1. A Film to Watch on DVD

Another Year

2. A Decorating Book to be Inspired By

The Natural Home

3. A Foreign Language Film to See in a Film House

4. A Hideaway Book to be Inspired By

My Cool Shed

5. A Book to Read (and be inspired by)

The Happiness Project

6. A Cook Book to Cook From

My Abuela's Table: An Illustrated Journey into Mexican Cooking

Just before we left to have dinner at my sister we had a sweet lunch at my home. I made scones and blueberry muffins with cream cheese.

And picked fresh sweet peas from my wet garden.

For the Blueberry muffins I used the recipe from Fresh & Easy: What to Cook & How to Cook it

Did you know that I have a pretty awesome sister with a pretty awesome home and restaurant tucked away in the southern part of The Netherlands where we grew up? If you didn't know, you know now.

My only sister, Anne-Marie, and her husband, Harry, are the owners of Villa Bloemenhof (villa flower garden, cute right?) set in a small village in an old house that they have dived up in living and working. Dining in their restaurant, where Harry is the chef and my sister the hostess, feels like dining at home as they have converted the ground flour into a restaurant. What used to be the garage is now a kitchen, what use to be the kitchen are now the lavatories and the en suit rooms and conservatory are now all restaurant. In summer one can also eat in the walled garden. It's pretty exceptional and the food is divine.

Yesterday we had something to celebrate as my mother and her best friend, known as my auntie J. on instagram, are friends for 51 years. I didn't want to pass that on as something that is normal as it is not. It's pretty impressive to be married to someone for 51 years but I find it more impressive to be friends with someone for 51 years as there's quite a fine line in loving someone and liking someone. In a 51 year marriage you can just love that person but not like that person but in a friendship you do both.

We all got together at my sister's restaurant, My mum, my auntie Janneke and her son, Willem.

A quaint celebration of friendship in a beautiful setting, with good food and company. Don't you think my sister totally reflects her interior?

My mum and auntie J ooh-ing over their food. My mother was having a dish that is called after, and inspired, by my grandmother who turned 95 last June. My sister travelled to Suriname to celebrate our grandmother's remarkable age and took home typical Surinamese spices and ingredients and Harry made a beautiful dish out of that. I love how the fusion of different ethnics reflects their food, it's beautiful.

I felt so chuffed last night when Bo and I drove home how blessed I am with such amazing mothers and family. Although the women bitch about us, some times as mothers do, I think they may be pretty pleased with their offspring. We are all making beautiful things and we try to inspire people, Bo does, Willem does, Anne-Marie does and hopefully I do.

In spring I shot the interior photos of my sister's home and restaurant. Here a few glimpses of her amazing loft.

I've been away, not that I have been away away but my mother is here and I like to spend the 6 weeks a year I get to spend wit her really spending with her. I also had to work as the shop is busy, there were book meetings (I'm going to write a book, more about that soon) and there were a few photo shoots on the premises. All super fun things, but I've missed the blog.

I'm back and I come bearing hats. Three wee hats for you to crochet.

Have fun and see you back later xox

ps: the new born hat is totally inspired by Fozzie Bear

ps ps: I've re-opened my Etsy shop using it as an outlet. You can buy props and stuff there, like these 3 hats.

I'm so happy to introduce you today to a brand new sponsor who make me extremely happy, Showler and Showler. Did you click on that link? Did it make you extremely happy?

I've been waiting for the sun to come out to take these photos, but alas the sun didn't come out so you'll have to do with these heavily enhanced photos of my kitchen and the proud owner of a Toast Print (in red) size 30 x 40 cm.

Ever since I gave the kitchen a new coat of paint I wanted a new print to hang in that nook but I wasn't sure what to replace it with. It should be smaller and it had to do with food, were my criteria. So when Hannah and Tom from Showler and Showler contacted me I was instantly in love with the Toast Print. It's a hit and it already got lots of compliments.

Showler and Showler also do great cards.

I have a special readers offer for 20% off, it's valid on all prints but excludes print of the month which is already discounted and the postcards. The code YVESTOWN just needs to be entered at the checkout and is valid until 31st July.

Follow Showler and Showler on Twitter and Facebook.

Yay! Thank you Hannah and Tom.

Yay, it's sale time again in The Yvestown Shop.

I also have to work on a bit of a clear out as I just returned from the Annell factory and they're going to produce an exciting new acrylic yarn at the end of summer. It's tick and incredibly soft with amazing colours. I'm so excited about it that I almost took the samples home with me, but I wasn't allowed. I picture beautiful soft and tick blankets for winter.

I'll also start to enroll for autumn and winter crochet courses in September. E-mail me if you are in my area and want to attend my crochet courses.

