Neat Things: Jackets

t 2 b:

vintage leather bomber $65 - skivvy lulu vintage

vintage cropped suede boho $49 - fire gypsy vintage

vintage brown leather boyish jacket $60 - altered vintage ware

vintage black leather motorcycle jacket $119 - winifred & bance

Series: Displaying Art and Photography - Inside Glass

Photo displays can be both fun and practical. Using everyday objects as photo frames can add an element of surprise and amusement. Look around your house for ideas and dream up something new and unexpected!

Use photos as labels or to hide the contents in a jar of dry goods.

Copy a photo and display in a covered vase to avoid humidity in the bath or kitchen.

Display a photo with a favorite object under glass in a collector's box.

DIY Project: Wood Storage Cubbies

Nursery pots and planting paraphernalia stay put in these cleverly constructed garden shelves. The up slanted edges of the shelves were inspired by nesting boxes in chicken coops. So clever and space saving!

The DIY project instructions for this can be found here.

Flickr Buddy Photo: The Imperial Honey Bucket

The Imperial Honey Bucket, originally uploaded by Ar'alani.

From the very talented eye of Ar'alani--how funny is this?!  Pay her a visit and check out the entire Star Wars set on her stream, I promise, you'll be laughing in no time.  The captions and comments are almost funnier than the images!  Her nature photography is equally as wonderful...click, visit, view and enjoy!

Image by and copyright of Ar'alani - contact her via Flickr for more info or to purchase prints of her work.

Recipe: Spicy Chickpea Sandwiches

Food cart vendors are popular in our city, Portland, Oregon. Recently, I discovered there's a cart located in the Sellwood neighborhood, called Garden State, that serves these sandwiches. Going to have to pay them a visit soon and then try making these at home!



You Will Need

Chickpea patties
1 1/2 cups chickpea (garbanzo) flour*
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Spicy lemon mayo
1 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
Finely shredded zest and juice of 1/2 lemon

Carrot slaw
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups shredded carrots (2/3 lb.)
1 cup shredded radishes

Cooking and assembly
6 ciabatta or pane francese rolls (3 oz. each)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
About 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
4 ounces salad mix (5 cups lightly packed)

Preparation

1. Make chickpea patties: In a 3- to 4-qt. pan, mix chickpea flour and dry seasonings. Gradually whisk in 2 1/2 cups water until smooth. Cook over medium heat, whisking often, until mixture begins to thicken, 3 to 5 minutes. Switch to a spoon and stir until mixture pulls away from pan bottom and mounds in center of pan, 4 to 6 minutes. Stir in parsley. Using an oiled spoon or fingers, evenly spread mixture in an oiled 9- by 13-in. pan. Let cool.

2. Make mayo: Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl. Chill, covered.

3. Make slaw: Whisk together vinegar, oil, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl, then gently stir in carrots and radishes.

4. Now for the sandwiches! Preheat broiler and set a rack 4 in. from heat. Split rolls, leaving one side attached, and open up. Place rolls cut side up in a large rimmed baking pan; lightly brush tops with 1 tbsp. olive oil. Broil until golden, about 1 minute. Tip onto counter and drape with foil.

5. Oil the baking pan. Brush chickpea mixture with 1 tbsp. olive oil; sprinkle with salt. Cut into 12 rectangles and set slightly apart in oiled pan. Broil until golden, 4 to 6 minutes. Turn patties over and broil until golden on second side, about 2 minutes.

6. To assemble, generously spread mayo on cut sides of rolls. Place some salad greens on one side of each roll and top with some carrot slaw, then 2 chickpea patties.

*Find in the baking aisle of well-stocked grocery stores and at health food stores.

Garden Inspiration: Painted Branch

Paint a branch with vivid color to set a mood. This curvy sculpture was an Atlas cedar, painted by the garden’s owners. The designer calls it a "happy surprise that adds a punch of color to the soothing green palette." I like it, do you?

FOUND HERE.

