Before & After, Home Office

My custom shelves finally arrived from North Carolina recently, allowing me to finish up my home office.

My old office took up an entire room (well it was a multi-functional guest bedroom/office, which is now the nursery) that honestly held a lot of wasted space. My new area is a smaller nook of sorts, yet it feels much more functional. And as Dan pointed out, according to this article, our kitchen is now on trend. That’s what hiring good people to help will do. Thanks a million, Heather!

I’m thrilled to show off the behind-the-scenes at my house. I love, love, love my new home office just off our kitchen (that’s included too, since it’s essentially one open area). The first five images that follow are of the before spaces.

The Pop Five

I had a busy week with meetings and events almost every night, making me really ready for a Friday night filled with Homeland (so good!) on Netflix and homemade pizza. Here are the things that topped my week.

I’m finally reading this article. (I know I’m about a month behind!) It’s quite long, but I’d at least like to try to better grasp the heath care situation in this country and arming myself with knowledge is a good start.

These shelves finally got hung yesterday and I cannot wait to style over the weekend. I’ll do a full before and after post next week, so you can see the remarkable difference (and in the meantime I’ll clean the clutter)!

I met girlfriends out this week for a springtime catch up. It was heaven to talk for several uninterrupted hours about boys, babies, work, travel, and everything in-between. Plus, we did it at a really fantastic new Indian spot in Decatur, Chai Pani. I liked it so much Dan and I will be going again this weekend!

Image: Courtesy of Chai Pani

On Wednesday, designmom.com did a great piece on Stefan Sagmeister. I remember watching his TED talk back in 2009 and being so moved by his message of the power of time off. Brilliant man.

I’ve always been obsessed with vintage typewriters. So, it goes without saying that I love this jewelry line fashioned out of keys from Petite V. Now, the question is, do I get a D for my love, Dan, or an M for sweet baby Margaret?

Dive In

Tuesday’s piece was pretty heavy. Let’s lighten things up with this video about a diver’s adventures in his red Speedo that I spotted on swiss-miss.com. Because, sometimes you just need to dive in and swim for a bit.

Cutting Teeth

I try to be as honest as possible in this space, while remaining optimistic. There’s enough gloom in the world without another blogger being all woe-is-me about life. I mean, I’m still reeling from this 60 Minutes segment on Clay Hunt a couple Sundays ago. Talk about a tearjerker. I’m not Woody Allen in my everyday life—I tend to be a pretty glass half-full, let’s make lemonade, kind of girl. Each and every one of us has our own story with some chapters having more ups than downs, and those are the ones you want to reread.

But, here it is…This. Is. Hard. This being the adjustment I’m currently experiencing as a working parent. Make no mistake, Margaret was very wanted, and we went to great lengths to have her, so this isn’t about my love for my daughter, or how much my life has changed since she arrived. I love her more than words could ever fully do the topic justice. Most of the time is, in fact, playing and taking adorable Instagram photos, reading, and walks in the park. Don’t get me wrong, it is work, raising our daughter. But, here’s where it gets very tricky—it’s not the same as the work I’ve been doing since I was a kid. This is a very different kind of thing altogether. I’ve always had a job. Whether it was helping my parents work on the building that would eventually become our home, to later helping them in their property management company, or lifeguarding; I’ve held a steady job since I was 15.

The topic of work/life balance is timeless and several women are making the subject a full-on debate, like Sheryl Sandberg with her Lean In approach, or Marissa Mayer and Anne-Marie Slaugher’s black and white takes. For me, it’s not as much about the balance (I feel like I’m doing a fairly decent job at being a writer while simultaneously mothering Margaret) as much as what’s next? Where do I go from here?

I launched danapop in 2008, and in addition to this site, I’ve spent the past five years building a writing career of freelance jobs with everything from crafting magazine features to serving corporate clients to ghostwriting book chapters. I spent years fostering relationships with editors at national magazines, putting me on the map as an Atlanta-based freelancer. I felt like I’d done a great job setting my career on a path that would be (dare I say it?) easy once a baby came along.

Back when Margaret was in my belly (as she is in both of these photos), I was at the top of my game, I knew it, and was so very grateful for it. I had a steady, long-term contract position with MSN as their Atlanta contributor for a really great portal called Postbox. Hands down, the best group of folks I’ve ever worked with, and the job itself challenged me as a writer, making it one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. Then, MSN decided to give Postbox an Internet burial in September 2012. I took the lack of a contract as a sign to slow down and focus on getting ready for my next role—mother. There was a lot to do, but it was much different than my writing deadlines, which I was much more comfortable with. Between home renovations, prenatal appointments, shopping for baby items, and wrapping up several writing projects, I was plenty busy.

