Stylimerence

“My Heart Wanders” is the latest literary offering from the awe inspiring Stylist/Photographer Pia Jane Bijkerk. I’ve been a devout fan of Bijkerk since stumbling upon her stunning book “Paris Made by Hand” in a little gift store some time ago and her latest labour of love My Heart Wanders has far exceeded my very high expectations.

It is a stunning book about taking risks, about letting go and about making a home wherever you are. Brimming with her beautiful photography and candid travel tales, Bijkerk tells the story of her upbringing and how, by listening to her heart and obeying its compass, she is wandering a passionate path of creative fulfilment.  

Perhaps the most resonating element of My Heart Wanders is the ideology of “home” and how it is so much more than the establishment we grow up in.

Home…
is the place in my heart…
Home…
is wherever my heart is…

Part of this beautiful journey has been Bijkerk’s ‘subtle heart’ initiative, which stemmed from a photograph she took of a beautifully aged lace curtain with a tear in its bottom left hand corner in the subtle shape of a heart. She realised that the humble heart, however, small, odd or imperfect, was a symbol of all that was important in her life, and  that whenever she seemed a little far away, a heart would materialise in her path, and like a loving beacon, guide her safely forth. They’d appear as miniscule stains on floor boards, on bustling thoroughfares and ancient deserted alleyways. She wanted others to be touched by what she was feeling so she began a blog, calling into the ether for photographs of subtle hearts, her only brief that they be found or made, but not bought. Like a wild torrent they flowed into her inbox, the sense of community and belonging overwhelming her. She learned that her wandering heart was not alone in the world, but at home in a sea of many.

Here are some photographs I took at the launch of My Heart Wanders yesterday on the lawns of the St Francis Monastery in Brisbane. The meander up the stone path toward the warm and inviting soiree inspired one of those pause-and-take-a-deep-breath moments. The sky was open and inviting, the lawn was a scent spectacular and the huge stone church opened its kind old arms to guests as we ambled in. We dined on le petit sandwiches and home-made sweets and mingled with the dreamy whimsicals alike. The gathering was cordoned off with delightful ropes of biscuit shaped papers cut from maps of places Pia calls home. Guests had kind faces, were adorned in expressive clothing, and love permeated the air. It was a beautiful afternoon and a fabulous gathering of many creative wandering hearts.

I caught up with the delightful Pia to distil some of her magic….

What inspires you Pia?

The thing that inspires me consistently is nature. All I have to do is go for a walk in the bush, or even just a city park and just seeing the trees, and the way the light hits them makes me feel rejuvenated and inspired.

What’s your number one style tip?

Follow your heart. Instead of looking at things the way you think everyone else wants to see them, try to look inside first and see what makes your heart sing. Find pieces that really inspire YOU.

How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

Quiet. Pensive. Passionate.

Do you think your heart will ever settle?

I don’t think my heart will ever settle. I’m willing to follow it, wherever it leads me x

The lovely Pia Jane (left) and me x