Artist Profile: Melissa Beach - Scent of Rain Designs

Tell me a bit about yourself name, location, affiliations, personal stuff.
My name is Melissa Beach and I live in Santa Cruz, California. I live in a great apartment with my fiance and our four year old daughter. I am a senior at the University of California, Santa Cruz majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Art History. I began taking pictures with a Roloflex SLR (aka Rollei) when I was about 10. My father, grandfather, and several on my uncles are or were photographers. So when I expressed an interest in photography my dad didn't think I needed to start with a point and shoot. Once I learned to use a camera I never left it at home. I still use that Roloflex and it is still one of my favorite cameras.

surfer's church

Apart from creating art, what do you do?
When I am not taking pictures I am reading one of the 10-12 books and 30+ articles I have to read for my classes at UCSC each quarter. Intense! I pull myself away from work as often as I can to play with my daughter or hang out with my fiance who is still my best friend. When school is not overtaking my life my two favorite things to do are cook and grow my veggie garden.

reaching for sustenance

What first made you want to become an artist?
I remember going to my grandfather's home one Thanksgiving. He was a painter, photographer, inventor, and print maker and his house was covered in his works. Family members have told me that he was the artist behind the Otter Pops characters and he invented several board games and the 100 sided dice. He and my grandmother had luxurious taste so even though they lived in a modest apartment it was decorated with lots of velvet on the couches, a formal dining area. I remember their big lamps with all the crystals hanging off of them. The largest painting in that room was a gigantic tiger, painted with Gouache. That painting mesmerized me and when I found out my grandfather was the artist, I decided I wanted to be able to paint like that too. My grandfather died when I was about 13, and I didn't know him very well, but I feel like I did. My family often tells me how much my art resembles his. I like to think that he sends me inspiration and helps me along my own path as an artist.

plum zen - set of postcards

Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc.
I use four different cameras in different ways. My Nikon D70 is my main digital SLR. I also use a small Panasonic Lumix and, of course, my Roloflex. I recently began exploring Through the Viewfinder or TtV photography and I am using my grandfathers Kodak Dualflex 3 as my bottom camera and my Nikon D70 for the top camera. I love that I am combining our two cameras to create new pictures.

I am drawn to bright colors and the order of nature. I like the idea of a natural perfect ratio or Pi. So I look for that to show through in my photograph's composition. Mostly I want people to walk away energized by the colors but in a peaceful and somehow relaxing way. My black and white prints are also inspired by order and shapes as well as light and shadow. I like my black and white prints to be really dramatic as well as aesthetically beautiful.


secret garden

Most of my printing is done through professional printers who specialize in photography. Occasionally I get access to a real darkroom and I can process and print my own film. Unfortunately, this is becoming more and more rare.

What artists have influenced you and inspire you to create?
As I mentioned before I am really inspired by my grandfather and my father who taught me to use a camera. There are several photographers who are on Etsy and Flickr and who have blogs that are very inspirational. When I am in a rut I love doing personal photo challenges. I've experimented with shooting 100 different pictures while standing in one spot or taking 20 pictures using negative space. Often some of my favorite photos come from these challenges.

leaf drops

Where else can people find your work?
I have a website which is just getting up a running, my Etsy shop, Scent of Rain Designs, my Flickr stream, my photo blog, and I write a craft blog, Elemental Stitches.

All images displayed in this post are by and copyright of Scent of Rain Designs, all rights are reserved.

Neat Things: Kitchen

mixing bowls $35 from HERE.


enameled cast-iron pot $190 from HERE.



moon napkins, set of 2 $18 from HERE.



vintage yellow scoop $7.07 from HERE.

Design Inspiration: Mudroom

Galvanized steel planters provide just the right amount of rugged storage ― and a fun metallic glint ― above coat hooks in a mudroom.

They sell these planters at Ikea, folks...I'm so lovin' this idea to store hand tools out on our deck!

DIY Project: Chair Revival

Turn a drab thrift-store chair into a stylish accent for any room in your home. All it takes is some paint, fabric, basic supplies, and a free weekend. To start, choose a chair with no missing screws or loose legs; it should have interesting features or frame detail.

For a slightly more ambitious project, turn two or more chairs into an eclectic set. Look for designs that have a wooden frame and an upholstered seat and unify them with the same color and fabric.

Materials and directions
Screwdriver
Sanding sponge
Tack cloth or rag
Small paint roller
2-in. paintbrush
Primer
Paint
Fabric
Chalk or pencil
Scissors
Staple gun

How To:
Step 1: Unscrew the seat from your chair frame with a screwdriver. Set seat and screws aside.

Step 2: Sand the frame. Use tack cloth or a damp rag to wipe up the dust.

Step 3: Use a small paint roller to cover frame with primer, then follow with the 2-in. paintbrush to fill in joints. Let dry at least two hours, then apply a second coat of primer. Once dry, sand and tack again to create a smooth finish before painting. Clean roller and paintbrush.