I didn’t really think about it then, but I’ve always had the next job lined up. Before MSN, I was the Atlanta editor of the über-popular, DailyCandy. I seamlessly transition from one position to another, but for the first time in five years, I don’t have a steady writing position that provides me enough of a stipend to help contribute to us financially. When I left CNN back in 2005 I was a bit lost as to what the next step in my career would be, and I slowly started to figure it all out. The difference then was that I knew I wanted to write, and I didn’t care where. Now, none of it makes much sense. Do I want to work full-time? (How could I possibly leave her?!) Do I want to continue to freelance? (It’s incredibly hard to stay in the loop between baby demands, but not impossible.) Do I want to continue working from home? (I cannot imagine going to an office 9-5, but the compartmentalization might help.) I’m not sure what I want anymore, and that’s scary to me, this unknown space.

For now, I’m trying to just be. If nothing else in her short life, Margaret has taught me to step back and understand that not all things require our time immediately. What I mean is she requires that, but nothing else really does. I love my baby, dearly. I love being her mother. It’s just I don’t recognize anything familiar in this role. So, writing for me is as much familiarity as it is my calling in life—because I happen to love what I do.

I feel like I’m growing along with Margaret, as she hit four months last week; the milestone is supposed to be cutting teeth. She’ll be gaining a bit of independence with those teeth, with her diet changing soon and developing tastes that are no longer provided only through what I’m eating. That means she’s fussy and a drooling machine, neither of which are quite as cute as those little rabbit teeth she’ll soon get. So, perhaps we’re all in this infancy thing together. I’m trying to figure out what’s next in my career, while she’s developing and reaching milestones on her own. I suppose I’m cutting my own teeth, making me fussy, temperamental, and trying to figure it all out right alongside her.

The Pop Five

Margaret is four months old today, which seems incredibly hard to believe. She’s growing by leaps and bounds, both mentally and physically, daily, it seems. Here are the things that topped my week.

Yesterday, the DVF and Roxy collaboration capsule went on sale. Oh my goodness, this designer beachwear collection was made for me.

I’ve been rocking the lob (long bob) haircut for a couple of years now. It’s nice to see that E! News is touting it as the hairstyle of the moment.

My smart, older sister, Susan, is quoted in scientific journals a lot for her job, but I finally get to read something in the mainstream press. Here, she’s quoted in the March issue of Whole Foods magazine, talking about digestive support supplements; making the rest of us in the family look like absolute dummies.

Have you done YogaGlo? I recently heard about this concept and I’m kinda fascinated by it. It’s essentially yoga through Skype. At less than $20 a month, loads of classes to choose from, and a 15-day free trial, it sounds super affordable and convenient.

On Monday, we delivered all our tax documents to our accountant. I know, death and taxes are inevitable, but phew, that always feels like such an accomplishment to get the books sorted for the year.

Image: via Curated Encouragement/Pinterest

Maddie on Things

The site, maddieonthings.com, makes me so happy. The man behind the lens, Theron Humphrey, just embarked on his cross-country tour in support of his book, slated to release on March 26. I had a chance to chat with Humphrey about shooting subjects on the move (like his sweet coonhound, Maddie) and life behind the wheel.

danapop: How did the concept for the site begin?

Theron Humphrey: It grew organically over time. Maddie was always with me as we were traversing America telling stories. One day I figured I should document the truck I was traveling in and my companion so I picked her up, put her on the roof of my truck and she just stood there. It all grew from that one moment. Over time as we visited all 50 states I kept photographing her.

danapop: How are you able to time the photos of Maddie when I imagine she’s a wiggle worm?

Humphrey: I’ve been photographing Maddie for awhile now and she always seems to calm down for me when I pull my camera out. I mean, don’t get me wrong, she’s a dog and loves to run around and hunt squirrels. But she is always up for taking a few photos and getting a treat.

danapop: How many shots do you actually take to capture the perfect image that you post on the site?

Humphrey: Not too many actually. I bet on average I take 15 or 20 shots.

danapop: Where do you think the industries of blogging and art, and particularly digital photography, are heading?

Humphrey: I think we’re gonna keep seeing more and more top shelf blogs focused on creating amazing content and telling stories. Making work that is connected and authentic. 


danapop: What are three must-haves while on the road?

Humphrey: A dog. A spare can of gas. And a open heart.

Image: Courtesy of Theron Humphrey

Peanut Chicken Burritos

Mexican food is my go-to for quick and easy weeknight suppers. Fish tacos (grilled tilapia topped with slaw and jalapenos), burrito bowls (rice and beans loaded with anything the veggie bin is holding), and simple quesadillas (a melted mountain of cheese and beans) are in constant rotation. Those are meals that don’t really require a recipe.

