No chickening out a tale of urban chicken-raising
make your own terrarium with our d.i.y.
simple salads: three spring recipes waterways: a profile of the savannah riverkeeper
April 2014 / Issue 10
Paprika Southern
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 2
Issue 10 / April 2014
Table of contents 6 Letter from the Co-editors
8 Behind the Scenes Currently
10 See what’s inspiring the co-editors this month
12 12 Simple Salads
Three sure-fire recipes for spring page 3
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
26
18 46
60 www.paprikasouthern.com
page 4
Issue 10 / April 2014
18
No Chickening Out A lighthearted story of raising backyard birds
Waterways A profile of the Savannah Riverkeeper
26
Toy Shoppe 36 AThe Q & A with Virginia woodworker Winfrey Y. Johnson III and a look at the to-scale dollhouse replica he designed of a Savannah home
Introducing Harper Tour the new downtown Savannah boutique
46
60 Terrarium D.I.Y.
Make this fun craft with us, perfect for spring
P.S.
72
Paprika Southern recommends page 5
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
Letter from the co-editors The April issue of Paprika Southern is all about the do-it-yourself spirit. This month we’re bringing you the stories of people taking on new challenges, standing up for their beliefs, and making things happen with their own two hands. We have an interview with Tonya Bonitatibus, the Savannah Riverkeeper, who acts as a tireless advocate for one of the country’s most imperiled river systems. In “Introducing Harper” we bring you a photo story of two southern entrepreneurs who brought their vision for a new boutique with a unique feel to life. Contributor Elena Fodera shares her own story of the challenges and joys of urban chicken-raising, we have a Q & A with a Virginia woodworker, and we finish the issue with step-by-step instructions for a terrarium if you feel inclined to take on a D.I.Y. yourself. We’re feeling charged up for spring and getting inspiration from this month’s stories—we hope you do too.
if you are interested in purchasing photographs from the magazine, please contact mail@paprikasouthern.com www.paprikasouthern.com
page 6
Issue 10 / April 2014
The Team Bevin valentine Co-editor siobhan egan Co-editor Krystal Pittman Baker Advertising contributors
elena fodera
tara garrigan
lauren stenger
click here to read more about our contributors page 7
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
Behind the scenes in April
Our visit to Augusta to interview the Savannah Riverkeeper and photograph Elena Fodera’s chickens
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 8
Issue 10 / April 2014
St. Patrick’s Day fun
Shooting our terrarium D.I.Y. with Lauren Stenger
We love sharing sneak peeks of what we’re up to throughout the month, as well as connecting with our readers! Stay in touch and a get a behind-the-scenes look at what’s coming up by following us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Follow paprika southern
Instagram / Twitter / Facebook page 9
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
Currently... See what’s inspiring the co-editors this month! I just bought a new vegetarian cookbook, Feast by Sarah Copeland, and am excited to start trying out recipes. Bevin
If you’re missing Downton Abbey, check out the 1950s BBC drama Call the Midwife.
I’m in wedding-planning mode, and I love the rustic, unfinished look of naked cakes. I’m drawn to the simple beauty of cakes like this one by It’s All About the Cake, and photographed by Troy Grover Photographers.
It’s almost swimsuit season! I love the retro charm of this high-waisted two-piece from J. Crew.
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 10
Issue 10 / April 2014
This new organization just has a facebook page right now, but wow have they made a difference. The page matches senior dogs without a home with people who want to love and care for them. I follow them on Facebook where I can read about their success stories. You should too!
Siobhan
Set in the early 1950s, The Bletchley Circle is the story about 4 women who were code breakers during World War II and how they once again years later are able to use their skills to help solve a string of murders. Season 2 starts this month!!
