Toujours Mag Issue 002

nov | dec

issue 002

Our 1st Holiday Issue!

Survive and Design Through the Season

tou jours

magazine

cardella Rancho Mirage, California

www.cardelladesign.com

letters from the editors Every August I lament that I might as well start buying gifts, as fall inevitably seems to pass in a blink and the holidays steam roll in! While this year is no different, it has been an exceptionally wonderful and eventful fall that has left me feeling so much to be grateful for. Our launch in September felt like a fabulous accomplishment and diving right into the second issue felt just as amazing. This year I want to say how thankful I am for the entire contributing team at Toujours. We are so excited to bring you this festive issue full of quirky commentary, design, and holiday cheer. Happy Holidays!

-Meghan Beierle-O’Brien, Co-founder Tis the season, and all things change. There is less light and nature itself is on the wain. We take a measure of what we have done, and wonder about the new year just ahead. Fortunately we have this ceremony to commemorate the season. We use all our resources as a society to advance through this trying time. Celebrate we do and we use those things of good design, and beauty to see us through. We take the best measure of our world and then we give it away. Quite an achievement to be sure.

- Grey Crawford, Co-founder

in the issue FRESH | Holiday Hostess

Emily Ruddo takes the stress out of holiday planning with great gift tips.

FRESH | She Dazzles

Jordana Silvers’ bisou shoe kisses are our favorite stocking stuffer this year.

FRESH | A Stroll Down Hayes Street

San Francisco’s go-to street for everything from design to dessert.

PRINTED MATTER | Blanket Reading Books that make great holiday gifts for everyone on your list.

FEED AND FUEL | Holiday Helper

Celebrity chef and entertaining guru Lulu Powers give us her five favorite tips for the holidays.

FEED AND FUEL | Kir Royale

Sparking wine and chambord cocktail

FEED AND FUEL | Chocolate Pudding With pecan crumble and caramel sauce.

INSIDE ART | Tom Otterness

A glance into the studio of one of New York’s master sculptor. Take a tour with Toujours for a great view of Tom’s work around NYC.

HOT SHOP | The Gem of Russian Hill

Quirky design shop in San Francisco maximizes space and vintage design.

HOT SHOP | Design in Store

Experience folk art at its finest in this beautiful summerland setting.

WANDERLUST | Christmas in Ethiopia

Writer Jeff Mark experiences the holidays in a foreign setting.

TAKE A DAY | Two Tales of a City

Step outside of Manhattan to explore two of Brooklyn’s hippest neighborhoods.

SEASONAL SKETCHINGS | Rapping

David Saracino makes light of the holidays.

Cover Story | Christmas Past

Artist Beth Coller discusses her discarded Christmas tree photo series.

LIVING | Modern Vocabulary

Context, texture, and layering are just a few words to describe designer Rozalynn Woods

LIVING | Always Paris

Rozalynn Woods shares her inspiration from her most recent trip to Paris.

LIVING | Homemaker

Take a cue from Jennifer Dyer on finding your personal style this holiday season.

LIVING | A Sense of Balance

Claudia Mahecha helps an urban family find their footing south of San Francisco.

LAST WORDS | Seasonal Must-Haves

Stylist Char Langos simply cannot survive the holidays without these fabulous items.

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DANA BEIERLE

DAWN MOORE

Art Director

Editor at Large

Dana lives in Brooklyn NY where she hosts rooftop dumpling dinners for her starving artist friends. She wears clothing she finds on the sidewalk in Chinatown and listens to Hall and Oates. She draws, plays keyboards, and she and her cat Satchmo can sleep through just about anything. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

California Girl to the bone.

Former corporate exec, turned bohemian recluse, Dawn now sips her martinis from her deck in Topanga Canyon. Designer, writer, kayaker. “Authentic is far more important than impressive - in art, interiors or personal adornment. Soulful living is the key.”

on board Meet our holiday issue contributors

Jennifer London

JEFF MARK

SASHA KINENS

LULU POWERS

Photographer

Writer

Artist

Entertainment Editor

Jennifer London is a broadcast journalist who has traveled all over the world covering current events and feature stories. Along with her reporter’s notebook Jennifer always carries.

Jeff Mark is a Professor of English and Creative Writing at Community College of Philadelphia.

Though primarily a fiction writer, he has recently published poetry and creative non-fictitious stories “Too Tough for Tetherball” and “Two Gents on A Church Lawn” His first novel Into the Everything was published in 2011

by Punkin House Press.

Sasha Kinens is an artist living in NY after a recent stint in Florence.

Her narrative and figurative paintings are based on images that are styled and shot in the home she shares with her sculptor husband.

Lulu will contribute sage advice on all things entertaining, and we will also be featuring her recipes.

Lulu started her catering business in 1994, and she delights one and all with an inspired take on life. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband Stephan, a photographer, and their 3 dogs.

toujours | 002 | contributors

KRISTY FIREBAUGH | Writer

Kristy Firebaugh lives in Denver in a hundred-year-old house, and she spends her weekends painting, decorating, and trying to convince her husband to help her refinish furniture or knock down walls. She is currently working on a Ph.D. dissertation in English literature at the University of Denver. When she’s not writing or daydreaming about wallpaper, she likes to hike with her dog.

EMILY RUDDO | Design Editor

Originally from Maryland and now an Angeleno, Emily Ruddo enjoys her bicoastal clients and lifestyle. She loves hunting for fantastic fabric and when not decorating, enjoys anything involving the outdoors: from golf to hosting an impromptu gathering on her terrace. Her dream is to have homes on both coasts decorated to fit the lifestyle of each, and is constantly dreaming of Italy.

KAT O’BRIEN | Writer

Kat O’Brien is a born and bred California girl. She got an English degree from Long Beach State and divides her time between fiction and reality. She can often be found online, buried in a book, kneedeep in notebooks, or hopping the border to Canada.

DAVID SARACINO | Illustrator

David is a freelance Illustrator & Designer living right outside New York City, in Astoria, NY. He likes to cook and has more polaroid cameras than you can count on both hands.

HOLIDAY HOSTESS Take the stress out of your holiday travel and party schedule by stocking up on your host/hostess gifts that everyone will remember long after the holiday season is over. Show your gratitude to him or her with one of the delightful gifts below. It’s a list that we have checked twice and will surely keep your name at the top of everyone’s party list.

