Interesting combinations created with Odette Welvaars

Whenever I visit it Amsterdam I try to visit Odette Welvaars, as this is always a exchange of ideas and new creations coming out. In April we discussed to combine some DEDEM motives with some dining room chairs.
I created some samples and it works! It really became something different! So much fun!
www.welvaars.com

DEDEM at IKI Gallery II

Last week I went to visit IKI Gallery to deliver a small selection of Cashmere. But somehow the selection grew and grew. Colette ended with 18 pieces, it's so beautiful all those pieces together so rich!
It goes very well with her jewellery selection.
IKI Gallerie, 18 Rue du Pont Louis Philippe, 75004 Paris

New selection DEDEM 100% cashmere scarves at Iki Gallery, Paris

Just send of a small but exquisite selection of 100% cashmere scarves and stoles to Gallery Iki in Paris. It's a mix of subdued colours to bright red. 

Iki Gallery is a very good location to be. Colette Gohel has built up a very good reputation since she has opened (less than a year). It's becoming a place for international connoisseurs for jewellery and scarves. She is really doing an excellent job! 

Gardening in Russia 2

In October Pierre will give a lecture at Leo Tolstoy Museum-estate Yasnaya Polyana during a seminar on historical gardens. He will travel together with Marie Sol Princesse de La Tour d'Auvergne, who will also give a lecture. 
They have a long standing working relationship. Together they created the gardens at Chateau Ainay le Vieil many years ago, which has become a splendid garden, which is now classified as historical garden which is unique in France. 
MarieSol and Pierre are both passionate about gardens and their discussions are endless. 
The program for next year's workshop with Russian garden specialists has already been made.
For those who like to read about Pierre's work in Russian follow this link: http://www.zstrela.ru/novosti/58/

Gardening in Russia

As a spin off of the workshop with Russian garden specialist last April here and Chateau Ainay le Vieil , Pierre has been asked to give his advice on Maryino Manor near St Peterborough. It has a 15 hectare 19th century park designed in 1845.
Today it's been exploited commercially for events and as a hotel. Reading their site www.usadbamaryino.ru it seems a lot of work has been done.  
Pierre works only on site and observes everything very fast. Sometimes difficult to understand for people as he doesn't look at plans beforehand. 
He can see the original design by looking at the trees and bushes and most important the changes which were made and how to improve the park. Looking at all aspect, the climate, type of soil, the historical design and staying within a budget.  His method of working is probably unique and sometimes a little bit abrupt! But the results are impressive!
For those who wish to read about Pierre's work in Russian follow this link: http://www.zstrela.ru/novosti/58/

Hectic weeks in the gardening department

Hectic weeks, From Cap Ferret, to Schloss Heltorf, to Dreux.
In Cap Ferret it's about a garden on a sand dune, with some additional problems for which P. found already the solutions.
In Helthorf it starts the moment we pass through the gate and with great speed in 3 days tons of work is done. As it's all high speed I try to keep track and take pictures for the follow up and our next visit.
Dreux is a garden which is perfect, it was created 8 years ago and here every detail counts. It's an amazing place and every year it becomes better. Love visiting this garden.

Hectic weeks like this are very inspiring as it's about, beauty, nature passion and workable solutions.

Next week it will be Russia!

Then there were tomatoes! Tasty tomato soup

After having great difficulties to have any tomatoes at all, the sun and heat in August solved this problem. Now there are plenty and what to do??? Tomato soup is delicious provided it really taste of tomatoes and it's not watery and lacking taste. The best way to create a soup which is full of taste (without adding anything artificial!) is by roasting the tomatoes in the oven first. This way they become very tasty, the onion and garlic as well a 2 carrots get the same treatment. Once roasted everything goes in a pan together with the juices add some water a little more boiling, pass it through the mixer and it's done!
Made also some tomato chutney with basil so far tastes very good.

More ideas for DEDEM capsule

In my on going search for traditional working clothes in France I was very lucky this week. My friend Catherine, who is the specialist on brocantes and has the eye, she has the most wonderful collection vintage clothes, picked up entirely at brocantes.
She gave me a top which used to be worn as top for the men working at livestock markets. It has an amazing cut and the details are wonderful. I will definitively add my interpretation of this 'blouse bestiaux' in the DEDEM capsule collection!

An amazing discovery for anybody who works in interiors!

During a brief visit to Dusseldorf I was taken by a friend to this amazing place. Here you find thousands of thousands different ribbons, ropes and any other decoration one wishes for. On top of that one can order whatever one likes in small quantities. All handmade! 

I took some pictures but have a look at their website which has amazing pictures. http://www.borrmann-posamente.com