Each Little World

Bennington: Summer memories with recipe

Forty years ago this summer, my friend Monte and I packed up a home-made tent/trailer and drove 7,000 miles (or was it 10,000?) on a massive cross-country trip. We were roommates as well as art teachers, so we left when school recessed for the summer and returned Labor Day weekend. It was a great trip, resulting in lots of adventures which I remember via the first journal I ever kept.

All of this came back to me during my recent visit to Atomic Interiors where I purchased the Dansk BLT plates. Among the wonderful mid-century treasures the store offers was a set of four Bennington Pottery plates and bowls. Potter's Yard in Bennington was one of our stops in July, 1971, and we fell in love with their delightful dishes. I fell prey to temptation and memory at Atomic again and bought the eight pieces of Morning Glory Blue spatterware. Again, at $9 for the dinner plates and $7 for the bowls, Atomic's prices can't be beat. The current prices on-line at Bennington are $24 for the plate and $26 for the rimmed soup/pasta bowl. The pieces I bought at Atomic were made in 1961/62 when I was a freshman in high school; the company's been making stoneware dishes since 1948.

Along with notes and bits and pieces glued into that first journal was the this recipe for salad dressing (below) that we enjoyed at Potter's Yard. 

BENNINGTON DRESSING

• 1 tsp. Kosher salt
• 1 tsp. freshly cracker white pepper
  
• 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepepr
• 1/4 tsp. granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
  
• 2 tsp. finely chopped fresh garlic cloves
• 5 Tblspn. good tarragon vinegar
• 2 Tblspn. olive oil
• 10 Tblspn. vegetable oil
• 1 raw egg
• 1/2 cup light cream

Put all the ingredients in a jar and shake well to combine. Chill before serving. 

Alas, I did not make any notes as to what kind of salad this might have dressed. 

China syndrome

My favorite of the five China-themed exhibits at the Milwaukee Art Museum was "Way of the Dragon: The Chinoiserie Style, 1750-1830," which runs through Nov. 6 in the Decorative Arts Gallery. MAM defines Chinoiserie as "a style of ornamentation that developed in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries out of a growing interest in the exotic, admiration for the beauty of Asian art, and a curiosity about Chinese people and places." MAM partnered with the Chipstone Foundation in this display of more than fifty decorative objects from their collections as well as local private lenders.

This exhibit is a dream for anyone who is in love with blue and white china, teapots, punch bowls, and fanciful natural imagery. It's also a chance to see rare books by Mark Catesby and Linnaeus. Catesby was an English naturalist whose work was the first published account of the flora and fauna of North American, while Linnaeus was the father of botanical nomenclature. This particular MAM exhibit got all my China — as in dishes — genes pumped up and put me in the mood for shopping. And then my sister-in-law mentioned what she'd recently seen at Atomic Interiors. 

I dashed right over and discovered the Madison shop had three dinner plates created by the award-winning designer Niels Refsgaard for Dansk, and manufactured in the 1970s in Japan. I was ecstatic as I used to have service for four in this design. It was called "BLT" and not for that favorite American sandwich; in this instance the initials stood for "breakfast, lunch and tea." The three-piece set of plate, bowl and squat mug came beautifully packaged in the Japanese style, as this old Dansk magazine ad shows.

I'd been dreaming of replacing what had been broken over the years but most on-line sources were selling the plates for $65+, which put them outside the realm of possible purchase. But I snapped them up instantly when I saw Atomic had them priced at $35.00 per plate. Not exactly cheap but very reasonable given what I've seen elsewhere. So now I have four plates again (!), which means I'm only lacking one mug and two bowls to have my service for four.

Mark was very sweet when I brought them home as they are not really his favorite dishes. But I bought them when I was just out of college and in my first apartment, so they have huge sentimental value for me. And besides, he just got a new Trek bicycle in anticipation of his 65th birthday next month, so he really couldn't complain too much. 

FYI: If you love mid-century modern and Herman Miller, Atomic Interiors is the place for you. In its various locations over the years, they've always had an eclectic collection of items ranging from dishes to jewelry to lamps and fabulous furniture — all with reasonable prices and Midwestern friendliness.

A Centennial Supper

On December 29, 1910 my maternal grandparents held a New Year's Banquet. Since I have a copy of the menu I decided to hold a dinner party on the same night — 100 years later. I used the antique menu as a starting point and re-interpreted it for 21st Century palates. I lightened it up a bit and spiced it up a lot. 

I turned the condiments (olives and pickles) served with the original appetizer (oysters) into the appetizers themselves: black olive tapenade and daikon and red radish pickles. The old menu makes no mention of beverages other than coffee with dessert. I followed that tradition, but we began our banquet with champagne.