The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is set in the 1920s and 30s Barcelona and tells the story of a writer and what he goes through in his struggle to become a success and to tell the difference between right and wrong. It’s great so far! I’ve already read another book by the Spanish author, The Shadow of the Wind. Fantastic!
page 11
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
Simple Salads three sure-fire recipes for spring recipes by Elena Fodera & Bevin Valentine illustration by Tara Garrigan
With farmers’ markets in full swing, nothing sounds better than a salad for spring mealplanning. The crisp bite of fresh greens, combined with the juicy zing of fresh fruit, and rich creaminess of cheese or avocado is sure to delight every palate. We share three recipes that are perfect either as full meals or side salads.
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 12
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 13
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
Spring Superfood Salad with Honey-Mustard Poppyseed Dressing The “superfoods” in this fresh, sweet salad offer health benefits ranging from antioxidants and vitamins to protein, iron and fiber for a complete boost. If possible, use local honey in the dressing to fight against spring allergies. April is the perfect month to snag in-season ingredients for this diverse dish. In the South, carrots, cabbage and kale are on their last leg, while strawberries are reaching towards their peak. So not only will they be fresh, they’ll be most affordable right now. Plus it’s just the kind of detox you need after a long winter, and did we mention it’s delicious? FOR THE SALAD (Makes 6 Servings) 2 cups Kale, removed from stalk and chopped 1 cup Carrots, shredded 1 cup Fresh Strawberries, sliced 1 cup Purple Cabbage, shredded ½ cup Edamame (green soybeans), cooked and shelled ½ cup Dried Blueberries ½ cup Dry Roasted Sunflower Seeds ¼ cup Red Onion, diced FOR THE DRESSING 2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2 Tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar 2 Tbsp. Local Honey 2 tsp. Dijon Mustard 1 tsp. Dried Poppy Seeds Salt & Fresh Cracked Black Pepper to taste Prepare all salad ingredients and add to a large Tupperware container. In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients one by one, tasting as you go. If it’s difficult to blend, add more vinegar. It should dilute the thick honey and mustard into a smooth consistency. Pour the dressing over your salad, seal the container and shake to coat evenly. Keep it on hand all week for snacks and lunches, enjoy it on a picnic in the park, or transfer to a serving bowl for guests and watch it disappear! www.paprikasouthern.com
page 14
Issue 10 / April 2014
lemony bean and quinoa salad This hearty salad foregoes greens for quinoa and is a riot of textures and flavors. The sweetness of the tomatoes (use the freshest farmers’ market tomatoes you can find!) contrasts perfectly with the smokiness of the toasted pepitas, and the parsley, olives, and red onion add a nice acidity. - 2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes - salt, pepper, and olive oil to taste - 1/2 cup fresh parsley - 1/4 cup fresh basil - 1/4 cup black olives - 1/2 small to medium red onion, quartered - 3 cloves garlic, smashed - juice and zest of 1 lemon - 1/4 tsp. salt - 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes - 1 1/2 - 2 cups cooked quinoa - 1 can kidney beans - 1 can chickpeas - 1 celery stalk, finely diced - 1/4 cup toasted pepitas - a few dashes of hot sauce (optional) For tomatoes Preheat oven to 350. Toss tomatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes burst and release their juices. For the “dressing” Combine parsley, basil, olives, onion, garlic, lemon juice and zest, salt, and red pepper flakes in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse several times until blended; the “sauce” should still be chunky--sort of a salsa-like consistency. Combine the quinoa, beans, celery and mixture from the food processor in a large bowl and toss together. Fold in the roasted tomatoes. Serve topped with pepitas and a few drops of hot sauce. page 15
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
roasted beet with goat cheese and walnut salad This earthy salad feels decadent with the addition of goat cheese and toasted walnuts. Enjoy it with a glass of your favorite white wine for an evening treat! -3-4 beets peeled and cut into bite-size half-moon chunks -salt and pepper to taste -3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil -1-2 teaspoons dried thyme -a mix of baby arugula and baby spinach -extra virgin olive oil -balsamic vinegar -salt and pepper to taste -1/4 cup chopped and toasted walnuts -goat cheese For the beets Preheat oven to 400. Toss beets with olive oil, salt and pepper, and dried thyme and spread them on a baking sheet to roast, turning occasionally, for 35-40 minutes. Remove when fork-tender. For the dressing Meanwhile, prepare the vinaigrette. Combine equal parts olive oil and balsamic vinegar and whisk to combine. Toss with your greens to taste, and season with salt and pepper. To serve, place roasted beets over a bed of greens, top with toasted walnuts and sprinkle with goat cheese. Enjoy!
