Hello all, I hope everybody is doing well, and getting ready for the weekend. Last week I went to Amsterdam on a business and leisure trip, and I wanted to show you all the beautiful design shops I visited and the Woonbeur fair I went to. After my mini trip to the city, I have decided that I want to move to Amsterdam, but only if I can live in one of the tall gorgeous canal houses with its on shop premise, where I could open my first chocolate creative shop, selling my own work and British and International design, it doesn't cost anything to dream - I really recommend it - specially day dreaming!

On our last day, we visited Harvest & Co, a gorgeous shop, run by Denise and Jeroen, filled with the most desirable industrial style furniture and objects you can imagine, decorated with beautiful wild flowers arrangements and plants, top up with it own cafe and collection of International publications. I am glad we went all the way to this residential area of the city to get to visit Harvest, a master class on how a shop can make you feel like at home. 

Below, snaps of another beautiful design shop we found in the area called Friday Next. The space is dedicated to contemporary design, mainly Dutch and Scandinavian, witht its own lovely cafe and exhibition space. More post about Amsterdam coming along, but for now have a great weekend!

INSPIRING INTERIORS – BAIXA HOUSE

It is raining in London, but I actually don't mind, since it's being quite hot and sticky, plus I am super busy at the studio packing orders and getting the house ready. My friend Mari is coming with her 2 children to stay for a few days. I am very excited to have them here, as she is one of my best friends back home and from Uni. So due to me being out and about having fun and working like mad I won't be posting much more this week, but hopefully this beautiful photos of the Baiza House in Portugal will keep you inspired. 

Now and again I come across places that leave me wanted to move and start decorating again. I have been looking for a flat in Las Palmas, to have a base of my own when going home and in the capital, and this apartments in Lisbon, reflect exactly what I would love to get. A simple space, not very big, not much features going on, light and airy, with original wooden floors or tiles, big tall windows and a balcony. I know that this is not going to happen any time soon, but I will eventually get there...

I own to visit this place in Lisbon, I have never being and really want to visit the capital. I think that I will feel like home. I am in love with the refurbishing work they have done to this 18th century building. Each apartment has been named and inspired after a Lisbon garden, and decorated with bold gorgeous wallpapers, outdoors furniture, large scale photography, and vintage pieces, resulting in a fresh and easy way of living, what do you think? Which one is your favourite? more photos and info at their website.

Photos via baixa House

Hello happy Monday to all, it is being a very sunny and glorious weekend in London, September is my favorite month of the year and the best weather in this city.  I am glad my life is back to normality, I have had a very stressful week, haven't slept in 5 days and have lost a few kilos, (that I like haha). I have been trying to make a risky decision to grow the business, done numbers, worry about risks, money, debts, etc...I have learnt so much in just one week, about business, myself, and how much support I have from my friends and mother. It is a difficult time to expand and spend money on risky projects, but I am an entrepreneur and as such have a vision. You learn to live with uncertainty and not knowing how much money you would make each month, still if you offer me a full time job I would say NO and continue to do what I do. Enough of my business life...

Now and again I manage to get out London and get to explore different areas of England. Hastings is easy to reach from London and has plenty of things to see and do. Love the old town, filled with interesting shops and buildings, can't say the same about the new area, not worth to venture in and same as any other hight streets across the country. Here are some snaps of my latest trip to this beach town, I had a great day out, it was sunny and warm, had fish and chips, ice cream, sweets, and managed to get some new pieces from the so many antiques shops in the area. Do you go to Hastings?

GORGEOUS HOUSES

My day's trip to Brussels...

Sometimes we all need a little break from our everyday lifes regardless how busy we are, and that is exactly what I got to do last Saturday. I was invited along with other bloggers to a day’s trip to Brussels, as part of the Eurostar's Little Break campaign organised by the Wearesocial agency. We jumped on the 7.00am train and 2 hours later arrived in Brussels. Cold and rainy as it was, I felt excited like a child with a new toy…Together with my new bloggers friends we started the day with a visit to the Planete Chocolat shop, where we were given a lecture by Melanie, on chocolate, I can’t tell you how happy I was, as CHOCOLATE is one of the main ingredients of my diet haha…(joking here). I left the shop with an extended new knowledge on chocolate, its history and production, and a few bags of Belgian goodies…

Old chocolate molds...

We, later made our way to the gorgeous restaurant Belga Queen for lunch, I was already full from the chocolates tasting but sat happily waiting for my next meal, we all chatted, got to know about ours blogs, jobs, aspirations etc…Food was nice, but the dessert was even better!!

By this point I felt a few pounds heavier and a bit sleepy so I was in desperate need for some fresh air and walking. We all went to explore the Xmas market and the city, arrived at Le Grand-Place, and started to look for the Xmas Market, which was placed in a different spot so spent quite a while trying to figure it out where it was…part of the fun…1 hour later we discovered it!!

Gorgeous architecture and the Nativity...

Doll's house shop!!

I have to say that I was expecting to see more interesting craft and handmade Xmas goodies, but instead found stalls selling very tempting food, sweets, chocolates and drinks…So a bit disappointed on that side, but still enjoyed the market as it was set in a very nice area, with all the lighting, ice skating rink, and the best of all, an amazing Victorian carousel that took my breath away. It was very busy all around and felt very Xmassy.

The highlight of the trip was to meet such a nice group of people, and share this mini adventure with them all. I will definitely come back to Brussels, many things left unexplored…I am planning my next mini trip…I deserve it!!

My trip to Norwich

Cute and smily Ella wearing my sunglasses, she is such a fun to be around, always smiling, getting off to explore, and a good eater haha...I LOVE her. 

What a nice day I had yesterday, I went up to Norwich to spend the day with Kate and Ella. It was warm and sunny, we had a picnic in a park by the broads, (a very pretty area, with boats, amazing houses, a nice cafe, full of different species of birds, etc..,). Later on we went for a stroll in the city, for beautiful shops and antiques. Every time I visit the English countryside I get the same feeling,  it is so beautiful and inspiring!!! I just want to go and live in one of this small cities in a beautiful victorian house, but then I remember I come from a beautiful place myself, (Canary Islands in Spain) and if I ever leave London would go back home!! Well you never know...

Chidren of Butham

This beautiful photos were taken by my dear friend Juan Romero, he is not a professional photographer, but a well travelled man with more than a good eye.  He has travelled almost everywhere in every continent, and has taken amazing pictures that so kindly share with all his friends.  I have always loved his spiritual vision of the places he has visited, but the photos that have won my heart, are the series about children.

This are from Butham, he went travelling around this beautiful and unknown country, and in his way met all this amazing children. It has taken me a while to select some pictures to show here, there are so unique and inspiring!!! The children seems to be so cheerful and free, they live up in the hills with not much of everyday commodities and still are able to show this big smiles and be willing to welcome a stranger, they are truly the treasure of the country!!

Juan is planning a trip back to Butham, and I am hoping to come with him, I own this trip to my soul and myself!!

DIY revolution...

On my way back from Spain I got a copy of ELLE magazine, (I love my magazines, and when traveling apart of making sure I have my ticket, passport and luggage I always pack myself with a good selection of magazines, you see, Canary Island – where I come from – is 4 hours fly from London, so plenty of time for reading and browsing...) and for my surprise I found a article about DIY, it talks about craft making and going back to traditions and handmade things, such as knitting, I can't believe it!!! I have to say that in UK people are well aware of what contemporary craft means, but back in Spain, people have got this image of craft meaning a holiday gift traditionally made in the local area where you were staying!! So I am very glad to have found this article in one of the mainstream magazines featuring work of contemporary designers.

LONG LIFE TO DIY!!!