GRATITUDE GIFT TIPS

By Emily Ruddo

* Avoid gifts that need tending to, like a bouquet of flowers

* Get Personal - anything

monogramed or order custom made bottle tags for Champagne/wine. Try writing an inscription on the inside cover of your favorite gift giving book

* Beautifully wrap & store creative

gifts now for your upcoming parties to avoid stress

* Their favorite Champagne or wine is always appropriate

* No re-gifting! * Mail your gifts ahead of time

when flying to avoid security line nightmares

cut shopping time in half by clicking on our gift hot links >>>

25 and Under 1. Nest Holiday Votive Candle 2. Zippo Candle Lighter 3. Voluspa Candle in Baltic Amber 4. Table Topics Conversation Starters

7.

5. Gunmetal Votives 6. Diane von Furstenburg Decal Coasters 7. Glass Wine Stoppers

1.

4.

6.

2.

5.

3.

7.

1. Kate Spade All Occasion Card Set

6.

2. Monogramed Cocktail Napkins 3. Aluminum Wishbone 4. Quartz Tealight Holders

5.

1.

2.

4.

5. Nest Pumpkin Candle 3.

6. D.L. & Co. Skull Snuffer 7. Laguiole Knives

toujours | 002 | fresh

1. Antica Farmicista Home Ambiance Perfume 2. Un Mito Nel Mito: Jackie’s Capri

6.

3. Carpe Diem Pewter Match Box 4. David Hicks for Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Candle 5. New York From The Air: A Story of Architecture 6. Set of 6 Cheese Knives 7. Personalized Cutting Boards

7.

5.

4.

2.

1.

3.

Holiday Helper Did the holidays sneak up on us, or is it just me?

Let’s avoid the stress this year by getting prepared!

Meaning, take out your stickies and start making lists. Lists are your best friends. Santa always makes a list and so should you.

By Lulu Powers ✤

here’s your Fifirst list; my fiFIve favorite tips

Use ribbon candy as a stand for your menu card or notes to i.d. the dessert buffet choices.

Is there anything more festive than ribbon candy? I don’t think so. Its whimsical shape makes me smile and is perfect to tuck a handwritten card in between the folds. They shimmer in candlelight and the colors are like little jewels strewn across the table.

✤ Keep frozen grapes and cranberries in your freezer to add ✤Get gold and silver spray paint,

some newspapers and head to the garage and spray pumpkins, gourdes, pomegranates… even pears! These are great to use on your holiday table for place cards, on your buffet or nestled in the centerpiece for a little gilded spice. Even making a slit in one and putting in a card “Happy Holidays!

We are so glad you could come, Enjoy!”

✤

a quick and thoughtful touch to a cocktail or sparkling water. The shapes add dimension, color and something to chew on when that delicious libation is swirling over your tongue. And your guests will say, “You think of everything!” Intoxicating!

✤ Have a “house” cocktail for

s this wa w e n k you them. ! (But e s t e s s li u e ak n yo s whe red - m g nu, a in p h e t r ur me uy o b Be p y ; e p k u ma ck d u can g!) Sto o in y candie m e d o c e c n t r a o v ad imp et those rther in . Budg n u p f e u h e h m w T he ay snap t . This w r n ad. e a t t c e u g ahe yo in l, k the b in ia h c spe by t oney go on m s t r u le o vio nd y ime a t r u o both y

the holidays and keep all the ingredients on hand. My favorite drink to serve during the holidays is a Kir Royale. I like to use Chambord with my Kir Royales. You can’t go wrong with Cristalino, less than $10 a bottle. I like it better then Veuve Clicquot.

Check out the recipe for my Frost Bite Spritz on my website, a new cocktail I just came up with that is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

XO

Lulu’s Kir Royale 1 tablespoon Chambord 6 ounces Champagne or sparkling wine, well chilled Pour the Chambord into a Champagne flute and add the Champagne.

Lulu’s Tip: I like to garnish this drink with a dressed-up ice cube. I use long ice cube trays that I find at IKEA. I fill them with filtered water, add pomegranate seeds and sprigs of fresh thyme or rosemary, and freeze. They look beautiful floating in the drink. Another fun garnish is a sugared rim: simply moisten the rim of the Champagne flute with water, turn it upside down, and dip it in a bowl of superfine sugar.

✺

My clients love this festive and flirty drink.

Garnish it with a few pomegranate seeds.

Lulu's

Chocolate Pudding with pecan crumble and caramel sauce

DIRECTIONS 1. Make up the crumble, the pudding and the sauce.

Get any kind of glasses or small jars you want to use. You can even put the pudding into 20 shot glasses. 2. I like to fill the glass 2/3 full then add the caramel sauce on top and then the crumble or visa versa and topping it off with more pudding on top. 3. Put puddings in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Pull out the puddings an hour before serving. Be ready for a round of applause when you serve this pudding. It is DYNOMITE! 4. Garnish with edible gold, rose petals, violet crumble, toffee or even more caramel You be the chef!

Pecan Crumble

Chocolate Pudding

2 c toasted pecans 1 ½ c sugar ½ c butter melted and cooled

1 lb fine-quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped 1 large egg yolk 2 c heavy cream ¼ tsp cinnamon (optional)

Make the pecan crumble in a food processor. Blend the pecans and the sugar, with the motor running add the butter in a stream until it is all well combined.

In the top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water melt the chocolate, whisk in the yolk and the cream, scalded, and whisk the mixture until it is just combined.

Turn the ganache into the crust and chill the torte for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.

Caramel Sauce ½ c butter 1 c sugar 1 c heavy cream In a heavy skillet melt the butter over moderate heat, stir in the sugar, and cook the mixture, stirring constantly with a fork, until it is a dark golden caramel.

Remove the skillet from the heat, add the cream carefully, stirring, and stir the caramel sauce until it is smooth.