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 16
Issue 10 / April 2014
your ad here contact advertise@paprikasouthern.com for ad rates
page 17
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 18
Issue 10 / April 2014
no chickening out A Lighthearted Story of Raising Backyard Birds Words by Elena Fodera
Images by Siobhan Egan
page 19
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
E veryone thought I was
joking when I had the idea. I said I wanted to get some chickens and raise them in the backyard of my little house in the city. Even I was unsure if I’d go through with it. I’ve never been much of a pet person, so the idea of raising livestock, to my family and friends, was laughable. I thought to myself, “Am I the type of person who could raise chickens?” I had only known of a few people—with the exception of bona fide farmers and country folk—who had done it. Mostly, they were strong-willed, quirky, intelligent family-women: the artsy wife of a professor I admired, a witty journalist whose work I respected, a stylish blogger whose garden and children were enviable. I suspected they took on urban chicken-raising to teach their children lessons about self-sufficiency, produce food for the family, and because they weren’t afraid of some dirty work for good clean fun. Maybe they were attracted to the eccentricity of the idea, with no fear of judgment, rather, excitement at taking on something practically no one else was up to. It is attractive, after all, in many ways. The rise in popularity of urban chicken-raising is tied to plenty of factors. Innovations push towards sustainability in our everyday lives. The “green” and DIY movements, for example, have sparked in many people the desire to know where our food comes from and literally have a hand in it. But each backyard farmer is different, with his or her distinct motivations.
en project” was about challenging myself. I finally had a home with my fiancé Justin—a yard, a vegetable garden, a kitchen to cook in and host parties—things I had long looked forward to. He, being the master gardener and landscaping expert, took charge of growing things. Meanwhile, I wanted to make myself useful on this little homestead. Like a child asking for a new puppy, I assured him it would be effortless on his part. We’d split up the duties. “You can care for the plants,” I persuaded him, “and I’ll care for the animals.” It was a perfect picture of domesticity, with a modern twist. He laughed and went along with it. I felt at once intimidated and brave, but I meant it. This was the simple life I dreamed of, no chickening out. So the answer to my question was, “Yes, I am the kind of person who would do this,” because I wanted to be.
We brought home our four chickens, cooing and clucking, on a bright cold day in February of last year. One Black Australorp, one Rhode Island Red, and two colorful Black Rock twins: we named them Henrietta, Clementine, Margot and Beatrice, or Bea for short, respectively. They were young pullets: “adolescent” hens that have not yet started laying eggs. I had been nesting in anticipation of their arrival. I’d already arranged their coop, put out their food, and scoured the Internet and books to learn as much as I could before I got them. Justin and I built a closed-in pen When it comes down to it, my own “chick- with our own hands—6 feet tall and 20 feet long. We prepared everything, but we www.paprikasouthern.com
page 20
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 21
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 22
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 23
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
