My Shop Window
It's no secret that I recently wrote a book with interiors writer Joanna Copestick that, thanks to you and the work of my publishers, is doing so well - it's thrilling! I started out like most of you, using a blog to communicate my ideas and connect with like-minded people with the ultimate goal of writing for magazines, but I didn't think I'd have a book, events, signings OR a window devoted to my book -- here is a glimpse of it.
For those of you who ask me about how it feels going from blog to book, well it's quite nice though I'm not leaving my blog anytime soon. In fact, I feel more inspired to blog than ever before. Having a book is a privilege and I feel so honored and part of the design community now more than ever before. I've been connecting with readers both near and far, in person, and being part of your "in person" life has been wayyyy more meaningful than even I thought. I've gone back to my hotel room after some events and felt so happy-emotional, completely humbled by the things you may have said, your warm hugs, all of the happy smiles, the kind cards and sweet gifts some of you bring to my signings.
I've really cherished meeting so many and soon as I embark on my US book tour (I'm excited and scared because I'm traveling alone for 13 days), I look forward to meeting more of you in person. This isn't about book sales or fame to me, to some it totally is about that, but to me it's a nice excuse to go out there and meet you guys because now I have something to really share, an extension of my blog in many ways. I think this book tour will, in many ways, change my life because after the few events I've had so far I feel an inner shift... there is something very heartwarming about meeting you in person, it's hard to put into words, but it makes blogging even more personal to me whenever I finish an event and start typing on my laptop. I can see so many of your faces as I write -- Iro, Arianna, Will, Danielle, Yvonne, Illaria, Karine, Desiree... I think every writer in the world feels deep joy when they are able to meet those people who follow their work because it's an absolute honor beyond words.
When I give lectures publicly, I always tell my story but if you've not heard it, well... I'll tell you now. It's a bit cheesy but hey. Okay so when I was a little girl I would hand make books and write/illustrate about 10-15 copies of each story and then hold a book signing in my bedroom and sign copies for my dolls and bears. This wasn't a one time childhood occurrence but a frequent one that went on for years. Writing a book has been a dream but signing books, oh my goodness, I never imagined I'd be doing this for actual people. Often when I'm seated at a signing table I'm transported for a few seconds to that little white desk in my bedroom when I was so little holding a signing for my stuffed animals. It's this glimpse backward that makes me so grateful for the reality of all of this today. It feels awkward to confess that publicly, but you are worth telling it to regardless of how embarrassed I feel as I type... I think the biggest part of all of this, that needs to be said, is that this would have never happened if I didn't write this blog and if you, especially you, didn't read it and support me as friends.
I'm grateful to all of you for supporting me with Decorate, for listening to me talk about it from time to time because I'm simply happy about it, and for coming out to the events that I do because it makes this whole process of writing and putting myself REALLY out there (in print) very rewarding, emotional, often a total roller coaster! And to all who are leaving feedback on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk as well as on other websites, and to those reviewing it on your blog, thank you a million times over. Especially for the Amazon feedback, I feel so weird asking people to leave it but it really makes a difference.
If you wonder what these photos are in this post, I've taken apart a slightly damaged copy of the book and created a store window display in Amsterdam at The American Book Center located in the city center at Spui 12 and it will be there on display until mid July so I hope that you'll take a moment to walk by and visit it if you're in Amsterdam. I'm pretty excited about it, it's my first window display ever and I created it out of my work studio at home using torn fabric, ribbon, book pages, a circle cutter, fabric that I stamped words on like Mood Board and Lamp, bookmarks that I made for each book, paint swatches here and there... I was so excited to install this recently on one of the busiest streets in Amsterdam. They carry the book inside so please pick up a copy if you are there; they have limited availability. (You can see more photos of the window here.)
I hope you like it! Now I want to decorate more shop windows, I have the bug now and I'm thinking to ask local businesses if I can do some shop windows from time to time for their products and things. That would be a fun creative past-time for me. So friends, that's all for book talk this week... I'll be back in a moment with more inspiration from my little work desk to yours.
P.S. Thank you Signe for helping me install the display in the window!
(images: Thorsten Becker)