A Stroll Down Hayes Street

by Grey Crawford

toujours | 002 | fresh

San Francisco, CA

Latitude:N 37° 46’ 36.6765” Longitude:W 122° 25’ 23.1617”

Walking the streets of San Francisco has its many pleasures, and when you add the joys of shopping, dining and the Opera, you can have a particularly wonderful stroll down Hayes Street. In a few city blocks, starting at Gough and Hayes, the street is littered with shops. For art and furnishings stop by F Dorian, Minimal, Plantation, Polanco Gallery and Lotus Bleu. To dress up your holiday wardrobe there is no better place than Ver Uiniaca for vintage digs, Uko for the contemporary dresser, and treat your feet at Gimmie Shoes. Finally, indulge your skin with products from Nancy Boy, who has a reputation for the highest standards in skin care. Dining on Hayes is easy at Absinthe for French cuisine, Arlequin Café for a tiny bite, sushi at Sebo, Hayes Street Grill for American fare, and Bar Jules for a nice digestivo. In a couple of blocks you can soak up much of what San Francisco has to offer. Happy shopping!

DESIGN IN STORE

By Dawn Moore

When the ultimate insiders

open a gallery of outsider art, you know it’s going to be a dusey.

Twelve years ago, television industry luminaries Marcy Carsey and Susan Baerwald discovered they shared a love – and serious collections – of American Folk art. So much so, that it seemed opening a gallery was the only way to continue their passion while purging their respective garages. Their husbands enthusiastically agreed.

Hence, “Just Folk” was born. The sleepy yet upscale seaside town of Summerland, 10 minutes outside of Santa Barbara, California was chosen and local architect Brian Cearnal engaged.

“We wanted a building like a barn, a gallery on the second floor, and a New England cottage in the back,” says Baerwald, “with as much recycled materials as possible.”

And that’s exactly what they got.

Cearnal’s award-winning design has become a destination for anyone wanting to step into a world of suspended belief.

Traditional farmhouse materials of board and batten siding wrap the exterior, corrugated metal clads the roof and a whimsical Pig weathervane spins happily atop it all. “We treated the metal with an ‘organic soup’,” says Cearnal, “so itwould feel aged.” Inside, the wood floors are recycled from a dismantled barn and the bricks were salvaged from the previous home on the site. Instant provenance.

Upstairs, the white-washed exposedbeam cathedral ceiling offers a flood of light for the gallery space. Life-size male and female textile dolls perched on a barn door ledge look innocent enough, until you realize they are the sentinels for bathrooms that lie behind the weathered

planks hanging from an iron track.

But, architecture is just the vessel for the true treasures.

Just Folk’s assortment of Outsider Art, Tramp Art and Traditional Americana is laced with wacky handmade wonders along side some very serious artists that are highly coveted and displayed in national museums.

“Kelpys” by artist Richard List crafted from dried sea kelp into “busts” with maniacal laughing faces and a shock of “hair” could easily fill a shelf at only $150 each. Continue past the riot of quilts and you’ll encounter the country’s largest and most important collection of works by outsider artist Bill Traylor.

Bring your Centurian card though, because a Traylor drawing may set you back $150,000.

Whether trinket or treasure, it’s clear Carsey and Baerwald relish being “visual storytellers” just like the artists whose work they love.

$575

$150 $65

$125 $250

$25

toujours | 002 |hot shop

six picks under 600

Kelpys by Richard List "Dice" Anonymous Miniature Vintage Fabric Quilts by Corrine Riley 1930s Vintage Pastry Mold Vintage Pig on Wheels Doggie ornaments

by Mary Stanley

$1100

six picks over 600

Mr. Imagination's "King With Crown" "Devil Family" Carl McKenzie

$4500

Burlap Horse Vintage "Reader" Harry Underwood Toothpick Truck by Wesley “Toothpick King” Stewart "Titanic Ghost" George Widener

✜ Holiday Gift? We ♥Art!

toujours | 002 |hot shop

$2500

0

$185

$700

$9000

"Make it Sustainable, make it charming, make it appropriate, but make it unique, make it fun!"

- Brian Cearnal, Architect

"We build a cozy fire in the library and invite o books we've collected

our guests to peruse antique and folk art d over the years."

She Dazzles

Toujours sits down with up and coming designer, Jordana Silver, and her new line of shoes and bisous.

Photos by Meghan Beierle O'Brien

toujours | 002 |fresh

Toujours: How did you come up with the idea of the bisous?

Jordana Silver: Shoes are my guilty pleasure. I would constantly shop shoe departments at all the major retailers but would find myself leaving disappointed. The trouble was I wanted shoes way out of my price point. The shoes I could afford did not have the same aesthetic as the premium designer shoes or the same quality. When I would finally make a purchase I would buy a pair that was versatile often forgoing the latest trends. I knew if I was having this issue, so too were others. I sought to resolve this situation and the idea for the bisous was born.

T: What does bisous mean?

JS: “Bisous” in French means kiss. These bisous are kisses on your shoes.

T: How would you describe your line?

JS: Jordana Silver is an accessorize-able luxury shoe concept for the modern woman. With the base of your perfect ballet flat, the shoes are customized with a collection of unique bisous (or shoe clips). By mixing and matching bisous, women can indulge and create a variety of looks for every mood, without over spending. It’s a modern approach to luxury, a fresh way of always being in style.

T: Have you always wanted to work in fashion?

JS: Absolutely not! I actually grew up intending to go to law school. In one of my last years of college, I spent a summer in Italy and studied the Renaissance. The Renaissance is known as a period of rebirth artistically and intellectually. We were learning about all these free thinkers and one of the mantras from that era resonated with me: “Man is the creator of his own destiny.” As cheesy as it sounds, it hit a chord. I knew I would be going to law for the wrong reasons and I needed to be doing something creative. My mother had always loved fashion and shared this love with me. Shortly after my summer in Italy, I applied to the Parsons School of Design and two years later was studying fashion in New York.

“Bisous can grace your shoes, your headband, a necklace or any other place you need a kiss of fabulous!”

T: What was the inspiration in naming each piece in your collection?

JS: When I first went to name each bisous, I had a lot of difficulty doing so. I was looking at how traditional online retailers described product and it seemed so static and conventional which my line is not. I need to find a way to express each piece in a way that was authentic to the collection. Once I decided on a playful approach, the names came naturally. I am a storyteller and a history lover at my core and you will see this through the names and descriptions.

T: We hear your bisous will be gracing the stage of Bring It On: The Musical - how did you get involved with the production?

JS: I owe all the credit to my old neighbor Alex! Alex is amazingly talented and happened to be working on the musical. He generously made an introduction to the costume design team.