could not have prepared ourselves for the learning experiences, the laughter and the wonder these little creatures would supply. The first night we brought them home we left them uncaged while we went to dinner. “What do they do when they need to sleep?” I remember asking. “I don’t know,” Justin said, “I guess they’ll just sleep.” When we arrived home in the dark, the chickens were nowhere to be found. “Oh God,” I thought, feeling like a terrible mother, “I’ve lost them all on the first day!” We searched the yard frantically. Do chickens fly away, we wondered? Do they “come home to roost,” as the saying goes? One by one, we found them roosting on the yard wall, on the fence, in the bushes, in a little corner of the patio. That’s how we learned that chickens are indeed particular about where they sleep. Over time we’d come to know a lot more than the hens’ lodging preferences. I quickly caught on to how silly it was for magazine articles and blogs to portray chicken-raising as a hip new trend, calling them “pets,” using the words “in-vogue,” and most ridiculously, “glamorous.” Let’s get real. This is as un-glamorous as it gets. I often laugh to myself, cleaning mounds of chicken poop from the coop floor and wondering how I, not an animal person, could be so comfortable with it. I’d soon also learn tons of practical knowledge: how much unique personality each chicken can have; how to catch and hold one calmly and correctly; how to rid a coop of biting mites; how to check legs, eyes and skin for signs of illness; what to do www.paprikasouthern.com
when you find blood on one’s head because she’s getting picked on; how to deal with a broody hen in the 100-degree heat of summer; not to freak out when they lose their feathers in the fall, how to keep the coop warm in the icy dead of winter. We would even learn how it feels to lose a member of the flock to a predator, wondering what we could have done to keep them safer. Poor, sweet Bea we found dead in the yard on a rainy morning. We’d learn how the other hens would react to such a drastic change in the pecking order. They stopped laying eggs from the stress. It was evident how saddened they seemed. So just recently, we also learned how to introduce a new bird—Lacey, a beautiful black and white Laced Wyandotte—to the rest of them. Good times or bad, every day is different. But it is remarkably simple, with a little effort and dedication, to raise healthy, happy hens. Chickens’ individual personalities, their curiosity and sometimes hilarious habits are alone enough entertainment to be worth the work. But that’s without even mentioning the golden reward of raising these delightful animals: the eggs, of course. With rich, sunflower-yellow yolk, buttery to the taste and satisfying to the soul, a farmraised egg is as different from its storebought counterpart as a pre-packaged cookie is from Mom’s, made-from-scratch and warm from the oven. By March we had our first egg. Little compares to the joy I felt holding it, brown and perfect, still warm, in my hands, Beatrice’s greatpage 24
Issue 10 / April 2014
est accomplishment. It was no small feat. I’ll never forget seeing her bolt, squawking, from the pen and into a pile of leaves, panting, to squeeze it out. Luckily, it gets easier for them. The other three followed in the next few days and soon we had eggs upon eggs, one from each hen, a total of four daily. By summertime, we were harvesting baskets of eggs, tomatoes, okra, herbs and peppers each day. How I loved walking into the yard to collect the bounty! It is gratifying to grow, cook, eat and share the food you yourself have cultivated with friends, family and neighbors. It is stimulating to witness your own personal growth in tune with the growth of a garden, the animals you care for and the passing of the seasons. It is humbling to take on an endeavor that so many have before you, knowing nothing, and surprise yourself with success. The key is hatching a plan: deciding the kind of person you want to be, the kind of life you want to have, and working towards it. page 25
Interested in Backyard Chickens? Resources for Starting Your Own Flock Chicken Coops 45 Building Ideas for Housing Your Flock – by Judy Pangman If you’re ready to DIY when it comes to housing your chickens, this is the guide for you, with conceptual drawings, how-to plans and no shortage of creative ideas for flocks of any size. Homemade Living: Keeping Chickens with Ashley English All You Need to Know to Care for a Happy, Healthy Flock – by Ashley English Part of the Homemade Living series by author, homemaker and blogger Ashley English, this beginner’s guide has information on choosing breeds and other basics, along with profiles of chicken owners who are sure to inspire. The Chicken Encyclopedia An Illustrated Reference – by Gail Damerow Chicken expert Gail Damerow presents a comprehensive and heavily illustrated