Guest Post: Olive Season!

As my due date approaches, I'm lining up an arsenal of friends and bloggers to help me out with guest posts.  While TBD has not arrived yet, this post was a bit more time and season sensitive, so I figured I'd get it out now.  My good friend Kapi has a great foodie blog about gluten-free cooking and eating Gluten Free Veg-Heads Unite.  This week she is sharing her secret to inexpensive delicious homemade olives.  Kaps is with-child as well - and due before me nonetheless - so I am one lucky girl to get this post:

Olives. There are few things that I love more. If I had my way, I’d have a whole refrigerator dedicated to them so that whenever I was feeling “snacky,” as my 2 year old says, I could just saddle up and start munching. Lucky for me (and perhaps for you, too?) this lofty goal is within reach!

You might be wondering how it is financially possible to feed a refrigerator-sized olive habit when olives at overpriced luxury food stores that will remain nameless charge $10.99/lb for their olive bar. Well, it just so happens that making your own olives (to the tune of ~$3.50/lb) is fun, easy, and – ACT NOW! – in season.

I’ve been doing it for five-ish years now and if it’s any indication of my dedication to this yearly ritual, I just finished cracking this year’s batch within minutes of my due date for my second child. Priorities… check! Each September/October I order between 10 and 15 pounds of fresh olives from a company called Penna. I crack them, cure them and feast the rest of the year on a spectacular smorgasbord of homemade olives. I can just see my Greek grandmother beaming with pride from heaven. What could be bad? Give it a try:

1. Blather on about the greatness of home-cured olives and order freshies (you are here)
2. T’aint no lye: Curing olives without the nasties (hint: use water!)
3. Brining is the key to olive happiness. Oh, the places we’ll go!

Thanks Kapi!  Now all I need is an olive tree in my backyard to really make the process complete!

Eagle Rock Garage Sale this Sunday

Artful Finds

A few fun pieces that I've discovered recently.  Perhaps it's this nesting instinct, but I really feel the urge to make art. Sadly, I work mostly in oils and it just isn't possible at the moment with the noxious fumes and TBD on the way.  Note to self to save this inspiration for a later date (because I'll have copious amounts of spare time, I'm sure, once he arrives).

Items 6, 10, and 12 by Sally King Benedict
Items 1, 2, 6, 8, and 9 from Lost Art Salon
Items 3, 4, 7, and 11 from 20x200

Friday Filaments

I discovered Currey & Company at the HD show in Vegas.  They have some great stuff, which in many ways is geared toward the residential market.  A bit on the traditional side but pared down and fresh with some great finishes. Sort of reminds me of Julie's style from Milk & Honey Home.  Here are some of my faves:

figure 1: Sahara Pendant
figure 2: Isis Table Lamp
figure 3: Loggia Lantern
figure 4: Sethos Chandelier
figure 5: Metamorphosis Table Lamp
figure 6: Axel Orb Chandelier
figure 7: Starburst Wall Sconce

Pendleton

Now that the fall weather is finally hitting LA, I'm in the mood for some snuggly blankets, ponchos, and boots.  Pendleton is in the process of launching their new fashion-forward and not-surprisingly rather hipster-inspired Portland Collection which features some great fall staples.  But what I love is their old school blankets designed for the National Parks and created after Native American and Mexican motifs. There is something so classic about these but also fresh and graphic. Great for a cold weather campfire cuddle.

No. 9 Thompson

Those of you who know of Jim Thompson are aware of his line of beautiful Thai silks. Mr. Thompson can be creditted with introducing Thai silks to the western world and really putting Bangkok on the map as a travel destination.  Today, his eponymous company is a fluorishing textile house, respected by designers the world over. A few years back Jim Thompson Fabrics launched a new line No. 9 Thompson aimed at creating simple fabrics in fun prints geared toward the residential market. I'm thrilled to give you a preview of some of the new No. 9 Thompson collection inspired by the Chinese decorative arts.  One of my favorites is this large scale print called Enter the Dragon.  The original reference for this stunning fabric is a hand-knotted, seventeenth century silk carpet from China's Ninxia region.  

Eat your Peas

I'd like to say Welcome to our newest sponsor Peas and Queues Kids.  Peas and Queues is the brainchild of Sally Wang and Anasuya Engel both moms and fashion industry veterans.  The adorable line of kid's clothes was born out of the desire to create simple well-made and fashion forward clothing for little ones, that is reminiscent of contemporary and European fashions.  While TBD already has quite the arsenal of infant clothing (thanks to all of our generous friends and their no-longer-infant children), I'm excited to have stumbled across Peas and Queues and their unique style as a source for as he gets older. Here's a smattering of some of their line.

Finally

Storm clouds rolling in and some much needed rain (view from our office window). Of course, not so great timing for the gutter cleanout planned for this weekend.

Photo courtesy of Bessie Shen.

Friday Filaments: Barn Light Electric Giveaway!

Bloggers take note!  Barn Light Electric is doing a great giveaway and you too can have a chance to win. They have some great stuff with a very current / industrial and well, farm / barn aesthetic.

A series of these barn sconces would look pretty fab over bookshelves.

And I think this would be a nice addition to my laundry room

And there is something so classic about one of these in a kitchen

Here is how the contest works:

1. Look around online at Barn Light Electric and pick lights you’d love to own
2. Feature your lighting picks on your personal blog, and link to the lights if you can!
3. Copy/Paste these rules at the bottom of your blog article so others can enter
4. Once your personal article is up, you must email your blog link to: contest@barnlightelectric.com to be qualified to win. The contest ends Wednesday, October 12, 2011
5. Don’t have a blog? Find out how you can enter by reading the Official Rules

10 Crosby

The new line 10 Crosby by Derek Lam is pretty fab - flowy, comfy, but more fashion forward than a Snuggie.