living without an
VOLUME FIVE / SPRING / 2013
Come Celebrate
Š 2013 Off Switch Magazine All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the editor. Inquiries can be sent to the editor at: info@offswitchmagazine.com www.offswitchmagazine.com Printed in the USA | Magcloud.com Publication Design: Katie Michels Front cover & above: Heather Zweig Model: Diana Bradbury Back cover: Nirav Patel
living without an
“COME CELEBRATE”
KATIE MICHELS
editor-in-chief, designer, photographer, writer offswitchblog.com
ASHLEY ADAMS stylist @ashadamsss on Instagram
JILLIAN BOWES photographer jillianbowesphotography.com
JOHN BRAY writer john-bray.com
KATE DE LA ROSA photographer diapersandskinnyjeans.com
FEAST CATERING caterer feastcatering.com
FIGGY BAKERY caterer www.figgybakery.com
KIMBERLY GENEVIEVE photographer kimberlygenevieve.com
GERONIMO BALLOONS stylist geronimoballoons.com
KELLEY JORDAN HENEVELD photographer kelleyjordanphotography.com
JACQUELINE JASZKA photographer jacquelinejaszka.com
ANNA KLENKE copyeditor, writer elbowpatches-annaklenke.blogspot.com
JULIA MANCHIK illustrator mrmrsglobetrot.blogspot.com
KELLY ANN MOUNT
writer flowerchilddwelling.com
NIRAV PATEL photographer niravphotography.com
MAE STIER photographer, writer bryanandmae.net
KYLIE FLY TURLEY photographer, writer spencerandkylie.blogspot.com
MELISSA TYDELL copyeditor melrosestreetcustomcontent.com
BRITTY WESELY writer
HEATHER ZWEIG
photographer heatherzweig.com
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CONTRIBUTORS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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WELCOME
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5
THROUGH MY LENS — LAUGHTER
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SPRING READS
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KINDLEWOOD
A TRAVELER’S TRANSFORMATION
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TWO FOR THE ROAD
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FARM STORIES
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26
MY BEST ADVICE
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HANNAH & MALCOLM
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COME CELEBRATE
DREAMLAND
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JOURNEY TO PARENTHOOD
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“COME CELEBRATE” PLAYLIST
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66
52 CARDS
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LET THEM EAT CAKE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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FOX MASK COURTESY OF: OPPOSITE OF FAR | ETSY.COM/SHOP/OPPOSITEOFFAR PHOTO: KATE DE LA ROSA | JEWELRY: ANOTHER FEATHER
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celebrate. take the time to relish moments big and small. don’t simply think about achievements and milestones, allow them to become something grand, something memorable. give them their own glory, their own center stage. make them more than just the thought, but the action as well. for when we allow those moments to slip by, unappreciated, when we forget to take the time, to acknowledge the beauty of our lives: the people in them, the accomplishments, and the failures, it’s as if they never happened at all, simply slipped away into the great abyss that is our memory. and even then they get pushed further back, quickly losing momentum and grandiosity, becoming less of what they were, not holding their importance. this is the point we strive to avoid. we gather together to mark an occasion, a chance to become parents to a child in need of love, calming time with a spouse amidst the great outdoors, friends and sweets and giant party balloons just because, why not? trips with lovers and friends amongst strangers and foreign countries, creating a handmade life doing what one loves most. whatever it is we choose, big or small, these are our moments to relish in our successes, our loves, our lives. make it worth confetti and twirls, by simply taking the time to celebrate.
founder & editor-in-chief
WELCOME
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THROUGH my lens Each issue we choose a word or phrase to coincide with the theme of that particular volume. It’s no secret we love photography here at Off Switch, and it’s always a joy for us to be able to introduce readers to uniquely talented folks. This time, instead of featuring a slew of photos, we chose just one. A beautiful laugh from a little sweetheart...
THEME
LAUGHTER
Kate De La Rosa diapersandskinnyjeans.com
SPRING READS TEXT: ANNA KLENKE ILLUSTRATIONS: JULIA MANCHIK
When you’re planning to celebrate something—say, a birthday or a wedding—picking up a book may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But reading a book can be a different kind of celebration: the celebration of a quiet night in or a long, lazy afternoon… the celebration of being able to enjoy time by yourself. And sometimes, a few minutes alone can be more satisfying and fulfilling than a night out at the most exciting party. Hopefully all the books listed here will inspire you to take a few hours to sit back, relax, and throw your own personal celebration.
