newspaper by Stephanie 0

weekly wrap up + 2012 D*S Newspaper

I feel like we’re living on the surface of the sun in NYC today, so I’m going to get this computer as far away from my lap as possible. But before I go I wanted to thank everyone who’s been sending me updates about and pictures of their 2012 D*S Newspaper copies. It’s hard to describe how exciting it is to work on a project that you actually get to see in stores and in people’s hands. This week the first online orders will be shipped out, so if you want to order a copy online* please click here to get your name on this week’s mailing list. Thank you again to Anthropologie for carrying this year’s paper- I’m going to visit my local store this weekend to see one in person- so exciting! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend- see you on Monday! xo, grace

*I know we’ve had a few glitches with orders to Canada, please email me at the address in the comments if your form isn’t working properly.

Below is a summary of this week’s highlights:

Extra Extra: The 2012 Design*Sponge Newspaper is Out!
After the Jump: Megan Auman Interview (mp3)
Living In: Only You
City Guide: Oahu, HI
Biz Ladies: Connecting With your Brand
DIY Projects: Leather Staining — Coasters
Sneak Peeks: Best of: Canadian Homes, Sarah Kissell and Gregory Hubacek, Julie Pointer
Before & After: Light + Bright Kitchen Makeover, Hugo Gets a Facelift
In the Kitchen With: Melina Hammer’s Lemon Meringue Pie
Misc.: The Textile Arts Center’s New Online Shop!, Joey Roth Self-Watering Planter, Fun Animal-Shaped Gadgets, Studiotwentysix2 Prints, Wicker Furniture from the Family Love Tree, Velvet Bedding from Castle, Yeats Design, Striped Teacups, Imogen Heath, Cooler Baskets from Peterboro

entertaining by Kristina Gill 9

in the kitchen with: melina hammer’s lemon meringue pie

In keeping with our recent trend to provide you with 4th of July picnic ideas, like last week’s deviled eggs, here is an all-American pie recipe. Lemon meringue pie was something of a treat in our house growing up, only for the absolute most special occasions. I was always mesmerized by the meringue. I thought it was a feat of magic. It seems this was also the case for freelance photographer Melina Hammer, who managed to convince her mother to share her prized recipe with us this week. I hope you will try it out for the 4th or for your next very special occasion or just because you feel like it. It really is the stuff dreams are made of! — Kristina

About Melina: Melina is a New York-based freelance food photographer, stylist and cook, as well as the blogger behind Licking the Plate. Her work has been seen on the pages of the New York Times dining section, Sweet Paul, BUST, Gotham, and AARP, to name a few. You can find her on Twitter and Facebook. Check out Melina’s previous recipe for grilled haloumi with melon, avocado and lime-mint dressing.

Learn how to make this dreamy pie after the jump . . .

flowers by Mary Kathryn Paynter 7

wild love: patti smith & robert mapplethorpe

Photo by Jackie Young

Today’s Wild Love celebrates a friendship that left a permanent impact on music, art, photography and style in America: Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe. Immortalized in Smith’s book, Just Kids, their friendship was a merging of aesthetics that influenced Smith to forever change the face of poetry and rock and roll. In turn, Smith was Mapplethorpe’s muse until his untimely and far-too-early death in 1989.

Mapplethorpe and Smith, Photograph by Norman Seeff, used with gracious permission by the photographer.

Smith met Mapplethorpe when she first arrived in New York City, and they immediately became lovers. Their relationship was star-crossed and consuming from the start — Smith often speaks in Just Kids about how intensely they relied on each other, both making their way in New York in the late ’60s at a time when the city was shifting drastically. They mirrored each other in their passion for their work and their tenderness toward others, feeding a mutual curiosity that spawned boundary-pushing outputs from both artists. — Mary Kathryn Paynter

Read the full post (and more on Smith and Mappelthorpe’s relationship) after the jump . . .

small measures by Ashley 5

Small Measures: Beeswax Insect Repellant Candles

Last week’s solstice made it official: summer is definitely here (at least for those of us in this hemisphere). The attendant spike in the mercury solidified the new season’s arrival, as folks start to bust out their flip flops, chow down on watermelon, slurp popsicles and try to keep their cool with fans. Alongside the sun, sand, festivities and barbeques, however, lurks a less welcome annual feature: the return of stinging, biting insects. There you are, finally able to cool off, cold beer or tall glass of iced tea in hand, cracking open the pages of what promises to be an epic summer read when, boom! Out of nowhere a mosquito lands on your arm, does its thing and harshes your mellow.

Well, I’ve got a solution. It’s much more benign than the bug zappers of days past (and considerably more quiet — those machines were loud!). With a few simple ingredients and tools, you can craft a lovely beeswax candle that keeps the critters at bay while perfuming the air with a heavenly scent. The bugs move on, the breeze (hopefully) moves in, the book delivers on its promise and all is well this summer. — Ashley English

Read the full post after the jump . . .

furniture by Grace Bonney 2

vintage moroccan rug chair

Speaking of moments with furniture, here’s one last piece I’m having a hard time letting go. Anthropologie has a series of chairs online right now that are covered in insanely gorgeous vintage Moroccan rugs. As much as I love these rugs on the floor, when I finally got one and used it, I realized how quickly they get dirty and have to be cleaned (which is pretty pricey) because of all the strips of fabric. They seem to catch every bit of debris in my apartment, and no matter how much I shake them out, they still need a professional cleaning. I hate the idea of giving up on them, so maybe re-imagining them as upholstery is a better idea. Each of these chairs uses different rugs as upholstery and a sleek metal base as the support. If you’ve got a small rug in this style like I do, maybe this would be a good jumping-off idea for trying your own DIY version? I’d love to try this on a simple inexpensive ottoman . . . xo, grace

furniture by Grace Bonney 3

banda coffee table

I’m having a moment with this table right now. I’m not sure why (maybe it’s the tropical weather we’re having in NYC right now) but this woven rattan coffee table is calling my name. I’ve been trying to find a base for my marble coffee table top forever, but now this table seems like the perfect fit for my living room. I doubt it could hold the weight, but I’m tempted to find a little marble top to fit this guy now. I should probably just let it go, but if any of you are looking for a cute rattan table (this would be perfect for a porch or sunroom) this Banda table from Serena & Lily would be great. Click here for more details and to shop online. xo, grace

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