A-to-Z guide to any and all chicken terminology, from breed descriptions to common conditions and more. Urban Homesteading Heirloom Skills for Sustainable Living – by Rachel Kaplan with K. Ruby Blume So it’s not strictly about chickens, in fact only a small section is, but this thrilling guide to urban homesteading will help any beginner better understand moves towards self-sufficiency, and offer plenty of doable ideas and new skills from composting to canning and beyond. The Joy of Keeping Chickens The Ultimate Guide to Raising Poultry for Fun or Profit – by Jennifer Megyesi Organic farmer and author Jennifer Megyesi discusses the details of raising poultry including general biology, health, food and housing in charming prose. www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
WATERWAYS www.paprikasouthern.com
page 26
Issue 10 / April 2014
A Profile of the Savannah Riverkeeper Augusta, Georgia Words by Bevin Valentine Images by Siobhan Egan
page 27
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
In
the
1730 s B ritish
parliamentarian and social reformer James Oglethorpe landed in the New World and sent explorers up what would become known as the Savannah River. Long before this decisive moment in American history, the area around the Savannah River was used by the Native Americans of the land as an important trade route between the mountains and oceans. It is the area around Augusta, Georgia that represented a halfway meeting point and is thus one of the most archaeologically rich spots in the United States for evidence of the early peoples of the Americas. Today Augusta is home to the office of the Savannah Riverkeeper. The Savannah River is a 400 mile long river with over 10,000 square miles of watershed basin. The headwaters of the Savannah River originate in mountain streams in North Carolina and the river empties into the Atlantic Ocean at the Savannah Harbor. In between, the river forms the border between South Carolina and Georgia. About 200 miles of the river are lakes, used primarily for recreation, and 1.4 million individuals rely on the river either for drinking water or for their living. The EPA estimates that the Savannah River is the fourth most toxic river in the United States.
Savannah Riverkeeper Tonya Bonitatibus
given river. The Savannah Riverkeeper is a nonprofit organization, one of over 300 Riverkeeper organizations throughout the world, founded by a group of citizens and scientists who wanted to effect measureable change in the river. The current Riverkeeper is Tonya Bonitatibus. She, with her staff of three employees who operate out of a small office a stone’s throw from the river, work each day to fulfill the Riverkeeper’s mission to restore, protect, and educate.
It is the job of any Riverkeeper to watch Tonya’s passion for environmental advoover, protect, and work to restore their cacy grows out of time spent in Asia. She www.paprikasouthern.com
page 28
Issue 10 / April 2014
lived in Taiwan in the early 1990s, when so many products sported the moniker “Made in Taiwan” and pollution there was unregulated. She saw the food people ate grown out of the river where everyone’s bodily waste was dumped. Witnessing the effects of what was essentially an industrial revolution on a culture she admired, she knew she wanted to do something about it. In 2007 she became the development director for the Savannah Riverkeeper.
of doing business” that everything comes down to. While, on a superficial level, what the organization does may seem to be about tree-hugging (or, in this case, “fish-hugging”), the Riverkeeper is required to balance the intricacies of keeping the river healthy enough to be used recreationally and for drinking water as well as for industrial use. When looking at a map of the Savannah River Basin, the complexity of the issue is clearly illustrated. A river is not only the river itself, but the entire watershed (the area where any drop of water eventually ends up in that river). The watershed area bears a visual resemblance to veins and an artery, and a metaphoric resemblance as well. The health of the river is not only dependent on the main stem of the river, but the entire basin, and what happens at the top of the river affects it as far away as the harbor, and vice versa.
