Mocking Bird » Books

Does Your Heart Wander Too?

Amanda — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:00:07 +0000

You know when you read a book and it speaks to your heart so clearly that you feel as though it was written specifically for you? I felt that whilst reading every word of Pia Jane Bijkerk‘s My Heart Wanders. If you love to travel, to discover, to follow your heart, to make your home beautiful no matter where you are, then this book will speak straight to your soul.

Pia shares her journey from her life in Sydney to experiences living Paris and finding peace on a quaint little houseboat in Amsterdam. Her words are so honest, yet quiet; and falling into her book is like sitting down to afternoon tea with a friend. It spoke so strongly to experiences I myself have faced and lead me on a journey to one I have dreamt about. Her book is filled with beautiful photographs, doodles and notes that are so perfectly Pia. I fell so deeply into her beautiful world and may have even shed a tear of two. Insightful, poetic and charming, My Heart Wanders is a wanderer’s treasure.

I was lucky enough to spend a lovely brunch with the lady herself while I was back home in Australia and she is just as beautiful in person as she is in book form. If you haven’t picked up a copy yet, I can’t recommend it enough!

Find information about My Heart Wanders here.

p.s. Happy Australia Day- and yes, I had to share some Aussie love today!

Instant Love: How To Make Magic and Memories with Polaroids

Amanda — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:18:40 +0000

What do you do when you have a post all lined up for the first one of the year and then your first book arrives on your doorstep? You ditch that post, snap a Polaroid with the only colour film you have (expired beyond expired) and do a happy dance.

Friends, yesterday, Susannah, Jen and I got the most lovely surprise in the mail- for our baby of the last year and half arrived in actual book form. Our lovely editor Bridget sent us the first copies of our Polaroid book and I can’t even express how many emotions ran through my body as I flipped through its pages. We have been dreaming of this day for a long time now and to finally have it here is rather surreal.

From the moment you start hatching ideas to the day you get to hold it in your hands is such a journey of; emotions, hard work, long nights, excitement, freak outs, re writes, fun, editing (and editing again and again), bonding and looking to the future. It’s hard to even put into words the feelings I’m now having to see my writing and photography in published form. Up until this moment, it never really seemed real.

I want to thank our editor Bridget and Chronicle Books for believing in us, our designer Brooke for making it all look so beautiful, but mostly I want to thank my co-authors Jenifer and Susannah, my pola sisters who I love so dearly.

Instant Love will be bursting from the shelves in bookstores from May/June or you can pre order it now on Amazon.

Here’s a sneak peek!

This Writing Life

Amanda — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 09:53:10 +0000

For as long as I can remember, I have been writing in some shape or form. I am the first to admit that I am no Hemingway, but it’s always been something I’ve just done. I can’t tell you why or what it even is that makes me do it. Sometimes I hate it. Sometimes I hate it so much that I want to scratch out my own eyeballs with a spoon. But then I do it anyway.

It all started with a poem I wrote in 4th class. At the time I thought it was the best thing I’d ever crafted. It may well have been the first time I felt like I was truly creative. Exercise books were filled with words on family vacations and summer holidays. Like all other dreamy girls, I penned poetry in university and thought I was pretty good because my mum told me so. I will spare you my Sylvia Plath worshipping poetry for now but I will profess this…

While I was spending afternoons scribbling away by the pool while I should have been writing essays, I never imagined that I would actually be writing a real book some day. I never imagined that the kid who wrote the poem simply titled “Pink” would be given the opportunity to write real words in a published book. It really compels me to wonder about all those other dreams I have…perhaps they aren’t as out of reach as I have convinced myself they are.

And as I sit here pondering my next sentences, I really just want to sleep. But of course, my mind won’t let me and I question why I even write these things here. I write them to remember. I write them to remember this moment in time when I was unsure of myself, was totally terrified of screwing up, and was unaware of what was to come next. Because if I remember the uncertainty and terror, it will get me through to the next part. And the next part is where I learn to smile with courage.

