The Book’s Story – Cara Barer

First Edition, 2007

Just in case Santa needs some hints, I was excited to see that one of my favorite photographers, Cara Barer, has a self-published book on Blurb: The Book’s Story. I have not yet inquired about one of her pieces, but I have a feeling that they are a big-ticket item. However, the book is only $79.99.

Her work has been featured in multiple shelter magazines, and in each home, her pieces are stark and beautiful. That is what led me to find out more about her and her work. It all started when she saw a rain-soaked Yellow Pages lying on the ground. She photographed its intricately bent pages and soon moved on to dictionaries, software handbooks—anything with pages might become the basis for her carefully posed, elegantly whimsical images.

“I’m afraid the printed word will become a rarity, and the next generation will rely on the ephemeral word—the digital kind that only exists through a computer monitor, or a sort of virtual book that can hold thousands of titles. I’m not saying that’s a bad idea—I only hope that the paper version continues to be exist for the people that want the real tactile sensation of turning a page and holding the real thing.”

PDR, 2009 

Flurry, 2004

Journey to Aragoza, 2009

Great Hostess Gifts under $25

Thanksgiving is next week, and for us, it means going to friends’ homes for dinner and other gatherings. While a bottle of nice wine is usually an easy gift, I thought I would share some other ideas I have compiled over the years. I decided to focus on gifts under $25, and gifts that would be easily available in most markets.

Olive Oil

Terra Medi Extra Virgin Olive Oil has striking packaging, and is a great finishing oil made from Greek olives. Available at SuperTarget and Whole Foods. $14.99 for 17 oz.

California Olive Ranch Arbequina EVOO. I picked up a bottle to try at Wal-Mart for around $12. Definitely a drizzling oil with high fruitiness. Beware, the regular EVOO has similar packaging. Make sure you get the Arbequina, which is a tiny Spanish olive and has notes that include ripe tropical fruits, apple and fresh artichoke.

 Parmegiano-Reggiano 

This idea is from Devon Frederick in an old House Beautiful.  She suggested a wedge of Parmegiano-Reggiano. Usually, you can get a huge wedge (I get mine from Costco, for $15-$20). Make sure you get imported, the rind must look like the picture above, as I don’t think American versions cut the mustard. If you have never broken off a chunk to eat as an appetizer with olives, nuts and cured meats, you are in for a treat!

Candles

I love Mrs. Meyers products; the Lavender collection is what I use every day. Most retailers carry a selection of non-toxic cleaning products, so it should be easy to find Mrs. Meyers. I haven’t personally used their candles, but I stood in the aisles of Wal-mart sniffing the fragrances, as I had to pop in for something else. The Lavender, the Basil, and the Lemon Verbena all smelled wonderful and clean, perfect for freshening up a kitchen. And, the candle is only $9.99!

I have never been a fan of highly fragranced candles that smell like food. However, I am also not a fan of shelling out $55 and more for Rigaud or Diptyque as a hostess gift. Anytime I go to a large retailer, I try to look for a fragrance that doesn’t smell like a mass-produced scent. A while ago, I happened to pick up an Evergreen candle from Slatkin & Co. and was pleasantly surprised at how wonderful it smelled. “Fresh green fir balsam blended with sparkling mint, cool pine and spicy clove, with a smoky touch of white birch and dark woods.” It is my favorite fall candle! $19.50 for 14.5 oz. filled candle. 

Homemade Treats

photo credit Marge Ely/Express

It seems that when I make food to give, it tends to be savory versus sweet. Probably because so much holiday fare tends to be of the sweet variety and I feel that people are hankering for something different.

So far this week, I have made candied jalapenos (yum) and a fig-balsamic drizzle (with plans to make a rosemary-balsamic drizzle and an espresso-balsamic drizzle). Last year, I shared this addictive recipe for Sriracha Spiced Pecans in an Express article on holiday entertaining; I need to make those again this weekend.

2 cups pecan halves
4 Tbsp. Sriracha chili sauce (less sauce for less spicy)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup brown sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread 2 cups of pecan halves on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake 10 minutes. Remove nuts and toss, in a bowl, with Sriracha sauce, salt and brown sugar. Again, spread nuts on cookie sheet, and bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes, turning nuts twice. Remove and spread on foil to cool. Don’t wait too long to remove or the nuts will begin to stick together. Package in cello bags.

Dramatic Powder Rooms

Lucky for me, the powder room is a small area. The more I look at it, the more I decide that it is too light. I am thrilled that Patrick (my painter) gave me a blank slate to work with and got rid of the wallpaper. While nice, the colors did not fit with my earthy gray-toned palette.

Style at Home has a fabulous powder room in their newest issue, but alas, it is not online. I will have to scan it for you. However, that started me on the hunt for images of dark and/or dramatic spaces.