Today Tonya heads the Savannah Riverkeeper organization. She grew up on the Savannah River in Augusta and describes it as “absolutely my first love.” She is fascinated by the complicated web of issues—environmental, legal, and economic—surrounding the river and faces the challenge head-on. Despite having been involved in the organization for seven years, she says she is still often the youngest and the only woman in the room. “I love it…I love to walk in a room with a Tonya gives an example. The lakes are bunch of old white men. Let’s bring it used primarily for recreation, and the on!” people who use them thus would—obviously—prefer to have them full. This Tonya describes the day-to-day of her job seemingly reasonable demand has faras “absolute chaos.” With a business de- flung implications, though. If, during a gree as well as an academic background drought, more water is diverted into the in biology, Tonya is uniquely suited to lakes, there is less water in the rest of rivdeal with the complexities surrounding er. Permits for industrial use of the rivthe Savannah River. er—i.e., dumping industrial waste into it—are based on a certain calculation of “It’s all about the true cost of doing busi- the dilution capacity of the river, which ness for us,” she says. It is this “true cost accounts for how much pollution the rivpage 29
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
An outdoor theatre on the river in downtown Augusta; across the river homes in North Augusta, SC are visible
er can safely assimilate. If, however, the water level is lower, no model exists to account for the reduced water level. The same amount of effluent will be dumped into a smaller amount of water, with the result that pollution becomes more concentrated in the drinking water. Similarly, issues at the harbor—where the river empties into the Atlantic Ocean— affect the entire river. If the proposed Savannah harbor deepening—from what is naturally 13 feet deep, is now 43 feet deep, and proposed to deepen to 47 feet to allow larger barge ships into the port— moves forward, more salt water, which holds less oxygen than fresh water, will be www.paprikasouthern.com
introduced, resulting in an increased dead zone in the river. As salt water moves farther into the river, the water loses its natural assimilative capacity. If industries are told they must reduce their output in response, jobs will inevitably be lost. The Savannah harbor deepening has been a major advocacy issue for the Savannah Riverkeeper, who questions the efficacy of the planned bubblers intended to pump oxygen back into the water. The Riverkeeper organization is anomalous among environmental nonprofit agencies in that they do not forego their ability to sue. It is this functionality—using the court of law—that is what enables the Riverkeeppage 30
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 31
The Riverwalk in downtown Augusta, GA www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 32
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 33
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
Get involved! Visit savannahriverkeeper.org to volunteer, or find your local Riverkeeper at waterkeeper.org
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 34
Issue 10 / April 2014
er to enact measureable change. The Savannah Riverkeeper has recently settled a lawsuit that requires more study of the efficacy of the bubblers and their effect on the river. This complexity is only the tip of what Tonya and her staff deal with on a daily basis. Issues of the river are further complicated by its status of being shared by two states, South Carolina and Georgia. Although the river runs the length of the border between the two states and is shared through its entire length, Georgia uses 90% of the assimilative capacity of the river. Tonya spends much of her time lobbying state lawmakers in both South Carolina and Georgia and working to facilitate mediation over shared use of the river. She and her staff also do site surveys, provide oversight on construction sites, and do regular patrols. If they suspect an industrial user is exceeding their limits—at the time of our interview she had plans to investigate a coal plant they suspected of leaking coal ash—they collect samples for analysis. All of this falls under the “protection” portion of the Riverkeeper’s mission. Restoration includes removing between 20 and 30 tons of trash from the river each year as well as undertaking a major restorative project that will return the river to its original state and length. As part of the New Deal—that alphabet soup of government programs created by FDR meant to put people back to work during the Great page 35
Depression—many of the natural bends in the river were artificially straightened. The purpose was to make barge travel on the river faster. Ironically, soon after completion many of those whom the measures were intended to help had their boats confiscated for war work at the start of World War II. The Riverkeeper is undertaking the process of beginning to put those bends back in. A river has a natural ability to clean itself, and the longer it flows, the more time it has to clean itself of pollution before it hits another body of water. The project will slow it down and give it back up to 75 miles of river to clean itself. Tonya describes this project as “the single greatest thing we could do to restore the health of the river.” The final part of the Riverkeeper’s mission is education. Nothing related to the river exists in a vacuum, and the understanding of this fact—from politicians to industry to individuals—is imperative to the Riverkeeper’s mission. With the major goal of putting the river back together, Tonya says “I think that is single-handedly the best thing we can do to restore this river, and not to restore it, but to make sure it continues to provide the economic driver and the drinking water that it does now. If we were to continue the way we’re doing things now, everybody is going to have to reduce drastically what they put into the river because you can’t dump into a dirty river…We have to make it healthier.” www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
The Toy Shoppe Words by Bevin Valentine Images by Siobhan Egan
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 36
Issue 10 / April 2014
After
f o rt y y e a r s a s
a teacher, coach, and school administrator in Henrico County, Virginia, Winfrey Y. Johnson III is able to concentrate on his love for woodworking in retirement. With his wife, he owns and operates Olde Virginia Toy Shoppe in Richmond, where he designs, mills, builds, paints, sells, and delivers all the products. His creations are wooden toys, including cars, trucks, games, dollhouses, dollhouse furniture, and more. In late 2013 Winfrey completed a to-scale dollhouse replica of a Savannah home. The dollhouse is composed of three parts, the main house, back addition, and deck, which are constructed out of Baltic birch plywood, oak plywood, basswood, and oak stick wood, and finished with painstaking detail. The main portion of the house is 72 x 22 x 32.5 inches. Winfrey and the clients were kind enough to allow us to photograph it. Winfrey also took the time to answer a few questions.
