One of my last shoots before leaving Atlanta was with the wickedly handsome musician Paul Warner. We shot these at the beautiful and historic Oakland Cemetery.
Here I did a little freelensing, a tricky technique that can yield great results but if not careful can damage your equipment. The nice thing about working with creative people is they are usually open to experimentation.
We also shot at this house but we had to abort when it turned out an actual human being was in residence and not thrilled about us on her property.
Still, I think it was worth it, what an amazing backdrop.
Check out Paul's music, which I listened to almost non-stop as I drove my truck cross country. You can download his latest, Deadly Waterparks on itunes.
In less than two weeks I will be hitting the road for my journey west. Pie will be on hold untill the smoke clears on the other side. I have loved my time in the South but am excited about this new adventure. It is time to go home.
I am very sad to leave my beautiful home, it is by far my favorite dwelling ever and it is very hard to give it up. My jaw literally dropped the first time I walked inside, I knew instantly I was home. It would also become my office, studio, show place and sanctuary.
A former parsonage, it was painstakingly restored. They just finished the exterior, a project that took well over a year because of repairs and lead paint removal. My landlords also don't believe in doing a job half way, it is this attention to detail that makes it so special. (Photo courtesy Rick Jones)
I am also more than happy to use my skills to help my wonderful landlords find a new tenant. They have taken great care of me this past 7+ years and are another big loss for me in this transition. I also looked at a lot of places before I found this one and nothing even came close. The vintage details, the three fireplaces, the moldings, the transom windows and the light, oh the beautiful light!
Next week they will be posting it online but I wanted to give y'all the first official look. I also included in the slide show some photos I took during my first walk through. If you can't see the window above then click this link. If you're interested then please contact my landlord via email to arrange a viewing. To see the full size flyer click here.
I also adore this neighborhood; walking distance to the park and very convenient to downtown, East Atlanta, midtown and the airport. I have made lifelong friends with many of my neighbors and there is nothing so glorious as Grant Park in the spring!
How can one such as I really be expected to pass up a package of Orla Kiely pencils for $10? Seriously? Had to have them and that is just one of the many kawaii items I found at a new Atlanta shop, Simply Put.
Like a mini Kate's Paperie with it's own unique twist and more personal service. Doors are open now but for details on their official October launch and special offers you can be added to their email~newsletter list by sending a request here.
I have been obsessed with fried pickles since I first discovered this uniquely southern dish a couple of years back. One of my favorites is from Yeah Burger, I fell hard for their tangy, crunchy, not too greasy version made from extra large house made pickles. Served with a side of buttermilk ranch... yes please!
Artist Yohei Horishita recently graduated from SCAD here in Atlanta and his parents flew in from Japan for the ceremony. He saw a rare opportunity for some family portraits and we squeezed in a session during their brief stay.
Yohei's work is sweet and whimsical and of course kawaii. He plans to illustrate children's books and is making his move to New York.
His mother wore a traditional kimono for his graduation, so lovely.
Tomorrow is my big sale and I have spent the entire week getting ready. I am a veteran of these types of sales and early on in Pie history I did a post on throwing a successful yard sale. So I present an updated version with few more suggestions for making your next sale great.
My Top Yard Sale Tips!
1. Advertise! Take some pics and make a fetching flyer, you can upload it to flickr, or the like and then it makes it very easy to set up ads on Craig’s List since you will need to repost it several times, twice the day before, AM and PM. There are also a lot of other sites you can advertise on for free like yardies.com. Signs are also important, even if they are just in front of your place, make sure you put them where traffic can see them easily. Be sure to go back and take them down after the sale is over!
2. Do not wait till the last minute to get organized, the better prepared you are, the better your sale will be. Place like items together and uses boxes and bins to hold them so it is easier to move them out to your selling area. A clothing rack is very handy and tables. It might be worth it to invest in a sturdy folding table, I have one and find many uses for it.
3. Clean as you go! As I go through my house and pull out the items I will sell, I have my vacuum right by my side and also clean dust off the items as well as the space where they once sat. The nicer your items look to buyers the more they will pay.