Sugarhouse (2012) by Matthew Batt When Matthew Batt and his wife, Janae, decide to buy a house in Salt Lake City, they know that they will be looking mostly at fixer-uppers. What they don’t expect is to end up buying the neighborhood’s former crackhouse, which needs an enormous amount of work to make it even remotely habitable—including structural reinforcement and reinstallation of floors. When I picked up this memoir, I expected a fun story about home renovation. But Batt delivers so much more in Sugarhouse. He examines how his and Janae’s relationship changes and deepens as they haggle over design details, as well as sharing the difficulties that occur in their extended family during the time of the renovation. Through illnesses, deaths, and other dramas, Batt and his wife keep themselves grounded by the reality of their demanding home improvement project. In the end, the book is more about Batt’s family and relationships than about the house. While readers looking for an in-depth discussion of home renovation may be disappointed by the lack of detail Batt provides about floor refinishing and paint color selection, overall Sugarhouse is a rich retelling of one couple’s experience of turning a rundown old house into their new home. Man and Boy (2000) by Tony Parsons Harry Silver has the perfect life. On the eve of his thirtieth birthday, he has a beautiful wife, an adorable four-year-old son, and a lucrative job in television. But all it takes is one mistake to throw it all away, as Harry discovers when he indulges in a one-night stand with a new assistant at work. When Harry’s wife, Gina, discovers the affair, she leaves Harry with their son, Pat, in order to move to Japan and pursue her dreams to be an interpreter. Left alone with his young son for the first time, Harry realizes that parenting is a lot harder than it looks. Harry can’t seem to do anything right, from cooking Pat’s food to washing his hair. But things gradually get easier, and Harry and Pat fall into a routine, eased by Harry’s new girlfriend, who has a young daughter of her own.
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When Gina returns home a few months later, with her new fiancé in tow, Harry is reluctant to give Pat up after having worked so hard to establish their relationship. In the end, Harry realizes that sometimes loving someone means letting them go, and he works with Gina and her husband to provide the best situation for Pat. Often compared to About a Boy by Nick Hornby, Man and Boy is a touching, emotional story about one man trying to find his place in the world, and helping his son do the same. A perfect gift for the guy in your life. The Happiness Project (2011) by Gretchen Rubin Who doesn’t want to be happier than they currently are? One day, during a bus ride, author Gretchen Rubin decided that she was pretty happy with her life, but she wanted to be happier. She set herself twelve goals that she wanted to use to reach her ultimate happiness level, some of which include “Let it go,” “Enjoy the process,” and “Do what ought to be done.” By dedicating one month to each goal, Gretchen embarked on a personal journey to discover exactly how much happier she could be if she put a little effort into it. Her results are fairly predictable (yes, it’s possible to be happier, but only to a point), but inspiring for anyone interested in designing their own Happiness Project. Gretchen’s best observations come when she examines how her personal happiness journey affects her relationships with her friends and family. She finds that letting go of anger and hostility makes her happier in the long term, although it is initially difficult for her to relinquish the short-term satisfaction of indulging in anger. She also covers more basic steps to happiness: getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and eating right—all things we know that we should be doing, but sometimes forget why. Gretchen also maintains a Happiness Project blog, which she updates regularly with anecdotes and advice. There is even a toolkit to get you started on your own Happiness Project. Check this inspiring book out for a great start to your happiest year ever.
Catching Jordan (2011) by Miranda Kenneally As the star quarterback and captain of the Hundred Oaks High School football team, Jordan has a lot on her plate—especially since she’s a girl. Playing on a team with only guys has never been the easiest thing, but Jordan’s life gets even more complicated when Ty transfers to Hundred Oaks. He’s smart and hot… and he may be a better football player than Jordan. For the first time, Jordan begins to question her dream of playing football in college. Ty is capturing a lot of attention from scouts from big universities, and, even as Jordan gets closer to him, she begins to feel pushed aside. It’s only after Jordan digs deep and discovers her true feelings for Ty—and her best friend, Sam—that she is able to shine as the star that she truly is. Miranda Kenneally’s contemporary young adult novels set in Hundred Oaks, Tennessee, are some of the best in YA fiction right now. For more from the strong, sassy girls at Hundred Oaks High, check out Stealing Parker, Things I Can’t Forget, and Racing Savannah, all from Sourcebooks. Girls in White Dresses (2012) by Jennifer Close Girls in White Dresses is the perfect book for any woman whose friends, cousins, sisters, coworkers, and classmates are getting married while she stays perpetually (but not necessarily unhappily) single. In this hilarious, totally relatable book, Isabella, Mary, and Lauren feel like everyone they know is getting married, and they grudgingly suffer through round after round of wedding showers, bachelorette parties, and weddings. From hideous bridesmaid dresses to fuzzy wedding reception nights, Jennifer Close perfectly captures the obligations and frustrations of women whose friends are getting married. Along with the expected tales of wedding mishaps, Girls in White Dresses tackles subjects such as heartbreak, friendship, career change, and disappointment. Close expertly guides us through the bewildering years of young adulthood right after college, when everyone else seems to have a great job, fulfilling relationship, and set-in-stone plan for what to do with the rest of their lives. She also shows us that the best laid plans often come off the rails, and the best thing to do is just sit back, stop worrying, and enjoy the ride.
SPRING READS
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Chatting With:
kindlewood Three friends and the music they make. INTERVIEW: KELLY ANN MOUNT PHOTOS: JENNIFER LYMAN
Meet kindlewood—a dreamy folk band comprised of mega-talented musicians Kelci, Galen, and Jamison. With an ethereal, woodsy sound and heavenly vocals, kindlewood has quickly found their way into the hearts of many with their debut album, Desiderium. This trio strives to write thoughtfully, create authentically, live fully, and enjoy every moment as it happens... they certainly know how to live life without an off switch. If you’re looking for the perfect soundtrack for a spring day—an open window, fresh air, birds chirping kind of day—give kindlewood a listen.
