by kate on September 21, 2012
After our team meeting last week, Meg and Anh-Minh paid a visit to the Makeshift Society, a clubhouse in Hayes Valley established by creative wonder women Victoria Smith, Rena Tom, and Suzanne Shade. When we spoke with these ladies at the Curiosity Shoppe/Target party a few weeks ago, they were in the midst of pulling together the space and finalizing the details on this ambitious venture. From these pictures, it looks like they pulled it off marvelously!
The concept is genius: create a space that is equal parts library, clasroom, office, lounge, and studio; invite creative professionals to become members and use the space to suit their needs; offer business workshops and one-on-one consulting sessions for members; and host exhibits and events to grow and support the local creative community. Not only did these ladies fill a huge need in the area for a co-working/communal space, they also managed to make it vibrant, lovely, and awesomely multipurpose.
I can’t wait to see how the clubhouse changes as the community continues to grow. If you live in the Bay Area, check out the membership options here, but do not despair, non-locals: there are day passes available as well.
{All images by Victoria Smith for Makeshift Society}
by Alexis on September 20, 2012
This week we’re continuing our Guest Recipes series with Erin Gleeson of The Forest Feast. (She’s already shared two excellent recipes: Sesame Edamame Salad the first week, and last week, Roasted Potato Green Bean Salad.) This week she’s got a little side that would be a perfect accompaniment to a dinner with friends: Pesto Deviled Eggs. Thanks for this inspiring idea, Erin!
Pesto Deviled Eggs
What’s better than a good ol’ fashioned deviled egg before dinner with a cocktail!? These are especially fun to make when entertaining. The pesto adds some unexpected flavor and the avocado adds creaminess in lieu of the usual mayo, making this version a little lighter. Garnish with a bit of coarse black pepper and a pinch of shaved parmesan. Cheers! —Erin
Ingredients
6 hard boiled eggs
1 ripe avocado
2 tbsp pesto
pepper
Parmesan cheese
Peel the hard boiled eggs, cut them in half and remove the yolks. Combine the yolks from 2 of the eggs (discard the rest), the avocado and the pesto. Mash together and spoon into the eggs. Garnish the eggs with a little pepper and Parmesan cheese.
by kate on September 19, 2012
Some people like to perform a big house clean in spring, but personally I’m more of a fall cleaning kind of person. Actually, it’s more accurate to say that I’m a fan of weeding out and reorganizing the house in spring and fall, but if I had to choose just one, it would be autumn, when the temperatures drop and my time indoors increases significantly. We just completed a minor bedroom renovation—repainting walls, moving furniture around, repairing or replacing old linens—and are now faced with a few storage issues, including where to stash our bikes.
While hunting for clever bike storage, I came across this awesome version from MIKILI, a design studio in Berlin established by Leopold Brötzmann and Sebastian Backhaus that specializes in these beautiful bicycle furniture. The shelf looks as wonderful when it’s empty as when it’s loaded up with bikes, books, and gear. I really love how the storage is hidden so that all you see from the front is a clean, artful wooden face; like a modern sculpture that happens to hold bicycle. So far it seems as if the shelves are only available at select stores in Europe, but I’m sure that will change as word of this superior design spreads. To find out more about MIKILI bike shelves, you can visit their website here.
{All images form MIKILI, via Artnau}
by kate on September 18, 2012
A few weeks ago I was tasked with tracking down artwork for a photo shoot, so I spent many hours searching shops and online galleries. I had a blast; it’s truly incredible how many amazing artists are out there. I am particularly fond of paintings done on unique surfaces, and I have fallen in love with these collaged artworks by David Cass. David scours the flea markets of Brussels to collect his ephemera: printer trays, old handwritten envelopes, and beautiful weathered wood. My favorite pieces are the small seascapes painted on and inside vintage matchbooks; they are like little worlds you can tuck into your pocket. I encourage you to check out more of David’s pieces from the “Unearthed” exhibition at the Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh; in addition to undulating waves, the collection also includes some beautiful cityscapes. Do any of you have a new favorite artist to share, particularly one who works in mixed media? Please share if you do—we love discovery!
{All images from David Cass}
by Alexis on September 17, 2012
On a recent shoot, Kate brought several pieces of art from Little Paper Planes. One in particular caught my eye (the one above, titled Period). It didn’t find a place in the final shot, but I was smitten. This weekend I had a chance to look up the artist and wanted to share his work with you.
Fredrik Åkum is a painter and photographer from Sweden. Fredrik’s paintings attempt to capture fleeting moments from Sweden’s short summers, like a bloom or a flag in the breeze. His style is a mix of his intention and the serendipitous interaction of the fluid materials he uses. I love the watery, dream-like effect this lends his work—there is such a peaceful quality in all his pieces. If you’d like to read more about Fredrik, there’s an interview with him at Little Paper Planes, where a small collection of his prints is also available.
{Images from Fredrick Åkum via Little Paper Planes}
