All The Cool Kids Are Doing It

I know kale is like, a super popular superfood and all, but you guys, it's really super tasty too. I know everyone raves about kale chips, and I've tried, but I just can't get behind them. Kale salads? Sure, they're ok. But Sauteed Kale with Garlic and Sweet Potatoes? Now that's my JAM. Seriously. I've eaten this three times in the last week. It might just be my new favorite lunch. Get into it. 

Sauteed Kale with Garlic and Sweet Potatoes

2 T olive oil

1 large sweet potato, cubed with skin on

a sprinkle of sea salt

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 bag of kale, 16 oz

1/4 cup of vegetable or chicken stock

juice of 1/2 a lemon

black pepper to taste

1/4 cup of roasted, salted sunflower seeds (shelled!)

In a large skillet set over medium heat add olive oil, cubed sweet potatoes, and a sprinkle of sea salt and cook for 5 minutes—uncovered, without stirring. Then toss potatoes once, cover skillet with lid, and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Remove lid, toss potatoes again then add garlic, cooking all until fragrant, about 1 minute. Then add the kale. Just dump the whole bag in there. Using tongs, toss everything together so it gets evenly heated. Add the chicken (or veggie) stock to the bottom of the pan, pour lemon juice over the top, sprinkle some pepper on top of that if you're into it, and toss everything once more. Cover with lid and allow to saute/steam for 1-2 minutes more until kale has wilted and turned bright green. Be careful that you don't overcook it. When ready, remove pan from heat and serve with sunflower seeds sprinkled on top. Feeds 2 people generously (I usually go back for seconds), but could easily fill 4 bowls as a nice big side to whatever else you're serving up.

[Modified from wholeliving.com]


- Cathleen

Artwork of the Week: Devon Rex Cats

Devon Rex Cats by Krissy McLean

ink  and acrylic on watercolor paper, 9 x 12"

There are four cats that like to hang out in our backyard. If we were still living in Brooklyn they'd probably be considered "feral" but here we assume they belong to someone and just choose to spend their days stretched out in the sunny patches behind our house. There's a fat tannish-cream colored one that I've named "Marshmallow." And an orange striped one I have dubbed "Marmalade." And a mostly white guy with big gray spots that we call "Killer" as I have twice seen him trotting up our driveway with a STILL ALIVE chipmunk dangling from his mouth. As of yesterday, there's a new all-black variety on the scene that I haven't quite gotten a read on yet. I'm not much of a cat lady—I'm pretty allergic to most so I tend to only regard them from afar. But I have to admit that I do appreciate seeing these contented creatures slinking their way through our grass. I may feel differently once I discover they've turned our back 40 into a giant litter box, but until then...cats! Am I right?

Artist Krissy McLean from Toronto, Canada sells her very affordable original artwork on Etsy. You can see more of her work in her shop: KrissyMcLean.

- Cathleen

Nice in Theory?

So, I'm in the market for a mobile for over my daughter's bed and I came across this one. It seems right up my alley 

because it is aesthetically simple, inexpensive, and not too complicated to make. 

via Design Mom

I love the symmetry of the hanging threads and cascade of the little clay diamonds but I keep thinking a couple of tweeks here and there could make it a little more special. I was definitely planning on using a metallic brass-y spray paint instead of the craft paint. And maybe pretty embroidery thread as the stringing material or a more delicate way of attaching the threads to the hoop? 

I'm not sure if I'm trying too hard to make this project work. I have a tendency to keep pressing on when I should just let things go.

Any thoughts? Should I forge ahead or jump ship and try something else? I need to make a decision because I've designated this weekend as my DIY weekend. My esposo is out of town so I need to get some projects done before he gets home and we resume our usual routine of getting NOTHING accomplished. So, seriously, hand over your two cents.

And then have an excellent Crafty Weekend.

-Alissa

A Man's Perspective

Hello all you Swings and Arrows readers/followers.  My name is Brian and I have been graciously invited by the wonderful, intelligent, and beautiful women of S and A to give a weekly man’s perspective on art, style, and living.  Hopefully my posts can attract male readers to the blog as well as show the female fans that, although the minds of men are simple, we can still be interesting. 

I had several ideas for my first post but after a short yet enlightening talk with my wife I realized there was only one acceptable subject.  Grace asked me, “What is your passion in life?” After thinking for roughly 10 seconds I answered: ”splitting logs.”  I then attempted to clarify by saying I am passionate about anything having to do with logging and building fires, thinking that would somehow make it seem less ridiculous.  But it was settled.

