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archives |
Tuesday 08.31.10
the house that jealousy built: the jealous curator.
seriously, how have I let myself get to room no.6 without including this?! any house that is completely inspired by fabulous artwork absolutely, positively, needs an art studio! and so, here it is, the house that jealousy built – room no.6 – the studio:
1) studio space can sometimes feel a little cramped – but not in the house that jealousy built! just get yourself one of these fantastic/sneaky curtains and you’ll be all set! {bauke knottnerus} 2) oooh, i love this table so much, and i would definitely want it in my studio – although i don’t know if i could ever bring myself to actually paint on it. nope. i just don’t think i could do it. {shay carmon + ben klinger} sigh. alright, moving on, time to get creative:
3) lighting! every art space needs perfect lighting, and i think i’ve found it. not only does this “favourite things” pendant lamp cast a warm glow, it also allows you to show off your latest, and obviously, most favourite creation {chen karlsson}. 4) so, what to make today? time to have a seat in a comfy chair, upholstered entirely in australian tea towels, and think about the infinite possibilities ahead of you {suzie stanford}. and while you’re there, why not do a bit of doodling to get things going — or in this case, flip through a few insanely inspiring sketchbooks belonging to other artists: 5) thick paint, and hilarious thoughts make up the contents of this gem {martha rich}. 6) these images are from a series of nine collage books that were handed back and forth between artists, working with, and over top of each other’s contributions – who wants to try that? me too! {wafa} 7) any sketchbook that has stuff spilling out of the sides is all right by me! {ted mcgrath}. sigh. so good. ok, well, if we’re going to make anything like those books, we’ve got to get to the best part of any art studio – the supplies!
8) first stop – paris! this little shop in paris is filled with the craziest bits and pieces that any artist could ever hope to find {tombées du camion}. can’t make it to paris today? no problem, i have other options. 9) let’s start with a brand new box of hand-carved wax crayons {diem chau}, 10) a pair of scissors, a thick pile of rainbow-hued construction paper {jen stark}, 11) and obviously, you’ll need a few rolls of multi-coloured masking tape {rebecca ward}.
lastly, something that every great artist needs to keep those creative juices flowing –
12) lots of coffee, and chocolate/espresso cupcakes! {anselmo swan}
ok, now get in there and start making stuff – but please don’t get chocolate icing on that beautiful table!
~ the jealous curator xo
Friday 08.27.10
friday food files with molly watson: Summer Lake Fish.
For most people, summer eating is defined by sweet corn and tomatoes, peaches and melons, hot dogs and hamburgers, ice cream and ice pops.
For me, though, nothing, absolutely nothing, says “it’s summer” quite like pan-fried lake fish. I get it a few times a year while I’m in Minnesota visiting my family (walleye!), but lake fish isn’t so easy to come by in San Francisco. What is easy to find are sanddabs – flat, small, ocean fish with flesh that takes remarkably like the fresh, light, flaky white fish pulled from Minnesotan lakes that I grew up eating.
Whatever delicate white-fleshed fish you have on hand, my favorite way to prepare it is to pan-fry it, but you can always dot it with a bit of butter and broil it, too.
If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, I’ll be reading at the Eat Real Lit Fest. Saturday, between 4 and 5, off Jack London Square in Oakland. Come by and say hi – it’s always nice to meet a friendly face!
***
Each week, the Friday Food Files are deliciously brought to you by Molly Watson. For more on Molly and her delicious recipes, you can visit her in one of many wonderful places:
Writer: mollywatsonwrites
Blogger: the dinner files
Recipe Wizard: localfoods.about.com
Radio Girl: eat that radio
tweeter: twitter.com/mollywatson
teacher: mediabistro.com/courses/cache/instr404.as
[ Photos courtesy of Molly Watson. ]
Thursday 08.26.10
n.e.e.t. finds for your nest.
Hi, Stephanie from N.E.E.T. here, with a bright and bold selection of n.e.e.t finds for you nest. . . (don’t forget to check out the Fall issue of N.E.E.T. Magazine which goes online September 1!).
1 Road to Delhi Pillow – sukicheema 2 Heart Smile Print $40 – linda ketelhut 3 Orange Whizbang Bowl $28 – anthropologie 4 Linear Stem Flip Book (Pack of 3) $13.50 – orla kiely 5 Wooden Family $60 – gypsy and twink 6 Set of 9 Handprinted Cards $28 – morris + essex 7 Isak Breadboard $40 – huset 8 Nos Da Throw $239 – Donna Wilson at horne 8 Witty Pencils £5 – lisa stickley london.