Share with us how kindlewood was born. Galen: I vividly remember kindlewood’s inciting moment. It was a late evening in early 2009 when Kelci and I were holed up in our tiny apartment. Determined to write something different than the three or four chorded progressions I was accustomed to, I played the beginning notes to what we now know as “Sea Glass & Shooting Stars” (we’ve come a long way since). Though completely unplanned, Kelci sat pensively, began to write, and later began to sing. Feeling that we landed on something big (at least for us) we shared an “aha” moment and decided that we should form a band. From that moment in time, we continued to write. We showed friends our beginning notes and they encouraged us to keep at it and even went as far as helping us book our first house show. In early 2010 we got plugged in at a Border’s Bookstore (R.I.P) where we met gracious, inviting listeners and supporters as well as a fuzzy-faced, beaniewielding, barista-by-day, musician-by-night named Jamison. Little did we know that the three of us would be a family by June of 2010 and release our first work in November of that same year. Further still, we certainly didn’t foresee the release of a full length album and the undertaking
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of a US tour in 2011. In thinking about our birth, I’m excited about our future and can’t wait to see what surprises await. Have you always wanted to make music, or was there a defining moment where you realized this was your dream? Kelci: I have always loved to sing. When I was really little, I would wander around the yard making up songs about willow trees and birds and horses and the color “mauve.” After that, I sang a lot in church, but I didn’t have a desire to purely create. About four years ago, I had a bit of an identity crisis and realized that I had limited and fooled myself. I wanted to create things and that desire was good. Galen and I wrote a song and haven’t looked back. None of us have had an experience like kindlewood before and we are so grateful to be able to live this out. How would you describe kindlewood’s sound to a new listener? Jamison: In kindlewood, we try hard to bring something new to music and not be another one of the bands just trying to copy each other. We label ourselves as a “dream folk-rock” band. I think everyone can relate to folk-rock, but we come at
kindlewood.co
it with a different approach. We have an ethereal/ ambient touch to our music that makes it sound a bit dreamy. Where do you draw inspiration from when it comes to your musical style and sound? Jamison: I really enjoy bands like Radiohead, Lowercase Noise, Aural Method, and Future of Forestry. All of them share some characteristics, but are extremely different from one another, which I love. Kelci: If you were to catch me listening to music it could be anywhere from classic rock to classical. I try to be inspired by much so I don’t limit myself when creating and writing. Some of my all time favorites are Patsy Cline, Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens, Ryan Adams, and Feist. I also love movies that Audrey Hepburn sings in, like Funny Face. I just love the feeling in her voice. Some of my current favorites are Sharon Van Etten’s album, Tramp, as well as Bat For Lashes’ album, The Haunted Man. Galen: I find this question intimidating as the more I hang out with people, the more I learn just how little I know about the beautiful art that’s out there and the creators of it. As of late, I’ve found myself captivated by Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Josh White. Some more current folks I love include Beach House, Grizzly Bear, Arcade Fire, Belle & Sebastian, Caroline Smith & The Goodnight Sleeps, The Lumineers, Kimbra, M83, Lykke Li, Sufjan Stevens, and Zoo Animal. The past couple of years have been huge for kindlewood. You are truly living and doing what you love. What has this journey been like so far,
and how has it inspired you? Has it surprised you in any way? Galen: The journey has been pointedly difficult, yet surprisingly fulfilling. Overall, this journey has taught us that there is a world far bigger than we could ever imagine that is filled with people from different walks of life who are driven by widely varying passions and beliefs who, in large part, seem to harmoniously commune, work, and grow together. They say music is a universal language. Whoever “they” are, they’re right and as we’ve come in contact with the world around us, we’ve had the privilege of experiencing this firsthand. I would say the biggest challenge for us has been learning to enjoy our journey and not miss out on valuable time and relationships by wanting for the “next level” so desperately that we waste, discredit, or otherwise reject those things thus paralyzing ourselves and locking our potential away. On the flip side, I would say that the biggest success/surprise for us has been the support we’ve received both near and far. This was displayed to us in the biggest way when we were robbed on tour but were able to raise over $4,500 in 48 hours to stay on the road. Songwriting itself must be a journey... do you ever have days where the words just aren’t there? How do you work through that block? Kelci: Songwriting is certainly a journey that I don’t even feel worthy of talking about. Yes, there are many days when the words just aren’t there, and when that happens, I try not to force it. Because I’ll end up frustrating myself and go back to it later thinking, “Wow, that is probably the stupidest thing I have ever said.” It’s pretty hum-
KINDLEWOOD
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bling, but it’s an important part of the process. I try to read things that inspire me and educate myself and think outside the box. I try to notice things that are happening around me so that when I do get stuck, I have a storehouse of inspiration to pull from. I’m still learning, and learning comes with doing. What is the biggest challenge in living out your dream, and what have you learned from it? Kelci: It’s so easy to get caught up in “making it” and thinking that there is going to be a magical day when all of our hard work will be worth it. I think that we’ve all had to learn to appreciate the process, love the people that we meet, and accept the opportunities that cross our path with joy and gratefulness. Money doesn’t buy happiness and it doesn’t buy true success
no matter what people tell you. We can’t measure our experiences with some “music business standard” stick. With this mindset, we’ve had the best shows, the best of times together, and we’re creating with more heart and enthusiasm than ever. What do you envision for kindlewood’s future? Do you have any exciting projects in the works? Jamison: We’re currently recording our second full length album and couldn’t be more excited about how it’s turning out. It has taken us longer than we expected, but we like the natural progression that comes with not pushing to get an album out quickly. We have a new music video out for “Give & Take” which Paste Magazine premiered recently!