I'll be back with a great new sponsor post tomorrow. xox

This room has been so many rooms as it's quite a useless room. It used to be the old brewer's office when the house was build in 1896. Now it has been my study (too large and too light) and it has been Bo's study (too large). Although all the previous functions, there has always been a dining table in this room. We always sit and eat in this room when there are lots of people in the house. We have eaten quite a few Christmas dinners in this room and we had quite a few breakfasts in this room. Oddly enough we have never acknowledged the room as the 'dining room'. As the kitchen is in the back of the house, quite a long walk (according to Bo) away from the kitchen, it's an unusual room to have as a dining room.

Right before Easter I went upstairs to the storage room and unpacked all the boxes labelled china and board games and I went for it. I acknowledged the room as the formal dining room and Bo will have to live with the extra mileage he'll have to do between the kitchen and dining room. It will burn fat and it will keep us fit.

wallpaper - stool - lanterns - print - candle holders

All the mismatched china is in the pine cupboard I found online for just €50 and all my pretty china is in the cabinet that I have painted dusty pink - S 1010-Y90R.

I used Slipper Satin by Farrow&Ball for the walls as it matches the wallpaper colour. And for the doors, floors and ceiling I used All White by Farrow&Ball.

bird vase - bird prints - milk jug

All the musical instruments are in this room too and they've already proven successful as Bo's dad played the piano while the rest of us ate our pudding last Easter. I was initially not sure about the black of the piano as I'm not a lover of the coulour black. I was thinking about painting it but pianos are black, brown or white and this one happens to be black so I'm not going to bother as it quite matches the black of the clothes in the painting by my friend, and old flat mate, Auk van Hilten.

This is what I do when I decorate a room, I look at the colours of some of the objects I already have. Ever since I own the painting I have pictured it above the piano so I went for the wallpaper as it had the exact same green in it and so does the pendant.

It makes me happy now that this room is the 100% official dining room as it's such a beautiful room with such an amazing ceiling. Here's a photo of what the room looked like when we bought the house and here's one of when we were renovating the ceiling that was hidden under that awful wood crap.

Oh my it has come a long way.

1. A Film to See in the Cinema

2. An iPad Magazine to Download

Trendenser

3. A Cook Book to Cook From

Fresh & Easy: What to Cook & How to Cook it

4. A TV Comedy to Watch on DVD

Miranda Series 1-2 box set

5. A Film to Watch on DVD

Anonymous

Follow me around today at Meet The Blogger in Amsterdam where I'll be hosting a workshop with Brabantia and be one of the speakers.

You can follow me live on Twitter and Instagram.

Two posts in a row about cake ... well I just love my cakes and as I'm mentally preparing, for Meet the Blogger tomorrow, I need cake and lots of it. Cake is my power food. Some people like to smoke, chew on gum ... I like to eat cake.

I used the 'Sticky lemon and poppy seed cake' recipe on page 138 from Dan Lepard's (Bible) Short & Sweet. It's gorgeous, I had to share.

So wish me luck as I have to limit my speaking tomorrow to 30 minutes. No not at all scared of talking to 100 people, just scared that I have to fit the speaking in 30 minutes.

Have a lovely weekend and I hopefully see you tomorrow.

Tomorrow Queen Elizabeth will celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. Can you believe it, 60 years in the same job? It's quite impressive ...

Although I am not British, I do feel a bit British. I've spent a great deal of my life living and doing things in England. I went to a very British college, I went leafleting and voted for the Labor party in 1997, I had my very first smear test in England (I so clearly remember opening that letter and telling to the people I lived with "they find me bloody everywhere"), I had my heart brutally broken for the first (and last) time when I lived in England and I've had my first cleaning up a carpet after throwing up a chili con carne with red wine mixture in a friend's loo - why is there carpet in bathrooms England?

I travel almost monthly to the UK and I'm quite sad that in 2 weeks it will be the last for a while as I want to avoid the Olympics. I might still go back to Oxford to visit my surrogate family as they haven't seen me for a while. I love the UK and one day I'll move back and grow old there.

To celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, yes I'm a Royalty supporter and trustworthy fan, I've baked a Victorian Sponge Cake or today an 'Elizabethan Sponge Cake'.

As I'm still on quite a strict diet, I've tried to make this classic cake a bit thinner but I failed as the cakes turned out a bit wobbly. They did however taste delicious so I'm pleased and didn't bother to hide my wobbly cakes as the flags are pretty awesome. I love a good old Union Jack.

You can download the flags (in pastel) here.

Cut them out, fold and glue them on to twine.

You can find good sponge cake recipes over at Jamie Oliver and Primrose Bakery. I've mixed my butter cream with strawberry jam and stuffed loads of real strawberries between to two layers on top of the butter cream, it's gorgeous and not too thick ;)

Have a wonderful weekend xox

Blabla Kids and I go way back, that's why I'm super exited they are now a sponsor of my blog.

Blabla's collection is designed by Florence Wetterwald and knitted by Peruvian artisans. Everything is made of natural fibers grown in Peru. The dolls are so soft and cuddly and the yarn colours are so beautiful it makes me want to insulate my new roof with blabla dolls.