Step 4: Apply a base coat of paint with the clean roller. Smooth all surfaces with the paintbrush using long, straight strokes in one direction. Apply a second coat after the first is dry (don't sand between coats).

Step 5: While the frame dries, re-cover the seat. Pull off the old covering or apply the new fabric over it. Measure and cut a piece of fabric about 2 inches wider than the seat on all sides, first tracing an outline with chalk or a pencil. If the fabric pattern includes stripes, make sure they align with the seat shape.

Step 6: Wrap the fabric over a seat edge and secure with a staple. On the opposite edge, pull fabric taut and staple to secure. Repeat on remaining two sides, then staple all around the edges, pulling cloth tight. Stop 2 inches from corners.

Step 7: Fold the fabric at one corner into a neat finish by tucking the excess underneath and smoothing the top down. Secure with three or four staples, keeping the folds flat and even; avoid stapling over the screw holes. Repeat for each corner. Once the frame is dry, reattach seat with screws.

Info: Benjamin Moore Exotic Red matte finish 2086-10; fabric similar to pictured Lakeside Ticking Stripe available from Jo-Ann.

FOUND HERE.

Good People: The Power House Project

The Power House was started by the Design 99 duo, Gina Reichert and Mitch Cope in March of 2008 with the purchase of one house and two empty lots totaling $4,900. These properties were purchased with the kind help of family members and friends.

What is a Power House?
The Power House intends to be a stimulator and not an end in itself as a singular art object. The house is a broadcaster of potential ideas and a place to plug those ideas into. It will be used as an interactive site, by Mitch, Gina and their neighbors. The Power House is meant to be a symbol for creativity, new beginnings and social interaction within a neighborhood.

upcycled free paint - renovation begins

The house is meant to act as a cultural catalyst and an opportunity for cultural exchanges through workshops and residencies. It will also provide lessons in wind, solar, and sustainable strategies by implementing these systems and introducing them to the community. Installations in the landscape will be the first outward sign that draws attention to the facility and its mission. The exterior skin of the house itself will also exhibit unique characteristics and 'green' materials and strategies appropriate for the Michigan climate. Power House will serve as a showroom both inside and out.

Why create a Power House?
The communities of Detroit have been hit hard economically for many years now. Prior to the foreclosure crisis the property values in Detroit had been extremely low, and they have hit an all time low due to the current real estate market. There has always been a need for low income housing, but often what is called low income is not really that affordable to purchase or sustain. The Power House is designed to prove that it is possible to take advantage of the housing crisis and produce super efficient, self-sustaining homes all for under $99,000. By taking advantage of today’s housing crisis, the Power House Project can help people to rethink their city's aged and decaying housing stock and bring the homes back to life.

neighbors help plant a community garden

Long Term Goals
As the foreclosure crisis hits all around them, with house after house going vacant and vandalized, they began to strategize ways of making positive changes. In 2008, Gina and Mitch purchased a bank foreclosed house in Detroit for $1900 (originally valued at $85,000), almost on a whim, simply to try and take control of their immediate surroundings which were quickly destabilizing due to a spike in foreclosures. Since the house had been scrapped- all its electrical, plumbing and heating systems stolen- the idea became to work with the house in a way that turned a negative value into a positive asset by reinventing the house as a Power House.

Positive Ideas + Interactive People = Healthier Neighborhoods
The Power house Project was designed to stimulate communication and action within an otherwise challenging but unique Detroit neighborhood by way of mining out the existing positive and productive aspects of the neighborhood. The Power House is designed to be a space where people can feel comfortable to share their ideas, knowledge and expertise about the fundamentals of neighborhood living, i.e., gardening, house work, new technologies, safety, and so on. The Power House is also designed as to be magnet for gathering whether they be neighborhood resources, energy, social change, story telling or simply a place to produce and view art and culture.

candidates for future power houses in the neighborhood

Future Power House Projects
Each Power House will be capable of creating enough energy for its own consumption and produce enough excess power for at least one neighboring home. This is feasible due to the extremely low cost of purchasing property in Detroit and the amount of available small single family vacant homes in Detroit. A certain percentage of each Power House would also function as neighborhood hubs by producing not only electricity but also a new point of identity, gathering place of creative exchange, thus a new type of neighborhood where undesirable homes become experimental factories for community action and power.

