We  finally recovered our computer from the boxes. So now we can upload a bunch of pictures from our latest adventure: our move. Saying goodbye to friends in Atlanta and loading Johnnie:

We drive from Atlanta to Chattanooga, Nashville, Louisville, Indianapolis and finally Chicago. A 13 hour trip in 2 days through snowy city-and landscapes.

Arrival in Illinois. Not too impressive in terms of beauty:

Arrival at our Fort. We live some houses past the tower:

This is our front door, which we share with 3 other apartments. Our unit is on the top floor, with 5 windows left from the stairs.

This is the view from our front door, the former parade grounds of the fort.

This is Dave's truck with our belongings:

This is what our belongings look like when they come out of the truck. What a mess:

We are still cleaning up and organizing. Hopefully we can soon show you the house in a livable state.
Keep smiling. Keep warm. :)))

Illinois winter

We made it!!! Got the keys to our new Highland Park, Illinois home on Monday night, cleaned and prepared on Tuesday, so the movers could deliver on Wednesday. And Dave, Mike and Gary the movers surely delivered. Everything from this impressive truck had to come up to the second floor without elevator! And we immediately got a treat of the Illinois winter: it was 18oF (-7oC) outside and with the door to the hallway open and our heating on we could barely keep it at 45oF (7oC) inside......... At least the skies were bright blue and the view from our home is a picture perfect Christmas card.

Location:Whistler Rd,Highland Park,United States

We're on our way

After two days of packing, 1 day of loading, a lovely dinner at Antica Posta and a great good-bye party with the best friends you can wish for, we are on our way to Chicago. Flurry snow in Chattanooga, flurry snow in Nashville, real snow in Louisville where we stop for the night. Ruba is asleep most of the way on Johnnie's backseat; she seems to understand what's going on and happy she can come.

It's cold outside..

and Ruba has a holiday hairdo. Nice warm dreadlocks.



We are staying at Jeff & Jo's. Had a nice quiet day. Our 'stuff' is somewhere in Cincinnati, where Dave our mover lives. Tomorrow we will have a goodbye party and then.... is it time to get into Johnnie and drive up North. Mr. Winter here we come.

Location:Foster Ridge Ct NE,Atlanta,United States

See how it rains!

They had to shut down the interstate. Flooded!

What's next? Snow storm? The movers already left the building. They will be back tomorrow at 8.
Let's sheer up with something happy. A beautiful Tucson sunset.

Boxes everywhere

And a tornado warning. What a day to move your household. It's pouring rain!




But these guys work their butt off.....

Location:Ralph McGill Blvd NE,Atlanta,United States

Here's Johnnie!

After long deliberation (not a lot of non-cookie cutter cars out there) the good old Camry was traded in. The move to Chicago gave the final push, because after 12 good years in GA and 160K miles, it was probably not a smart idea to expose that engine to the Illinois winter. So the search was for an All Wheel Drive and it is a 2011 crystal black Subaru Outback with heated seats, mirrors and windshield wipers. Its name? Well, Johnnie of course. As in Cash, the man in crystal black. And Johnnie is awesome!

Location:Ralph McGill Blvd NE,Atlanta,United States

Ruba is ready to go

Why would a Mexican Hairless dog wanna move to Chicago in the winter. NO reason at all, except mom and dad are going, so....you buy yourself a nice comfy warm outfit. Done. Ready to go.

I also bought booties, but I really only wanna wear them in the snow. I'll ask mom to take a picture once wearing these.

Happy thanksgiving!!

lovely day in Atlanta

Ruba and I went for a walk. The weather is perfect now. Warm, clear blue skies and no humidity. Love it.

 Although I think I'm a desert person. I love the desert. The cacti, sand, heat, far sights, cold nights and bright white buildings.

San Xavier Mission in Tucson-Arizona.

Back home

What a great time we had. Maybe Jeroen and I start a little jewelry business together. Big rings with little stories. Can you imagine? So after our 4 days workshop with Kate and Kyle we planned to go to Kitt peak to watch stars and planets and so. But they cancelled: high winds! Bummer. We ended up going to the artisans in downtown Tucson (where we found a beautiful Catrina), the desert museum

and a last dinner with Kate. Tuesday morning we went to see the San Xavier mission post. Still well used and well preserved. Our trip home was without any annoyance or delay. Ruba is happy to be back home (Matt and Sara took care of her and they always do an excellent job) and we are a bit tired after traveling to California, Chicago and Arizona, all in one months. Duh!

And a third big ring

A gorgeous shot of "the Bullfish" by Kyle.






Ring by Jeroen Medema, photo by Kyle Cassidy.






Park ring by Gabriella van Diepen, photo by Kyle Cassidy, model Kate McKinnon.


We had such a good time. An unforgettable experience.
It's really good to spend time with creative people. They change your life in a positive way.