You can read the rest of the menu if you click on the photo above. I put a menu at everyone's place and on the back printed the original menu my grandparents served. I planned on setting the table using some of my grandparents' china but Mark said I should go all out and empty the pantry of all their gilded stemware and every specialized plate, bowl and cup.

I set the table before I went to work that morning, which is when the photos were taken. The effect that evening — with candles aglow and every place marked with a stack of glittering dishes topped with placecards and menus — was a bit more glam than in early morning sunshine.

The decor down the center of the table is the inspired creation of my sister-in-law, Sara, who trimmed three little Christmas trees with notions: thimbles, buttons, bobbins, garlands of tape measures and chains of quilting pins. It was a charming nod to my grandfather who was the buyer for the notions area of a large department store in Buffalo, NY.

He and my grandmother gave their 1910 banquet for all the employees who worked in the Notions Dept. under his supervision. Their party actually took place in the Tea Room of the store, J.N. Adam, and all the dishes were named after various sewing accoutrements sold in the department, like salmon with "veiling sauce."

My 2010 homage banquet was almost as over-the-top as the original event. It may not have been the fanciest feast I've ever made but it certainly will hold the record for the number of dishes and glasses that had to be washed by hand.

But mainly it was a wonderful excuse to gather with old friends, remembering how we all met and our shared experiences over the intervening years. It also gave me the opportunity to surround myself with family treasures, remembering all the holiday meals my grandmother served on these very dishes; my grandfather at the head of the table doing carving duty.

I got to indulge my penchant for all my favorite little worlds: china and dishes, cooking and food, design and decor, family, history, and holidays. What could be a more perfect way to end one year and begin another?

 

Plucking flowers and ideas

I am always on the prowl for new ways to display the garden's floral bounty, and was very taken with this arrangement in a cup. I like the way the designer contrasts black and white with the colorful bouquet. Then there is the contrast of hard, shiny materials and a graphic number with the softer textures of the flowers. Finally, the designer plays with scale by using a large, dark stand to throw you off balance visually. You have to find a familiar flower and gauge its size relative to the cup to determine the actual size of the holder — which to my eye is definitely oversize. 

I was also struck by the fact that Japanese anemones — which grow tall and willowy in the garden — have been trimmed back to their flower heads, another change in scale. And the designer has used color masterfully combining pink with red-orange and acid greens. All in all, a cupful of inspiration.

 

My blog almost exclusively uses photos taken by Mark or those used with permission from the photographer or institution like Olbrich. I don't know where or when I found the image here. So if you recognize it, I am happy to give proper credit or remove it if necessary.

Cookbooks: What to keep on the kitchen counter

We're moving into the next phase of our interior remodeling project: the one where we have to move everything out of the library/media room that's being updated. It's not easy finding extra space where we can squeeze in a 7-foot-long couch or antique armoire. But it's the walls of books that present the biggest dilemma; not so much storing them as anticipating which ones we'll want at hand during the next few months.

The cookbooks are actually the sticking point. Over the last few years I've honed my collection to the essentials: the ones that I actually turn to again and again, along with a few sentimental favorites or out of print treasures. Even so, the current tally easily tops 150 books. That's way too many to fit on the kitchen counter or my bedside table during the construction process. 

Thus I decided to only keep out the books I've pulled off the shelf and used in the last few months, and the ones that I may need if we're still without bookshelves as summer turns to fall. We probably won't be throwing any fancy dinner parties during this process which helped me whittle the list down. Then again, it's summer when entertaining can move to the deck — which means I'll also want access to my four favorite tabletop/china books and two hand-written entertaining notebooks. 

Herewith is my must-have list, twice as a long as I thought it would be until I actually stood in front of the cramped shelves and had to pick and pack. 

1. Kitchen of Light: The New Scandinavian Cooking by Andreas Viestad (Wisconsin has a large Norwegian population so this book is a must with its family stories and fabulous food. Plus I interviewed the darling Andreas when he was in town years ago. )
2. Martha Stewart's Healthy Quick Cook
3. The Essential Root Vegetable Cookbook by Sally and Martin Stone (all those recipes for market produce)
4. Wisconsin Herb Cookbook by Suzanne Breckenridge and Marjorie Snyder (a summer staple)
5. The Vegetarian Epicure by Anna Thomas (her first and still the best)
6. Delia Smith's Summer Collection
7. A Well-Seasoned Appetite by Molly O'Neill (all of Molly's books are classics)
8. Pure Desserts by Alice Medrich (Alice & Kate are more for dreaming than making)
9. The Sweet Life by Kate Zucherman
10. The Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics by Ina Garten (when in doubt, turn to Ina)
11. The Barefoot Contessa: Family Style by Ina Garten
12. The Minimalist Cooks at Home by Mark Bittman
13. A Twist of the Wrist by Nancy Silverton (creative dishes from cans, jars, and the deli)

After I took this stack of titles and re-located them from their soon-to-be-demolished bookcase, I realized I had better throw in How to Peel a Peach and Joy of Cooking in case I needed some basic info. I was feeling quite proud of my limited stack when Mark announced that he had not yet added his favorite cookbook titles and hoped I'd left enough room for him — the downside of two cooks in the family!

