Food lovin'

Photography.
Some love it for fashion, for scenery, celebrities or maybe art.
I love it for food!

Gosh I love it so much. Not because I just want to eat it all, sure who wouldn't, but because it's just so damn pretty. It makes sense, what you see is what you get. There's no secret there except the recipe.
It doesn't need make-up, it's not complaining or will be late.
You make decorate your cake the way you want, style the table, set up good lighting and you are ready to rumble.
I won't judge other opinions, I know several who have a different taste for photography, but regularly those don't make sense to me. I don't understand the message, reason or style. Or I just don't like it.

Me and food, we don't fight. We love each other.

For the record, all these photographs are from Pinterest. Unfortunately none are made by me, but aren't they gorgeous?
For anyone writing a cook- or baking book.. Just make an amazing cover and add some great photographs inside and I'm sold. I will definitely buy it.
In fact, hand me a book with these amazing photographs and leave out the recipes. I will still buy it.

My compliments to Jamie Oliver, Mia Ohrn, the Hummingbird Bakery, Peggy Porschen and Leila Lindholm. Your cookbooks have done exactly that and not only are the photographs amazing, the recipes are too.

Yep. Food styling and photography done right make me the happiest girl in the world.

Love,
Noes

DIY painting

So, as I said on the Facebook page I will also start posting tips and tricks for DIY's from now on.
I have done a lot of them lately and it's so much fun to do, but let's start with the basics!

If you are going to DIY with paint these are the steps you should take:

1. Decide on your design. What color will your item be? Should the ironwork be painted as well, are you replacing it with something new or are you going to leave it original?
Sounds logical but really prepare, it would be such a waste if your DIY project fails because you were hasty.

2. Buy all the products you need beforehand, even if you don't need them for the first step. It's really annoying if you miss something when you need it.
Think of paint, brushes, a roller, a paint tray, sandpaper, a product to degrease the surface and tools to demount the ironwork, drawers or doors.

3. Prepare the item. If you don't prepare it properly your paint coat will be damaged by any bump or scratch of your nails, we wouldn't want that. Would we?

Demount all the ironwork and if needed, drill new wholes for what you replace it with.

If you are fixing up a wooden piece, pay attention to the coating. Does it feel greasy or smooth?
If you're answer is greasy, then you should start by using ammonia or St. Marc on the coating. If not your sandpaper will be filthy and won't work.
I prefer to work with St. Marc because it is easy and opposed to ammonia it smells nice. Dissolve some of it in a bucket of warm water and wash the piece thoroughly. You don't have to clean it with fresh water after, just let it be until it's dry.
When that's done you can use sandpaper to roughen the surface up a little. There is no need to get off all the previous paint, you just want to get off any loose splinters and create a surface where the new paint has grip.

If the item is just smooth, start with sanding and then use St. Marc after.

4.  Paint in several, thin layers. It takes extra time but it will give you the best result.
If there are a lot of corners and details, start on those with your brush. Don't use too much paint, that will cause dripping which will look sloppy and won't dry properly.
When all the details are done by brush, fill in the easy parts with the roller. Also roll over the ' brushed' parts gently to smoothen it.

Make sure you let the paint dry completely before you apply a new layer. I usually apply two coats on wooden furniture but you can easily see if it needs another one when it's dry.

If you didn't paint the inside of your piece but you don't really like the old look, use pretty wrapping paper to cover it.

Put your ironwork back on and TATAA! You have finished your DIY!

Are you sprucing up a small or synthetic item? Use spray paint!

1. Wooden item: see preparations above.
Fabric item: make sure there is no dust or filth on it, use your vacuum cleaner.
Plastic item: use St. Marc as above but sand paper isn't needed.

2. Cover your work area with old newspapers. Cover up enough considering the wind when you are outside and attach the cover to your work space with tape.

3. Protect your clothing and use plastic gloves when you need to hold the item to spray it.

4. Again, do several thin layers and don't spray too close to the item.

5. Let it dry completely and you are done!

If you like to spray your item into several colors or you don't want to spray the entire item, cover one side up with paper and tape. Make sure that the side that you are taping is dried properly. Here's a cute example of what you could create this way.

Enjoy your projects!

Love,
Noes

Lovely things

 

The exact glass bottle I was looking for

 

You might remember them from 10 or 15 years ago, sitting in your parents garden, just some vintage wine bottle. Or lately from one of my favorite Dutch magazines, VT Wonen. There have been many many times that I considered buying one but when you don't even know where to leave it, the VT Wonen prices are quite high. Luckely I don't mind doing some treasure hunting on flea markets or second hand shops and I present you the result!
Dear VT Wonen, eat your heart out! I got my bottle and that for less than 10% of your price. Don't get me wrong, I still adore you though.

 

 

Above the knuckle rings

Thanks to Pinterest I run into a lot of cute ideas and items. This is also the place I first saw the above-the-knuckle-ring. Wear it like I do now, with simplicity or like Rihanna here in combination with bigger rings.
Mine are made by Galisfly on Etsy and it is a set of 4 thin gold plated rings. They are not connected so you can wear them in any combination you like, I love it!

 

 

 

Longboarding

 

A while ago I decided that I wanted to do something new in my spare time, something active. I've considered rollerblades, boring! Old skool rollerskates, really cute but apparently my country is not quite up to speed with my wants on that area.
Then along came longboarding. Due to a friend of mine who already had one and my curiosity for skateboarding. For anyone knowing the movie Lords of Dogtown or anyone who ever saw a cool skatergirl: You know what I mean, right?
Since I'm not the type for tricks but more for cruisin' the skateboard was not the best option, the longboard was. So when my friends gave me some advice and promised me to help me practice, the decision was made.
So since this Monday I am the proud owner of a Globe longboard called 'the plank'. It's a pretty wooden one with aztec print burned into it, as seen above. Even though I bought it I was terrified to start practicing in public because between us, I am rather clumsy. Luckely practice went rather fast and before I knew it, on Wednesday, I was cruisin' around the park with my friend!
It's so much fun and apparently I look like I know what I'm doing because even a skateboarding passenger waved at me with a smile. Yep, longboarding is cool!

