Did you catch the home of Anna Bulbrook of The Airborne Toxic Event in Issue No. 9? While shooting her apartment, we were especially drawn to the chairs that occupied her balcony. But when we first scouted her place for the magazine, they looked very different; they were in their original state, with taped-up yellow upholstery that had seen much better days. It’s amazing what new fabric and some braided trim can do!
“As an East Coaster who moved to Los Angeles by way of Colorado, I loved the outrageous Western cowboys in the context of a waspy toile,” says Anna of her textile choice, which was purchased from Michael Levine Upholstery. The chairs were a street find, given to Anna by friend and L.A. interior designer Kathryn McCullough. The table was a budget-friendly DIY project: the base is from Silverlake Architectectural Salvage, while the top was built with scrap Douglas Fir floorboards from Home Depot.
The Before {Photo by Laure Joliet}
Anna + The After {Photos by Emily Johnston Anderson}
P.S. If you’re looking for a copy of Issue No. 9, most of our stockists still have copies available!
One of my favorite shoots for the Holiday Gift Guide was our Homemade & Heartfelt piece about gifts you can make and share. We asked three creative professionals to share a project that was both fun to make and receive. There are instructions in the guide for a trio of solid perfumes, carved stamp winter linens, and also a homemade quince-orange marmalade recipe from Blue Chair Fruit. I was designated the recipe tester for the marmalade—a role I was more than happy to accept. It was my first adventure into jam making and preserving, and I was surprised by how approachable Rachel’s instructions made the process. And the final results were delicious! I made a batch of classic scones from a recipe from my English neighbor and fresh whipped cream to go along with the marmalade. The combination is irresistible. The recipe for the scones is below, and full instructions for how to make the marmalade are right here in the Gift Guide.
Beryl Fox’s Rich Scones
1 1/2 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 oz butter
2 tbsp sugar
1 egg + buttermilk to equal 1/2 cup
a pinch of salt
Preheat oven to 425°F. In a mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Roughly cut up butter and add to the dry ingredients. With a pastry cutter or your hands, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture is coarse and the butter is in pieces no bigger than a pea. Whisk together egg and buttermilk, and add to the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Form scones by dropping 1/4 cup scoops of dough on a cookie sheet, or rolling the dough out and cutting with a biscuit cutter. Bake for 7-10 minutes until golden.
by Alexis on November 30, 2012
One of my favorite parts of getting to work with creative professionals are the side projects that they’re constantly coming up with. It seems like everyone has a labor of love they’re spending evenings or weekends devoted to. Andrew Knapp’s Find Momo is just such a project.
In each photo in the series, Andrew’s black and white pup is peeking out from over a ridge, behind a sign, or the front seat of an old van. The beauty of the images themselves is enough to keep you scrolling through Andrew’s tumblr, but finding Momo is a bit of an addicting challenge, like a digital game of I spy. If you’re looking for a little distraction for your Friday, click over to Find Momo and search for him yourself. (Also, do you remember Maddie on Things, another photography/puppy side project Kate posted about last February?)
{Images from Find Momo}
I’ve been a fan of artist/illustrator Jane Mount’s Ideal Bookshelf series for quite some time now. (Her sold out “Ideal Bookshelf 102: Cooking” print occupies a spot in my kitchen.) In case you’re not familiar with Mount’s work: Her paintings depict a selection of favorite books, books that have been significant in some way. Earlier this month, she released a book based on the ideal bookshelves of dozens of notable folks—including Thomas Keller, Maira Kalman, Judd Apatow, Miranda July, Patti Smith, Jennifer Egan, and Dave Eggers. Mount painted their picks, and writer Thessaly La Force interviewed them about their choices.
As soon as I heard about the book, I knew it was going on my holiday wish list this year. You can buy a signed copy on her site, which she’ll even inscribe with the recipient’s name and a special note. Perhaps even cooler? Commissioning a custom painting by Mount. She’ll create a piece based on your own personal favorites. Yes, please.
James Franco’s Ideal Bookshelf is featured in the book, and is available as a print on 20×200.
by Alexis on November 28, 2012
