Insta – Natasja Sadi

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May 24

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Happy Sunday from my home to yours. Etched Salmon, the most beautiful, perfect peonies from my friends @peony_shop_holland cultivating over 500 peony varieties, it is always a gift to spent time with the flower Master creators but Joshua and Jeremy’s dedication to cultivate beauty is truly like no other. Feeling incredibly rich this week for this flowergold, their friendship and inspiration.
Have a lovely Sunday and wishing you a beautiful, inspirational new week.
#peonies #peonyshopholland #onetofollow #etchedsalmon #peonylove #flowerfarmer #flowerfriends #currentmood

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May 22

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Spring sugarflowers for a weddingcake for last years @ariellachezardesign workshop. Missing everyone this year, already looking forward to next year. Happy Friday everyone. Hope you had a wonderful week wishing you a beautiful sweet weekend.
#flowercake #flowerfriday #flowerlove #weddingcake #currentmood

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May 17

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Happy sunday from my home to yours. All my favorites. Peonies, roses, tulips and ranunculus with the last tulip in our home still standing. Pink and orange another favorite combo. Brightness for better days. Wishing you a beautiful new week everyone.
#roses #peonies #ranunculus #springlove
#currentmood

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May 17

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Just something sweet and gentle. A beautiful swam family we were lucky to see while out for a walk. These beautiful birds are always so regal and protective. Did you know swans mate for life? No other swan will ever take another swans place. They can actually die of heartbreak when their partner dies. Cuteness from their babies. What is not to love about spring. Have a lovely Sunday and beautiful new week everyone.
#springlove #natureiskind #currentmood

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May 16

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Sugar Peony
All fluffed up and nowhere to go. On a cake soon but for now this peony represents my weekend mood. These weekends won’t be like this forever. One day we will celebrate and hug one another again. Thank you everyone for all your kind words in my instastories about this peony. You made my weekend so much sweeter.
#sugarflowers #botanicalart #peony #springmood #currentmood

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May 13

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Sugar flowers
My children have started with school again. Not enough words to describe their excitement. The protocol to follow incredibly detailed. Only half of the class so the 1.5m/6ft is guaranteed. It was the first time ever that we brought them to the corner of school and let them walk the rest by themselves because parents are not allowed to group together. Always keeping an eye till they set foot at the school entrance in the distance. They felt so grown up having to walk for the first time to school by themselves. After being together every single moment for more than two months it felt strange to have the house all to myself. I couldn’t wait for them to come home and tell me how their first day of school was. So many stories when they came home but when I asked if they washed their hands at school they gave me a bit of an “... are you kidding me look” Yes, mom... If only you knew how many times... When entering the classroom, leaving the classroom, with every lunch or snack, I could go on. No exchange of pencils or any goods. I’m so impressed of how quickly they adjust to the new “normal” and above all, I can not thank their teachers enough for returning and following protocol so diligently.
Sugar daffodil, peonies and butterfly ranunculus in sugar. It feels good to be back to work again. Hope all is well on your side. Hang in there, together we will get there.
#staysafe #newnormal #littlestoriesofmylife #sugarflowers #currentmood

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May 10

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Happy sunday and happy Mother’s Day for those celebrating from my home to yours. Tulip season coming to an end, last of the (double) tulips picked from the fields @passionfortulips Special tulips for a special day. Some tulips have grown elegantly as big as my hand. Thank you Michel for always sharing beauty so generously. Have a lovely Sunday and beautiful new week everyone.
#mothersday #tulips #holland #tulipheaven #passionfortulips #tulipmania #currentmood

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May 10

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A little time off this past week. My children are having a holiday and there was every reason for us to pause and spent time together. We took a boat ride the other day, no friends allowed just the four of us. Life on the Amsterdam canals, you can sail along in instastories. I have shared this view before, how different it feels in the warmth of spring. Tomorrow our children will go back to school after 8 weeks of lockdown. We are slowly starting up again in the Netherlands. A reminder...there is always, always light at the end of the tunnel. Sending you a postcard from Amsterdam, signing it with love. Have a lovely Sunday and happy, healthy new week everyone.
#lightattheendofthetunnel #sailingoutofisolation #springisamazing #amsterdam #myneighborhood #currentmood

