This spring I started a windowsill herb garden in my kitchen. Herbs seem to be the only things I can grow, so I stocked up on curly basil, cilantro, mint, and sweet basil. The thing is, I only know a dish or two that I like to use each of them for. Basically I have a lot of herbs and not a lot of recipes. That’s one of the reasons I got really excited when I came across Illustrated Bites’ The Basics of Herbs and some other illustrations detailing how to best prepare them. The second reason was of course the illustrations themselves. Now I’m all set to take on a crazy world of flavor, just in time for summer! (via Ritzy Bee)
Creating a gallery wall can be really intimidating. I know it was for me. The first time I made an attempt was a few years ago, and can only be described as comically sad. I tried to do it freeform, without a plan. Just nailing and hanging as I went. The wall I used wasn’t big enough, or a good location. Just all wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
A few months ago I was chatting with my friend Natasha, who works with Minted. It just so happened that they were planning on releasing their first ever limited edition and custom print art collection and we decided to collaborate on this little how-to guide. Several of the pieces I used are from Minted, as well as a few from other sponsors, and quite a few I previously owned. I’ll share where everything came from and where you can get it at the end.
A large central wall works best for a gallery wall. You want it to be a focal point, not a side thought. I chose the space over my couch. You’ll want to visually divide your wall into quadrants. Your art can then either be built off of the horizontal line, the vertical line, or both. I went with the last option.
After choosing the artwork from Minted, I went about filling in the spaces. I knew that wanted a variety of sizes and mediums. Illustration, painting, photography, etc. I was so excited to pull out pieces that I’d never found the perfect spot for before! Next I nerded out and hopped on my laptop to lay it all out. You can do the same, or print out thumbnails and play with arranging the pieces that way. Whatever works for you, just remember the goal is to have a plan.
I didn’t want the end result to feel flat, so I chose frames of varying depths. The majority are from Plywerk and are 3/4″ bamboo platform frames that I adhered my art to. One is a printed canvas from Thumbtack Press. Everything else I framed in simple glass frames or adhered to the wall with black and white striped washi tape.
I used contractor’s paper (you can get it at any hardware store) to lay things out on the wall. This step is a little time consuming, but you’ll thank me later. Measure all of the frames you plan on using, then cut out paper accordingly. It also helps to label each piece of paper as you go with the art it’s representing. Then working off of your axis (vertical, horizontal, or both) to begin laying out your gallery wall. Try and keep the margins between pieces the same, I went with an inch. Once your paper is taped up you’re going to go ahead and hammer in your nails. Go back to your frames, measure horizontally and vertically where it hits to hang from the nail. Mark it with a pen or pencil on the paper you’ve hung and hammer away, right through the paper. Fun, right?
You’re so close! Rip off the paper and hang your frames. Fine tune anything that’s acting up, but remember that the point is not for things to be perfect. Things are going to adjust themselves according to how your home sits, etc. And tada, you’re done! Not so difficult, right?
4After the Heist by Patrick Leger from Thumbtack Press (Sponsor) Thumbtack Press is like a nebulous cloud of rapidly changing art matter. Picture trillions of creatively charged particles smashing into each other, exploding, fusing together, spinning – everything moving, moving, moving. TTP exists to foster that nebulous cloud. They help it grow by injecting new particles and catalysts, always dedicated towards the creation of something that’ll push the cloud of art matter forwards. Of course, they’re also an online store where open edition prints by top illustration, lowbrow, and character artists from all over the world are sold.
Frames for all Minted prints were sponsored by Plywerk, eco-conscious bamboo mountings and maple art panels. Stay tuned later this week for more on their fabulous product and the good they’re doing!
Disclaimer: All Minted prints, Plywerk frames, and Thumbtack Press canvas provided in kind.
Well-designed kitchen gadgetry? The best. Well-designed gadgetry that isn’t gadgetry at all, but simple objects? The best of the best. The Mix & Measure Bowl Set is killing it on all levels. Smart design in an easy to implement beautiful product. (via bltd)
I’ve been a fan of Muhs Home and their carefully curated collection of goods for some time now, but these porcelain demitasse spoons may have put me over the edge and into stalker territory. They come in the best muted shades and are both glazed and matte in finish. And those straight objects? Yup, spoons too. Perfect for putting sugar in your coffee or sprinkling salt onto your dinner.
Scones have a way of making you feel more refined, even if you’re eating one in your underwear over the kitchen sink. They’re something I’ve wanted to try making for over a year now, but I never seem to have the right combination of ingredients at the right time. (Story of my life.) The thing is, they’re actually really easy. You don’t need a special pan or weird kitchen gadgets to put a batch together. Wait, what was my excuse again?? Click on the image to be taken to the recipe source.
All photos and recipes copyright of their respective source unless otherwise noted.
My thumbs aren’t exactly black, but they ain’t green either. Which really does make me sad because I love plants. My outdoor butterfly garden has managed to hang in there for the most part (only a few casualties that were quietly replaced), but when it comes to indoor plants I might as well bring them home and toss them directly into the trash. It’s that bad. Lucky for me these stackable totem planters from West Elm look like I could create some amazing desk organization out of them when all else fails. *sigh*