4. If you're flying solo see if you can find a buddy to team up with, it makes it much easier. Especially if you need a bathroom break.
5. A big time saver are pre-printed pricing sticker sets like this one from Avery. Just try to remember what you priced stuff at. People have been known to "switch" stickers and it is easy to forget when you're busy and distracted.
6. I like to have one little box to organize the stickers, sharpie, tape, staple gun and anything else you need for setting up.
7. Have some bags and a little trash can at the ready, if you have a lot of breakables, some newspapers, tissue paper or bubble wrap are a good idea.
8. Go to the bank the day before and get plenty of singles, fives, tens and also quarters if you need them. And have some kind of purse or fanny pack (if you must) so you can keep it all on you. Also keep your most valuable items close by... sadly people do steal.
9. Set your time table and stick to it. Early birds are annoying but to be expected, I once had a guy show up the day before! If you have a way to close off your selling area till you are ready, that is helpful.
10. Have handy coffee, snacks, cold beverages, sun block and a little background music is a nice touch and will make the lulls more pleasant.
Also, be realistic with your pricing. People go to yard sales in search of bargains. In most cases you will not get what you paid, if you are looking to profit, then sell it on eBay or etsy. I found even more great advice and some funny stories on yardsale queen. My favorite tip was she never lets people in her house, if someone needs a bathroom she politely points them toward a public option.
Wondering how to score great finds at your own local sales? Check out this helpful feature with Cari Cucksey of HGTV's "Cash & Cari"... on the topic. She is an estate sale organizer and has a her own store in Northville, Michigan called Repurpose.
Here is my groovy flyer just in case you missed it. If you are any where near Atlanta I hope to see you here!
Yes, June 4th,a week from tomorrow is my mega yard sale and I will be getting rid of tons of great stuff. All in an effort to lighten my load in preparations for my move west in the fall. I have also invited a couple of my neighbors to join in so there will be lots to choose from!
Pretty much every thing you see (except the lamps, large painting and rug) here will be up for grabs, I love my entry way but don't anticipate having this extra space when I move. So if you live in or near Atlanta, I really hope to see some of you there and will post more info next week.
For you true yard sale addicts, this book by Bruce Littlefield is a must!
Atlanta, unlike some other cities, is not yet a mecca for the growing food truck trend. Mainly due to some funky laws that date back to near the Civil War. Still, a few like Yumbi have been successful at finding ways to work around the laws. You can also find a few that have set up shop in one shared location and created loyal followings. Like Shindig's BBQ truck located in the Texaco parking lot on Glenwood, just off the I-20. A spin off their main location on Campbellton Road.
Preston Jones, (pictured above) dishes up some mighty fine brisket, along with ribs, chicken and pulled pork. The sauce is nice and rich with a nice mix of spicy & sweet, I liked the beans too and the prices are not bad. There is even a little covered seating area to the side.
The main location is on Campbellington Road and offer catering as well. No website but you can email them at shindigsbbq@yahoo.com.
I could not resist this brand new book by Heather Shouse on the mobile munching phenomon. Not only does she guide you to some of the best trucks across the country, there is also info on how to find them and even recipes! Great photos too by San Fran based photog Leo Gong make it as fun to look at as it is to read. If you're at all like me you might think a food truck would be fun to try, then you might want to read these tips from Readymade.
Delia's is a groovy little chicken sausage stand that just opened in my hood. Featuring "slingers" which is a large sausage on a hoagie style roll. They offer a variety of toppings from coleslaw to guacamole and even an italian meatball style. Delia is Delia Champion owner of The Flying Biscuit and she has worked on perfecting this chicken sausage recipe for about 15 years.
My favorite so far are the sliders, they come on yummy soft buns or if you're really looking to blow you diet then you can try the krispy kreme verison. I stuck with the classic but got mine "sloppy" (with Wild Heaven cheese sauce) and I added slaw. The slaw was very fresh and had just the right amount of zing. A nice compliment to the spicy cheese. The potato wedges are well seasoned and not at all greasy.