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May 3

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Voor Adriana
We received a call from my mother in laws nursing home one morning that she had some fever and shortage of breath. A Covid-19 test was taken and staff with protective garments assisting my mother in law from now on. At night a dreaded call. Our dear Adriana had passed away.
A long life lived, she would have been 90 in June. What I feared earlier that day how she could end up in a hospital with tubes and monitors thankfully prevented. She died peacefully in her sleep, in the comfort of her own bed. My husband had to make an effort to see her since lockdown. Waving from the balcony with our children, flowers and sweets. Except from warmth of the staff there were no hugs or hands to hold family. We wondered about the effects of isolation on elderly, hoping they wouldn’t die of loneliness. Adriana had a good but also a very tough life. Growing up in the war with her dear Jewish classmates disappearing one by one left deep scars. My husband shared she told the (same) stories over and over again after dinner growing up. Everyone always listened. Repeating her stories she unraveled her trauma and able to examine it. Coping with trauma in a way that is an example for all of us. In the early fifties Adriana and my father in law travelled to far corners of Europe. In the simplest way in an old car with hay stacked on top because they couldn’t afford any hotels. There was a sense of we must live and celebrate in those years.
Death is always loss. But loss in the time of Corona I can only describe as cruel. The strict measures for her final goodby are beyond anyone’s imagination. Discussing who can join feels like a ‘who’s important’ list. Funeral attendance with Zoom... who would have thought.
Heartbreaking stories since lockdown. Trauma for the ones left behind and those on the front line caring for our loved ones. The physical warmth not allowed leaves many in the cold. There is a new side to mourning we should to be sensitive to.
Adriana had a dry sense of humor, crazy about chocolate, a lady you would have loved sharing a glass of wine with. The Covid-19 test came back negative. We are celebrating her life. Because above all, life is to be celebrated.

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May 3

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For someone like me it is hard to keep your eyes on the road when driving through all this beauty. Had to stop and smell the tulips. So good to hear the birds sing. Have a lovely Sunday and beautiful new week everyone.
#tulips #tulip #holland #currentmood

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May 1

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Sugar Lily of the valley
Happy first of May. Starting the month with our home featured @thecut thank you so much @dhwendygoodman for having me. I have put the link up in my bio.
Why sugarflowers some wonder... ? Each individual petal is created out of sugarpaste (it’s main ingredient confectioners sugar) Real flowers are my inspiration but no...real flowers are not used in any way for coating or dipping in sugar. All leaves and petals are rolled by hand. They come alive when finished with (edible) colour paint and dusts. How long each flower takes? Depending on the type of flower. More petals more time. A single flower can take half a day, or up to a day. Sugar flowers are sustainable. No harm done to the environment when created and although fragile they last forever. Easily mixed with real flowers, the perfect decoration for cakes or table scapes. And last but not least. They give me incredible joy. I don’t think there is such a thing as too much joy.
Flashback to Lily of the valley symbol of good health, luck and love. What we need most this time. Have a beautiful new month everyone.
#sugarflowers #lilyofthevalley #staysafe #spaceofthemonth #thecut #nymag #flowerfriday #currentmood @nymag @designhunting

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Apr 30

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Sugar tulip
Recreating La Belle Époque tulips. On one hand I consider myself fortunate that I get to work with the real flowers as perfect prototypes. On the other hand... fear sets in because having met the growers who spent years creating this very special tulip, I also feel a little bit of a responsibility staying close to their botanical appearance. But in the end my sugar flowers will always be my version of the botanical reality and with each petal hand made, no flower will ever be the same. It will always be a work in progress. (see more in instastories)
More sugar flowers to come, hope your week is going well.
#staysafe #flowerart #labelleepoquetulips #sugarflowers #currentmood

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Apr 26

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Happy sunday from my home to yours. The world most exclusive tulips in a vase at my table. I’m still dreaming of all the fields I was so fortunate to visit. Thank you @passionfortulips for the tour and meeting all the amazing Dutch breeders (at 1.5m/6ft distance) I was so lucky to go home with these incredible tulips. Some tulips here are straight from the grounds of what they call the breeding chambers. Bulbs that are still in their experimental fase. Some seen here don’t even have a name yet. Only a number. Did you know that it takes 5 years for a bulb to become a new tulip and another 10 years to hit the market? These breeders taught me an incredibly important lesson. Patience. I sometimes get restless planning ahead. Thinking of projects that will take several months. These breeders work so hard, take an incredible risk cultivating new tulip variations and know that they are in this for the long run. 15 years... They are in no rush. They just continue with their passion to produce the most exclusive, most beautiful tulips the world has seen. Many thanks to everyone following me in my Insta stories. It is such a pleasure to be able to share these flowers that give me so much happiness. Spring in Holland is like nothing else. A magic carpet of colors everywhere. A fairytale that sometimes seems too unreal, the mind doing it best to process all the beauty. Sending all my love from Amsterdam wishing you a happy Sunday and beautiful new week everyone.
#tulips #tulipseason #passionfortulips #tulipmania #flowersinthetimeofcorona #currentmood

