in the make

I came across this fantastic project the other day and wanted to share it with you!

Photographer Klea McKenna and writer Nikki Grattan started In The Make in 2011.  They travel around and visit artist's spaces and document their experience. They strive to bring the real to the art that we see and buy everyday and to expose the realities of life for artists striving to make it in the world. Every week they post a new studio visit. Their site and journey is a beautiful and enlightening experience.

Check out more here!

A painted rug.

Sometimes I get fun little projects to do at work. Instead of carpeting our conference room, we painted a rug on it!

I commissioned Jeff Zimmerman to mimic a vintage rug that I found online.

Jeff projected the design onto massive sheets, pounced it out (perforating the paper) then transfered it onto the floor with chalk, traced it out, and THEN painted it (actually, I'm making this sound much easier than it was--it took a week from start to finish).

Here are some snaps:

Stay tuned for the rest of the room...coming soon.

submission to HOARDERS.

Our basement is a hellhole. Really and truly...an episode of Hoarders without exaggeration.

It's that dark space that we try to hide when folks come over. We deny that it's there but they always find it. So, last weekend after nearly a decade of failing to avoid the ugly truth, we put on gloves and hip-waders and literally dug ourselves out. Out of the mind-numbing culmination of 80 years of old trash that consumed our basement: skeletal mice, canisters of hardened cleaners from the Hoover administration...really, too painful to get into much detail here.

The good news? There is a plan!

Inspired by the parred-down simplicity of the staff kitchen in Downton Abbey, the linen room in the White House...oh, wait--our ceiling is only 6'5"...but we can dream.

Wait, back to the gutting: We filled two trailers--brimming to the top. Six city-sized trashbins. Mounds and mounds sent off to donation.

It was truly therapeutic. Except for the back muscles still hurting.

Here is some inspiration for the planned space which is to be a pantry / prep kitchen / kitchen textiles room. It'll have have a sink, fridge, some counterspace...and--be still my heart!--hopefully (God and Craigslist willing), an antique butcher block.

Above: the linen room in the White House, with its long industrial shelves, wood floor and white walls.

CEILING concept: exposed beams painted white.

SHELVING concept: basic wood on Wainscoting walls.

FLOORING concept: slate gray epoxy with vintage area floor covering on top.

PALETTE: white, gray, and weathered wood. 

Oh, the sketching, re-sketching and re-sketching had begun...

Then came the harsh realization that moving plumbing pipes, gas lines and heating ductwork is cost prohibitive to building the space out.

And so the room got smaller...and smaller. And, well, now its 13x10. But still respectible for an extension pantry / prep kitchen!

THIS is the moodboard for the new space, including wainscotting, cast iron and safety lighting. There'll be a place to stash my hoard of vintage dishes and antique restaurant cookware--finally!

HERE ARE SHOTS OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW vs. WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN MY HEAD (check back in a month to see how close we got for our Found Free & Flea budget...):

heads up, gear heads! our baby in Rod & Kulture.

my dad would be proud.

remember this before and after project from an earlier post?

It just made it's debut in Rod & Kulture... telling the story about how we found her and David + my brother sam brought her back to life- and to the track. We havent received our issue in the mail yet, so look for the update with the full story. but for now, the spreads turned out pretty nice!

buy the issue HERE

Rescuing the cabin- filming the saga. EPISODE 1

The publisher of Found Free & Flea  (Random House / Clarkson potter) asked us to document the latest project: Rescuing the Sterlingworth Cabin...

so...
one sunny morning, david, bill, chuck and I decided to move it with only a pickuptruck, trailer, canvas strap and a prayer....

5 hours later we had her moved to her new little perch at camp.

here is the post on the origins of the cabin ...


kids: DONT TRY THIS AT HOME.

stay tuned for the next phase- fixing it up....

D.I.Y Mason Jar Chandeliers

I love anything D.I.Y.  

I stumbled upon these mason jar chandeliers that would be perfect for lighting up an outdoor wedding or party.  Some of these creations are more modern, while others more rustic/vintage -  but all could be a great addition to a summertime celebration.

Vintage Ball mason jars would be the perfect item to use in this crafting project, as they come in many different styles and colors, which make this D.I.Y very customizable.

Amazing! The combination of styles in these light fixture makes me want to craft one of these for my humble little apartment!

There is a great explanation of how to create one of these here.

FILM: 'The Party'. Anthropologie + Wandawega -- add cocktails and mix well.

...and a good time was had by all....

thanks:

David Burkart. editor + cinematographer
all of the lovely ladies of Anthropologie.
everyone who came out + made art!

earth movers and teepees...

IT TAKES A VILLAGE.

or in our case, one indian teepee erector, 

one bobcat operator,

and one very patient husband.

step 1: pick the spot (hilltop perch, with a very steep incline)

step 2: level the playing field (eerr- hillside.) best left to the pros. in this case, Jim from Prairie Tree

step 3: flatten, pack the soil, layer it with river rock. spread some seed to grow some plants to hold the earth in place.

step 4: call in the teepee king (we found him on craiglist along with the teepee) he brings with him all SIX kids- and he + david assemble this thing in the rain. no joke.

( note his outfit: he made it entirely himself. from killing the deer and dressing its deerhide to leather. to weaving the waist sash ). a-mazing.

teepee one: up and ready.

no. 2: on the way- stay tuned.

christine mitchell- new friend of camp

 

her amazing blog:

neaststyle.

and equally amazing
illustration site
(everything from cards for Tory Burch to the logo for buckshot sonnys)

and- her twitterfeed rocks.
in her words:

 

"There’s this stereotype that real style doesn’t exist in the North East.  Maybe it’s because of the severe seasons or the humble attitudes of its residents that spurns the assumption that there isn’t an outfit beyond a flannel and Carhartts. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my Carhartts (and my flannels)! But it’s suffice to say, style does exist in this amazing region of the country and I created this blog to celebrate where it came from and where it is today. Please feel free to leave comments and suggestions or contact me at neaststyle@gmail.com. Tell me why you believe there is style in the N’East!"