CHECK OUT THE “COME CELEBRATE” MUSIC PLAYLIST ON PAGE 65 COMPILED BY OUR INTERVIEWER, KELLY ANN!
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A TRAVELER’S TRANSFORMATION
PHOTOS & WORDS: MAE STIER
Travel. What is our fixation with it, our desire to pack our bags and head somewhere new, get lost in different faces, become absorbed by words we don’t understand, fumble through cultural norms that we aren’t used to? There is a newness to it, an excitement akin to being on a first date—filling our stomachs with fear and our chests with the possibility of the future— that is addicting. Transformation happens when we push past what is safe, what is comfortable, common. Last fall, I spent four weeks touring Europe. I packed too many blouses and not enough sweaters into a backpack, along with a few other essentials— my camera, journal, underwear—and hopped on a flight so that I could step on European soil for the first time. I visited the UK, France, Switzerland, and Italy, and each country offered so much beauty, so much to be discovered. Much of the trip was spent in cities—London, Paris, Venice, Rome—with the exception of some tiny mountain-towns in Switzerland, the coastal town of Positano and the island of Capri in Italy. In each place, I discovered a new part of myself. My brain exploded with new information, ideas, and inspiration. After having just barreled through my busiest season as a wedding photographer, I needed the time to refuel, the time to find again what it was that I loved so much about creating, and experiencing a new continent gave me all of that. When we travel, we are displaced from what is usual. Everything we find safe—our friends, the coffee shop where we start each day, the bed where we unwind from our busy lives—is taken away. We are left with nothing familiar, other than ourselves, and can discover quickly that we are in some ways unfamiliar even with that. Emotions that you try to ignore at home can surface—anxiety, insecurity, fear—when faced with confusing streets, sweaty bus rides, and language barriers. While catching sight of the less than appealing parts of yourself, you are also given the space to redefine yourself. To choose again what it is that excites you, motivates you. I had no idea that I was so interested in history until I spent days in Parisian and Italian museums, soaking in the stories behind paintings by Rembrandt and Botticelli, learning about revolutions and reformations that
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(left to right, top to bottom) 1, 2: London, England | 3, 4: Paris, France | 5, 6: Positano, Italy | 7: Venice, Italy | 8: Florence, Italy Page 14: Siene River in Paris | Pages 17, 18: Paris, France | Page 19: Niederhorn, Switzerland
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changed the world. Beyond my interests, I learned what my body required to soak all that information in. As much I loved the history, I quickly learned that I needed days off just to wander, I needed to get lost in Paris, to walk to mountain lakes in Switzerland, lay by the sea in Italy. I needed to write to process through everything I saw, try to bottle up the experiences I was having. One of the greatest memories I have from my trip took place in Switzerland, where I spent the weekend in between weeks of running around Paris and then the Northern part of Italy. After exhausting myself with museums, going to the Paris Ballet, and eating my way through the city, I needed a quiet retreat before getting a fly-by of Italy. Switzerland offered just that, a slower pace with scenery that didn’t seem real. I stayed in Interlaken, a small town between two gorgeous lakes, surrounded on every side by mountains. The first day in Interlaken, after spending a lazy morning wandering the city, I rode a gondola up to Niederhorn, a summit on one of the nearby mountains. While sitting in the sun, gazing at snowcapped mountains in all directions, I was able to reflect on the first half of the trip. To put into words what I had learned, who I was becoming, what I was learning to care about. I drank hot tea and watched the handful of other people at the top of the mountain feed birds and enjoy the sun and felt transformed. Alive in a way that I hadn’t been in so long. It was the mountain air, it was the beauty, it was all fresh. I was fresh, coming alive on the mountain. After returning home, I haven’t been able to stop looking back at the lessons of my trip, and in truth I am still processing them. Still implementing my desire to learn more about art history into my daily routine, still learning that I need to allow myself quiet times somewhere within my usually crammed schedule. I am still trying to get myself to write every day, to find a balance that allows this. But the experience of being somewhere new, grabbing onto adventure, and waking up each morning to the unfamiliar, helped to reawaken my desire for adventure everyday. That is the beauty of travel, that it has the ability to teach us so much and, once we have learned, we are able to change. And we know that we can, because we aren’t just habitual creatures. We are adventurers, and we desire experiences that scare us and take us somewhere new.
