Behind the Scenes...

Ashlynn’s first modelling job in 2016 was to walk in Anbasja Blanken’s fashion show during Amsterdam Fashion Week. We were quite surprised that she got the job since she wasn’t able to go to the casting because it conflicted with an exam. Even better, she was chosen to close the show, which is quite an honor. Unfortunately, the show wasn’t open to the public, so we couldn’t go.

Ashlynn was very excited that Stella had also been cast as this would be their first job together.

The theme was Under the Sea. These ladies were busy adding last minute sequins.

Ashlynn said it was a crazy rush backstage without a minute to spare.

They were still working on her as she was supposed to getting into position for her first walk down the catwalk.

Fashion Exhibit at Gemeentemuseum...

Another interesting AWC museum tour was of the exhibit Ode to Dutch Fashion at the Gemeentemuseum showcasing designs from 1900 through 2015. Not surprisingly, some of the designs were very wacky including this outfit for men that included a glove for a hat and a chair worn as a backpack.

This spectacular dress was worn by Queen Maxima at the coronation of King Willem-Alexander.

The Emoticon Family was made using 300 meters of silk.

Royal Place Settings and Other China...

In addition to the Dutch Fashion, our tour took us through the exhibit Dutch Dining: Four Centuries of Table Settings, which was much more interesting than I expected due to our excellent guide. This was one of the two table settings on loan from the Dutch Royal Family.

In addition to all the proper china, there was this fascinating modern piece entitled War & Pieces.

This mushroom cloud was at its center with fierce battles happening on either side with thousands of fragments of porcelain mixed with plastic toys.

Museum of Bags and Purses...

I had visited the Museum of Bags and Purses once before, but it wasn’t until I went on a tour with the AWC that I fully appreciated what a unique collection it contains. For ten years, the owner of the collection opened her private home in Amstelveen for tours. With over 5,000 bags, pouches, suitcases, purses and other accessories, her collection eventually outgrew her home and in 2007, the museum moved to a lovely 17th century canal house in Amsterdam. Our tour included lunch in this beautifully restored room.

The museum showcases the history of the handbag in Western cultures from the Middle Ages until today. This is the oldest bag in the museum dating from the 16th century and would have been worn by a man since clothing at that time didn’t have pockets. Made from goat’s leather, it contained 18 compartments and would have been worn attached to a belt.

Not sure why, but I’ve always like steamer trunks. This toiletry kit really puts mine to shame!

Ever since visiting Tokyo, I’m drawn to things from Japan.

Just a month before our visit, the museum purchased this Asprey, a British luxury brand founded in 1781, handbag owned by Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister from Christie’s in London for € 22,000.

This bag shown in the Street Couture temporary exhibit was definitely one of the craziest we saw. Luckily no sharks were actually harmed in the making of this bag.

Seasons of 2015...

I felt bad after a friend sent me a very artistic Christmas letter that our family didn’t have anything to send out. Unlike previous years when Veronica put together a video montage of our year, I put together these collages to show the seasons of 2015. Please forgive my lack of creative skills.

Sushi with the Vegan Princesses...

A few days after arriving in Tokyo, Ashlynn gave up eating fish and became a vegetarian. Just days after arriving home, she announced she was going vegan. Initially, Jimmy and I weren’t thrilled with the idea, but it became quickly evident that Ashlynn was really doing her homework to investigate alternative sources of protein and nutrients. Not wanting to impose on us, she offered to make herself separate dinners. We thought that was silly, so she and I now cook vegan dinners together regularly.

Over Christmas, the girls started playing around with making a food-based Instagram account, which they named The Vegan Princesses. Originally Ashlynn was the chef and Veronica was the photographer. They decided that they would eventually reveal their identifies, so had me take photos of them while preparing a vegan sushi dinner.

They couldn’t resist hamming it up.

I wondered how they’d continue once Veronica went back to UEA, but she really caught the bug and starting cooking vegan at school so she could continue posting as well. I’m really impressed with how nice their account looks (and tastes!)

Holiday Fun...

The girls’ project over Christmas break was to start a vegan cooking Instagram account.

They set up a tripod to make time lapses such as this one for vegan brownies.

A few days after Christmas, Jimmy and I went to Amsterdam for a mini-break. We checked into the CitizenM at Amsterdam Zuid, which was shockingly affordable, and then walked all over town. We had some interesting meals including amazing seafood at The Seafood Bar and yummy omelettes at Omelegg; we drank overpriced cocktails at Door 74, a hidden cocktail bar; Jimmy had never been to the Rijksmuseum before so I showed him around; and we went to Games Night at Ola’s with a bunch of hashers. What a fun getaway!