I have ever ever found that works with my whole family everything is here and easy to look for as well as many great things to choose from. Finally a place worth shopping at; one place instead of all over, thank you for all your hard work.
Posted by Barb | July 16, 2007 1:58 PM
Posted on July 16, 2007 13:58