Thursday, October 30, 2014

Saturday's Recycled Art Market Kicks Off Season

It's the beginning of craft show season, and kicking it off, is our favorite show of the season, the Recycled Art Market at City High/Middle.

I will be there showing with ScrappyLynn, showcasing some favorite pieces: bird ornaments, cat nip mice, mittens and slippers — all made from sweater scraps!
It costs $1 to enter the show (to benefit the school's PTA) an the show runs from 9 am to 4 pm. Snack and lunch will be available for purchase. It's the perfect opportunity to jumpstart your holiday shopping with something recycled and unique!

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Unburying History

It's the week of Halloween, and all the reference to ghost and ghouls has me thinking about Grand Rapids' ghosts. More accurately, Grand Rapids' history.

Back in September, I went on a tour of Fulton Street Cemetery. The tour was put on by the Grand Rapids Historical Society and led by Tom Dilley. Not unlike the tour I took in 2012 of Oak Hill Cemetery.

Fulton Street Cemetery is the city's oldest cemetery and sits at Eastern and Fulton, at what was originally the Eastern boundary of the city. The tours draw a considerably large crowd and reveal fascinating stories about some of the city's oldest residents. 



It was an amazing day for a stroll and Dilley amazes the crowd with his knowledge of Grand Rapids notables, including, at this cemetery, John Ball.  

To learn more about the city through it's cemeteries, check out the Art of Memory, written by Dilley himself. The GR Historical Society will most likely do more tours next summer, I highly advise checking one out!

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Burger of the Week #184

Sock it to Me. Found these burger beauties at Powell Books in Portland, Oregon.


Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Burger of the Week #183

The sweetest, scariest sweater on the block: The Flying Burger People Eater Sweater.
One scary burger is too subtle for you? Mix it up with the Aaaahh Monster top.

Monday, October 20, 2014

The Majestic Westside


Why don't people talk about how pretty Oregon is?
I was there a few weeks ago for a Cushe photoshoot, and every shot was stunning, every angle was jaw-dropping and every turn was unexpected.
We started our journey in Bend, Oregon, where we got to experience Oregon's rugged side and dramatic terrain. Bend is a hub for outdoor adventurers, and while my job had me behind the camera arranging shoes and positioning props, I did get a chance to try paddle-boarding for the first time. And what a scene it was.

Devil's Lake, Bend, Oregon 
The road then took us through the Mount Hood National Forest, into Portland and on to the coast. And while the weather was less than ideal, the shots were striking and the lighting magical.

Shorty's beach near Manzanita, Oregon
Even though I'd been to Oregon twice as a kid, I was blown away by it's theatrical beauty. It's amazing how you notice different angles and viewpoints when you become an adult.
I'm thankful not only that I love my job, but also that it gives me the opportunity to go to these places.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Burger of the Week #182

That's right... this vegetarian is bacon. God, the internet is amazing.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Apple's Dirty Little Secret


In the mid-'80s, Apple dared to show the fashion world a few things. Called "The Apple Collection" this wardrobe of oversized sweatshirts and neon tracksuits (perfect for "after a day of windsurfing") is absolutely priceless and jaw-dropping. 



[Ha— The kid on the left knows what's up, and he isn't having any of it!]

It's a long way from the modern, minimalist designs (and the black turtlenecks) that have made Apple so iconic today. I think it's clear, why the people who engineer computers, don't also design clothing...

Fall: Summer's Parting Gift

There's no denying it's Fall. It's hard to say goodbye to Summer, especially knowing what's coming, but perfect Fall days make it a little easier—they're like Summer's parting gifts.

We had ourselves an exceptionally Fall Fall day at Fallasburg Festival in Lowell a few weeks ago. A beautiful day of of crafts, shopping, cider, dumplings, chili and sweet annie.

Sweet Annie is something I've only ever come across at Fallasburg Festival. It's a plant that has tiny yellow, dusty flowers and smells potently of.... a sage like scent. According to motherearthliving.com it is an "annual herb, native to southeastern Europe, northern Africa, and Iran, is a favorite of crafters in this country for its versatility and sweet, lingering fragrance."
People go to Fallasburg specifically to get sweet annie. Why we've seen it no where else is a mystery as they couldn't make bunches fast enough to sell!

Personally though, I go to Fallasburg for the cider and the crafts. And this years artisans were stand-out fantastic. Nothing inspires me to shop more, than a unique, well-done, handmade item. Now if only I had the foresight to Christmas shop for others rather than treat myself!