As luck would have it, the partnership worked out perfectly. Campbell, the lead character for Bring It On: The Musical, was set to wear flats in the scenes she was not sporting her cheer outfit in. I happened to meet with the Bring It On team right before they started finalizing costumes and so the situation and timing was perfect all the way around. The design team was incredibly supportive and fun to work with. The whole experience has been amazing especially seeing my shoes opening night on stage!

T: Do you have help putting your line together?

JS: I have the best helpers ever! My friends!!! Since all the bisous are locally made in New York, each pair needs to go through quality control and packaging. I have dubbed these get togethers “packaging parties”.

My friends have been really wonderful volunteering their free time to help me out.

T: What is next for your line?

JS: Well the lovely thing about the bisous and my online site, is that there will be new bisous featured almost monthly. Each collection will have new pieces. I don’t want to take away the element of surprise, so be sure to check out all the goodies coming for the holiday season! I already have some new favorites!!!!

toujours | 002 | fresh

ďƒť Toujours picks bisous as a favorite stocking stuffer this year!

Tom Otterness: A Peek Inside

Story by Sasha Kinens Photos by Meghan Beierle-O’Brien and Dana Beierle

T

urning on to 4th Street in Brooklyn I wonder if we are walking in the right direction. There is not another human being in sight amongst the graffiti warehouses as we make our way to the unassuming door of Tom Otterness' work space.

Though his studio window I see the silver long-haired sculptor sitting in a cherry red chair in an otherwise neutral white walled three story warehouse. This creative space holds an office, a computer room, a wax casting room, a plaster room, and a gathering corner adorned with recognized contemporary artists works such as Cindy Sherman, Kiki Smith, and dozens more.

The tables are littered with computer renderings, handwritten notes, sketches, little moquettes, and a plethora of bulbous characters that have enlightened the world with their simple yet relatable expressions. Generous with his time, despite an upcoming trip to the Middle East,

he walks us though the skylight lit studio and recounts the days thirty years ago when sold his then tiny sculptures on the street for a couple of bucks. “I was a painter until I was almost thirty,” says Tom, “and then I started sculpting and I made these little guys and sold them on the street for $4.99.” During this time Otterness learned to make molds and cast in plaster. He sat in front of the Museum of Modern Art selling figures that would one day be well known pieces of public art. “Every time I’d make a buck I’d make them a little bit bigger,” Tom smiles nostalgically, “and here we are.” ‘Here’ is quite impressive.

Off to the plaster room where we learn that these modern sculptures have a classical and time-consuming existence beginning in clay form. Tom says, “Almost everything made is public work. I start with drawings, that then turns into small clay models, the clay models get enlarged…and then we mold them into plaster, and that then goes to bronze.” The clay sculptures are then cast in a "lost wax method" which are ultimately brought to life in bronze. “It’s a very traditional type of casting”, Tom says, adding “Yeah, it’s fun.”

Blue-collar workers, white-collar workers, cops, “radicals” (naked sculptures with pointed hats), and “rich” people are some of the stock characters that Tom has worked with for years.

In addition to these characters are his equally well-known sculpted animal creatures. From octopi to crocodiles to bears, his endearing animals have very humanistic qualities. It is impossible to choose a favorite piece as we explore this artist’s workspace, which feels more like a gallery in progress. His clear adoration for his sculptures, both human and animal alike, is obvious. After spending just a brief time in the gallery, it’s easy to fall for these created characters, their surreal world, and their kind hearted maker.

“Every time I’d make a buck I’d make them a little bit bigger,” Tom smiles nostalgically, “and here we are.”

‘Here’ is quite impressive.

After spending just a brief time in the gallery, it’s easy to fall for these created characters, their surreal world, and their kind hearted maker.

toujours | 002 | inside art

His clear adoration for his sculptures, both human and animal alike, is obvious.

toujours | 002 | inside art

#4 Silver Tower Playground, 42nd and 12th Ave

#5 Hilton Times Square #2 Independence School, P.S. 234, 292 Greenwich St.

#1 Real World, north of Battery Park

#3 Life Underground, 14th St. Subway

Much of Tom Otterness’ work is displayed in public, and it is wonderful to experience his playful, yet poignant sculptures in person. So, next time you are in New York City, take our walking tour of Tom’s work on the streets of the city.

We chose five installations of the many options in NYC to see a sampling of Tom’s work.

Follow our map for a self guided art tour.

*For more of Tom’s public works, check his website for installations and their locations.

blanket reading:

books that make great holiday gifts for everyone on your list

For your book loving friends there is nothing nicer than to receive a new tome as a holiday gift. To make that easier we have selected a few notable new design books with links to the publishers’ extensive catalogues.

photos and story by Grey Crawford

THE NATURE LOVER | In the beginning was the ocean, and Renate Aller, in her book OCEANSCAPESONE VIEW-TEN YEARS, has been photographing the Atlantic Ocean for over a decade from a single point on the fabled Hamptons’ coastline. Her images capture the infinitely shifting colors and textures of the sky and water, and the beauty and grandeur of the ocean, providing a rich document of what has drawn people to this area for years, published by Radius Books. Search their catalogue for a series of fine art books.

THE URBAN ENTHUSIAST | Moving

inland, Tashen provides us with an oceanic coverage of all things architectural with their tome, Modern Architecture A-Z. In two volumes this book covers not only architects but also groups, movements, and styles from the 19th to the 21st centuries. The lavish illustrations include examples of the best architectural photography in the modern era.

THE HISTORY BUFF | For the antique lover the

book Dealer’s Choice: At Home with Purveyors of Antique and Vintage Furnishings is the perfect fit.

It features the exquisite private spaces inhabited by the world’s leading dealers of modernist furniture and objects, antiquities and antique European decorative works. Published by Architecture/Interior Press.

toujours | 002 | printed matter

THE CRAFTSMAN | If there is a do it yourselfer in the family, then Tauton books is your choice. With their extensive catalogue of books, non better then a CARPENDER’S LIFE, as told by houses. This is the unforgettable memoir of a legendary builder. You don’t have to be a carpenter to appreciate this fascinating book that Publishers Weekly calls, “a first person timeline of 20th century American residential architecture… combining …two literary styles: the memoir and the howto book.”