A TRAVELER’S TRANSFORMATION
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TWO ROAD FOR THE
To be present is to spend time with the man I love in a place I love with no distractions. It enables me to focus on what is happening now without giving thought to yesterday, tomorrow, or even tonight. It’s the moment I choose to focus on what is right in front of me—in real time—paying little to no attention to the hundreds of seemingly important tasks on my to do list. I let things slide… for now. Spencer and I call this our “escape.” Since the beginning of our marriage, we’ve been adventurers. Hopping from country to country and place to place has become our forte. As current LA dwellers, we frequently leave the city behind and wander into tree-filled forests or down sunny coastlines, all in exchange for a night under the stars and good conversation around the fire. Camping is what we do, and explorers are who we are. There’s something honest about being outdoors—which, we believe, makes us better and more wholesome people. Suddenly our biggest concern becomes whether or not we should eat one or two s’mores before the night’s end. Simple. Raw. Easy. Quite often, those things we devote so much of our time and energy to each day really shape who we are. Spencer and I focus that energy on lived experiences out of doors, fostering a deep love for the world we live in and for each other. It’s a bond that’s real. People sometimes ask us, “Do you even have a home?” Laughingly, we reply, “We try to avoid it.”
PHOTOS & WORDS: KYLIE FLY TURLEY
TWO FOR THE ROAD
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FARM STORIES
PHOTOS & WORDS: KELLEY JORDAN HENEVELD
The first time I remember giving food a second thought was in a French home as I cut zucchini for dinner. While I was accustomed to eating good meals—they were given respect and seen as indisputable family time growing up—it was not until that moment dans la cuisine that I considered the contents of a meal. At that time, I never imagined that I’d be back in Europe six years later to photograph farms. Over the last several years, I’ve shared my passion for good food with my family. I’ve explained how much healthier it is for our communities, our bodies, and our earth when we buy locally. I’ve shocked them with stories about dreaded corporations like Monsanto and their devastating effects on the local farmer and the land. And I’ve prepared food that was thoughtfully grown. None of this seemed to sway my family’s habits and that is, in many ways, where Farm Stories was born. What I realized my family—and so many others like them—needed was a way to reconnect to their food in a more personal way. They needed to hear the voices of the men and women who raise their food. As Wendell Berry says in The Pleasure of Eating, “A significant part of the pleasure of eating is in one’s accurate consciousness of the lives and the world from which food comes.” By sharing the beauty of these everyday interactions with the land, I hope to inspire, enlighten, and encourage people to eat with a new understanding. Farm Stories centers on a simple idea: use my photography to tell a story and draw that human connection. To begin, I created a list of places I’d like to visit, contacted farms, brought my camera, and started photographing. In most places, I work for my room and board, learning to work the land these farmers know and love. Then I sit down with them for intimate interviews, capturing their lives through photography and the written word. These stories are the ones that matter in a deep and real way. They tell of men and women who aren’t taking the easy way out, who invest in the future in little ways each day, by maintaining healthy soil, sustaining family practices and traditions, and supporting their community. My goal is that Farm Stories, while just a burgeoning project now, will someday bring dignity back to such a valuable occupation in our society and increase the overall value of food in the minds of consumers.
Follow the Farm Stories journey at farmstoriesworldwide.com, and learn how you can get involved in Kelley’s inspiring and eye-opening movement.
FARM STORIES
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A NEW SERIES STARTED EARLIER THIS YEAR ON OFF SWITCH BLOG CALLED ‘MY BEST ADVICE’ GIVES READERS PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM THEIR CREATIVE PEERS. VISIT OFFSWITCHBLOG.COM TO SEE THE FULL SERIES! ILLUSTRATION: JULIA MANCHIK
PHOTOS: JILLIAN BOWES
“GIVE GRACE FREELY” MAE STIER PHOTOGRAPHER + WRITER GRAND RAPIDS, MI BRYANANDMAET.NET
Bottom line: don’t be stingy with your grace. It seems like a simple concept, but it is one that I’ve learned isn’t easy, not even a little bit. It requires swallowing pride and reminding ourselves that no one is perfect—not even us. I’ve been learning just how important it is to remember that there are many factors that affect everyone’s lives, their relationships. Nobody makes decisions isolated to what’s in front of us. There is a back story to every encounter, every word, every action. It is important to remember this when dealing with ourselves as well. Give grace freely, and find beauty in the fact that there is always time to start again.
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“DON’T TAKE YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY” JILLIAN BOWES PHOTOGRAPHER GRAND RAPIDS, MI JILLIANBOWES.COM
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My line of work requires a lot of creative energy, which is an energy that gets increasingly harder to renew. Turns out the secret isn’t to turn creativity into a formula, the secret is to laugh a lot and to not be afraid to try something new or to mess something up. I’ve grown the most when I’ve jumped, blindly and feet first, into the unknown. Those are the moments when successes feel more like triumphs, and where creativity can be born from a genuine place. It’s hard to take myself too seriously when I remember that I’m a small human, wandering around on a beautiful blue dot in the middle of a seemingly infinite universe, and it’s so freeing to know I don’t have to.