Sunday, October 12, 2014

On the Last Day of ArtPrize

Well the 2014 ArtPrize has come and gone and I've said essentially nothing about it. The 6th year of ArtPrize was to what I expected.... big crowds, great energy in the city and, overall, underwhelming art. 

The rules were different this year, and I still don't fully understand them, which means I voted incorrectly. Instead of voting for best art in general, we were supposed to vote for best art by category. Which means in the final round, you could vote more than once, and in fact should, per vote at least once per category (i have yet to meet a person that knew this).

I think the public results would have been different had this change been made clear. 

Voting mishaps aside, here's 5 pieces that struck me and I appreciated (it's going to take me a moment to come up with 5....).

1. Intersections: The winner (both public and critic choice) of this year's ArtPrize, it's impossible to forget Intersections. This is one I noticed before I even saw it, people posting about it on facebook led to an intentional hunt. While this is by no means an original concept, the scale and angles at which it hits the walls make this a striking piece. (GRAM)

2. Snow: Love white on white. I love the materials here and I love the dimensionality. I didn't want to walk away, it's so obviously snow, yet the piece is so warm and welcoming. (Women's City Club)

3. 1001 Coffee Cups: This piece is kind of silly, but at the same time, I love taking a piece of daily trash and turning it into a catalog of the places you've been. She writes the date/location of where she had each coffee on the cup and then doodles it up. It's like ticket stubs, but more.... generic?  (Harris Building)

4. Somewhere we've never been: I thought the piece looked cool. And then I read the description and I loved it. (106 Gallery – Calvin Space)
I was sitting by myself in a familiar place when I wrote, "Even the places we didn't go together, but places where I've only thought of you, even those remind me of you." I love the idea that someone can have a memory of a person in a space only because they have thought of them there before.
5. Urban Tumbleweed: This piece is definitely silly. And if it wasn't for the noise it makes, you may not even notice it. But I've never seen people more engrossed in a video entry. I think the video could have been edited better, but the idea is sound. And it's worth talking about. (Catherdral Square)

I could never be disappointed in ArtPrize, I think it's an amazing concept and I love what it does for the city. But I think every year it becomes less about the art and more about the people watching and the hanging out downtown. And I'm not gonna lie, I'm ready for everyone to go home and get out of my city— I want the streets back!



Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Burger of the Week #181

To mark National Burger day on Aug 27, 2013, Sorbitium Ices created bbq burger-flavored ice cream.
 
Strawberry sauce was substituted for tomato ketchup and instead of sprinkles, the cones were topped with candied bacon and dill gherkin ripple.

Mmmm, sounds refreshing on a hot day. 

Monday, October 6, 2014

Gardening Indoors

Now that Fall is upon us, I'm packing the garden in and gearing up for a long winter without from my yard's bountiful blooms. To bring a little (low maintenance) life into the house, I've picked up some tiny terrariums from Bird and Feather.

The glass bobble terrariums contain stones, (non-living) moss and air plants. Air plants need very little water, and are maintained by dunking the whole plant under water every few days. They have little to no roots, and simply sit on top of the stones.

I initially planned to hang the planters, but after going through the process of installing hooks, I thought they were hard to seen when hung and I liked them as a focal point and a centerpiece better. Chances are, these green guys will make their way around the house, bringing life to different rooms during different seasons. 

Bird and Feather is run by a sweet couple right here in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Quite often they can be found at the Fulton Street Farmer's Market on the weekends. Otherwise, their plants can also be picked up at Have Company on Division. 

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Just a Little Loaf

Picked up this awesome little stoneware quick bread baker at the 2014 Fallasburg Festival in Lowell. Gave it a try tonight on a Boston Brown Bread. Typical made in a tin can, the bread is super moist and perfect for fall!

Check out Linda Ippel Studios to see other bakeware options. Beautiful, functional pieces for the kitchen!

Friday, October 3, 2014

Make an #ArtPrize Visit

If you're heading out to ArtPrize this weekend, be sure to stop by  First Community Bank at 60 Monroe Center to see Jenny Lynn's 2014 ArtPrize piece Rust Belt.
Rust Belt is a small textile piece that illustrate population declines in large US cities from 1950-2010. Each black and white square represents the population of a major US city in 1950. The rust colored inset is their population in 2010. Using US Census data, the top 100 US cities in 1950 were compared to their 2010 populations. Of the 47 cities which saw declines, this piece depicts the 25 cities with the largest percentage of decline.

Rust Belt is showing at First Community Bank at 60 Monroe Center at the corner of Ottawa. Vote for Rust Belt using code #57195.