We were awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise earlier this year, which is a fabulous recognition of what we do here at Isabella Oliver. Winners of the awards are invited to a celebratory reception by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace – and Baukjen was extremely excited to receive her invite this week.

Drinks with The Queen – who’d have thought it?

FashionFoodFatale.com asked Baukjen “What would you do for your last supper?”. Read the interview here.

Fashion Stylist Rebekah Roy recently interviewed Baukjen and Vanessa to discover what really makes Isabella Oliver special. If you would like to read the feature, simply click here.

This week an interview with Baukjen (one of the founders of Isabella Oliver) appeared online for Kid Magazine. Focusing on her life and likes, the interview offers a chance to get to know Baukjen a little more. You can read it here.

This weekend Baukjen will be celebrating her birthday, so as a little surprise we decorated her desk with some bright orange balloons (very IO!) and birthday sparkle. It's become quite a tradition to do this here in the office, and we hope Baukjen has a fabulous day tomorrow with a glass of champagne or two!

Xx All of the IO team

Hi, Vanessa here...

I was asked the other day by Sheerluxe.com, to give them a list of things I am lusting after at the moment. I had a lot of fun writing it and thought you might like to have a look - just click here. It is also a fab website, so if you are not already familiar, do have a browse.

V xx

Hi,

we're just back from our trip to LA which was wonderful. We did an event that we'll tell you more about soon. A few hours before the event started, my mother called to tell me that my sister in law went in to labour (she was due 8-8-8). I was already very excited about the event but this news just topped it off. Ten minutes before the event started, my sister in law and my brother called from the hospital to tell me that Emma Rose had been born. I had just come out of make up and had to work hard at not getting teary eyed - they sounded so happy, it totally made my day/month/year. A little while later they emailed pictures of her and I sneaked in to the bathroom to look at my new niece. She's absolutely adorable. Welcome Emma Rose, xxx Baukjen

Hello, Baukjen here.

I thought children developed an opinion on what they wear when they approach the teenage years. However my own children are going straight against this theory, My eldest, Oliver (5 years old), now refuses to wear certain perfectly normal shoes and clothes because of remarks made about other children's clothing in the classroom (girly, its what 'office people' wear etc). My middle child, Sebastian (3 years old) will only wear what Oliver wears otherwise there is a major argument every morning. So I have started, already a year ago, dressing them like identical twins, something I always did not like but now do to avoid the arguments and tears, And then there is Pippa, two years old. In the last week she has become a fashion obsessive. The past two mornings she disagreed with the outfits I had laid out, asked to wear other ones and this morning rummaged through some cupboards until she found her pink sunglasses (they are a party accessory but she is convinced otherwise) which she promptly put on her head as a hair band, It is close to freezing in London and there she is walking about as if she is in LA. I had no idea it started so early (and am convinced I was not at all interested until I was pre-teens). I know from Vanessa that her daughter, Isabella, too loves the whole dressing up process. It's all very different to how we remember it but it may be just getting older and forgetting what it was like to be that age. But still...

Hi,

Baukjen here. Friday evening, we went to one of my favourite London restaurants - The Ivy. As always, the service and food was wonderful and our favourite Maitre D' (Nigel) was there, it was lovely to see him. We went with Andre who is the best company you could ask for. And I spotted Boris Becker who really is very handsome in real life.

On Saturday, Vanessa went to Zermatt with her family for a week of skiing. My two eldest children (Oliver and Sebastian) had left the day before with their grandparents to visit one of my brothers and his family in Boston. So, Geoff and I were in London with our youngest, Pippa (2 years old). Normally we have the three kids, so Pippa loved having us to herself. We spent hours drawing, playing and watching American Idol (I secretly love the show -and Simon Cowell's comments - and my boys have no interest in it whatsoever so it was a dream to see Pippa dancing away and clapping everytime people clapped on the show.) Sunday morning London was covered in a thick layer of snow. Absolutely beautiful. However for some reason we had electrical problems so called in the electricians to fix everything. All is sorted now but it was a pity to have to cancel sunday lunch with friends we were looking forward to seeing.