So, it’s no surprise I’m not someone that goes rogue when it comes to cooking. Most of the time I happen to be a strict recipe follower. A couple of weeks back we went to our first restaurant with Margaret. Up to that point, we’d ordered takeout, but hadn’t actually sat down at a restaurant table at night. I was craving my favorite burrito from here, called the Bangkok Burrito, but the place was packed and parking was nuts (yes, I’m officially old), so we ended up somewhere else.

In an attempt to create my own recipe, I’ve used parts of other dishes, so we can try it at home. I used the peanut sauce from here, and riffed the ingredient list from Raging’s amazing concoction as the burrito’s base. I did, however, make some tweaks like using broccoli slaw instead of plain carrots, and eliminating the red onion since the wee one cannot handle me eating those right now.

As if we need another reason to never leave our house these days, this burrito gives the restaurant version a run for its money.

Peanut Chicken Burritos
makes two really good-sized burritos

1 large grilled chicken breast (or 2 small) seasoned liberally with garlic powder, salt, pepper
¼ cup red pepper (sliced julienne)
¼ cup cucumber (sliced julienne)
Handful premixed broccoli slaw with carrots and cabbage
1 T cilantro (rough chop)
2 T sliced green onion
½ cup Basmati rice
½ cup black beans (works well with pinto, too, or a mix of both)
2 T peanut sauce (recipe here) plus, more for dipping
2 large flour tortillas

Method:
Warm tortillas for about 25 seconds in the microwave so they are pliable. Working on one side of the tortilla, fill with rice, black beans, red pepper, cucumber, slaw, cilantro, and chicken. Top with peanut sauce. Roll length-wise, tucking sides in as you go to form a tight burrito. I’m going go with the David Spade flight attendant scene in Tommy Boy here because the same holds true—if you don’t know how to fasten your seat belt on an airplane or need a tutorial on how to roll a burrito, you might have bigger problems than just those two learning curves. Add more peanut sauce on the side for dipping.

The Pop Five

This is always a tough week for me. My father passed away 12 years ago today and the week leading up to the day of his death is always a bit melancholy. Margaret has changed some of that, for certain, since last year at this time I was just finding out that she was growing in my belly. It wasn’t all emo around my house – here are the things that topped my week.

Last night, one of my favorite food bloggers, Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen, held an event in Atlanta. She signed copies of her cookbook after an endearing Q&A session where she chatted about everything from organizing a tiny kitchen, to her creative process. So fun.

I’m obsessed with the new baby clothing line, Cradle & Thread, created by a couple in Atlanta. Not only are they making incredibly simple (yet adorable) separates (think back to basics oh-so soft cotton, hats, bibs, blankets, onesies, cardigans, and pants all in solid prints and sweet colors) it is so much more than that. For every $100 of merchandise sold, Cradle & Thread donates a full outfit of clothing to a family in need. How great is that?

Like many of you, my inbox is flooded with daily flash sales – Gilt, Zulily, Very Jane, and a slew of others. Well, now there’s one more that I’m likely the last person on the planet to discover … Joss & Main. The site is all about home furnishings and already I’ve spotted rugs, lighting, and outdoor seating that I’d love to have live in our little bungalow.

While I’ve loved every stage so far with Margaret (the dazed and confused, puffy newborn face that only lasted for a few days was particularly cute). I cannot wait for her to start talking because her sweet baby babble of late makes me think she just has so many interesting things to say. My friend, Kenn, clued me into this clip with Mister John and his mishap with sprinkles. He told me to be careful what I wish for because Margaret could start lying through her teeth (err sprinkle-filled mouth). Until that happens I’ll just stare at this photo of my lovely sleeping gal looking so very peaceful.

My favorite cocktail is a Pimm’s Cup and I have no idea why I never make them at home. This week, I finally bought a bottle to mix up something delicious for evening happy hours at our house.

Small World

It’s a tough transition to go from posting about gorgeous ceramic pieces to writing about the war in Afghanistan. Thankfully, I don’t produce television news segments any longer, because in that former life I’d have to bridge the gap more smoothly than this.

Years ago, a friend of mine wrote a piece about being in combat during the holidays. You can reread it here. Well, his Marine unit is featured in a documentary by Ben Anderson called Mission Accomplished? Secrets of Helmand, and it aired last week on BBC One. Unfortunately, I do not get that channel, so this online version will have to do.

Also, Vice’s outstanding work with Anderson can be seen here. This is real journalism folks, and Anderson is one of the best reporters of our generation.