Blabla Kids also stock clothing, paper goods and pillows ... Oh those pillows, they are next on my wishlist.

About four years ago I bought a Boogaloo for my niece, Kris, and a year later I bought one for myself, but I gave Yupik up for adoption and now Kris is having them both.

Berry Lee (aka Kiekeboe) is my niece's dearest possession on Earth. You can see, by the amount of stitches, that she is a much traveled, much hugged, much washed and most of all much loved Boogaloo.

Kris and Kiekeboe share their own language and all parts on Kiekeboe end with boe, like earboes, noseboe etc.

Blabla kids were so kind to sent me two other dolls.

Meet Bernice the Bear and Suzette the Fox. They are just too cute and I'm going to keep them all to myself, sorry Kris ;)

Thank you Blabla Kids, we love you!

1. Donna Wilson Use My Beehive Tea Towel 2. Rob Ryan Mug Set 3. Cath Kidston Mini Dotty Printed Ribbon, 3m 4. Cath Kidston Large Spot Towels, Pink 5. Orla Kiely Mini Scented Candles Gift Set, Set of 3 6. Donna Wilson House Cushion, White 7. Cath Kidston Royal Stan Tea Towel

This a sponsored guest post. All designer ranges stocked at John Lewis and handpicked by me.

The UK's craft scene is thriving, writes my John Lewis guest blogger: just look at the creative love shared through magazines such as Mollie Makes, on Etsy and at the numerous local craft fairs that have been enjoying renewed popularity across the country.

Handmade is king. But that doesn't have to mean small scale operations - as four of the UK retail scene's new craft heroes have shown by making the leap over to high-street domination.  From printed curtains through quirky cushions to contemporary lighting, these versatile designers have got it covered.

Cath Kidston
Cath Kidston opened her first shop on London's Holland Park in 1993, selling colourful renovated furniture and hand embroidered tea towels as well as vintage fabrics and wallpapers. Her re-working of traditional English country house style, remembered from her childhood, was originally aimed at the 'yummy mummy' set and has grown to seduce hundreds of thousands of customers across British and Asian markets, making her vintage-inspired floral prints instantly recognisable.

"Cath Kidston is one of those brands that makes me feel warm inside. Her nostalgic prints hark back to a simpler time - a quality that in our modern, often hectic, lives appeals to many." Ellie Loughran, lifestyle blogger at www.prettymuchpenniless.com.

Donna Wilson
Knitwear designer Donna Wilson specialised in mixed media textiles for her MA at the Royal College of Art, and during her time as a student started selling her "disturbing" knitted creatures to London shops. Since then she has grown her retail base to cover some of the biggest department stores in the UK, among dozens of independent boutiques that stock pieces from her range which now includes cushions, ceramics and stationary. In 2010, Wilson won the Designer of the Year title at the Elle Decoration Design Awards and plans to continue making "interesting, happy, exciting beautiful, cosy, friendly products for nice people".

"Donna Wilson's crafty aesthetic is quirky and playful and appeals to homespun lovers of every age, who are drawn to the engaging tactile quality and cheerily bright colour palette of her designs. I am a big fan of her adorable knitted creatures which are instantly recognisable, and capture a childlike sentiment for things that have been hand-crafted with love and care." Kate Baxter, interiors blogger at www.fabricofmylife.co.uk.

Rob Ryan
Rob Ryan has achieved a feat of which many artists dream - combining personal 'labour of love' work with commercial success. Another graduate from the Royal College of Art, Ryan's intricate, whimsical and often sentimental papercuts helped him find a niche which has proved a hit with everyone from magazine editors and high street retailer buyers to fashion designers. As well as creating original illustrations for magazines and books, the Rob Ryan product range now spans greeting cards, stationery and ceramics.     

"The appeal of Rob Ryan's work lies in both in its simplicity and its intricacy. With just one piece of paper and a knife, he creates beautiful, romantic stories with an incredible attention to detail. His work inspired me to start papercutting." Lou Taylor, papercutter and prop designer.

Orla Kiely
Like Wilson and Ryan, Orla Kiely built on her previous training and work experience to complete a Masters at the Royal College of Art, with her exit show of hats snapped up by Harrods. After design work for M&S and Habitat, Kiely started to produce her own range of laminated cloth handbags in the late 1990s, showcasing the bold Mid-Century inspired stem prints that she has become renowned for. As well as her flourishing high-end fashion range, Kiely's prints can now be found on kitchenware, stationery, wallpaper, lighting and even cars and radios, ensuring that everyone can buy into this modern-retro style phenomenon. 

"The main reason I love Orla is because her prints are timeless, they have a retro quirky feel that is also modern and fresh. Her designs appeal to the girly side of every woman and indulge us in a little whimsy in our everyday life." Vicki Harvey, fashion blogger at http://www.themagpiegirl.com.