In a future post I hope to discuss the ways of properly cutting, splitting, stacking, seasoning, and burning wood, but since it could make for quite a lengthy first post I will stick to examining the raw beauty of axes as well as logging and building fires.

The axe is an ancient tool, one that has been used in war and everyday survival for thousands of years.  It gives “man” the ability to both create and destroy and is an item that every man person should own.  The basic design of the axe is beautiful and hasn’t changed much over the years, but there are proper ways to make them and here are some companies that just know how to do it best:

Best Made Co. (My axe, Jedidiah, was forged in their US workshop.)

Gränsfors Bruk

Snow & Nealley

A good axe can be pricey, but if cared for it will last a lifetime and be an item you cherish.

Best Made Co.

Snow & Neally

Gränsfors Bruk

Once you have purchased and broken in your new axe, you can start to appreciate how splitting logs or (if you are lucky) felling a tree can be tremendously therapeutic, strength-building, and absolutely satisfying.  Once you have split, stacked, and seasoned your wood, you can appreciate the raw, natural joy of building your own fire and watching it burn.

Whether you are in the woods, around a fire pit, or sitting in front of your fireplace, watching a burning crackling fire will always make you feel calm and at ease.  There is really nothing like sitting in front of a roaring fire; it stimulates every sense in a gentle soothing way and there aren’t many things that do this all at once. 

Here is a short film (made by the guys at Best Made Co.) that helps one understand the beauty and art of both logging as well as fire-building. It is well shot and makes me jealous.

-Brian

Artwork of the Week: Up All Night

Up All Night by Jean-Jacques Sempe

We were up with a cold last night and the night before. It's Graham's first. The poor little guy is all mucus and mouth breathe-y. It's so sad to hear him snorting like a Gremlin in the humidified darkness of his room. Hopefully all of the saline dropping and snot sucking and nose wiping that he wails against will be over soon.

- Cathleen  

[Found on thisisnthappiness.com]

David

An open call to artists went out: create a portrait of the founder of the School of Visual Arts MFA Fine Arts program and recently retired chair, David L. Shirey. Organized by SVA alums at the studio/art space that they run and named after the man himself, The Shirey will be showing the work in their exhibition simply titled David on October 18th, 2013. 

I sent in my ink on paper version (pictured above) last week. When I was thinking about how I might want to portray the man, the myth, the legend, I knew that his eyes should be most prominent, as they are one of the first things you notice about him. They are a bright, piercing, other-worldly blue. Like, there is no way this blue exists in real human eyeballs on this earth. He is also super broad and muscular because he works out constantly. Like, he knows people at his local gym so they lock him in at night when they're done cleaning up so he can continue his grueling regime well past midnight. Oh yeah, did I mention he's also in his 80s? And while his physical fitness is important to him, and he often wears obscenely tight shirts to show it off, there is always a side of Shirey that remains hidden, buttoned up. He is extremely private and incredibly smart and he has a wonderful way of making you feel like you're the most important and interesting person in the room when he talks to you. I had the privilege of working with him at SVA for two years after I was a student in the program and I am so very grateful for the opportunity he gave me and for the chance I got to know him better. 

Go see this group exhibition at The Shirey located at 47 Thames Street in Brooklyn, NY on Friday, October 18th, 2013 from 7 pm-11 pm. While you're there, take pictures of everyone's work and send them to me. Then hoist a light beer (his favorite) to the man who brought us all together. 

- Cathleen   

Oh, Hipsters.

"I'm wearing plaid ironically."

Some things never change. Not least, everyone's love of laughing about hipsters. No matter where you happen to fall on the hipster spectrum, they're always funny. Actually, hipsters laughing at hipster jokes gets a little meta. 

Which everyone knows is the essence of hipsterism.

"No, I'm just rolling up my sleeves and pants because it's hot outside."

And although I don't think this is exactly what the artist intended, Leo Caillard's photographs of classical statues dressed as hipsters seems to cement the idea that hipsters have always been around. 

Somebody has to be on the cutting edge, right?

"I was totally Christian before it was cool."

But I feel like the biggest take-away from this series is that you'll never be as cool as Jesus in chambray. But keep trying. 

Just don't look like you're trying.

Happy Weekend, Friends!

-Alissa