PHOTOS: MAE STIER
She has a jewelry business, he a natural leather company. Together they are:
Hannah & Malcolm Interview and Photo: Katie Michels
Makers, America, handmade, and natural. When I encounter these words, two things often come to mind: the high-quality small businesses scattered across the USA devoted to such time-honored practices and the people who represent them. There is a growing desire, I feel, to know where the products we use and consume have come from—a desire to trace their origins. And when I, as a consumer, am able to follow along in a maker’s journey—their process of cutting leather and shaping metal—I grow even closer to their story and products. Two such small businesses that I’ve come to follow closely are Hannah Ferrara’s jewelry company, Another Feather, and her husband, Malcolm Smitley’s, leather goods business, Fleet Co. Married three years, Hannah and Malcolm share uniquely similar styles and an appreciation for simplicity and thoughtful living. After having met them in person, I can honestly say these two are people worth knowing. So sit back—now is your chance.
How have your entrepreneurial careers influenced—and been influenced by—your relationship? I bet it’s a great support system to have your spouse be similarly focused on creating! It’s really nice to work alongside and have constant feedback from someone whom you love, trust, and respect. We know that we can each get an honest opinion out of the other person, and because our tastes complement one other, it can be really helpful. Since we are both makers, we usually have a mutual understanding of design and construction, so we can respect the amount of time, thought, and skill put into each other’s work, even though we work in very different mediums. How did you both get involved in your respective mediums? Are you professionally trained or self-taught? Share how Another Feather and Fleet Co. came to be. I (Hannah) went to school for Metalsmithing and Jewelry Design and have a BFA in both those as well as textiles & fibers. I began by making more sculptural and installation work, which transitioned into the making of “jewelry for nonjewelry wearers.” Funnily enough, I rarely wore jewelry before I started making it, and I realized it was because I couldn’t find the simple, everyday sort of pieces I would want to wear, and if I did, they lacked a story behind them. So I began to make jewelry for friends with similar tastes
and it grew from there. Malcolm went to culinary school but is completely self-taught in the realm of leather. He couldn’t find the everyday, utilitarian items he needed elsewhere, so he began making them himself. Was there ever a point where you were close to giving up on your goals and considered quitting? Share with us how you persevered. There will always be moments where we get overwhelmed and think about taking a different path, but this usually just means we begin to focus on new or different goals—though having multiple dreams and goals makes that transition easier. It’s sometimes really great to take a break from your current “thing” and work towards something else. It can give you the fuel you need to revisit it later—or the peace to let go and move forward. You both have such a consistent and unique style, from your designs to your Instagram feeds to your wardrobe. So tell us, what inspires you? We are both constantly inspired by the area we live in, and we feel lucky to be surrounded by the mountains and woods, so that—combined with influences from traveling nearby and overseas— make up much of our style. We also both have a serious appreciation for history and well-made, beautiful, and functional objects, so the things we surround ourselves with tend to reflect that.
ANOTHERFEATHER.COM | FLEETCOGOODS.COM
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Speaking of Instagram, Hannah, your account has nearly 40 thousand followers. That’s a wild number! How do you think it grew to so many? It’s so insane! I can’t believe the amount of people who want to follow along with my daily life and process! It’s been such a good way for me to keep everyone updated and to stay in touch with other makers and friends since I’m always on the go and a terrible blogger. Ha! There’s a new series on Off Switch Blog called My Best Advice. Could you share your best advice with our readers? We believe in constantly stepping outside of your comfort zone, taking chances, and saying yes more than no. Hannah has a habit of taking almost every opportunity that comes her way. This normally means she’s juggling a whole lot at once, but it’s also what keeps her moving forward in new unexpected directions. Since the theme of this volume is Come Celebrate, we have to ask—what are you two celebrating these days? For the last year, we’ve been working on learning how to be still and present, something that doesn’t come naturally to two folks who constantly yearn to be on the move. So right now, we are celebrating being intentional and present in the everyday. Tell us about what your up to beyond Another Feather and Fleet Co. Malcolm works as a chef full-time, and when he’s not cooking, he’s usually working with leather in the studio, shooting bow and arrow, or riding his bicycle or motorcycle on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Aside from making jewelry, Hannah plans and hosts Kinfolk workshops and gatherings, which is a great way for her to be able to get out of the
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studio and focus on something she loves equally as much—bringing people together over food and encouraging new relationships through skills. Share with us how you both are making a concerted effort to buy products made with integrity. Can you share more on that? I think it speaks highly of both of you. The majority of what we buy is made in the United States if we can find it, or in regions like Japan and Europe. The main reason for this is not only political, but also due to the craftsmanship. Typically, you can find better-quality products from these places, and it’s easier to be educated about the working conditions and so on, the closer to home you are. We are makers, so it only makes sense to us to try to do all we can to support other makers, so that we can all continue doing what we love. We mainly have a no “made in China” policy, and if we buy from a developing country, it’s either direct or from a company that is working with artisans to make a fair living, like our friends’ companies, Proud Mary and Block Shop Textiles. It really helps with cutting back on unnecessary purchases when you have to stop and consider each item you buy and where it is coming from. We tend to buy less, but save up and invest in the things we know will last instead. Where would you both like to see yourselves in five or ten years? We have no idea. Well, we have lots of ideas but no time frame. We keep a large list of dreams and goals we have for our lives, and each year, we choose a couple from the list to focus on and achieve. Who knows what will happen in five to ten years, but hopefully, our future will involve plenty of continuous travel, expanding our studio, buying land, and finally getting animals.