page 37
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
How did you get into as well as furniture for both. Most people enjoy a good woodworking? novel. I enjoy reading woodMy dad would let me work working books and magawith him in his garage and zines. They are a wealth of basement shop. He even knowledge. built me my own workbench and tools. I was his shop What’s a typical day in shadow and I learned a lot. the shop? I started to build wooden models (planes, boats and It depends on what I am ships). The planes and boats making. Some days I paint, were great toys whether rub- sand, and assemble. Other berband- or engine-driven. days, I mill the stick wood I need to build a project or I restored an old speedboat cut out parts for a project. at the age of twelve and While other days, I may dehelped my dad build our sign or make patterns. Every summer cottage on the Poto- day is different but all are mac. I started building and enjoyable and challenging. restoring furniture because it is a lot cheaper than buy- What advice would you ing it new. It is fun to watch give to a new homeowner old furniture return to its who’s considering having former glory. Being a teach- custom pieces of furnier allowed me to do proj- ture made, versus buying ects around the house from something pre-fabricatpainting to building during ed from a store? the summer months. Being a Student Activity Direc- You get what you pay for. tor kept me busy and there You have a choice of mawas little time for wood- terials and finishes when it working. When I retired, I is custom. Pre-fabricated started back woodworking. [pieces] usually have a lot I first built a dollhouse for of MDF or particleboard my granddaughter then a in them. MDF and particlefire station for my grandson board have improved greatwww.paprikasouthern.com
ly but I would take solid wood or plywood anytime. Real wood is solid and can be repaired. Buy custom if you want it to last a lifetime or prefabricated for short term. You created a to-scale miniature replica of a Savannah home. Tell us about the project? The Savannah house was a project for a friend of my daughter’s. The client saw a picture of the dollhouse that I made my granddaughter. She asked if I would make her a dollhouse that looked like her house. I agreed as long as there was no time limit on completion. The clients are great people and very patient. They allowed me to make the decisions and use my creativity. Their only request was to make the dollhouse look like their real home as much as possible. What was the most challenging aspect of the project? page 38
Issue 10 / April 2014
At first the most challenging aspect of the project was the design of the dollhouse. The dollhouse would be 46 inches wide in some area and 72 inches long. The stairs to the second floor covered the back wall of the foyer. The front porch ruled out a front opening to the foyer to show the stairs. The solution was no stairs and the back section of the dollhouse would open and sit at a right angle to main house. This allows you to view and have access to all the rooms at page 39
the same time. The real challenge came later. I fell and suffered cervical spine damage that caused a loss of movement in my arms, hands and fingers. The dollhouse was mostly finished but the tasks remaining required fine motor skills and I had none. After surgery, my left arm, hand and fingers were still not functioning. With time and therapy the movement slowly returned. Fifteen months after I fell, I was finally allowed to return to my shop and the Savannah
dollhouse. Now you know why I said my clients are patient. We like to describe our readers as sweet or spicy—which are you? My wife and family would say I am sweet. I guess sweet would best fit my personality. I enjoy watching the face of a child or client when they see their toy for the first time. It is like enjoying dessert at the end of a meal, so I guess I really am sweet. www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 40
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 41
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 42
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 43
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 44
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 45
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
Introducing Harper Words & Images by Bevin Valentine
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 46
Issue 10 / April 2014