Here are some sweet facts: they serve breakfast all day, staff is uber nice, they have frozen raspberry lemonade and frozen sweet tea, they are open till 4am on Friday & Saturday, they have cupcakes, milkshakes (above is a double chocolate) and even a cupcake shake, which is where they put the cupcake into the milkshake. Oh my!
I love the taste of the chicken sausage but personally I found the slinger a little too heavy on the bread side. The rolls either need to be a touch smaller or the sausage bigger to balance it out. That may be just me though. I do love the creativity of the menu and I will defiantly be back for more sliders.
Located in East Atlanta on Moreland, it really is just a stand as the sign says, though nicely decked out. I like the combo of re-claimed wood and modern graphics used for the interior. There is plenty of seating outside and parking is easy, just follow the arrows.
Beignets aside, they offer traditional Cajun cuisine and are open for breakfast, lunch & dinner. They have divided the space into two dining areas, have a bar and full table service. A little fancier than I expected but still comfortable and casual.
I really liked this lunch option; 1/2 a po' boy of your choice and soup. Sadly, they were out of oysters so I opted for the shrimp po' boy and gumbo, all for just under $10. It is a perfect lunch size option, the shrimp were huge and perfectly cooked and the bread was lightly toasted to a nice crunch. The gumbo had a lot of body to it, a little under seasoned but nothing a little salt & hot sauce couldn't fix.
Of course, I had to try the beignets and you can order just one which is a nice option. It was only slightly "doughy" but still fairly light. I also ordered a traditional chicory cafe au lait which was very good. The staff was polite, attentive and very interested in feedback. I am no expert on this style of food but I enjoyed it and look forward trying more of their menu.
Last week, almost out of no where the dogwood came into full bloom. It is my favorite of the spring flowers and next month you might find me at Atlanta's annual Dogwood festival.
A lovely botanical by Donald W. Haytt, dogwood is indigenous to the South.
Mostly you see it in white but sometimes a few pink blossoms show up.
Right now it is flowering in abundance all over my neighborhood.
Love this vintage postcard, dogwood is the state flower for Virginia.
I have mentioned this vintage bedspread I scored at an antique store is an all time favorite find.
Here I used it as a backdrop for a shoot I did for Sandpiper a few summers back.
Groovy set of vintage Dixie Dogwood dishes I found on etsy.
Of course I love to have some in my house, stealing a branch or two before they disappear.
I fell madly for this Whitney Smith sugar bowl topped with two dogwood blossoms.
The blooms are only around 2 or 3 weeks, if you blink you might miss them.
I found two interesting books by searching dogwood, the first; Dogwoods an actual study of the flower with a beautiful cover and reviews that suggest it would be worthwhile for serious gardeners or just to sit out on your coffee table. The other; Dogwood is an award winning novel. Though I had not heard of the author, I love southern based fiction and based on the many good reviews I downloaded the kindle sample.
A light & airy space makes for pleasent shopping at the brand new Anthropologie store on Atlanta's ever growing westside. With an artful combination of clothing, housewares and sundries from all over the world, they have carved out their own unique niche in a competitive retail market.
I love these bowls which come in a variety of styles and are just $8 each.
The new shop is located on Howell Mill Road right across from the main shopping center that houses many of my favorite places including Star Provisions.
Whipstitch is the kind of store that makes you want to make something. So full beautiful textiles that even a non sewer such as myself wants to load up on reams of fabric and try her hand at a project runway creation.
The dream child of owner Deborah Moebes who admits she created it almost by accident. A very happy accident indeed!
Located in Atlanta's booming Westside Provisions District it is much more than a fabric store. I actully sought them out to help on a project for the Readymade shoot I was doing.
It is unlike any fabric store I have ever been to before. I often buy fabric for backgrounds and sometimes feel underwhelm by the selection. Whipstitch is stocked full of unique options and so much more.
I was first attracted to these eclectic little bundles, I am guessing are intended to appeal to quilters. I thought they'd be perfect for table top work.
The beauty of ordinary objects... this I think is the appeal of a "pick". Hunting through what others have long discarded. I made a trip over to one of my favorite local treasure troves... Antiques & Beyond.