Amsterdam Made By Hand

Amanda — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:00:35 +0000

When the gorgeous Pia Jane Bijkerk told me she was sending me a copy of her book, I had no idea that I would get such joy out of the package that it was delivered in. Gold wrapping decorated with burgundy Japanese Washi tape…one of the beautiful handmade boats from her Amsterdam window display…a sweet note from Pia tucked inside… and beautiful real French lace tying it all together.

Pieces of her handmade world sewn together to make me smile.

You can imagine how delighted I was to receive such a beautiful gift.

The book is just as fabulous as its predecessor and is filled with gorgeous, milky photography all shot by Pia. In my quest for the simple life, I adore finding real artisans, people who work hard and pour love into their art. Amsterdam Made By Hand is filled to the brim with these such people.

Pia Jane has made an art out of taking us on tours of the beautiful stores in the beautiful cities of Europe. The words on the pages transport you there…as though riding a bicycle with her through the cobblestoned streets of Amsterdam.

In her introduction, Pia describes a dream she had about a magical place filled with artists and designers crafting away in beautiful back alleys. To imagine that her dream town does exist is kind of intoxicating. Intoxicating enough to make me want to hop a plane to Amsterdam today. The beauty is in the way the book is written. Pia wants you to take your time, to wander…it is only through the wander, that magic discoveries appear and Amsterdam Made By Hand is all about discovery. I know that when I do take my first trip to Amsterdam, I will be tucking this gorgeous little book into my suitcase. Who needs a travel guide, when you’ve got a Pia Made By Hand book?

Pia, Amsterdam Made By Hand is most definitely inspiring me to want to visit your beautiful town. I can’t wait for the day that I get to experience both Paris and Amsterdam your way.

Have you got your own copy to love and behold? And…aren’t I the luckiest?

Ways To Inspire Kids To Love Books

Amanda — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:00:09 +0000

Just when you thought you had little ole Mocking Bird pegged, I’m throwing you a curve ball and am going to write about something I never write about. Today I will not be writing about anything to do with photography or cameras or Polaroids! Try to take your jaw from the floor, kids.

It occurred to me recently that I assume Mocking Bird readers know everything about me which is pretty stupid on my part. For those of you who haven’t read my About Page, I am actually a teacher by trade. Back in Australia, my day to day was a teacher of gorgeous little cherubs of the infant kind. I know a lot of you who swing by here have bubbas and I want to share something else that I am very passionate about other than photography.

Reading To Children

You probably already guessed that from my rather obvious title though, right? One thing that I am often asked by parents is “How do I get my kid to enjoy reading?” The simple answer is show them how.

There is a BRILLIANT piece of writing by Australian children’s author Mem Fox about how to inspire a love of reading and I urge you to read it.

These are some ways to inspire children to love books and reading:

Love books yourself- children model their parents behaviour. If your child sees you reading books, enjoying books, buying books and sharing books, they will want to do the same thing.
Fill your house with books and reading material- the saddest thing a teacher can hear from a student is that they don’t own any books. I am probably one of those boring people who always gives their friends’ babies books as presents but for a child to have their own library from the youngest age is SO important.
Allocate daily reading time- whether it be an hour, 20 mins or 5 mins. 5 minutes a day is better than nothing at all.
Go to the library and borrow books on a weekly basis.
Allow them to borrow weekly from their school library by making sure they have their library bag on library day. School librarians are sticklers for not allowing borrowing without a bag.
Discuss their favourite books and book characters- talk about books with your kids so that they are immersed in a book rich life.
Draw and paint their favourite books- children learn to draw before reading and writing and it’s instinctively natural for them to want to create through drawing.
Write stories together about characters in their favourite books- retell the story, change the ending, write a new complication (problem), make up back stories for the characters.
Take photos of them reading and stick them on the fridge with “Darcy is reading” or “Darcy is a reader” written underneath- ha! I knew I’d get photography in there somehow.
Call your children “readers” even if they are aged 3 and just turning the pages. It doesn’t matter that they aren’t physically reading the words- they are still “readers”.

Do all of this from birth. Books and reading need to be a part of a child’s life long before they get to school. Worrying about a child not being interested in books in Grade 1 or 2 is too late. They need a book rich life from birth.

