…an exclusive eight page story that I produced and photographed here in Paris, full of decorating tips for creating the Paris look we all crave and love, is out now in Australia, in this month’s issue of Home Beautiful. Click here to purchase online.

As you know I am on another project here in Paris and I don’t have much time to post but just wanted to let you know about this now so you can get your copy of the magazine and read it over the weekend. As soon as I get a free moment I will post the whole story for you, complete with extras! x

Next up: we are heading into the kitchen! could you tell from the above photos? you know i like to lead into things (perhaps i’m not such a scatterbrain after all!)

PS oh i just saw the wandering heart in the first image!

I am a scatterbrain. Not all the time. Just most of the time. I shift from one thing to another so quickly I forget to finish what I start, then I remember and come back to it, then move again. Sometimes I glance at the list in my diary for the day. And that scatters my thoughts even further out into the atmosphere as I realise what I still need to do in between what I am actually doing. Somehow at the end of the day I manage to tick things off the list.

Needless to say taking the following photographs were not on my to do list for the day, but I found myself creating them this afternoon, in between returning props, booking a hair appointment, buying gifts, looking for more props, sending images, et cetera et cetera. Shall we call it photo study of a scatterbrain, or as i quite like cold tea collecting thoughts, complete with captions. So here it is, a collection of props and pia paraphernalia…

I used these feathers in a shoot yesterday along with mir handmade, very happy with the results and can’t wait to show you, but for now, just these.

I have a collection of skeleton leaves that I always carry with me for shoots, just in case I can slip one into shot.

Creases. Once were out, now are in. That along with styling the napkin - a stylist’s worst nightmare, but the challenge is so rewarding, especially with linen like this.

This little guy was actually a new spool that I needed to make look old for a shoot a few months back so I stained him and his friends with tea and oil. I do love him so.

A very old and quaint Dutch apron that I bought on the weekend in one of my favourite vintage shops in Amsterdam.

A white orchid by my desk catches the flickering light from the window and makes me daydream, my thoughts scattering like butterflies.

I’m not sure what the cure is for being a scatterbrain. Do I want to be cured? that remains the question…

this pie shoot I styled with incredible food editor Emma Knowles and photographed by Petrina Tinslay

This Moroccan chair from my old store, and my Signature Prints cushion. And this window display I shot in Paris.

oh yes! I should bake some this weekend.

this peacock feather that comes in handy for adding a dash of vibrancy to a little vignette. and my old old books.

the wheels on Napolean(’s) chair, a skeleton leaf and my ancient Mandolin.

photograph by pia jane bijkerk.

I have to admit that I was very apprehensive to post about Tibet, becuase I know we all love the good things of life, we love design, we love good living, and I know some of us might not want to hear about the bad stuff mixed up with the good stuff. But your positive reaction toward these posts have made such an impact on me, and the world at large. My inspiration and my work without doubt comes from the colour, energy and indigenous designs around the globe. And i can’t imagine a world without them. I imagine it would be a stark, soulless life like in those futuristic movies, where we are all wearing the same colour grey tight outfit, hair slicked back so you can’t tell if we are male or female. And nobody smiles. You know those films? That is not what I think our future needs to be - I mean, its all good and entertaining in the movies, but I like the lights to come back on after the film is finished, and to walk back out into our colourful, happy and inspiring world. The goal being that it is peaceful and nurturing.

And that’s where this chocolate brownie comes into the equation. Well, not really, but I thought you might like the image anyway! This photo I took a year or so ago after making these brownies for a book idea I was working on, using a new ingredient with one of my suppliers, or new to our everyday pantry stock. Usually I shoot what I recipe test so that I can catalogue it in my project files. That book is still in the making as I need to find an appropriate publisher, but in the meantime I am still developing recipes for it, that is certainly the fun bit!

A big shout out thank you to Holly at Decor 8 for making me ‘blog of the week’ (and to Stephanie at Design Healing for inadvertently letting me know!). And now I’m thinking that I need a more colourful banner or logo so that it stands out on such occasions. Or maybe I could make a ’special occasions’ banner, like an evening outfit, for such events, what do you think?!

Tell you what I think having just glanced over the length of this post: I need an editor.

Headline: my wallet dilemma has been solved…

(embarrassing to be wearing an un-ironed skirt as a stylist but i must confess i rarely iron at home as i do so much of it at work. baaaaaad confession.)

I received ‘the chosen one’ in the mail yesterday and threw my old milk stained one right into the bin (perhaps the milk will help it disintegrate quicker!). After heavy etsy searching and looking at everyone’s suggestions (thank you all!), I chose to go local with a little brand some of you will already be well acquainted with. So, let me introduce you to the new member of my handmade accessories collection…

This is a beautiful wallet from the very talented Megan Hoffman of Frank and Gertrude. The attention to detail is sublime, and her fabric combination I just love. This one doubles as a clutch purse so I do not have to carry a handbag everywhere. However, now that I have my first piece of Frank and Gertrude, I am very keen to buy one of their beautiful handbags, check out their store right here.

Also in the headlines: yesterday I received a ‘You Make My Day’ award from the lovely Mary-Laure at Aurea and it certainly brought a smile to my face! Thank you Mary-Laure, it means alot to know that I make your day as you do mine.

image by Jen at Simply Photos via Marie at Là

The rule is that I pass this award onto 5 blogs that make me smile so I will be passing it on back to Mary-Laure as she does indeed make my day! and will also pass it on to:

Josyln at Simply Lovely (and she is sick at the moment so she deserves a big pick me up so go and say hi), Jen at A girl and Her Polaroid, Liivian Talossa and Jo at A cup of Jo (and it is her birthday so how could I resist! but i just found out she is a year younger than me goddamnit)(and has a twin sister. lucky thang.)

As Marie at Là so succinctly wrote, the ‘you make my day award’ works like this…

1. write a post with links to 5 blogs that make me think and/or make my day
2. acknowledge the post of the award giver
3. tell the award winners that they have won by commenting on their blogs with the news.

Coming up soon: my heart wanders update!

Side Note: this post is best read with KT Tunstall’s Black Horse and The Cherry Tree in the background. Go on, try it, works for me!

I hope you are not too upset that I left you.
I didn’t mean to, I didn’t know I’d be gone so long.
But I will come back for you I promise.
If you wait, I will return.
And when I do, I will dance for you.

Just for you.

Ode to my beloved 1920’s knitted dress.

Dress modeled and styled by Pia Jane Bijkerk.
Photograph by Michelle Young.