What's on your can't-live-without cookbook list?

Tagged, and for sale

The Artful Shopper is selling out. Well, to be exact, she's downsizing, de-accessioning, depleting her stock. And she's not alone; Mark is doing the same. So we're looking for new homes for art, antiques, baskets, garden and art books, decorative accessories, tea bowls, textiles, hats, a dhurrie rug and whatever else we unearth before the end of the week. 

The sale runs 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Friday, May 14, and Saturday, May 15. The on-line map to the Orchard Ridge Rummage Sale can be found here.

Three African pieces (above): Ligbi/Djimini mask, Cow mask from N.E. Nigeria, and Goli mask.
 

What we do know is that any reasonable offer will be accepted. Stop by to say hello, browse and buy. Among the offerings will be lots of ART: acrylic and oil paintings of varying sizes and styles; figurative charcoal drawings (life class!), woodcuts and other prints, posters, studio ceramics and African masks. 

You know us; every picture tells a story and every piece has provenance:

This Art Deco accent table is also a sewing table (below) that holds spools of thread inside the top along with trays for scissors and such, plus two drawers for storing supplies. Originally purchased in the late 70s or early 80s from Michael Port's Vintage Interiors when it was in the old Washington Hotel. 

A set of four ladder-back chairs with new rush seats. Purchased in the late 1980s from Jim Dennis, Emeritus Professor of Art History at UW-Madison. The chairs just didn't go with his Frank Lloyd Wright house. But they're perfect with this big country basket from a Bauer & Beckwith sale when they still lived on Madison's east side.

Two-part lanterns suitable for deck or dining table, candles included. The bottom half of each makes a nice pedestal for sculpture. Also a pair of tall brass candle sticks and a big brass scoop. 

A curvaceous French-influenced side table with decorative wood inlay on the top and brass detailing on the top edge, skirt and legs. Needs restoration work or a tablecloth. 

Two hand-colored prints of "Limestreet Ward" and "Cripplegate Ward Within and Without" in London. Early to mid-19th century re-strikes from older plates, nicely framed and in excellent condition (better in person than this photo). Also from England, an untouched, unused terracotta tulip motif wall planter from Rookes Pottery in Derbyshire. Purchased in the late 1980s.

 

A trio of metal purses to me; lunch boxes to you.

Assorted African items including a woven basket, a gourd bowl and a leather and fiber hat. In the center of the picture is a Fon Abike vodoo mother and child figure, partly made out of a sock. Purchased by a Haitian friend in a market in Mali not open to tourists. Also a Fulani loom and shuttle bought in 1982 in Mali, used in weaving cotton and wool blankets. 

And still more art ...

 

 
And that's just a bit of what we're selling. 

Mark's sister — who will be joining us for the sale — is closing her booth at the Columbus Antiques Mall and will have lots of items, especially vintage and antique china, including Lenox, Syracuse, Buffalo and McCoy.

Eric Ravilious & Angie Lewin encore

I am a big fan of the work of British artist/designer Eric Ravilious and feel fortunate to own one of his delightful Wedgewood coronation mugs. I discovered the work of Angie Lewin while searching online for more information about Ravilious. Turns out printmaker Lewin used the same Ravilious-designed mug in one of her prints (pictured below). Alas, it also turns out that I cannot afford to buy Lewin's lovely print, nor can I afford any of Ravilious' work that is still on the market — no matter the media. 

    

 

But a recent Persephone Post alerted me to the fact that there are versions of the work of these two artists available in my price range. They are among the many items of interest for sale at the aptly named Ancient Industries. The business focuses on objects that have a timeless appeal and are made in traditional ways by (usually) long-established companies. Among the items featured are hot water bottles, tea pots and mugs, hand made brushes of all sorts, bike baskets; just a marvelous assortment — including a few Persephone titles.

    

THE PERSEPHONE POST

Ancient Industries also carries Ravilious' Wedgewood Alphabet set of dishes in blue or pink for $60. This charming group includes a plate, bowl and mug with rows of Ravilious' black and white motifs alternating with bands of alphabet letters printed over a pink or blue stripe. And they also sell a 6.5" x 5.5" linocut greeting card with Lewin's coronation mug on it — exactly like the print at the top — for a mere $4.00. There's also a 4" x 8.25" card by Lewin of the Alphabet mug.

