I may be a little addicted to polardroid. as are each of you by the sounds of it! and anyway, how could i resist posting this one to get us all in the festive mood?! This is a costume shop here in Amsterdam, and I just adore their festive window display!

Also I’ll take this opp to answer your questions in the previous post’s comments:

1. The text that I add is handwritten by me with my pen tablet (like I draw harriet and doodles) – I write on the image in photoshop (if you don’t have a pen tablet you can always write on it in a text font – it would look great too!).

2. the guy who created this lovely piece of equipment wanted to mimic the real polaroid as much as possible so he purposely added the effect of the ‘cartridge’ running out after taking 10 shots – a notice will come up on your screen that says something like “the cartridge has run out, please quit and relaunch” – so all you have to do is quit the poladroid and then click on the poladroid icon in your dock et voilà, it pops up again and you can poladroid away. cool huh?

3. I’m going to check out all your fab poladroids soon! I can’t wait!

……………………………………………………

Now I have to get cracking on some super fab posts for you all… today is my last day to post for the next coming days – can you guess why??

The title of this post is not a misprint… did you catch it? Yes, I said ‘polaDROID‘ as opposed to ‘polaROID’. And what is polaDROID? It is the COOLEST THING EVER!! The suspense of telling you about this little gadget has been killing me all week. I wanted to tell you straight away but decided to play with my amsterdam wandering photos in poladroid-style first to see how it works and to see if I like it enough to share it all with you. And the answer is YES I DO. Take a look at the above image I took with my canon digital camera on a wander along the prinsengracht, and then take a look at the one below…

What do you think? I’m in love with it! I added the writing like a real polaroid. I do still like digital and original film of course! but I love having this option – I’ve been playing with it all week. And when you install this little machine it mimics the sound of a polaroid, and spits out your picture and you have to wait for it to develop – you can even shake it to speed up the developing process! It is so much fun.

SO how do you do it? Well thus far this FREE little piece of equipment is only available on macs (pc users will have to wait as apparently the man who invented this is currently working on a version for you too). Although it is free I do highly recommend you donate, even a dollar, as the guy deserves every penny! Anyway, you can download it here, just follow the instructions. and have fun! You will be poladroiding to your hearts content…

…another little bit of magic is that you can develop the photos at different stages so you can get different exposures. How cool is that? If you download it and use it let me know, I’d love to see your results.

………………………………………………

Next Up: our final amsterdam wander in the very dark of night. without the aid of poladroid this time. you will definately need your warm woolies for this wander!

…just a quick message to let you know i have something fabulous planned for you next week. i can barely control my excitement. I will post it first thing monday morning so make sure you are here in the (blog)house then (i will give you a clue: it has something to do with it being my very first blog anniversary!!). meanwhile i have been flat out this week with shoots, and getting ready for something special planned for me this weekend! I will tell you that shortly too!

anyway, that’s all i have to say. i must dash – i’m on search for the perfect lounge for a shoot tomorrow. argh! will be back tonight to post some more… oh I have so much to tell you over the next few days!

xx

…here is a little shop on the spui (pronounced something like “spouw” and nothing like “spew-ee”) straat, in the middle of amsterdam, decked out in all it’s festive finery. I find that reindeer rather lovely, don’t you? although I’m not usually partial to large plasticky animals, but this one does it for me.

and then, do you fancy a sweet doughy treat at the olibollen stand? it will be the perfect snack now that the day is turning to night (oh i know, it’s only 5pm but that’s the way it is round these northern parts!)

xx

PS aren’t you all just a little bit curious about my digital-to-polaroid switch? aren’t you wondering whether I’ve actually managed to tackle the polaroid (unlike you saw here and here)? aren’t you though?

Last sunday I had the pleasure of visiting the amsterdam xmas market at the Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek (which is like a big converted warehouse full of artist studios and a few lovely cafes) with my friend Danielle from The Style Files (btw, have you looked through Danielle’s archives lately? i just did as I needed to find the name of something and there is just so much inspiration there, somehow she manages to find the best interiors and homewares). There were some great stalls, and also these fabulous carollers you see above!

While Danielle and I warmed up with the help of a cup of delicious gluwiijn (sweet spiced warm red wine), we wandered through the market and checked out the goodies. Amongst the selection were some real stand out stalls, including one from Proef …

…(I bought some egg nog from them, it was delicious! and innovative), Anna Iwansson and Régis Lemberthe who specialise in sustainable design homewares, Mes Textiles (see below), and the gorgeous jewellery design of Miranda van Dijk called Puur Anders. Miranda’s pieces are quite something, take a look here. I was fascinated with her new material which is a thin soft shoe-string-like material that she carefully crochets into incredible necklaces and bracelets. Stunning.

Hmm, where shall we walk tomorrow? Let me see, perhaps we’ll take a left. no, a right…

Amsterdam is one of the most enchanting cities to be in at this time of year. With all it’s sparkling lights, markets, pop-up ice rinks and oliballen stands, I can’t help but be wowed each time I step out over the boat bridge and onto the cobblestoned streets. While the air is icy cold and the evening seems ever-present, the streets dazzle like jewels and the beautiful displays in the boutique windows beckon.

So this week I’m inviting each of you to come wander the cobblestoned streets with me here in Amsterdam. Each day I will post a picture of a street scene here in my new home town, something that tells you just a little bit more about my surroundings – it will be a special week dedicated to Amsterdam at Christmas time…

So how about it, will you join me while I wander the streets of Amsterdam this week? If so then get your mittens and warmest woollen socks on. I’ll have a cup of warm spiced wine ready for you upon your arrival. We’ll take a few sips and head out at dusk, slowly meandering through the streets to see what we can see. By the end of the week the night will have fallen as black as can be… and that’s when the magic happens. Enjoy mes chers amis…