Here are some of my favorites:

 Decor Pad

Elle Decor 

  Elle Decor 

  Decor Pad

 

 Veranda

Elle Decor 

Sparkle & Shine

We survived the weekend, not much worse for wear, except I now have a cold, courtesy of the youngest boy. He was not feeling well, and in addition, the this toddler would to scream “NO”, at the the top of his lungs every time you put him to bed or down for a nap. However, that seemed to be the worst of it, so I think we were quite lucky.

Monday is my light day, post-wise, to share images that I find intriguing. Thought I would share a new technique I tried, to shoot on a black background instead of white, and include reflections in the image.

Happy Monday!

photo credit: L. Schroeder

Monogrammed Candles from Archipelago

 
I am always on the hunt for well-priced gifts. On One Kings Lane today, they have these monogrammed candles from Archipelago. At $15 each, you can afford to buy in multiples for  those hosts who always entertain during the holidays.

On my plate, the boys we thought were coming next week are coming THIS weekend and next!! So my time on the computer is limited! I am so sore from moving furniture, accessories, etc. And yesterday I decided to splatter paint some boring curtains to use in their room. What a workout for your arms!

Before & After: 1970’s Kitchen Makeover

So here is what I am doing this week:

• Cleaning out both extra bedrooms, one to house the 3 boys we are providing respite* for the weekend of the 19th, the other to remain a guest room. Once cleaned, we will furnish and decorate.
• Selling and/or donating all the home furnishings that I no longer want or need (and I have a LOT).
• Finalizing details for the baby shower my sister and I are throwing for my brother and sister-in-law, to celebrate the upcoming birth of triplets (2 girls and 1 boy)!
• Finish renovating the kitchen before the shower.

*respite is where we help other foster parents out by offering them a  reprieve, so that they can take some well-needed time off. You have to be licensed to watch foster children, so it limits who you can leave them with overnight.  We wanted to see what getting 3 children all at once would be like, so this should be great practice.

Complete craziness around here, but luckily, my husband is back from 2 weeks away to lend a hand.

Speaking of renovating kitchens, last year, I shared a house tour from Lauren Liess of Pure Style Home. Her style has received lots of attention, and this month, her home will be featured in Better Homes & Gardens, December/ Holiday 2010 issue. Her kitchen makeover is already online, with lots of great ideas to breathe new life into an older kitchen. If we ever get the ranch we dream of renovating, I too will rip out upper cabinets! Unless the cabinets go all the way to the ceiling. Why on earth anyone would want to waste space above cabinets is beyond me. More to dust!

Here is a sneak peek.

Before:

After: 

What a difference removing the cabinets and painting them made in changing the look of her space.

photo credit: Lauren Liess

Wanderlust: Santorini

Today is a beautiful day! However, last week, it was rainy, cold and dreary. I was dreaming about being in Santorini, thanks to these images.

    
Have a great week!

photo credit: Katalin Eisenberg

Food For Thought: Cannelle et Vanille

Usually on Wednesdays, I try to post about food or entertaining. Notice the word “try.” Some weeks I am better than others at posting.

I have always been entranced by photography, and food photography is one of my favorite subjects. After buying my first DSLR, I now pay close attention to blogs that I like and the way they show their subjects.

As far as food blogs, I could read them for hours, and look at all the beautiful pictures. Cannelle et Vanille came across my radar the other day and I am hooked. Beautiful pictures, delicious recipes, and for all you gluten sensitive friends, most of what she cooks happens to be gluten-free due to her own health issues. Visit her site, I promise you will be inspired.

Happy Wednesday!

Quatrefoil Mirrors

I was all set to show you pictures of my newly painted kitchen and other things, and realized that the cord to my camera is missing. I have a sneaky suspicion that it is still in my husband’s laptop case. Of course, he is gone, so I cannot download them. 

Instead, I thought I would do a roundup of quatrefoil mirrors, as I think I may put one in my powder room. We finally ripped out the ugly octagonal builder-installed version, and I have always loved the shape of the quatrefoil. The classic quatrefoil, “is a four-lobed flower that has graced buildings and ironwork since the Middle Ages.” Some of these mirrors shown below, incorporate a square, which give them a more Moorish feel.

Lowe’s has the best price, $69.99 for the version shown at the top of the post, but I don’t really love the finish with the reddish tone showing through the black. I guess I could spray paint it glossy black to make it more to my liking.

Or, I could spend more for a showstopper, as the powder room is such a small space and these would add that wow factor.

Horchow

Ballard Designs – I like the Flemish Oak color best (English Oak is shown above) and the mirror is on sale for $119.99

Arteriors Hayes Quatrefoil Mirror

Restoration Hardware

Any favorites of the bunch for you? What would you do for impact in a powder room?