THE DESIGN MINDED | To visit the polymath design/mind of Alexander Girard, in a book as lovely and handsome as the man’s own design, view Todd Oldham’s monograph of Alexander Girard. An extremely influential presence in interior design, architecture, textiles, typography, furniture, graphic design (etc!), Alexander Girard’s career spanned from the 1930s through the ‘80s, and he worked all over Europe and the U.S. Published by Ammo Books.

THE ARTISTE | For the photo crowd, the legendary photographer, Lee Friedlander, has covered many subjects in his well-known books. His new book, In The Picture, Self Portraits 1958-2011, he turns the lens on himself. This book is offered at Photo Eye, where there is an endless supply of limited edition photo books, often signed with prints, an ongoing auction of rare and out of print photo/design books, an on line gallery, and a magazine to review the above.

Quite a feast, enjoy!

The

GEM

X of

Russian HILL

by Grey Crawford

If the feeling of San Francisco could be bottled and sold to all that passed through, it would be a best seller. The well-known and loved feeling is somehow indefinable, and yet, JAK, a small design store on Powell St in the Russian Hill area, has nailed it. Interior designers Jeff Holt and Kathleen Navarra have worked together for years at Navarra designs, which was the genesis of JAK: an anagram for Jeff And Kathleen. The storefront shop is located in the historic Julia Morgan building, which she designed and built in 1925 for her Swiss born wood carver, Jules Suppo. Suppo’s orginal carved sign reading “Furniture Made to Order” still hangs outside the building. In fact, it was this sign that reignited the idea of opening a retail store for the designers.

Upon entering, the richly painted walls frame the wonderful collections of new and old. The shop itself is a small and intimate space in which Jeff shows urban dwellers how to work within the confines of city life. Jeff manages and arranges the shop, which draws people into his world filled with options to transform their homes. Jeff believes that even a simple shift in arranging a space can dramatically alter a room, and this concept led to his “rearrangements” services. So, whether you need a small bobble or an entirely new look, JAK is filled with beauty and Jeff will dazzle you with its possibilities.

JAK's vibe is a vintage one: the bookshelf and it's objects in this shot are a prime example.

Some of the fabulous objects in this room include a lamp by Arteriors, tables by Made Goods, a bull painting by Bobo Intriguing Objects, a chair by CFC Furniture and pillows by Lacefield Design.

toujours | 002 | hot shop

“When Our Paths Crossed During The Course Of

BUSINESS,

WE BECAME FRIENDS INSTANTLY.

this

e friendship

LED TO THE IDEA OF OPENING A RETAIL STORE THAT EXPRESSED A POINT OF VIEW THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO FIND

LOCALLY.” -Jeff Holt

“

Vor buy theV People wanted to

move-in

whole store and move it into their homes.�

-Jeff Holt

CHRISTMAS IN ETHIOPIA Story | Jeff Mark

Photos | Jennifer London

I am a teacher.

Because of this, I am afforded the luxury of three months of summer and one month of winter to host my most devilish devices. Although most believe that teachers are underpaid (I’ll never oppose stimulus money to stimulate minds), I sort of rationalize away my tiny income by ruminating on how I only work eight months out of the entire year, and how I use those vacuous months to travel.

I am also a student. And when Toujours came and asked me to start a travel column to virtually pen what my best friend calls my “hair-brained schemes,” aka my seemingly random gallivanting over our shared terra firma, I had to sit down and postulate what it is that makes me want to leave my home at each semester’s end. I love my home; Philadelphia is about as celestial to me as any lovely place imagined, but when my classes end, I get out of dodge. I blow this popcorn stand. I peace out.

Tuck tail and run. I take to the open road.

So there I was, postulating, when it occurred to me. I travel because I am a

student; perhaps a student of life. From my first time away (to Paris with my mom and lesbian friend, sigh, another story for another day) to my Study Abroad in London, to Christmas in Ethiopia, and everywhere in between, I came to one final realization: Who I am is a direct result of the experiences I’ve had and the places I’ve been. I don’t move about in the world because I like to take pictures of it or because I’d like to look back from some (hopefully) distant deathbed and feel accomplished with this little hourglass I’ve been given; I do it because I change every time I leave my home. I grow and learn more about who I am and how I appreciate breathing by breathing in different air.

Therefore, traveling, in placing myself in unique and at times uncomfortable positions in the world, is perhaps my most enlightening form of selfdiscovery.

And look, I know all of this sounds like some sort of esoteric far-reaching mumbo jumbo, but take it from me, I teach for a living and live to teach, but if I had one bit of advice for my students, it would be to pack a bag and just go.

One of Toujours’s editorial mantras is “attainable beauty.” That’s something I can really dig. To attain beauty. To not let it smack you on the face, but to seek it out, and pull it against your own cheek in a delightful little whip. This travel column, then, taken from my travel journals, is about putting one’s self where one can find the world’s most attainable beauty. Sometimes it’s by your feet, you know, but sometimes,

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it’s far away. With all of the difficult things in life, I maintain that it’s very important to remember just how incredible this world can be. (Quick side note: attaining the most beautiful people in your life results from this as well.

Our own Toujours co-editor-in-chief and I met seven years ago in Bangkok, three days after the tsunami that claimed over 230,000 lives, completely unaware that a glorious friendship was budding at the brim of a bizarre Asian metropolis in tragedy).

Walt Whitman, in his poem for which this column is named, wrote, “From this hour I ordain myself loos’d of limits and imaginary/lines,/Going where I list, my own master total and absolute,/ Listening to others, considering well what they say,/Pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating,/Gently, but with undeniable will, divesting myself of the holds/that would hold me.” And although Whitman is a far better poet than me, I rather like my own little poetic philosophy on traveling: The wonderful things my eyes have seen are a direct result of the places they’ve been.

(Still, I suggest you read Whitman’s whole poem).

On December 25th, 2010 I awoke to morning in a strange bed. Around some 9,000 miles away, children had been up for hours, ripping into tinseled paper with smells of cinnamon and evergreen seemingly floating about while old analogue recordings reminded everyone annually that the world is “wonderful” and that chestnuts are “roasting.” Like

“The wonderful things my eyes have seen are a direct result of the places they’ve been.”

always, on that one morning out of the year, families sit together and remember the joyous anxiety of the night before: wrapping presents, speculating about presents. The simple proximity of family seems all that matters in the whole wide world. No one gets a speeding ticket.