Wednesday 08.25.10
guest post: creative inc. blog tour.
i’m really excited and honored to be part of the creative inc. blog tour! creative inc. is the new joint venture from meg mateo ilasco and and Joy Deangdeelert Cho, as a follow-up to meg’s hit book Craft inc.
i got talking to them about my efforts to branch out from the blog into other passions of mine, like photography, and so today, joy and meg are offering up some advice from creative inc. on how i might better go about organizing my time, and staying focused on the goal (which i honestly am just horrid at!). i think y’all will find this useful information for any creative or freelance goals you’re trying to set for yourselves. thanks girls!
starting a freelance business while working full-time, being a parent, or adding it to everything else on your plate can be challenging–but making time to create a strong portfolio is essential for a budding freelance career. Here are some tips for building your portfolio so that you’ll be a few steps closer to turning your “side” gig into a full-time business.
1. Make a time commitment. Set aside a specific number of hours every week dedicated to working on your portfolio–whether that means creating new illustrations or putting together vignettes in your home to photograph. Find a time that you can stick to and typically have free and schedule it into your calendar. (For example, every Sunday morning from 9am-12pm before your usual Sunday brunch or Wednesday evenings from 7-10pm once the kids have gone to bed.) You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish by simply devoting a few extra hours per week.
2. Create the type of work you enjoy most. When your heart is in the work you do, it resonates with people. You will also be more satisfied producing projects that come easily and naturally to you. Consider Todd Selby and Scott Schuman, both started photography projects to satisfy themselves. But what started as personal expression for both eventually garnered cult followings and became their vehicles to gain the attention of big name clients. Now they’re collaborating with clients they never imagined they’d have.
3. Share it with the world! After you’ve gathered a good amount of work (3-5 projects is a good start, but you eventually want at least 8-12 for a full portfolio), update your website, blog, facebook page, and twitter, and email your friends and family images of your work. For great opportunities to come your way, you have to inform everyone you know (virtually and otherwise). You never know who may see it or who may pass it on to someone that may hire you for a project!
For more helpful guidance from the ladies of creative inc., follow meg and joy around on their blog tour on the following sites:
8/23 Poppy Talk
8/24 Oh Happy Day
8/25 sfgirlbybay
8/26 Mint
8/27 Wit + Delight
8/28 Cathy of California
8/29 Book By Its Cover
8/30 Not Martha
8/31 Frolic
9/1 Uppercase
9/2 Craftzine
9/3 Decor8
9/4 Kris Atomic
9/5 Grain Edit
Friday 08.20.10
friday food files with molly watson: Grilled Halloumi.
Yes, Virginia, there is cheese you can grill.
Of course, it burns a bit easily and will stick like the dickens to the grill if you don’t 1) work on a clean, well oiled grill and 2) oil the cheese itself, but you can grill it! It’s Greek and called Halloumi and I’ve been seeing it all over the place – regular supermarkets and all that.
I had the chance to really get into it with Halloumi this summer when my mom mistook my request for three packages as one for three pounds. I discovered it’s best to grill it in larger pieces you can move and turn with tongs instead of cutting it up and threading it onto skewers (a process that tends to split the bite-size chunk you’re trying to skewer in half). Use a clean grill, brush the cheese with plenty of olive oil, and grill it over a medium fire, if you can.
With grilled vegetables and a side of simple couscous or some orzo tossed with olive oil, lemon zest, and lemon juice, or even this lemon orzo pasta salad you have a lovely, summery, easy, breezy dinner. A sauce of some sort is nice, too. Bottled hot sauce works, as does a simple lemon vinaigrette, yogurt mint dressing, or pesto, but my favorite is an Indian-style mint chutney.
***
Each week, the Friday Food Files are deliciously brought to you by Molly Watson. For more on Molly and her delicious recipes, you can visit her in one of many wonderful places:
Writer: mollywatsonwrites
Blogger: the dinner files
Recipe Wizard: localfoods.about.com
Radio Girl: eat that radio
tweeter: twitter.com/mollywatson
teacher: mediabistro.com/courses/cache/instr404.as
[ Photos courtesy of Molly Watson. ]