Contrasting Clay

Last year, my friend Eimear gifted me three shell tealights from Sinead O’Moore. The trio lives on my mantle, and I enjoy the complexity of the pieces every time I pass. They seem so frail, almost on the verge of cracking, but the scorching elements that come from the firing also make them seem so sturdy, as if they could actually survive anything. I got the chance to interview O’Moore about her painstakingly beautiful work. I do hope you enjoy the description of her craft and thoughtful answers as much as I do.

danapop: I find your work a fantastic juxtaposition of being very delicate, yet rugged at the same time. Can you describe the process of making one of your pieces and the inspiration behind them?

Sinead O’Moore: Mainly I make two types of forms, small tealight shells & column vases with bends.

The tealight shells began life chunkier & cruder, initially made in earthenware. Once I started working with porcelain I began to investigate the material properties – strength & translucency. So working with the clay the aim was to see how far I could push the clay while still retaining strength. Using a mould to press a piece of porcelain in to, I then start pulling it away, working with my fingers until the porcelain is nearly skin thick and I can sense the mould through the material. Suctioning the form out of the mould while still very soft I then manipulate the form so they are irregular. Once they are dry I tidy the edges and biscuit fire them. After the first firing they are still very delicate and this is where I have my most breakages as I sand the outside before applying the oxide edge and re-fire to the high temperature firing. Finally I give them a final sand so they are smooth to touch on the outside.

By using my fingers and the clay body as opposed to a clay slip, the piece has naturally different thickness that creates a soft cloudy effect when lit by a tealight. Also there is individuality to each piece, which you would not achieve with a slip cast piece. The porcelain being so fine will bend and move in the high temperature firing. This can be seen clearer with the larger bowls. To make these I use a wooden tool to peel back the porcelain, so I need to listen as well as use the sense of touch, before I tear through the porcelain and have to start again. These are more organic as the slight curve I add while they are soft will move and exaggerate with the temperature in the kiln. On the final firing what I put in the kiln may be completely different to what I take out. These larger bowls have developed further by joining two/three bowls when they are semi soft clay, playing with how they move in the kiln and then how the light glows through the porcelain. Ideally they should evoke a sense of fragility while being strong in comparison to their thickness.

In the small tealight shells range I also use white earthenware, this gives a different look and feel. The material is solid, no lights glows through. Using the earthenware allows me to use low temperature firing crystalline glazes, which are a high gloss finish. I apply the glaze to the inside rather than outside & sand the raw clay body with a fine glass sand paper to produce a smooth tactile surface to the outside.

The vases are the other forms I make. Predominately I worked in porcelain, as I love the feel of the material and the beauty of the natural clay body. While making some straight cylindrical vases with strong lines etched into the surface, I decided to see how the lines would change with the form if I altered the form by adding bends and folds. Porcelain is not a very forgiving material, if you wait too long to add the bends it will crack along the stress lines, too soon and they slump. Also putting too extreme a bend they will topple in the firing. So it really is the case of respecting your material and working with it rather than against it. I sometime make the vases in a rough stoneware “crank” material, this is playing with the contrast of the materials, how similar forms vary visually and touch by the use of the base material.

Adding the copper oxide to the single lined vases highlights the lines while contrasting with the clay body. Over time I have been refining them, making the bends “softer”, adding in a “plinth” type base section, sanding the surface between firings and after the final firing to the top part of the vase while leaving the bottom section as is. My thoughts are ceramics should be tactile; you should want to touch them. Having different textures in the form adds to the piece in a sensory sense, I hope. I can generally see/feel the mood I was in when I made each piece/group.

I suppose throughout my work there is a split personality. Strength v’s Fragility, Refinement v’s Raw, Rough v’s Smooth, Respecting the material while pushing it to its finest limit. Constantly I am looking to see how to develop my pieces, making little changes and adapting them. 

danapop: In today’s world of Internet shopping, which markets your product around the globe, how do you stay true to yourself as an artist creating individual pieces from your own hands while keeping up with the demand of getting your work to the masses?

O’Moore: This is a very timely question, as it is an ongoing question I ask myself and I am certain it is a question many makers battle with.

Putting a business head on, the answer of keeping up with the demand of getting your work to the masses is to either employ someone to help with the making, or outsource some of the making to manufactures. This might make it more viable to run as a business if I want to meet the masses at the cost they are now. Some ceramicists produce two ranges, the manufactured version of their designs and the handmade side. The two different ranges are priced accordingly.

If I think as a craftsperson/artist, I make ceramics because I love working with clay. I do not want to lose contact with the clay or have my pieces lose their integrity, which is a fear if I go down the manufacturing route, which will alienate some customers. At present, I sell to beautiful small shops and galleries where people who buy the bowls appreciate the handmade and their individuality. The online business is still predominantly UK based, where people have come across my work elsewhere and approach me then via the Internet. So I think the answer might be not to aim to over take the world with little tealight bowls and look at how to progress while retaining myself as the maker/artist of a strong small business.

Images: Courtesy of the artist