Currently they are in the process of bringing other artists in to help set up a small neighborhood radio station and sculpted landscape work.

Learn more about the Power House project and Duo 99 HERE.

Info and photos in this post credit to Design 99 and the Power House Project.

Neat Things: Bath Faucets

FOUND HERE.

New in shop: Oregon Coast

Antiques and Stuff


Sentinal


The Way Out

These images are now available as prints or blank note cards in our Etsy shop. Please visit the shop today or contact me for more information!

Copyright Pfeiffer Photos 2009 - all rights reserved.

Garden Inspiration: Urn Table

Root succulents in an 18-inch-diameter urn filled to 6 1/2 inches below the rim with potting soil, topped with a 24-inch round of tempered glass ― sold as a tabletop ― on the rim. This mini-greenhouse can double as a table for a lightly shaded patio. To keep condensation from building up on the underside of the glass, remove the glass tabletop every few days for an hour or so. Once the succulents are rooted (about four weeks), transfer them to pots or garden beds and fill the table with glass balls, shells, or your choice of decoration.



FOUND HERE.

YouTube Fave: Where the Wild Things Are

Is anyone else looking forward to this movie? I admit, I didn't even know about it until today (we don't go to the theater much). I DO remember the book by Maurice Sendak, and this trailer sure looks promising for the film. Immediately brought to my mind the whimsical work of Jim Henson, Frank Oz and George Lucas back in 1986 ala Labyrinth!

Who could forget David Bowie as Jareth, the Goblin King?!

Flickr Buddy Photo: TJ Scott

They Hit The Town, originally uploaded by TJ Scott.

Can I tell you how much I am loving the colors and reflections in this photograph? From the amazing stream of one of my Flickr Buddies, TJ Scott...go visit, you will be inspired!

Recipe: Avocado Fries

Crunchy on the outside, creamy and nutty inside, these fries are over the top. This recipe from Sunset is from Chef Troy Foshee, at George's at the Cove restaurant in La Jolla, California--he serves them with grilled steak. Gettin' hungry? Oh, yeah.

You Will Need:

Canola oil for frying

1/4 cup flour

1/4 tsp. kosher salt

2 large eggs, beaten to blend

1 1/4 cups panko (Japanese bread crumbs)

2 firm-ripe medium avocados, pitted, peeled, and sliced into 1/2-in. wedges.

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. In a medium saucepan, heat 1 1/2 in. oil until it registers 375 on a deep-fry thermometer.

2. Mix flour with 1/4 tsp. salt in a shallow plate. Put eggs and panko in separate shallow plates. Dip avocado in flour, shaking off excess. Dip in egg, then panko to coat. Set on 2 plates in a single layer.

3. Fry a quarter of avocado slices at a time until deep golden brown, 30-60 seconds. Transfer slices to a plate lined with paper towels. Keep warm in oven while cooking remaining slices. Sprinkle with salt to taste.

Avocado Tips:

Use it when it's just ripe. How to tell--squeeze it with your whole hand; it should have the same give as chilled butter. If you're mashing, scrape it out with a spoon. If you want slices or dices, score skin down the center with a paring knife and carefully pull off the peel.

Photo credit: Annabelle Breakey for Sunset.

And I quote...William Morris

"Have nothing in your houses which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."

~William Morris (1836-1896)



Born in Walthamstow, Essex, on March 24, 1836, William Morris was the son of a wealthy businessman. As such, he enjoyed a comfortable childhood before going to Marlborough and Exeter, Oxford.

By the 1860s, the multi-talented Morris decided that his creative future lay in the field of the decorative arts. His career as a designer began when he decorated the Red House, Bexleyheath, which had been built for him by Phillip Webb. Morris formed Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. in 1861. The firm (later renamed Morris & Company) was particularly well-known for its stained glass, examples of which can be seen in churches throughout Britain. Morris produced dozens of designs that are often characterized by intricate intertwining fruit, flower, and foliage patterns.



In 1890, Morris founded the Kelmscott Press near his last home at Kelmscott House in Hammersmith. Inspired by Italian Renaissance and medieval German typography, Morris designed three typefaces for the Press: Golden, Chaucer, and Troy. More than sixty-six volumes were printed by the Kelmscott Press, the most impressive of which was its magnificent edition of Chaucer which was published in 1896.


morris original wallpaper design, morris adjustable chair

Find out more about Morris HERE.