HERS: @ANOTHERFEATHER | HIS: @FLEETCO
TURN TO PAGE 66 TO SEE MORE PHOTOS OF HANNAH & MALCOLM’S HANDIWORK!
HANNAH & MALCOLM
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Come Celebrate PHOTOGRAPHERS HEATHER ZWEIG AND NIRAV PATEL TOOK ON THE CHALLENGE OF VISUALLY CAPTURING THIS VOLUME’S THEME: COME CELEBRATE.
COME CELEBRATE
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MODEL: DIANA BRADBURY | DIRTYDIANA.ME PHOTOS: HEATHER ZWEIG (5, 7, 8) & NIRAV PATEL (1, 2, 3, 4, 6)
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Dreamland A VISUAL GUIDE TO CREATING A ONE-OF-A-KIND CELEBRATION WITH GOOD COMPANY, DELICIOUS FOOD, SWEET TREATS, AND STREAMERS GALORE.
PHOTOS: KIMBERLY GENEVIEVE TABLE DECOR & FLORALS: ASHLEY ADAMS DECORATIONS: GERONIMO BALLOONS SWEET TREATS: FIGGY BAKERY CATERING: FEAST CATERING
THE
MENU Roasted butternut squash with caramelized shallots and garlic Grilled flatbread pizza Heirloom tomato salad with charred peppers Smoked tomato mac and cheese Moroccan style chicken and olive casserole
THE
SWEETS Spiced cinnamon rolls with fresh raspberry glaze Pound cake loaves with maple glaze Cinnamon apple pie
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Sedona, AZ
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READ OUR CHAT WITH RACHEL OF FIGGY BAKERY ON OFFSWITCHBLOG.COM!
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THE
PARTY MAKERS Kimberly Genevieve is a wedding and editorial photographer based in Los Angeles, California. kimberlygenevieve.com
Jihan Zencrili is the founder and head balloon trooper at Geronimo Balloons in Los Angeles, California. geronimoballoons.com
Marcus Baird is the owner and chef at Feast Catering in Los Angeles, California. feastcatering.com
Rachel Bernard is the owner and baker at Figgy Bakery in Long Beach, California. figgybakery.com
Rachel Adams has a passion for making things look pretty. She lives in Los Angeles, California. @ashadamsss
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Journey to
Parenthood WORDS: BRITTY WESELY PHOTOS: JACQUELINE JASZKA
He didn’t grow in my belly. My body didn’t nourish him as his being formed. He has no biological connection to our family, but from the moment we met, he became a part of us. Our son. My husband and I started the process to foster-adopt a child long before we knew of this little boy. We spent the better part of a year preparing our hearts to not only love, but to heal. As that time came to a close, when the powers that be deemed us officially ready, we celebrated the best way we know how—with food and with family. We gathered with the intent to fill their bellies, to show our gratitude, and to help open their hearts to welcome another. Their proximity, their honeyfilled words, and their reverent eyes gave us strength and filled us with a restored joy, empowering us with the confidence we needed to continue into the world of adoption. Soon after, we welcomed a third little heart into our home and the world slowed down. Our radiuses narrowed. Our focus turned inward, intent on things most ordinary yet so marvelous and unfamiliar. Waking to the sound of his steps in the morning as he rushes to cuddle with us in bed. How we instantly acquired the ability to understand words unpronounced. The extending of his hands, palms up, to feel the rain bounce off his skin. The way he grasps our necks and pulls us in for the tightest hugs and the sweetest kisses. Here he is. This darling little boy with the ability to stir in us an overwhelming surge of new feelings, invading undiscovered spaces of our hearts and minds. We have become both stronger and weaker from our love for him. We are living now, continually dazzled by our son, who we are just beginning to know. Here we are, a family at last. It’s not true on paper yet, but it’s true in our hearts. Our world is now transformed and we wonder always, whatever did we do to deserve such a gift.
JOURNEY TO PARENTHOOD
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JOURNEY TO PARENTHOOD
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JOURNEY TO PARENTHOOD
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Come Celebrate
PLAYLIST
HERE COMES THE SUN — YUNA GATHERING STORIES — JONSI CAN’T HELP BUT SMILING — DEVENDRA BANHART GROWN OCEAN — FLEET FOXES SHUFFLE — BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB ON TOP OF THE WORLD — IMAGINE DRAGONS BODY OF WORK — THE MYNABIRDS WE TURN IT UP — OH LAND ALL OF US — PAINTED PALMS NOW IS THE START — A FINE FRENZY Compiled by: Kelly Ann Mount Visit flowerchilddwelling.com for more of Kelly Ann’s playlists!
52 CARDS
A year-long project dedicated to celebrating the ordinary days and extraordinary people who fill them. One card at a time.