Love this booth, lots of gadgets, cameras and advertising pieces.
A danish mid-century pitcher.
Colored depression glass is usually a good investment.
I love books from all periods.
I love typewriter tins and decided I needed a couple.
An order of JCT Kitchen's deviled eggs and a bowl of tomato soup are about as perfect as a meal can be. It would be right up there with one of my final meal choices, yes it is death row good.
The eggs get added yumminess with a slice of cured ham and a dash of olive oil.
My companion ordered the fish & chips which I admit looks tempting and I did sample the very good fries. They do know how to use a fryer at JCT. I have also sampled their famous fried chicken which is brined before frying and is very tasty. However my heart is with those eggs and I can't even imagine going there and not ordering them.
Congrats to the Mama Giveaway winners! Joan, Amy and Lura!
Mama Bath+Body is the result of 8 years of hard work and dedication by creator Emilie Sennebogen. She started making soap while living in L.A. and working in film production. She launched Mama in 2004, moving her base to Atlanta and business is booming with retailers like Whole Foods now carrying her artisan creations.
Along with soaps she makes lotions, lip balms, candles and sugar scrubs. All in a tiny retail space in Decatur which looks almost like a kitchen.
Her line of neighborhood scents are hugely popular and how I first discovered Mama when I received one as a gift.
Using olive oil and an array of organic mixes from lemongrass to rosemary to lavender. Her mixtures are unique and work well with all skin types, even sensitive skin. You can even create your own lotion combos.
I even love the beautiful papers they use to wrap their soaps.
Mama has generously donated three prizes to this giveaway! One Pie reader will get this fantastic "exhilarating" set perfect for the cold winter weather, with a sugar scrub for exfoliating, lotion and a peppermint and rosemary olive oil soap.
Then these two holiday sets include a soap and scented candle and will go to two other lucky readers. Increase your chances by commenting on Mama's Facebook page, just look for the post of this post. If you follow Piewacket on Facebook you are automatcially entered.
To enter just comment below by clicking the comment button and tell me what special beauty tips or routines you use in the winter and where you live? You must include your email in the appropriate box to be eligible, only I can see it. One comment entry per poster please. Winners will be chosen at random using random.org and the window to enter closes on Dec 10th at midnight.
West Egg Café is a popular staple on Atlanta's booming Westside and recently relocated to a large light filled space just around the bin from the old one. I have a soft spot for their coca cola cupcakes and they also serve up some of the best grits in town.
You have to love a restaurant that doles out breakfast all day, has a photo booth, cupcakes and on weekends serves red velvet pancakes. Above is the blue plate breakfast special which is just under $7 (cupcake not included).
They also serve a pretty good lunch with a variety of entrees, sandwiches, salads, burgers and specials. I tried out the curry chicken salad on some tasty challah bread pictured above which was very good.
Amazing what you can get a three year old to do with the promise of a cupcake.
They also have a nice little coffee bar area if you just want to read... hit the laptop... have a cookie... drink a latte... take some snaps... eat a cupcake...
Korean ✻ Mexican ✻ Southern. This is what Yumbii has printed on the side of their truck and that is pretty much what you get. Tacos, burritos, quesadillas and sliders with a fusion of cultures. As mentioned in this post, food trucks are finding there way around metro Atlanta even with the tricky restrictions that can make it tough. Many have united together via the Atlanta Street Food Coalition and Yumbii is one of the mavericks.
You can track down the truck and it's friendly staff via twitter or Facebook. Or if you prefer a resturant that stays put visit their brick & mortar location, Hankook Taqueria. It was there that Chef Tomas Lee developed the crave worthy menu that Yumbii pulls from.
Above is one of the super tasty pulled pork sliders which are topped with cucumber Kimchi, jack cheese & a sesame salad. The prices are tasty too, just $4 for two sliders. Tacos, which range from a short rib beef to stir fried tofu, are $2 each. I also like that a bottle of water or sodas are just $1. There are also daily specials.
These sesame fries are so worth the splurge, you can add some chipotle ketchup but they were pretty good as is.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at 7:30AM