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Apr 24

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Words can never describe what this video means to me. Endless rows of La Belle Époque tulips with @passionfortulips
One of the most sought after tulips at the moment, there are only three breeders cultivating these tulip bulbs in Holland and... in the world. Feeling like the richest girl, I was lucky to be introduced to these fields today.
Would you be ok with some tulip spam this weekend? So much more I would love to share. Thank you so much Michel @passionfortulips for making my dream come true today. You, Frans, Theo and Kees are truly the best. Bringing beauty to our homes and gardens, the best Holland has to offer. All at 1.5m/ 6ft distance flowers bringing us always together.
Happy Friday and a wonderful weekend everyone.
#labelleepoque #tulips #fromhollandwithlove #flowerfriday #flowerfriends #currentmood

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Apr 19

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Happy sunday from my home to yours. This sentence never rang more true. So excited, I will be taking over the @designhunting instastories today. So please join me for a visit in Amsterdam, lots more flowers, touring my home and hearing about how we sail in this time of lockdown. I can’t wait to chat with all of you. Thank you so much @dhwendygoodman @designhunting @nymag @thecut @jillkargman
Swipe to see how we celebrated in our home!
#takeover #instastories #designhunting #flowerlove #cake #stayinghome #quarantinestories #happysunday #currentmood

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Apr 15

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No sugar but something sweet and light that I wanted to share with you today. The Watermusician who named his boat “the Nutshell” (de Notendop) visited our neighborhood this afternoon to lift all our spirits. With his trumpet and mini street organ, songs were played on his small boat and enjoyed by all on our Amsterdam Canals. Everyone 6ft/ 1.5m apart, he brought all of us together in my city today. After each song he said “..Hang in there” out loud. Followed by “...We are all in the same boat, let’s continue to be an anker” These words of his (in Dutch) in my instastories with lots of videos, more songs played. I hope you enjoy this mini concert. Sending love from Amsterdam
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#reiniersijpkens #staysafe #quarantinelife #musicalways #littlestoriesofmylife #currentmood

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Apr 12

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Happy sunday and happy Easter for those celebrating from my home to yours. First peonies and a stunning, completely dancing and exuberant tulip ‘Dj Parrot’ on the left from @passionfortulips Colour and happiness in our home this Easter that we will always remember.
I have a confession to make. It is no secret I adore blue and white and in particular Delftware. I always try and stay away from those typical windmill Dutch scenes painted on the vases. If there is a choice I will always choose the handpainted floral side. This time of social distancing changes my mood. I have noticed I have become a bit more nostalgic these days. Clinging more to things that I didn’t know I would miss so much. How I wish I could be at the fields for Easter. Enjoying all the Dutch beauty outdoors with my family. We baked a cake today and enjoyed it on our rooftop terrace. Because of the warm weather there has been a floral explosion of tulips and colour all thanks to @passionfortulips Thank you Michel for turning my rooftop terrace in tulip heaven. Like a small garden I’m now so lucky to have. More in my instastories.
Happy sunday and wishing you a beautiful, healthy new week everyone.
#happyeaster #tulips #tulipheaven #passionfortulips #peonycoralcharm #flowersinthetimeofcorona #currentmood

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Apr 12

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Amsterdam in social distancing time. There have not been many instastories where I have had so many wonderful messages as from the evening walk I took the other day. I have put the stories up on my page in case you missed my stroll at sunset. You can hear the church bells of our ‘Westerkerk’ in one of the videos. Followed by a picture of this church with the Anne Frankhouse across from it. Every time when I pass by and I hear the church bells, my minds always wanders about how Anne heard these bells too when they were hiding in “het Achterhuis” The Secret Annex. How she could hear the church, but how the church wasn’t able to save her and her family. Her house is only a few minutes from mine. We are used to the endless queues from people visiting. Her diary one of the most read books in the world. I always find it so hopeful to see so many all over the world take time to visit her home and learn more about her story. Some replies in my messages said that the Anne Frankhouse looked so different from what they had imagined in the book. Please know that her house is visited by hundreds if not thousands each day. They have built a modern facade around it to protect its original architecture because of historical importance. Everything is kept in the exact same way as when Anne and her family were discovered. If you ever get to visit, this house will be everything you imagined it would be. The feelings that will get hold of you, once there, you will never forget. Anne stayed with her family and four others from July 1942 till augustus 1944. More than two years hiding, locked inside, not ever leaving the secret annex.
I never thought I would say this, but Amsterdam has a different soul without the visitors. The sounds we hear are different. The lack of noise gives a bit of an eery feeling to be honest. Up next my sundayflowers. Sending you a postcard from Amsterdam signing it with love, have a wonderful Sunday and happy Easter everyone.
#stayhome #staysafe
#lifeinthetimeofcorona #littlestoriesofmylife #amsterdam #canalhouses #currentmood