That morning, I walked to the window of my room and looked out. In front of me was a tall brown mountain; above were circling marabous and strolling along the road by the mountain’s base, were the people of Dessie, Ethiopia, their skin a little paler at the kicking up of dirt from passing cars.

About fourteen other people and I (who had not known each other previously) decided to volunteer our time to build houses in Ethiopia that December. I had done this before in Thailand and India, and knew that what I would be getting out of

the experience was far more than what I was offering. Adios altruism. And though it was somehow in the back of my mind— the part that knew that leaving home at the end of December meant not being home for Christmas—I didn’t think twice about signing up for the trip. I had spent twentyeight Christmases in the US, one tiny one in Ethiopia wouldn’t hurt, right? I have the sort of family that understands. They think, sure Jeff. Be a nomad. What’s next year, New Year’s in El Salvador? (side note: yep).

But what they do outwardly is nod and smile and try to compile their frequent flyer miles to help me go.

Our day in and day out in Dessie, a small town about a ten-hour drive north of the capital Addis Ababa, was filled with deep routed connections among human beings and experiences of wonder that I feel inept at relaying. In truth, I have pages and pages of journal regarding this trip. But I want to focus on that Christmas morning, because, well, Tis the Season, and all.

In the lobby of our hotel in Dessie, the staff—who didn’t speak English but with whom we developed an almost familial rapport—had brought in a tree and had decorated it with colored lights and cotton (to suggest snow) for their American guests.

Ethiopia, though in parts a Christian country, maintains a different calendar than the West, so their Christmas celebrations actually fall in January. These folks, then, had rigged the tree just for us.

That morning, after a small breakfast of cereal with hot milk (really) and eggs, we were taken to the local ex-leper colony of Dessie. Ex-lepers, as they’re referred to in Ethiopia, are people who once suffered from leprosy prior to treatments being available, and who now, having been treated, live with disfigurements—sometimes severe—in very impoverished camps together, as the greater public still has prejudices and fears that the disease is contagious (it is not).

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As a group, we presented the shep to the ex-lepers of the village and, with help from a translator, all Phil could say was, “Tell them I love them. Just tell them I love them.”

And that was Christmas. I’d be dishonest if I said I didn’t miss my family while in Ethiopia, because I did. But there, in Africa, with cotton on a make-shift tree, twenty-seven shep, a couple houses, and the most beautiful people in the world, I felt right at home, cinnamon and evergreen notwithstanding.

Two Tales of A City Whether you are a Manhattanite or just passing through New York, Brooklyn is one stop that should not be missed. Take a day out of your busy winter or plan an extra day on your NYC trip to explore all that the borough has to offer. Our Art Director, Dana Beierle, and Art Editor, Sasha Kinens, have put together a must see list. For the food lover, we suggest you follow Dana to her neighborhood of Bushwick, filled with everything from Arancini balls served until 4am at a local dive to Northeast Kingdom, a seasonal farm to table neighborhood gem. For the shopping addict, Sasha will direct you down a new 5th Ave – in Park Slope. This street has an eclectic grouping of boutiques that will help you check off all the presents on your list.

Photos by Meghan Beierle O'Brien and Dana Beierle's Instagram

Tina's odd hours can't keep anyone away from traditional diner style breakfasst that's dirt cheap.

Wreck Room is furnished with car seats where many sit to enjoy their softballsized arancini.

Yummus Hummus is a gem for Greek foodies wandering the backstreets of Bushwick

BUSHWICK

Tandem's artist created decor is no match for their famous Diego cocktail and delicious brunch

Quirky drink names lure people into the nautical themed Anchor Inn. Try a Hell or High Watermelon beer for a unique tasting experience.

Barbie doll head rings can be found in the Loom shopping center. The center also houses coffee shop Kave who's nut milk espresso drinks are to die for

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PARK SLOPE

The Gift Shop has something for all ages from toys to keychains and boasts a collection (though not for sale) of cute Japanese dolls

Odd Twin carries a vintage lover's plethora of clothing and accessories

Smiths quotes adorn the walls of St. Kilda's jewelry store. Elegance and quirk collide in their selection of goodies

Gourmet chocolate treats and and a soda fountain bar are a tempting treat for shoppers at the Chocolate Room

Gorilla Coffee makes the best macchiato in all of Brooklyn

Convivium Osteria allows diners to experience true Italian cuisine in a converted wine cellar

s t a ! e k p c o wi t 's sh r u u o B j u or o T kf c i p

Northeast Kingdom off the Jefferson stop is a taste bud's playground. The menu changes throughout the year to utilize the most fresh and unique seasonal tastes. Along with hosting co-op farm to table meals, Northeast also operates a mushroom foraging group. Chef Kevin Adey delicately plates rock tumbled octopus in a garlic aioli with fingerling potatoes, roasted peppers, and handpicked arugula. Be sure to reserve a table, as foodies tend to linger on each bite at this hidden gem eatery.

Flirt Clothing prides itself on offering garments and accessories that are local, hand made, one of a kind, and overall must have buys. The shop’s decor is as vibrant as it's collection of inventory. Light boxes house scarves and hats while vintage seats and a vanity make shoppers feel transported into a new vintage world. Speak with their talented staff (yes, they design for the store too!) who can help you find pieces for your personal style. This eclectic store will help you find a special gift for anyone on your list!

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HOMEMAKER

Take a cue from designer Jennifer Dyer on finding your personal style this holiday season.

Story | Kat O'Brien Photos | Grey Crawford

H

ow does a designer create her own space? For interior designer Jennifer Dyer, it’s easier to work on a client’s home than it is to design her own. When finished with a client’s house, there’s a sense of completion in its realization that is often difficult to experience when working on one’s own.

With the holidays right around the corner, Toujours asked Jennifer Dyer for her thoughts on creating a space she can share with others and also enjoy daily.

The biggest factor in designing her home is being eclectic. Though partial to 1940’s architecture, Jennifer likes mixing and matching pieces from different styles and eras.

She opts for a timeless look in her surroundings that she won’t tire of seeing. She’s drawn to older houses with windows that let in lots of light. She likes how they make the house feel more open.

"She believes that people can afford stylish decor much more easily than they realize."

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Just because the previous owner called it the dining room doesn’t mean you have to. Maximize a room’s potential by using its best feature wisely."