Location:N Alvernon Way,Tucson,United States

Big jewels

After lunch we continued working on our jewelry pieces. Jeroen finished his bullfish:



Marcie, Kate, Jeroen and Doriot.

Gabri finished her sparkling flower power and is still working on the park ring.


Robin, Kyle, Kate, Gabri, Rhonda and Doriot.

Here bullfish and park ring are still white hot, just after we opened the kiln:




Our finished pieces:







Aren't they a lovely pair?

Location:N Longfellow Ave,Tucson,United States

What a day!

First of all we got up at 5.45 am to watch the sunrise in Coronado National Forest and watch how Ken shot a hole in Kyle's hat.








Quite scary! A real handgun:



Rattle snake:



Then we had our first photography lessons from Kyle in Arroyo Chico. Taking pictures is simple. Just 3 parameters: shutter speed, aperture and ISO. :-)))
We practiced exposure and composition in the dry riverbed. It was hot, really hot.



Jeroen's kijkdoosje.




Gabri's tiny leaf.

Location:N Alvernon Way,Tucson,United States

Day 2 -- Kate only experience

Day 2 of the Kate & Kyle experience was a Kate only, with a full day of jewelry making. Gabriella made all pieces for a tree ring and a gorgeous fine silver flower to put on a second ring. Jeroen was all happy doing miniature figure claying. Tomorrow will be ring assembly and kiln firing for the jewelry, plus a field trip to town for some Kyle Cassidy-style photo shoots. Pretty interesting and inspiring to spend some time with a group of artsy people doing artsy stuff in an artsy place.



Great things happen when Gabriella, Kate and liver of sulphur get together..........

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:N Longfellow Ave,Tucson,United States

The Kate and Kyle experience in Tucson

This morning Jeroen and I started off with a metal clay workshop with Kate McKinnon. Exciting and very inspiring. Results will follow later. Later today Jeroen went to Sabino canyon with Kyle Cassidy, Kambriel and co to shoot some wonderful pictures. Goths in the desert!!

Location:N Alvernon Way,Tucson,United States

Last weekend (after a week's trip from San Francisco to San Diego) was a wonderful beading experience. A three day workshop in San Diego at Marica deCoster's beautiful home. Teacher: NanC Meinhardt. What a great lady. We talked about art, being an artist and everything around that theme. Met new friends and started my art stick project. Last day was Marcia's birthday: 10-10-10. We all made a bead and Leslie strung them all to one piece for Marcia.



We returned with the red eye flight. Killing.

Location:Ralph McGill Blvd,Atlanta,United States

Jeroen is vacuum cleaning

Who says I can't multi task?!

Location:Ralph McGill Blvd NE,Atlanta,United States

Rini was here!

Rini arrived last Friday night. Although it was late and the jetlag already hit, we sat down for a drink to celebrate Rini officially is professor at the Technical University of Delft (Software Engineering).
Hiep Hiep Hoera.
Saturday night we went to see 'the Scissor Sisters" in Buckhead theater. What a happening! What a noise! And all those happy guys, cherubs, beards, latex pants and so on and so on. But first we went for BBQ ribs to the nearby One Star Ranch and enjoyed watching all the people in line for the concert.

What are they wearing? Really?

We didn't know that general admission means no seating! Luckily enough Jo and I (wearing high heels) found seats on the balcony. Downstairs was too busy anyways.

The boys had fun walking around and watching the crowd.

Blue Funky Bracelet

Already days ago , I made some components in a bright blue color. Not yet knowing what to do with them. Well inspiration struck and here it is:


My Blue Funky Bracelet.

Location:Ralph McGill Blvd NE,Atlanta,United States

The finished piece

We ordered a table top photo studio so we are not dependent on daylight for a good picture of my beaded jewelry. It arrived but we didn't set it up yet. It's quiet complicated! So hereby an iPhone picture of the pearl Sherry Serafini necklace I finished last week.

Location:Ralph McGill Blvd NE,Atlanta,United States

Yoga

After a day of beading, I went to my first Hot Core Yoga class. Hot it was. The class is held in an 85F heated (and smelly) room. To be short: now it feels good. It's 2 hours later. I showered, ate and feel very relaxed. Let's see how many muscles will ache tomorrow.
I finished my latest beadwork: a Sherry Serafini design with loads of pearls. So beautiful. I wish I designed it. Photo will follow. Happy Wednesday night!

Location:Ralph McGill Blvd NE,Atlanta,United States

Top Flr

A new discovery right in our neighborhood: funky bistro Top-Flr across from Southern icon Mary Mac. Starting with delicious cocktails 'Yellow Roses' and 'Red Sands' this is going to be good.


and with lovely company it's the best.


Voor Marianne, een foto van Gabriella.

Location:10th St NE,Atlanta,United States