The contents of my head arrived via this gorgeous little parcel floating peacefully along the canal. So whoever found it and sent it back to me this morning (was that you cindy k?), I thank you. It does tend to wander off on its own, just like my heart.

Proof that my head has returned should result in a day full of posts… so watch this space…

Me too. Although I am sitting right here at my desk, surrounded by numerous cascading piles of papers and books, with props scattered from one end of the boat to the other in need of serious attention, and dishes piling up on the kitchen counter top.

My head however, is far far away. Where exactly, I do not know. Perhaps you have seen it around? If so, can you send it back to me? Cheers.

Pretty lame title I realise, but I’m sure once the week continues I will get wittier (let’s hope so anyway).

How have you been?

What have you been up to this weekend?

Thank you to everyone who took the time to listen to my little musical blog debut! I loved receiving your comments over the weekend. I am looking forward to recording more and launching each tune right here on the blog, I do hope you like this idea. And maybe I can put together a little album, recorded live on the houseboat. Would that be a bit of fun?

Today I am cleaning and organising - the boat is a mess as I have been on a shoot all weekend, finishing up yesterday. After lugging (the most dreaded part of the job) my props to and from the location, I find myself rather pooped today, and in need of a long yoga session. But oh how I am looking forward to showing you the story! We will all have to wait until it is published in a month or so.

These images are from my photo library - I shot them on film a few years back, in Sydney, with my Canon AE-1. Unfortunately that last one got chopped a bit at the bottom from bad scanning (I have no one to blame but myself). I thought you might like these to start off the week, nice and calm, cool and collected.

Toodaloo for now,

xx

…and I shall not keep it to myself any longer. Would you like a little hint? Here you go…

Yes, you will need your ears. and I need to take a deep breath and make myself a stiff drink. It’s coming up next…

PS perhaps you need to pour yourself a glass of something too, let me know what you’re having and I’ll have the same. In fact, make it a double…

So I thought it might be nice to take you on a little tour of the über stylish office space of the House of Orange. What + who is that you ask? well, it’s the agency that represents me here in Europe (see the little orange circle on the righthand side of my blog?). They are the master keepers of my styling portfolio and the lovely people who book me work! So come with me as I take you on a little wander through this fab place…

This is the kitchen + bar, where there is always tea upon arrival, and orange lollipops (and at easter there are chocolate easter eggs to snack on). This is also the area where meetings are held between stylists, clients, photographers, and art directors. It’s a pretty cool space.

Here in this photo is half of the styling team, Joanne and Marilie. Missing in this photo unfortunately is Erik and new arrival Martin. These four are always flat chat as they represent more than 40 stylists from The Netherlands and beyond - from fashion stylists to hair+makeup, and a sprinkling of interior stylists including stylist and art director Stef Bakker , Bas Andrea, Ulrika Lundgren, and me.

Above you can see all our portfolios. We each have our own shelf with our name and inside the shelf is a little drawer for our mail, magazines and invitations (that’s where I found this gift). If the shelf is empty it means our portfolio has been requested and is out with a client.

And then up those seemingly intimidating stairs is the photographic department. It’s a whole other world up there! And then there is the modelling part of the agency and then Orange Babies which is the agency’s charity organisation for helping with the prevention and care support for HIV babies and mums in Africa. Orange Babies organises alot of fundraising events within the fashion industry, read more about this wonderful organisation here.

And just recently the House of Orange published it’s first magazine! (as shown above) It’s full of great articles and photos from the talent at the agency so if you’d like to get hold of one just ask. You can read more about the House of Orange by heading over to their website, and have a browse through everyone’s portfolios by clicking on a department and name. Enjoy! I do hope you liked this little tour, and I have no doubt we’ll be back here again soon, for now I just wanted to show you a little bit more of my life in Amsterdam.

Have you missed Harriet’s adventures? I sure have. But fret no more, Harriet is here! Well, ‘here’ being in the blogosphere - you see, she took a little wander over to Melissa’s place, known to us all as Melissa Loves on Ez’s fabo Creature Comforts blog!

Exclusive new illustrations of Harriet are over at Melissa Loves right now, go and check ‘em out and tell me what you think. Also, Melissa asked me a few questions about how I came about drawing Harriet, you can read my responses here too. I do hope you like! Here is a sneak peek…

So click here to be whisked away to Melissa’s lovely post about me + Harriet, thank you Melissa!

It’s been raining for 5 days straight now. I did venture out today, and came home completely soaked to the bone. It appears winter has come early. Meanwhile, one friend just wrote to tell me she is in Bali, another told me he has just returned from the Maldives, and my Sydney friends keep telling me how goddamn hot it is at the moment. Northern Europe, what are you doing to me?

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PS I have been nesting, big time. And am hoping to have a finished result to shoot before all the leaves fall off the trees, and all the sun rays turn to ice. So hopefully some sneak peeks of all the new changes in le petit bateau will be ready for your viewing pleasure in the not too distant future!

PPS I’ve always loved this song.

PPS something fun for you tomorrow! xx

PPPS how are you? what’s happening? how is your morning/afternoon /evening cuppa?