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When designing for herself, Jennifer sticks to what she loves. She doesn’t use her home as a test for clients, which is part of why she loves the freedom of working for other people. When working on someone else’s home, she can “take chances and do things [she] wouldn’t do for [herself]... it’s a very personal experience.” Jennifer loves being able to take pride in the space she helps create as if it were her own.

Often, Jennifer prefers monotone colors in her personal space. Instead of using multiple colors, she’ll add a stripe of color as an accent or combine trims or textures. The subtle differences in fabric rather than color provide both visual and tactile stimulation.

Much of the furniture Jennifer used in designing this house was found in antique shops. They have furnishings from various eras that go well with her propensity towards mixing styles. She also noted that antiques often provide expensive-looking style at a more reasonable cost. She believes that people can afford stylish decor much more easily than they realize.

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At home with Jennifer Dyer

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Some of the best advice Jennifer can offer is to “think about how you want to use each room” when designing a space.

Just because the previous owner called it the dining room doesn’t mean you have to. Maximize a room’s potential by using its best feature wisely. Don’t let a spectacular view go to waste in a room you rarely use, when you can easily bequeath it with a different purpose.

Jennifer strives “to be the person that shows people how they can live and what they’ve been missing.” She knows it’s important to love where you live, and she tailors her home to her preferences just like she would for any client. She knows her biggest influences are comfort, travel, and a desire for a timeless look that won’t grow old. She’ll put every effort into creating a space her client will love, so why would she do any less for herself?

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Her biggest

influences are comfort, travel, and a desire for a timeless look that won’t grow old.

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Photographer Beth Coller

|

Story Meghan Beierle-O’Brien

Christmas Past

Toujours Magazine asks artist and commercial photographer, Beth Coller, about her quirky, yet endearing, discarded Christmas tree series that she has been photographing over the past decade. While the holidays are delightful, they are full of chaos and excess, and Beth has captured that side of things quite magically. The images evoke emotion and curiosity about the life of each tree and it’s owner.

Q&A

with artist Beth Coller

How did you come up with the idea for your Christmas Tree series?

I live in Los Angeles, a place that is littered with it's residents cast offs. Couches, refrigerators, toilets, and other unwanted possessions are put on the curb. At the first of the year, I would see Christmas trees everywhere, in trash cans and in piles on the sidewalk. I was interested in how our once useful and sometimes meaningful belongings became garbage.

As the post holiday months passed, tree sightings became more infrequent, but when they occurred, I always found myself wondering about the absurdity of their locations. I wanted to make landscapes that would convey these ideas.

How long have you been working on the project?

I began shooting the project in 2002.

How do you feel about the holidays? Did it influence the project?

I enjoy the holidays. It is a great time to be with family and friends, and for cooking, eating, and traveling. How I feel about the holidays didn't directly influence the project, but since the key element is the Christmas tree, I would always look forward to a new holiday season and with that, an influx of discarded trees.

What is the strangest place you’ve ever found a discarded Christmas Tree?

There have been many strange places, and I have also found trees through November from the previous year. None of these photographs were staged. I think the oddest was the tree hanging upside down on a wrought iron fence. It was shot in May. It was perfectly placed on the gate entrance and next to it is a palm tree that had it's top cut off. Clearly, someone put it there, but why? It still puzzles me.

What is your favorite experience with the series?

After several years of photographing mostly in Los Angeles and San Francisco I began to wonder if this occurred in other cities. I decided to take a road trip. I wasn't certain where I wanted to go until I was at the AAA offices and I saw a book on the Grand Canyon. The travel agent, although slightly perplexed at my motives,

helped me to plan a trip to Arizona and Utah. I set off January 1st with no idea of whether I would find any trees. The trip lasted a week. I made many photographs, saw the Grand Canyon, and hiked Zion and Brice Canyon in the snow.

Do you see the series as a commentary on society?

Yes, I do see it as a commentary on our (American) society and culture and of what we deem valuable. The Christmas tree is the emblem most representative of the

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holiday. For many it symbolizes warmth, family, prosperity, and hope for the New Year. Ultimately, it loses this meaning, only to become another piece of trash on the sidewalk.

What kind of reactions do you get from people when they see this series?

Although I have been working on the series for a long time, not many people have seen the photographs. Last year was the first year that I did not shoot any trees and I realized that I was finished with

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the project. The reactions thus far have been positive. Most people have been surprised that in many of the images, the tree is not the foreground element.

People have also responded to the humor in these images.  So, beyond this project, what is your favorite subject to photograph?

Portraits. I find people fascinating and I have always been interested in the things that people surround themselves with. I've also recently started to shoot interiors. I love architecture and design. It's a very different way of making pictures that is a bit more relaxed and exacting at the same time.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Inspiration is everywhere- friends, people I see on the street, places I've traveled, a beautiful room, or interesting light.

www.diamondfoamandfabric.com

A SENSE OF

BALANCE DESIGNER | CLAUDIA MAHECHA

PHOTOS

| GREY CRAWFORD

If you find yourself meandering south of San Francisco along Highway 101, you may stumble upon the endearing town of Burlingame.

With its quiet downtown and redwood trees that sprouted long ago, there is a distinct difference from the hubbub of the city just to the north.

Claudia Mahecha’s clients made this short, yet dramatic move, leaving behind an urban city loft for this English Tudor in the “country”. The quiet cul-de-sac and large trees framing the entrance further the European feeling of this quiet neighborhood.

As many clients do, Claudia’s clients came to her with a challenge: glamorous and sensual lines meet a contemporary and modern edge. The couple runs a fashion design business and they care about aesthetics,

The overall feel of the home is more than the sum of its

parts;it joyfully celebrates its fusion of art, life and family.

so it was important for Claudia to perfect the blend. Claudia took the design challenge in stride and worked these contrasting sensibilities to

her advantage; weaving them together in a dance of curves to straight lines, traditional meets modern, feminine masculinity, and light airiness to dark moody tones. Her clients had a clear idea of budgets and maximizing their resources to achieve the end result: a new and updated look. So, Claudia used much of the owners existing art, which is quite theatrical and playful, and wove the work throughout the house.

The house is filled with lovely soft light and a mild, yet interesting palette. Warm grey walls set off the Moroso Bloomy swivel chairs covered in an eco friendly white fur. A circle is completed by the Arne sofa from B&B Italia that sits on a custom dyed Mongolian goat rug from Grand Splendid.