Women’s clothing store Red Clover has become beloved by Savannah residents and tourists alike for its selection of cute and trendy clothes at affordable prices. Owners Leah Lancaster Riffle and Thu Tran-Litts have recently opened their second store in downtown Savannah, Harper. This new shop—a more curated selection of clothing and gift items—represents a trend in boutiques that offer more than a selection of clothes, but also offer an experience. The light-filled space was conceptualized and designed by Leah and Thu and features minimal décor with light industrial touches. They were inspired by architectural and interior design they saw on a trip to Italy last summer, as well as other independent boutiques they have visited in cities throughout the United States. The space—at the corner of Bull and State Streets, just steps from Savannah’s busy Broughton Street—features wrap-around windows that imbue the store with a beautiful soft light. The original tiles on the ceiling are a nod to historic downtown Savannah, and juxtapose beautifully with the exposed ductwork. Leah and Thu added the slick contemporary copper lighting fixtures and the clothing racks are fashioned of industrial piping. Display cases and furniture throughout the store were found in antique stores, neatly playing just a whisper of Victorian steampunk off industrial-chic. The Harper customer is “a fashion-forward and well-traveled woman who appreciates style and timeless pieces.” Each item is hand-picked by Leah and Thu and vignettes are artfully arranged throughout the space. The store carries tailored and tasteful pieces for both work and play along with a curated selection of jewelry and gifts. Harper is located at 118 Bull Street and open Monday – Saturday, 11-6. page 47
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 48
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 49
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 50
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 51
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 52
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 53
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 54
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 55
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 56
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 57
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 58
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 59
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
terrarium D.I.Y.
craft by Lauren Stenger Images by Siobhan Egan www.paprikasouthern.com
page 60
Issue 10 / April 2014
Supplies clear glass or plastic containers spoon and chopsticks or tweezers for placing objects and soil paintbrush or other small brush for brushing away loose dirt soil blend specific to plants being used sand or other decorative soil topper gravel for drainage activated charcoal (to keep odors from forming and control moisture) moss (preserved reindeer moss or live mosses) small plants that have similar needs (i.e., shade plants, dry succulents, or plants that need lots of moisture) decorative objects, stones, crystals, twigs, figurines, etc.
Special thanks Scribble art studio page 61
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 62
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 63
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
step one
Choose a container and place a layer of gravel in the bottom for drainage.
step two
add a layer of charcoal on top of the gravel.
step three
scoop a small layer of dirt into the container.
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 64
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 65
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
step four
step five
www.paprikasouthern.com
Un-pot, remove excess dirt from root-ball and loosen roots, and then place plant(s) in the container.
add more soil. surround the plants with soil, pressing it down gently. brush away any loose dirt.
page 66
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 67
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
step six
www.paprikasouthern.com
top soil with sand or other decorative soil topper. add in twigs, rocks, moss, figurines, or other decorative objects as desired.
page 68
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 69
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 70
Issue 10 / April 2014
page 71
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
P.S. Paprika Southern recommends
roanoke The Taubman Museum of Art’s ongoing exhibition From Picasso to Magritte: European Masters from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts features a variety of celebrated names from the 19th and 20th centuries, including Degas, Rodin, Toulouse-Lautrec, and more. Show runs through August 23
birmingham The Birmingham Museum of Art’s showing of Delacroix and the Matter of Finish represents the first exhibition of French Romantic painter Eugene Delacroix in over a decade. Show runs through May 18 www.paprikasouthern.com
page 72
Issue 10 / April 2014
savannah Savannah’s celebration of Earth Day in Forsyth Park includes the RecycleRama, an expanded farmers’ market, a group bike ride, pluse exbhibitors, workshops, activities for the whole family, and more. April 19
austin The Contemporary Austin will present a “live documentary” by filmmaker Sam Green, accompanied by the musicians of Yo La Tengo. This performance of Green’s The Love Song of R. Buckminster Fuller is a onenight-only event. April 17
page 73
www.paprikasouthern.com
Paprika Southern
Follow along with Paprika Southern throughout the month: Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram See you in May!
www.paprikasouthern.com
page 74