Today we moved Pippa's cotbed out of her room and replaced it with a real kids bed. She was so excited, she put in around 10 books, every cuddly toy in her room and then jumped in to bed to sing to her dolls. A happy moment for her (and us).

I hope you have a happy week, Baukjen

Hi, Baukjen here.
A few weeks ago Geoff (my husband and our business partner) and I were approached about doing an interview about what it's like to work with your husband/wife. It was for one of the big Sunday newspapers. The interview was to take place at the champagne bar at St.Pancreas train station last Thursday at 10.30am.

So on Thursday Geoff and I went to the champagne bar early to be on time. We were waiting for the journalist when Geoff took something out of his briefcase and casually showed it to me asking if I remembered it. It was a book that we had read during a trip to Paris when we had just started dating approx 10 years ago. I looked at it and said I remembered it clearly. He pointed to some tickets inside the book and I saw they were the Eurostar tickets from our trip years back. I smiled and he told me to look closely. I didnt understand and then he said that today (Thursday) was exactly ten years since we went on our first date and that there was no interview and instead we were getting on the Eurostar train in twenty minutes to go for 4 days to Paris. I was totally amazed and started saying that we couldn't go as I didnt have any luggage with me (he said a friend of the family was waiting by the entrance downstairs with our luggage), the kids needed looking after (he told me my mother and stepfather were looking after them), I had lots of work to do (he said that he had arranged deadlines to be moved) etc etc. I could not believe it.

Half an hour later we were on our way to Paris with a glass of champagne. Just after lunchtime we arrived in Paris and drove to a fabulous hotel that I had once mentioned to Geoff I would love to visit one day. There we had a beautiful room overlooking the rooftops of Paris. We walked around and then had a beautiful dinner which ended with the waiters coming with cake with candles. When I unpacked my bags, I saw that Geoff had packed all my favourite clothes and shoes for day and for evening (I think Vanessa helped here). He (they) had thought of everything.

The next morning we went to a cooking course that Geoff had booked. I loved every minute of it though it was difficult to follow everything in French but I think I did ok. After we walked through a romantic area of Paris, met up with friends for drinks and then went for dinner in an old Bistro which was like time had not touched it in fifty years.

On Saturday we walked all day. The weather was beautiful. Geoff had booked lunch at a beautiful Art Deco restaurant where we ended up talking with the French people sitting at the tables to the left and right of ours. In the evening we had drinks at Hotel Costes and a light dinner at our hotel and then watched a film.

Sunday (today) we had breakfast at Angelina's and then went to see the Christian Lacroix exhibition at the Louvre Museum. After we spent a few more hours walking in the area and then went back to the hotel to pick up our bags and take the Eurostar back to London. The kids were excited to see us, had had a wonderful weekend with their grandparents and are now soundly asleep upstairs.

I can honestly say this was the best surprise ever and I loved every minute of it. As one friend said to me, you can't argue with him for a while now. I responded by saying I agreed that I probably couldn't have an argument for the next two months or so to which my friend responded "No Baukjen, quite a bit longer than that."

It was just the best weekend ever.

Hi,

I'm just back from dinner at Shoreditch House with Geoff, my brother and his wife. They are expecting their third child, live in New York and it's great to see them here in London. When we came back, I checked my email and one of the emails was from customer services who had forwarded an email that was sent to them but was addressed to me. It was from an old friend with whom I had lost contact with perhaps 9 years ago or so. I assume that she had googled me and found the website but either way she knew i now had three children and was a founder at IO.

I was so happy she had found me as I had no idea where she lived or what she was up to. Sometimes you just lose touch and the internet gives you the chance to find each other again. Over the years, both Vanessa and myself have been contacted by old school friends, university friends etc and its been so great to get back in to contact. Decades ago this would have been far more difficult, long live the internet.

This week it’s Baukjen’s turn to be the star of the show as she’s featured in Grazia. We love the headline – Blend it like Baukjen. The article talks about how she and Geoff set about completely renovating their home from top to bottom at the same time as Isabella Oliver was born. The pictures are wonderful – showing their fearless mix of old and new to brilliant effect and their amazing orange floor that always gets people talking. With a such a gorgeous house we don’t know how she can bear to leave it every morning and come to the office!