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Apr 9

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Sugar flowers
Yesterday I decided not to watch the 8 o’clock news but to take a walk instead. We are allowed to go outside. The evening sky was so beautiful, getting some fresh air the best thing to do. When I returned home I watched Frontline Vlogs. A new program ever since we had to self isolate in the Netherlands. Those working on the frontline sent in short videos made on their phones where they tell about their experiences. Nurses, doctors, ambulance personnel just to name a few. I never missed a broadcast but yesterday I was struck by a short story of a cleaning lady in a hospital. She showed how her colleagues helped her and eachother in the heavy protective gear. She explained into detail how every hospital room is cleaned after a Corona patient is hospitalized. Every corner, every spot treated with large amount of bleach. This procedure repeated several times a day, with new patients. She ended by saying how she wished she could do more. That it was ‘only cleaning’ she could do. I was incredibly touched by this. I was a cleaning lady once. With a group of people, some of them other students, we had the task of cleaning an office building. The money helped me get through my first year of college. Some had been cleaning for the most part of their working life and some were medical students. I will never forget that time. I always took my job seriously but I also remember sometimes reactions (or lack of reaction) from others. Hearing this wonderful girl yesterday made me think again of the importance of her job. It matters. If she isn’t there, if that hospital room isn’t clean, it is impossible to have patients admitted. What I truly hope this time will evoke is that we will appreciate more everyone’s contribution. We truly are all in this together. Having to isolate at home showes us how dependant we really are on others. Looking for silver linings in this unprecedented time. My evening walk on empty streets up in stories soon. Throwback to some sweet flowers, sending love from Amsterdam. X
#lifeinthetimeofcorona #stayin #staysafe #homesweethome #sugarflowers #currentmood

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Apr 5

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Happy sunday from my home to yours. If ever there is a debate if flowers are essential, my answer would always be yes. No doubt about it. Trying to sent you as many flowers as I can. This vase filled to the brim with Dutch tulips, roses, lysianthis, frittilaria, snowballs, carnations and berries. First warm springday with 20C/68F outside, staying safely inside. Have a lovely Sunday and a healthy bright, colorful new week everyone.
#flowersareessential #flowerlove #lovealways #currentmood

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Apr 5

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Love in the time of Corona. I took this picture without this couple knowing. Around the corner of my home, we are allowed to get some fresh air once a day. I was standing behind them for a second. They were so engaged with eachother, they didn’t even notice me. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the teenage children my friends have. Their first (intense) love, separated because of Corona. I think we can all remember our first love and how it made us feel. Empty streets at the end of the afternoon, they had this view completely for themselves. Amsterdam in the spring never looked so pretty. Sending you a virtual postcard signing it with love.
Have a lovely Sunday and beautiful new week everyone.
#loveinthetimeofcorona #amsterdam #lovealways #littlestoriesofmylife #amsterdam #canalhouses #currentmood

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Apr 3

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These real flowers unusual for me to post on a Friday but these are different times. I received a request today. If it would be possible for me to tag a friend and sent her some virtual flowers. There are so many in a hospital right now who are not allowed to have any visitors, who are completely separated from their loved ones. So many who won’t be able to receive flowers for support and well wishes in these unprecedented times.
@cakes_and_crocodiles this one is for you.
Please tag a friend and loved ones in the comments who could use a virtual bouquet.
#flowersforlove

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Apr 3

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Sugarflowers daffodils, helleborus, camelia and carnation. Friday flowerday. I ask myself if it matters what day it is. It does. No homeschooling in the weekends, we all can use this little break. We are adjusting little by little to this new reality. No time for cookie and cake baking with my children yet. You would think that staying at home would give plenty of opportunity but reality is different. Every evening I say to myself that I’m forgiven for the things I didn’t do. I try to stay kind to myself (and in this way to everyone else) always but I have found that these days I have to dig a little deeper to stay kind to myself. ‘...It is ok’ on repeat multiple times going through my mind, spoken softly and out loud throughout the day. Whether this goes for snacks or screentime, sleeping a little later etc. requested by my children it is...”ok”. Forgiveness another word central these days.
These are really tough times for some, but I hope you get a chance to enjoy this weekend.
The sun is out, temperatures of 20C/ 68F expected on Sunday. Please stay home everyone. Let’s not jeopardize our health, or others. Also, we still have this relative freedom in the Netherlands right now with this semi lockdown. We have been doing so great, staying in so far. Let’s not do anything to have our lawmakers impose new measures. We can do this.
Happy friday and a beautiful weekend everyone. Wishing you continued health always.
#forgivenessisfreedom #stayinside #staysafe #springishere #homesweethome #flowerfriday #currentmood

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Apr 1

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Sugar daffodil
There are these gorgeous double daffodils in our home right now standing on their last feet. Only a little bit of time left to recreate them in sugar. When all the daffodils are gone this one forever to stay. Working on some more. With so many varieties of daffodils I still have a few more to go. When I feel I’m losing control, each sugar petal, each stamen at a time brings me calm. First of April, a new month. One sweet flower to wish you continued health and safety.
#calmversations #staysafe #homesweethome #sugarflowers #daffodils #currentmood

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