The chiming of the wind blowing through Verneer Panton’s fun lamps adds an enchanted atmosphere to the room. The living room opens onto the dinning room keeping the elegant feel. The dinning room was inspired by the owner’s white leather dining

Claudia found her balance and the house plays and dances with the combination of the clients’ needs and wants.

MODERN Vocabular

By Kristy Firebaugh Photos Grey Crawford Rozalynn Woods describes her design style to Toujours on a tour through her recent project in Pasadena for classically modern family.

ry

Context.

This one simple word guides the aesthetic choices behind Rozalynn Woods’ interior designs—she even has this word written on one of the walls in her office.

When beginning a new project, Rozalynn considers three elements: the architecture of the home, the lifestyle of the client, and a vision of where the design is going. “Once these contexts are established,” she explains, “it’s easy to adjust the main concept for the different areas of the home. The statement is still the same, but it is interpreted in a different way depending on the room.”

For this Pasadena home, Rozalynn was guided by the client’s wishes to marry the classic Tudor architecture with a more contemporary feel. She achieved this blending of periods by using carefully edited antiques throughout the home and complementing these with a sprinkling of modern pieces: “I don’t let the antiques feel too heavy—many of the antiques in this home

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have a lightness in their design so they don’t take over the space.” She considers the context each piece brings to a room to maintain the home’s historical perspective but not allow it to take over.

The underlying “vocabulary” of this home’s design echoes in various ways through the different rooms. The living room is a more dressed-up interpretation of the overall aesthetic, while the bedroom uses a more muted palette while still retaining cohesion with the rest of the house (notice the use of similar floral patterns on the living room pillows and the coverlet on the bed).

Texture.

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Layering.

Layering is one of Rozalynn’s preferred methods, but this layering doesn’t usually take the form of varying patterns or colors; rather, she layers different textures in a room to create depth. For example, the zinc table and wood floors in the kitchen are complemented by the surprise of wicker chairs; their airiness helps lighten the space. The zinc-topped table incorporates an element of the unexpected and is a welcome counterpoint to the predominance of wood textures in the ceiling beams and hardwood floors.

Texture plays a leading role throughout the home, but the use of fabrics is the central feature of the pool house.

The space is meant to evoke the feelings of camping—the draped fabric on the upper walls visually recalls the shape of a tent, which brings a lightness and element of play to the room. Rozalynn pays careful attention to the function of each room as well: the pool house is a multi-use space for the family, so the bed folds up into the wall in case more room is needed.

The final touch is often an unexpected item that makes the difference between a onedimensional room and a space that is truly memorable. Rozalynn points to the furry pillow in the living room, for example: “pieces like these add another dimension to the room.” She is careful neither to fill a room with too many pieces, nor to edit too much, to the point where the character is taken away from a space. Instead, she concentrates on using “odd little pieces” to bring a sense of delight to a room.

Always Paris Rozalynn Woods always begins a new project with an inspiration

board—and one of her biggest inspirations is Paris and its flea markets.

These boards show the beginning of a project for a client’s ranch home in Paso Robles, CA. The board here brings together images found in Paris that Rozalynn and her team found to be particularly inspiring, and more boards that are strewn throughout her office, developed with the client’s input, help create the “vocabulary” for the ranch project.

Often these boards include unexpected items, like the black feathered shoes. When Rozalynn snapped this photo, she sent it back to her team in the States, with the caption reading, “We are definitely in Paris!”

Items like the feathered shoe help establish conceptual cohesion for a space: “Remember that Paris shoe?” she can ask a client. “Well, we need a pillow that can do for a room what that shoe does for us.” The shoe serves as a reminder that it’s often the unexpected or slightly quirky items that, when carefully chosen, can create lasting impact in a room.

No matter how many times she goes back, Paris never fails to inspire Rozalynn’s creativity. She finds beauty everywhere: walking the streets of Saint Germain, the displays in shop windows, the plants hanging in doorways, the ways that different designers use fabrics. While she does explore the city with her clients in mind, she says, “I always come home with something that I have no place for at the moment. But the pieces I buy always find homes eventually, because I like to buy things that catch my eye and have some element of uniqueness that could complement many different spaces.”

Story by Kristy Firebaugh

Just a few of the places Rozalynn found inspiration on her most recent trip to Paris: The Marchés in Clignancourt, particularly Marché Paul Bert and Marché Dauphine Walking the streets of the Marais and St. Germain The work of designer Noriem, whose current collection experiments with varying colors and textures of felted wool.

Collection of Rozalynn's personal snapshots.

LA BASED

STYLIST CHAR LANGOS

SIMPLY CANNOT SURVIVE THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITHOUT...

FISH TACOS PRETTY MUCH FROM ANY DIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. A BIALETTI STOVE TOP ESPRESSO MAKER FILLED WITH ILLY CAFE. JAMES PERSE LONG SLEEVED, RIBBED TSHIRTS, WHITE DENIM JEANS, HAVAIANAS SKINNY FLIP FLOPS. LAUREN PERFUME BY RALPH LAUREN IN THE ORIGINAL SQUARE BURGUNDY BOTTLE. IT WAS INTRODUCED IN 1978. AND I WAS INTRODUCED TO IT, BY MY MOTHER, NOT LONG AFTER THAT. CB2 MARTA GLASS TUMBLER THE PERFECT, ULTRA THIN WINE GLASS PREFERABLY FILLED WITH SOMETHING IN A DEEP CHRISTMAS RED. SPRING GREEN VITABATH MAKES MY HOUSE SMELL LIKE MY HOME WHEN I WAS GROWING UP. POETRY BY MARY OLIVER “LISTEN, ARE YOU BREATHING JUST A LITTLE, AND CALLING IT A LIFE?” TIME TO HIKE THE CANYONS OF LOS ANGELES. METALLIC GOLD NAIL COLOR (“GOLD GET ‘EM”) BUT ONLY ON THE TOES!!

CLAIRE FONTAINE NOTEBOOKS THEY ARE NEARLY SQUARE IN SIZE AND THE PAPER HAS A SILKY FINISH. VOSGES BARCELONA BAR THEY JUST OPENED A STORE ON BEVERLY DRIVE IN BEVERLY HILLS - JOY - NO MORE SHIPPING IN ON ICE PACKS FROM CHICAGO.