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I often lose myself in the depths of winter, floundering in the cold weather and dark days of the great Midwest. And when this happens, when life seems like just too much, a good friend reminds me to step back. Do something for others, she tells me—more often than I’d like to hear. Her theory, which I fully support, is that when a person puts her energy toward the benefit of others, her own life is better for it. “52” is a popular blog series started by Jodi Wilson of the Australian lifestyle site, Che and Fidel. As Jodi writes, the premise of her project is to photograph “a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013.” Since I currently don’t have children, I found another way to partake in the fun energy of the 52 series. With a love for all things paper and pretty, loads of acquaintances near and far, and an obsession for greeting cards firmly intact, I began my yearlong card and gift-giving project. Renamed, my project became known as “52 Cards.” I keep sticky notes with unique ideas for those times between birthdays and anniversaries. Dropping a card in the mailbox of a neighbor with a gorgeous yard or fun Christmas decorations are both on my to-do list. We never know the impact we have on people until they tell us so, but I do know that I would like my impact, no matter how small, to be a positive one. And as another good friend once told me, “No one wouldn’t want to receive a compliment.” Whether because or just because, “52 Cards” is dedicated to the ordinary days and the extraordinary people who fill them—because all of it is worth celebrating.
TEXT: KATIE MICHELS PHOTOS: KATE DE LA ROSA STYLING: KATIE MICHELS, KATE DE LA ROSA, SUE MICHELS LOCATION: BY THE BARKERS STUDIO, CHICAGO, IL
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52 CARDS
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JEWELRY: ANOTHER FEATHER CLUTCH: FLEET CO. GREETING CARD: RIFLE PAPER CO. NOTEBOOKS: SCOUT PENCILS, WASHI TAPE, STICKERS: INKKIT Sweet, Sweet Potato 70
Let Them RECIPE: TERESA CUTTER PHOTO: HEATHER ZWEIG WORDS: JOHN BRAY
C
m
Cake
A UNIQUE TAKE ON A CLASSIC STAPLE, BECAUSE HONESTLY HOW COULD WE CELEBRATE WITHOUT THIS YUMMY CONFECTION?
The unfortunate thing about cake is that it’s always welcome but it’s seldom requested. Always enjoyed but rarely made. And that’s because of a commitment issue. Eight to nine inches across, two-plus layers high—if done right—and frosted, dusted, drizzled, or ganached to pull it all together. It’s an undertaking, and it’s a work of art. To minimize this commitment, someone came up with cupcakes: all the fun of a cake in a more manageable size. There’s at least a dozen. Usually two. Each must be frosted and topped individually… but that destroys the challenge. That’s like having two dozen little safety nets. If you mess up a few or eat one in a moment of baker’s desperation, you can just lie about the yield. Say the recipe was bad and you only got eighteen, not twenty-four. But cake is a one-shot deal. If you screw it up, that’s it. You may have scraps from leveling the top for stacking. You may even be able to frost a bit of that scrap to try it out, to make sure the flavors blend and complement. But you can’t try the finished product. You can’t lie about the yield or accidently eat a slice and deny it. All you can do is fold the batter, frost in even strokes, douse in a shower of sprinkles, and celebrate what you’ve made. Celebrate the occasion that is cake: a celebration in itself.
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RECIPE COURTESY OF: THEHEALTHYCHEF.COM
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CHOCOLATE CAKE 1/4 cup cocoa powder 1/4 cup coconut flour 1 1/2 teaspoons gluten free baking powder 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon Pinch of sea salt 4 eggs 1/4 cup (3 tablespoons) honey or organic maple syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste 1/4 cup macadamia nut oil or melted coconut oil or butter
SERVES 8
1: Preheat oven to 320˚F. 2: Combine the cocoa, coconut flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and sea salt. 3: Add the eggs, honey, vanilla, and oil. 4: Mix well until smooth and combined. 5: Spoon into a 6 inch cake tin lined with parchment paper—the smaller the tin the higher the cake. Or alternatively spoon into 8 lined cupcake tins. 6: Bake the cake for 35-40 minutes or until cooked through. Bake smaller cupcakes for about 20-25 minutes. 7: Remove from the oven and allow to cool. 8: Enjoy alone or with your choice of frosting!
FROSTING IDEAS 1: For a chocolate cream frosting combine 2 ripe avocados, 1/4 cup cocoa powder, 1/4 cup honey, a pinch of sea salt, and 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste. Blend in a high powered blender (i.e. Vitamix) until smooth and creamy. Add a little splash of water for a smoother and fluffier consistency. 2: For a creamy cheesecake style frosting, combine 9 oz. soft cream cheese with a little lemon zest, juice, vanilla, and maple syrup or honey to taste. Beat well until combined and creamy. 3: To make a chocolate fudge sauce take 1 heaped tablespoon of macadamia nut butter and mix with 1 teaspoon of honey plus 1 teaspoon cocoa powder and a little hot water (2-3 tbsp) enough to mix into a smooth chocolate fudgy syrup. Drizzle over the cake and enjoy.
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