It has been a very busy couple of weeks indeed, but never too busy for a party, especially if there is cake involved- or 2 for that matter!

Happy Birthday Bauk- you are looking younger than ever darling, well done!

And thank you Patisserie Valerie for the gorgeous cakes!

Kisses,
V

She’s being very coy about it but we wanted to let everyone know that Vanessa is featured in this month’s She magazine…

The feature is called She loves, he loves. Vanessa models her choice of outfit and a choice of her husband, Barrie’s and a celebrity stylist guesses which choice is which. Everyone in the office could guess which was which immediately as we’re used to seeing Vanessa in gorgeous black outfits with her sexy Louboutin heels!

Hi, Baukjen here. Today a few of us returned from Boston where we had attended a conference. Or rather, the others went to the conference and I spent a few days with my eldest son (Oliver aged 4) visiting family who live there. We had a fabulous time, lots to see and do. Oliver has developed a particular fancy for american milkshakes which to me taste just as melted ice cream (perfect!). As great as the trip was, as bad the flight home was. The airplane was absolutely freezing and very uncomfortable. The end result was that I lost my voice and spent most of today whispering. Everytime I tried to say something, Vanessa would help by saying it out loud. As nice as it was to be in Boston, it is lovely to be back. Of course we brought back some sweets for the team: two enormous jars of Jelly Belly Beans. And for Susan (head of customer services) the largest jar of Skippy peanut butter we have ever seen. Whilst we were away we thought about Madeleine McCann and hoped that she had been found and was safe back with her family. Unfortunately that hasn't happened but we will carry on hoping for a happy ending together with so many other people.

Hi, Baukjen here. Vanessa and I were interviewed about our friendship for a UK magazine called Women and Home. Following the interview we did a photoshoot. Their stylists got to dress us, something we were a tiny bit uneasy with as we usually dress ourselves (ofcourse!). The magazine has just come out and here's our picture. It was great fun to do. Vanessa and I do love each other but we're not usually this close!

Geoff and I love the world cup, Vanessa isnt really in to it unless Brazil is playing. Having Dutch parents we support the Dutch team and of course England too. My brother bought the dutch football team gear for our boys which they proudly wore eventhough it was baking hot (the socks came off within minutes). We watched the dutch game with dutch friends and on the way there their shorts fell down a few times as the outfits are a bit too big (oliver, the blond, is 3 and sebastian, the redhead, is 1 - nearly 2).

A few days ago livingetc came out with our house in it. Geoff's on the cover in our kitchen with pippa. It's a nice piece and we've bought copies to keep for our kids for when they are much older and can show their kids where they grew up. The copy is in UK shops now (its the July issue).

Today is a good day. Our kids are well again after 2 weeks of stress of two kids being ill and in and out of hospital. Also its Vanessa's fifth anniversary. We received flowers from the girls at the office to wish our kids well (the loveliest bouquet!l), we had cake with everyone to celebrate the kids being better, vanessa received flowers for her anniversary, vanessa's husband sent us flowers for our kids. all in all, it was just a really happy day.

Last weekend Geoff and I flew to Chicago where we were going to attend a big mail order conference. The night before it started I called my mother who is looking after our kids to hear how they all were only to be told my mother was in the hospital with our 7 month old baby girl, Pippa. After hours of waiting the doctors made their diagnosis and she had a lung infection. Geoff and I took the first available flight back and have spent the past week with her in the hospital. She was on the drip and had oxygen support, all very scary. The excellent news is that the antibiotics had a very quick effect and she started her recovery practically immediately. Yesterday she was discharged and is now at home with us. She's smiling again and we are all very very relieved. It was a horrible week with a terrific ending. Thank you to everyone who sent us kind messages. Vanessa sent Pippa a big box of balloons which she loves!

Hi,

yesterday we had Living Etc (a UK homes magazine, and our personal favourite) shoot our house for their magazine. It was a fun day with the kids involved. It's coming out in a few weeks (the July issue), can't wait to see it!

Here's a picture of Baukjen and Geoff's 20 month old son, Sebastian, attempting to eat pasta!