I hope this list is helpful to some of you Mums and Dads out there. I’d love to know what some of your strategies are for inspiring kids to love books. I know there are lots of other ways and would love to hear your thoughts on this topic.

p.s. I hope this wasn’t too off topic for those of you without kids. I want to bring a bit more of my children oriented life into this blog because I’m really starting to miss working with them. I’m not teaching right now, so this is my little way of getting it out there.

Jenifer Altman’s Little Italy

Amanda — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:50:46 +0000

If you are an aspiring photographer, budding writer or enthusiastic foodie, look for inspiration no further than the super talented Jenifer Altman. I have sung her praises many times before as she is such an inspiration to me in many ways. She photographs, she writes, she cooks and she is now a book publisher.

Today the postman delivered Jen’s new book, Little Italy and oh what a treat. Not only is it filled with beautiful photographs from her trip to Italy but it so exquisitely presented from the hand written notes to the paper souvenirs she collected along the way. It’s not just a book of Polaroid pictures, it tells the story of Jen’s journey through Italy and la dolce vita that was delighted in.

Such is a book that can churn up an instantaneous need to book a flight with Air Italia. I wanted to follow the little old lady in her Passeggiata piece and disappear into a world of gorgeous Italian light. You too will want to spend a while in her Tuscan villa and bask in the “sweet light” that seems to follow her wherever she goes.

Jen was lovely enough to answer a couple of questions I had about Italy and her little book.

What is it about Italy that you love so?

Jen says, ” Italy is ancient. The very ground reverberates when you step upon it; the knowledge that so much history has passed before you – it is humbling and awe inspiring. I am equally enamored with the way of life. Nothing is too serious – and for a good meal and better company – everything else can wait. Italy is the best lesson one can ever imagine in not only the pleasures of the land, but what truly matters in life – famiglia {family}.”

Do you plan on more books of the travel nature? Jen, Paris and Polaroids sounds like a great combination to me.

“ I would love to! We shall see where life takes me… I have plans to travel to Stockholm in May and possibly another jaunt soon there after… Paris does sound pretty dreamy.”

You can order Jenifer’s Little Italy here, view Polaroids here and of course read her lovely blog here. She is currently having a sale on certain items in her store and your last chance to order the book before the holidays is midnight tonight!

Good Pia Hunting

Amanda — Sun, 24 May 2009 13:13:28 +0000

A HUNT FOR PRETTINESS WAS ON TODAY….a quest to find pages of pretty dripping with Parisian-ness. I made my way to the best book store in the world, Sydney’s Kinokuniya to find the fabulously inspiring superstar Pia’s, Paris Made by Hand book. I was determined to find it, had searched the website to know exactly in which section to find it (travel? photography? shopping? crafts?). Travel, of course!

I was absolutely bursting to get my hands on a copy and couldn’t wait to open the pages. I can’t say enough about the author. I only discovered Pia’s blog last year, but in that short time, I have come to adore her work, her passion for life and her photography. There is a reason her blog is read by thousands. The fact that she is a Sydney girl makes me feel a little bit more love for Pia too.

Pia’s book is about all the beautiful places you can buy gorgeous hand made items in Paris, or as the French say, fait main. As you know, I am a little bit of a Parisian obsessive, so this book is right up my alley. Having seen the cover many times online, I couldn’t wait for it to jump out at me from the shelves. I bounced in the glass doors, scanned my eyes over every New Release stand hoping to get a glimpse of that cute little kitty, but alas, she was nowhere to be seen.

I checked both the travel guides and travel literature sections, nothing! I saw books about how French women stay the opposite of fat, books about Paris’ cafe culture, books about shopping the high end fashion stores, even books about flea markets, but no French kitty!

After making my way to the information counter, I was told that the one copy they had had been sold that morning! ARGH!

I will find you kitty, no matter what it takes!

The day wasn’t a complete loss however as I accidently discovered a new store called Via Alley in The Galleries Victoria. Japanese camera heaven!

Photograph by Pia Jane Bijkerk