The folks who run Ancient Industries, however, are very up-to-date and even have a blog that is worth visiting.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day: 2.15.2010

Winter continues to hold sway in our garden, with trees and shrubs still bowed down from the first big December storm. Last week's snow merely added insult to injury, and nary a bit of Spring in sight. We're keeping sane with stacks of garden catalogs, accompanied by piping pots of Earl Grey tea, served in my pink lusterware cups and my mother's favorite hand-painted floral designs.  

 

 

 

 

To see who's actually got flowers in bloom, visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens. 

Lovely, lazy Labor Day weekend

SHE SAID: To be honest, it's only a lazy holiday weekend for some of us. He worked the opening UW-Madison football game Saturday and his regular shifts on Sunday and Monday. I, on the other hand, was home basking in three days of glorious weather. On Saturday, I weeded, watered and deadheaded. 

On Sunday, we were both treated to this gorgeous brunch — a testament to the bounty of Madison's Farmers Market, our hosts would profess. True, I'd say. But equally a testament to their ability to combine textures and flavors, hot and cold, sweet and spicy. And to invite the perfect guests — our former neighbors from our first house and now our friends' neighbors. 

This extravagant meal was served up on colorful linens, using an assortment of patterned and plain, white and bright china. It began with juice and coffee and bubbly to drink while we walked around the garden, inhaling the fragrance of the last roses of summer and checking the progress of the chipmunks vs. our friends' veggie garden. 

We admired the new patio and then got down to business — eating and talking — which kept us busy for the next 4+ hours. As if this wasn't enough of a generous sharing of nature's bounty, we left their house with two huge bags of needles gathered from beneath their big white pine tree. That means I can redo the paths in the Sacred Grove at my leisure, with more than enough needles to make them soft and silent once again.

Principles of design: On the table and in the garden

It always amazes me how people we never meet, whose names we can never remember — assuming we even knew them in the first place — can influence our lives. Ted Nierenberg, who died last Friday at age 86, was such a person. A master of both photography and garden-making, Nierenberg was also the founder of Dansk International Designs. As such, he was a seminal figure in bringing Scandinavian design to the U.S. in the years following WWII. 

Dishes from Dansk have been on my table since my first post-college apartment. This 3-piece set came stacked and tied together with twine. It was a great marketing ploy since you could only buy the pieces as a set. But it was an even better piece of cultural education since it introduced me to the inventive realm of Japanese packaging. The pieces were actually produced in Japan.

My initial service for four is now down to not quite two place settings. I've found replacement pieces on-line but have not yet been able to bring myself to pay what they now cost. Still, the cool gray and navy color combination has never gone out of style. Nor have I ever grown tired of it. I love it today as much as the first time I saw it in the store.

My everyday white dinnerware is TC100 (Thomas compact china from Germany via Design Research) but that's another story. It was being used in a chic little restaurant in a boutique hotel in Toronto in the late 1960s. Though the cups and bowls were attractive and stackable, I wasn't as happy with them as with the plates. So I turned to Dansk again.

Mark and I bought a dozen Dansk plain white Bistro cups at the fabulous George Watts & Son store while we were on our honeymoon. They're small so we can have three cups of morning coffee instead of the one we'd need to confine ourselves to with most of today's large mugs. Twenty years later we're still using these cups every day (though they're beginning to show it).

Somewhere along the way, a friend gave us Nierenberg's book, "The Beckoning Path: Lessons of a Lifelong Garden / The Photographs and Garden of Ted Nierenberg." The book is a visual essay about his lakeside natural style garden, with its collection of Japanese maples, located in the Hudson Valley region of New York. Suffice it to say the book, the photos and the garden are all stunning. 

Nierenberg's friends included famed designers and photographers who taught and advised him in the area of photography. Among them were John Szarkowski, head of MOMA's photo department for almost 30 years. Szarkowski's advice: Take 10,000 photographs a year for five years and then cull them down to 150 images. And that, said Nierenberg, is how the book came into being.

Nierenberg's garden comprises many acres and is designed on a grand scale. But the lessons he offered in his book are valuable no matter the size or location or style of your garden. We still find them as useful to return to as when we first read them:

LESSON 1: Respect your assets and surroundings
LESSON 2: Create beckoning paths

LESSON 3: Provide refuges and overlooks

LESSON 4: Mingle clearings and plantings

LESSON 5: Layer plantings

LESSON 6: Plant in groups

LESSON 7: Create mystery and surprise

LESSON 8: Control variety

LESSON 9: Provide for seasonal interest

LESSON 10: Focus on change