Vanessa is off to New York this evening to meet with stylists and fashion editors early next week. Very exciting for all of us and we wish I was going too. Ofcourse she is also happy to see some friends and family while back home. While she is gone, we'll be working here on our Spring Summer launch due in March.

Hi, Baukjen here. I have a new nephew born in New York last night called Oscar! Its the middle of the night there now so I cant call yet but over here in London we are absolutely thrilled!

After 3 weeks of little sleep at night with Pippa and busy days with the other two kids during the day we are exhausted and so... we have found ourselves a lovely maternity nurse called Amanda to come in for a few weeks and help. Geoff and I are looking forward to getting some sleep tonight! What a luxury.....

Here's a picture Vanessa gave us today that she took when Pippa was two days old and Vanessa visited us in the hospital. Baukjen

Thank you to everyone who sent lovely emails, flowers (the house smells lovely!), presents. I will get round to thanking evryone personally next week but I just wanted to say thank you for these kind gestures. Its Pippa's due date today, officially 40 weeks but she's actually 11 days old. She is doing fantastic, loads of sleeping, feeding and cuddling. We're enjoying every minute with her. Thank you for making a special time even lovelier!

x Baukjen

It's Isabella's 3rd birthday today!! We still cannot believe how the time has flown- it is scary! She had a great day that started at around 5:30 am (yipeee). We had cake for breakfast, opened presents and danced around the kitchen- here she is with her new doll house, which I personally love (very girlie), Isabella I think would've preferred a dinosaur though! Maybe I'll get it right next year!

Monday morning 06.00 Geoff and I went in to St. John and St. Elizabeth hospital, affectionately known as John and Lizzies, in London. At 8 am the obstetrician attempted to turn the baby but after 15 minutes it was clear that there were still too many risks involved and so a c section was done. Pippa arrived at 08.45! She is absolutely gorgeous and we fell in love with her from the moment she arrived. There were a few complications after the operation but the staff looked after us fantastically and after a few days all was well. We cant praise the midwives and doctors enough, they were all fantastic and when we left on Friday it was a bit sad to have to say goodbye. Its great to be back with the family and Pippa is a dream. Baukjen

The baby is due very very soon. Unfortunately the baby is in the wrong position so the obstetrician is going to try to turn the baby. If that doesnt work it will be a c section. All this will happen in a few days time. I'm hugely excited and nervous all wrapped in to one. My friend Tiggy had her baby yesterday. Exciting times!

Hi, Baukjen here. Three more weeks until the baby is due. Very excited. The baby is lying in the wrong position at the moment, hopefully that will change in the next few days. If not it looks like they'll plan a C-Section for sometime next week. Cant believe it might all happen so soon. In the meantime there's loads to do so I'm keeping busy. Vanessa is in the USA now having a fab time. Miss her quite a bit but she will be back soon. Baukjen

Hi I'm Vanessa, (a New Yorker) designer and the "Isabella" part of Isabella Oliver. Isabella is my 2 ½ year old. My business partner Baukjen (Amsterdam/London), is a marketer extraordinaire and mummy to the other part of our brand inspiration 2 ½ year old Oliver. Isabella and Oliver are actually the true founding partners so to them we are truly grateful! Isabella now has a baby brother Piers and Oliver a brother Sebastian with another sibling on the way!

Our Company has gone through such an amazing transformation and growth in its short life, its mind boggling! In a nutshell, it began when Baukjen and I were very pregnant and met on a weekend break at Babington House taking a break from London. We got talking and soon became friends. We had both left dynamic jobs that saw us travelling like single, childless people and felt the time was right for something completely different, perhaps start our own business. As we'd spent the past 9 months struggling to find something to wear that didn't resemble tents and pinafores we decided to start a stylish maternity wear company for women who loved clothes as much as we do!

Initially we set up business in Baukjen's front room where we did everything from take orders, pack and wrap and do the post. We soon crept into the next room and then the next, and then the whole ground floor..until we had taken over the entire house.

In May last year we moved into our own premises in Kentish Town - it reminds me a bit of the warehouses in Tribeca - and business has continued to grow. So far so good. In August we're launching in the USA, which is really exciting and a bit scary for me, its home country and full of family and friends - another reason for doing an online diary as they're a great way to keep in touch!