{Image above: Smoked Salmon and Potato Salad with Dill from Cook Your Dream}

For me, salad is always an afterthought during the winter; during the colder months, it’s a lot more comforting to warm up with a hot bowl of soup or a hearty stew. So usually, salads don’t start to make their way into my meals until the spring. Last weekend, I had the most refreshing and delicious salad at a dinner party and now all I can think about is salad! So I’ve pulled together some recipes that are currently at the top of my lists of dishes to try. A Memorial Day gathering might be the perfect opportunity to test out a recipe or two, don’t you think? Have a great three-day weekend, everyone!

{Image above from left to right: Sicilian-Inspired Blood Orange Salad from theKitchn;
Carrot Salad with Avocado from Food52}

{Image above: Lacinato Kale Salad from Marin Mama Cooks}

{Image above from left: Little Melty Salad Croutons from Smitten Kitchen; Thai Mango Salad with Grilled Shrimp from Verses From My Kitchen; Moroccan-Inspired Quinoa Salad from Pickles and Honey}

Today I’m thrilled to share the newest addition to our Attributes column: photographer Kari Herer. I raved about Kari’s rich, tactile still life photographs last year. Since then, she’s created several new series that combine illustration with lush, colorful blossoms. I’m not surprised to see a couple cameras depicted her, and it was a real treat to read the stories behind some of the more mysterious objects in her portrait. Thank you for participating, Kari!

Monarch: We used to hatch monarchs under our kitchen table when I was a child. I remember watching the striped caterpillars turn to chrysalis and then into butterflies. It’s one of my fondest memories and someday I would like to visit the Monarch breeding grounds in Mexico.
Letterpress: The texture of letterpress warms my heart.
My Mother and Father: This was taken in Milwaukee en route to a wedding expo.
Old Camera
Ceramic tools: I spent many years working with clay and porcelain
Ceramic bird bone: Art piece that I made this during a residency in Massachusetts.
Holga
Dried Protea: I always keep dried flowers around my studio.
Collection of moss
Ceramic ear made by Richard Notkin: This is one of my favorite art pieces ever given to me (this is close to the size of my thumbnail). Because of Richard Notkin, I always ask myself after completing a project, “How can this be better—is it perfect?”
Old Duaflex
Ceramic heart, by Alica Mordenti: This ceramic heart fits in the palm of my hand and reminds me of my health. It’s a symbol to keep my heart healthy and strong. I took up running when I was 25 and haven’t stopped. It’s my healthy addiction.
Nest found on my doorstep
Tools I use for my illustrations
Polaroid
Emerson Made flower: My favorite accessory.
Pentax Camera: First camera that my mother gave to me in high school.
Peony: My favorite flower.
Old Camera
Archie Bray Coin: I have held onto this coin reminding me of a very special carefree summer spent working at the Archie Bray in Montana.
Ceramic Bones: Art installation that I created as a ceramics major.
Tea bowl: This tea bowl was given to me by the artist Lee, Hun-Chung. I drink out of it when I need to calm my thoughts.
Dried Magnolia: This magnolia was dried on my studio floor.
Starfish: I keep many gifts from the ocean that I have collected through the years including rocks, sand, and shells.

—Kari Herer

Alexis has been working on a massive paper cutting project, which we will share the details of next week. Luckily she was able to use a laser cutting machine, which made quick work of cutting hundreds of tiny shapes, but Alexis and I have commiserated on the sore hands that come with endless scissor work, and we have such great admiration for artists who hand-cut their designs. Coincidentally, I think I’ve found my new favorite papercut artist this week: Sarah Louise Matthews.

Reminiscent of navajo blanket designs, Sarah’s pieces use negative space in clever ways. The patterns are partially made up of the shadows and the exposed undersides of the cut paper, which bring in subtle pops of color and depth. The subtle inconsistencies that occur from her handmade cuts are so beautiful, and I love the effect of the bent pieces. Like many papercut works, these expand beyond the two dimensionality of the paper plane: if you don’t study them from all angles, you miss out on some of the delightful details. You can purchase these pieces through Sarah’s Etsy shop—if I don’t snatch them all up first.

{All images from Sarah Louise Matthews}

I’ve been spending a lot of time in the kitchen recently, testing delicious recipes that will be in Issue No. 8. For me, one of the things that makes cooking such a pleasure are beautiful, tactile tools. I love a marble mortar and pestle that was gifted to me by an old boss, a set of beautiful glass mixing bowls purchased with my mom, and a heavy cast iron pan that has a history of being taken on camping trips.

But perhaps my favorite tools are a collection of wooden spoons I’ve gathered over the years. Each well-worn spoon has a specific purpose (some are for savory dishes, some for bread or pastries) as well as a specific memory (a wedding gift, a find in a tiny Greek village). I think because of my attachment to my own spoon collection, I always love looking at the collections of other cooks and wares of spoon makers.