 

 

DIY pompoms

 

I know I've said it before, but such a bundle of DIY pompons in combo with lanterns is an instant party. You hardly need anything, it is easy and super cute. Go get some crepe or tissue paper in a fun color, some yarn and a pair of scissors. That really is all! Then follow this easy DIY and in a flash your arrangement is ready.
My idea is just one of many possibillities, there are many more fun examples here.

 

And then there is Pinterest. Of course!

 

Excited already? Just follow my lead, as you can see it's not that hard to be pleased. Just have fun!

 

Love,
Noes

Party time!

Party time!

 Today is my birthday so let's celebrate!
We all know the best party's include cake, cocktails and cute decorations.

 

Naturally I couldn't just make one cake, a party with me means desert table!

 

French pastry with peaches and almond

 

 

 

Chocolate cake

 

 

 

Lemon cake

 

 

 

Mini party cupcakes

 

 

 

Cheesecake with forrest fruit

 

 

Ready to serve the Bellini's!

 

 

Party decorations where made possible by my stack of washi tape, crepe paper and a some serious DIY!

 

Did you notice the colorful flags on the cupcakes?

 

 

Yes, those..

 

That's just a little washi tape and some imagination. Cute, aren't they?

 

 

 

A formation of lanterns and pompons serves perfectly as party decoration instead of the standard party banners.
Lanterns are individually sold and so are pompons, but these last ones are also fun to DIY.

I used tutorial from Girlscene to make these and it really isn't that hard.

 Just keep in mind that the bigger you make the pompon, the more layers of crepe paper you use. The more layers the more beautiful your pompon gets!

 

Get yourself some crepe paper, a piece of yarn and a pair of scissors and follow this DIY!

 

 

When the sun came out, I moved my decorations, and of course the party, to the garden where they looked even better.

 

 

 

Add some pink champagne...

 

And a gorgeous gift (one of many actually)

 

And you end up with an amazing birthday!

 

Thank you to everyone who visited, has send a sweet card of message or has done something else to add to this day.
It was gorgeous weather and I had fun! Thank you all!

 

Love,
Noes

Society 6

While looking for tribal prints, I ran into Society 6. Society 6 is not just a brand, it is art created by thousands of artists from around the world, working together to produce the highest quality without having to give up rights.
Their artwork is available in print, canvases, cards, cases, skins and shirts and there is something for everyone.

As you can see the work varies from photography to prints to illustration so there is something for every taste and every use.
Go get yourself an amazing piece right here Society 6 .

Love,
Noes

Furry friend

As I announced on Facebook, this blog is about the newest addition to my phone.
Rabito, inspired by everyone's favourite pet.

Besides the fact that it is the cutest, and probably the coolest, phone case I have seen so far it is also very functional.
The detachable furry tail can be use as a phone stand or just to look cute, the ears are perfect to wind your ears phones around. They will no longer be tangled or get lost!

The designer of this furry friend is Mina Kwag from Korea. She quit her job at Samsung a couple years ago to become a designer and with only one prototype of the Rabito (also called iPoda) and a few other accessory designs she went to a comtemporary design show in London. From that day on her phone was ringing off the hook.
She started her own company in 2010 and now delivers her products to over 15 countries.

As Mina describes, Rabito is the perfect accessory for our most essential device.
And it's a pretty damn cute one too!

Love,
Noes

*Interested? I found my Rabito on Ebay under the name of 'rabbit phone case' but there also is the official Rabito Shop.

Sweet Cake

Is it a dog bed? Is it a flowerpot? Is it a babies bath? Or would it just be a wine cooler?
It is one of the most cliche pick up lines: It can be anything you need it to be.

Unfortunately it also is a little pricy but for the ultimate cupcake lover, like me, it is pretty damn cool!

As you can see it is available in various fun colors and if you would buy it for your pet, it even comes with the bed.
It is a product of designer Beerd van Stokkum and it's called, how could it not, Sweet Cake.
Interested? You can order it right here.

Love,
Noes

Tape it

Washi tape, or also know as masking tape, might be the biggest hype in DIY land at the moment.
The idea is actually quite simple: it's a tape made of rice paper, in a fun color or print. Because of the material it is easy to tear, easy to remove, you are able to use it multiple times and you can easily write on it.

So it's a cute looking tape. But what do you do with it?
Lemme show ya...

Tune up your dull keyboard into something colorful and fun

Make pretty labels! You can use them for gift wrapping, labelling your cookie or candy jars...

Super easy to make and so much fun as a cupcake topper or as decoration in a drink

Empty bottles or old vases become funky in a flash

Block time slots in your schedule

A temporary collage on the wall

Even phones and mp3 players aren't safe anymore

Still not convinced?
Then you should definiteley visit Pinterest for many, so many other fun DIY ideas.
Just type in washi tape or masking tape and pictures will keep coming.

Wanna get started?
The tape is sold at several online shops such as ebay, etsy and lots of individual stores.
Not such a fan of online shopping? Then you should definitely try shops for the creative arts in bigger cities but in Holland also at our one and only Hema!
I already bought a few different ones there and besides the fun prints they are also a bit cheaper than most online shops, really worth your while.

I hope you will all have as much fun with this 'piece of tape' as I do, enjoy!

Love,
Noes