textile designer sharon spain’s organic designs are hand printed and
made of natural materials. so it didn’t surprise us that she
submitted a homemade dill pickle recipe! i, like sharon, haven’t
always been a pickle fan, but there must be something about the
palate that changes with time. now i looove them. and before you
think “well, who cares about a recipe for pickles??,” consider this
pickle only part of your spread: sharon suggests enjoying them with
crusty bread and cheese. matt and i, obliged, and we threw a little mustard up
in it, and it was lunch for us! we promise if you offer these to
your friends, they’ll be talking about your pickles to everyone.
[photos: by matt
armendariz, part of the series we shot for the in the kitchen with column at his wonderful
studio in the LBC in mid december. thanks matt!] -kristina
about sharon: sharon spain is a bay area designer whose work
includes hand-screened silk and hemp linen pillows, handbags,
t-shirts, and a line of gift cards. her products are sold
nationally, and are inspired by modernism, and forms and color from
nature. in her other life as a writer and editor she has
contributed to the recent publications
Asian/American/Modern Art: Shifting
Currents
,
1900-1970 and Asian American Art: A History,
1850-1970
.
CLICK HERE for the full recipe and more photos.
read more …
January 30th, 2009 - 01:00pm
next week i have to report to the brooklyn courthouse for jury duty
so i’ve been looking for something to take my mind off the hours
i’ll be spending in that room. i’m happy to be doing my civic duty,
although i’m a little antsy about the idea of being stuck in one
place for that long (at least i can post from the courthouse thanks
to their wireless). but looking at these beautiful paper
installations by rebecca niederlander completely sets my mind at ease.
they look like delicate floating clouds that just happen to have
landed on a window. there’s such an ethereal quality to them one
can hardly help but to stare and wonder about how beautiful they
would look in person. rebecca’s friend cristi sent me a link to her
site and i haven’t stopped clicking through it since. if you’d like
to read more about rebecca’s work (and see more gorgeous images,
like the last image below from 2003) just click here. [thanks,
cristi!]
January 30th, 2009 - 12:00pm
i almost forgot that valentine’s day is coming up soon so i’m glad
i’ve been getting reminders in the form of valentine’s day card
submissions. there are so many beautiful ones out right now, but
this morning i’m digging these orange cards (printed on 100% post
consumer waste paper) from two
trick pony. i’m not a big red or pink person so i like the
option to try something different. want to pick up a few for loved
ones in your life? click
here to shop (these cards are $4.50 each) and browse the rest
of their collection.
January 30th, 2009 - 11:00am
kimberly at chez sucre chez just released a lovely line of
hand-embroidered pillows. along with her gorgeous monogrammed
towels (i’m mildly obsessed with monograms right now) they’re the
perfect excuse for a little friday morning window (or real)
shopping. click here to check out the collection…
January 30th, 2009 - 10:00am
i know these may be high on the “ick” factor at first glance but i
think they’re such a funny piece of design. these reusable anti-theft lunchbags from ‘think of the’ are designed
to make your sandwiches and snacks look moldy, hence deterring
co-workers or roommates from taking a bite. a little icky? yes.
hysterical? totally. click here for more info. (5% of all purchases will be
donated to ‘freedom from hunger’)
[ps: this is unrelated, but i just read/viewed maira kalman's beautiful painting series for the ny
times about the inauguration. it's a beautiful illustrated look
at her trip to dc and her experiences there. definitely worth
a look]
January 30th, 2009 - 09:00am
After much consideration, I think my favorite name for this column
is Weeders Digest. So lets go with it…Thanks for all your
suggestions. Each comment is like a little gift, and I’m so excited
to read them as they come in. You all have been so kind to voice
your support and enthusiasm! I am so grateful.
I wanted to say something today about winter, since it clear
it’s never ending.
Although I can tough out the winter as much as the next Finn,
seasonal doldrums effect the best of us, and I fall victim every
year. This is about the time when it starts; I’ll catch myself
casually scanning through Cormac McCarthy novels, or googleing
things like “nuclear winter” or “root canal.” Last night I watched
a dozen live Janet Jackson videos to see if there exists one in
which she’s not lip-synching. No luck - and my depression deepens.
Eric may try to cheer me up; “Want to eat combos for dinner and
listen to Rumours on repeat?” Sigh. This is serious.
In the world of flowers and plants January is can be a dead
zone. The wholesale market is half-empty. Vendors stand around
discussing traffic on the Long Island Expressway, or the latest
narc stake-out on 28th street. I buy a handful of stems and hail a
cab. On the way home I see a new tag near Chambers Street; someone
has scrawled in big yellow cursive “ROD STEWART LOVES THE
HAMPTONS.” Times are tough I think.
I look at the roots that have grown out of an old jar of curly
willow branches by my bedside. They provide a subtle reminder of
natures latent winter progress. Then I find a clover growing out of
an old empty pot. It’s almost insulting.
Later at home I brainstorm what to have for lunch. I settle on ice
cream. Then I proceed to watch 5 old episodes of Gossip Girl*, move
all my plants to the tub**, turn on the shower, and get in with
them. My bathroom has become an asylum for all things left living
this winter. This is nice I think. Did I have a meeting today?
Later, at dinner we discuss grey flowers. Aaron thinks they
should breed more grey flowers. He’s a hybrid enthusiast.
Aaron: I think you should consider genetic modification more
seriously - like if you hired someone to grow you a square
flower.
Me: What would be the advantage of a square flower?
Eric: Designers would love it, you could put them together like
pixels…
Aaron: Plus, you’d be the first florist in the United States to
have square flowers. I think it would be worth it just for the
notoriety. Of course you’d have to trademark it, or someone would
steal your idea.
I get up to clean the dishes.
Today I opened an old book in our work room and found flowers Eric
must have pressed last summer. They are papery specimens, worthy of
cataloging. I pin them to the wall. His foresight to do such a
thing makes me feel proud.
In our business, one of the saving graces of January is the start
of budding season. Branches that are brought inside to force the
blossoms open early. After ages of nothing but evergreens and
magnolia leaves, Quince blossoms start to appear just before
Chinese New Year. White, pink and red. Next thing you know the
market floods with forsythia, magnolia blossoms, spiraea and
dogwood. Most flowering branches are beautiful, long lasting (often
they will leaf out after the blossoms die) and dramatic. Hammer the
stems to split the ends - they’ll be able to drink more water - and
place them in a sunny window. Change the water once a week or
so.
For me, its the best time of year for flowers. So much promise
amidst all the antifreeze and sniffles. Lets clean the house and
bring something small and green indoors! Lets plan a bigger, better
rooftop garden! One where we don’t have to risk our lives carrying
buckets of water up a iron wrung latter! I have to remember to take
it one step at a time. First, I’ll remove all the dead flowers from
my apartment. Clean all the vases, and bring in something new.
* If you didn’t know, flowers play a big part in the show. Blair
Waldorf always has fresh flowers in her foyer. They tend to match
her outfits. Also, Lilly, Serena’s mother is always having a
wedding, or planning a benefit and has to deal with the florist.
She says things like “Too funerary” or “I asked for Cymbidiums not
Hyacinths!” I don’t need to tell you that this is valuable research
material for me.
** This is actually a really excellent remedy for your plants in
the winter time. Almost all plants can take a good soaking this
time of year, even succulents. For our sensitive plants, we leave
them in the bathroom for the winter months - the moisture does them
wonders.
January 29th, 2009 - 02:15pm