{Top Image: Nic Webb. Bottom images, from top left: Nic Webb; Crystal’s Spoon Collection from Little Bit Funky; Two-Toned Wood Spoon Set from Anthropologie; Teak Spoons from Herriott Grace}

I always look forward to the trailers for every issue of Anthology. Even though I already know the contents of each issue, it’s still fun to see it all come together with previews and sneak peeks before receiving the full print magazine in the mail. For many of our trailers, we have been fortunate to work with motion and graphic designer Remilla Ty. In collaboration with Meg, our creative director, Remilla’s work on the stop-motion trailer for Issue No. 4 is one of my favorites.

Remilla has started a new blog called The Creative Ty’s which is a photographic journey of her and her husband’s creative adventures together. The blog begins with DIY projects like putting together a wall of inspiration, crocheted bunting flags, and baby booties. I love the little booklet she made as a gift for her mother. It can be made for so many different occasions! And her calligraphy, which has appeared in Anthology, is so beautiful and exquisite.

Here’s a fun tidbit for the day: Remilla started out as an intern for us and like all of our interns, got engaged right after the internship at Anthology!

{All images by Remilla Ty}

Working with so many talented photographers is one of the best parts of putting together each issue of Anthology. But it’s easy to forget the extents of the medium when we’re so focused on getting great shots for our stories.

This makes the work of Scottish photography duo (and husband-and-wife team) Ted Leeming and Morag Paterson quite refreshing. Primarily landscape photographers, their three Impressions Series (I, II and III) are beautiful washes of color with just a whisper of a hill, a tree, or a horizon line. The abstract blocks of color create such soft, lovely compositions, but each still evokes its own kind of energy. I have to remind myself they’re photographs, not paintings.

{All images via Leeming + Paterson}

Meg is traveling to NYC soon for ICFF, and I’m eager to hear about the inventive new designs she encounters. Some ideas are so brilliant, they leave you wondering why they haven’t existed for years—Sian Zeng’s magnetic wallpaper is one of these. The papers are printed with eco-friendly inks, and are installed over a magnetized liner. I can’t imagine a more delightful activity for a child than creating stories using the patterns on the walls, and actually moving characters or buildings from place to place to interact with one another. Sian’s wallpapers are perfect for children, it’s true, but her designs are sophisticated and beautiful enough to be in any interior. You can see the full collection here.

{All images from Sian Zeng}

The best part of working in print is seeing so many talents come together to form a single vision. In just one article, you have a subject, a writer, a photographer, a stylist—all collaborating to make a space or project come to life. Editors and creative directors bring a critical eye to the piece: choosing images, creating layout, adding their own final touches before it goes to the page. It’s a fascinating process to watch, and it heightens my awareness of successful creative collaborations.

The installation artwork, Reverse of Volume, by Yasuaki Onishi, is stunning in its own right—anyone in the vicinity of the Rice Gallery in Houston between now and June 24th should run to see it in person. But for those of us who can’t make it to the show, this beautifully made film by Mark and Angela Walley transports you directly to the space. Through the camera angles and pacing, you feel close to the process, and to the physical details of this massive undulating sculpture. The filmmakers did a wonderful job crafting the film to match the contemplative, tactile, and subtle grace of Yasuaki’s work. I hope you enjoy the film as much as I do, and please make your way to this exhibit if you can; it looks far too amazing to miss!

{All images from Yasuaki Onishi: Reverse of Volume (RG), by Walley Films }

The flowers in the Bay Area are at their peak right now. Rose bushes which normally blend into the background are covered with lush blooms as big as grapefruits, and the camellias are holding onto their last flowers. Driving in the evening with the windows down, the car fills with the smell of jasmine and the street medians are carpets of orange poppies. For me, the lush flowers each spring are one of California’s biggest charms. I’m trying to take in the blooms while they last, before the rest of the camellias fall to the sidewalks and the rose bushes fade back into the gardens ’til next year.

Parisian artist Lyndie Dourthe’s paper flowers are as lovely as the blooms we’re enjoying this spring. The delicate hand-dyed papers and restrained, but vibrant colors make each flower a work of art. Lyndie, whose work is heavily inspired by nature, has created a portfolio of beautiful objects from paper and fabric. Looking through her work feels like exploring drawers of a vintage curiosity shop, with a delightfully modern edge. Her collection of flowers is exceptional, and it wonderful to know that they’ll last well beyond a single season.

{All images via Lyndie Dourthe}

One of the most challenging rooms for me to decorate is my kitchen. Let’s face it: some kitchen appliances and accessories are just not that pleasing to the eye. When the space in your cupboards runs out, everything seems to pile up on the countertops. That’s why I love finding items that serves a purpose and are also pretty to look at.

The Utilitarian Ceramic by Ben Fiess perfectly combines function and art. They remind me of the old ceramic jars my grandmother used for sauces and pickled vegetables. Every jar has four components: the container, strainer, lid, and cap—all held together by a rubber band. I can easily see myself using this to store salt and pepper, or even serving soup for guests (wouldn’t that be unexpected?). And when my cupboards are packed with not an inch to spare, there will be no guilt in leaving these beauties on the counter!

{All images by B.Fiess}