Linda's Kitchen: Photoshoot sneak peak

Yesterday was an exciting day here in my kitchen in that I did the final photo shoot with <a href="http://michaeljleephotography.com/index.htm">Michael J Lee</a>. It's going to take a few days before I get all the final photos back, but wanted to share a sneak peak of the photo shoot, a little of the set up and one of the final images.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4344007218_7b2197f2e6_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="712" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4344007218_7b2197f2e6_b.jpg" width="534" /></a></div><br />I took the photo above on Sunday evening as I was cleaning and prepping the room. Michael had done a site visit a week ago so he could view the space and give me his assessment of the shots to be taken and so we could brainstorm about the styling. I had ideas, Michael had better ones. He's not only a fantastic photographer, but with his design background, he has a keen sense of style and we had a lot of fun pulling it together. I'm a big believer in keeping things real in a photo shoot; the room should look largely as it always does or hopes to, just spit shined. And, the photos need to tell a story about the owner or about the project being documented. Since this was my design in my own kitchen done with my own hands (and those of my friend Rob!), I wanted to be sure that the photos ultimately read "Linda". Maybe it's "Dream Linda", but Linda, all the same. <br /><br />Here is Michael working at my dining room table, camera set up to shoot from dining room into the kitchen. My kitchen is north facing with only one small window, but the south facing dining room is flooded with natural sunlight in the morning, which is nice.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2776/4344007404_ff624294b7_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="439" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2776/4344007404_ff624294b7_b.jpg" width="586" /></a></div><br />Previously, I had an old dry sink that I used as a bar when entertaining. Below is a "before" shot of my kitchen. You can see how narrow the passageway is into the kitchen proper. On the left is the laundry behind the louvered doors.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2781/4343339949_7ccba33cd4_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2781/4343339949_7ccba33cd4_b.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Here is a little reminder of the new skirted counter that I have installed (my photo). The purpose of the counter was to add storage and surface space to my small kitchen. This piece has wire shelving below to keep things out of site and has literally doubled my available counter top space. As you can see, a significant improvement in terms of looks and functionality over the before.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2724/4343287305_25430f088f_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2724/4343287305_25430f088f_b.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />And below is a shot I took yesterday of the lighting and camera setup to get a straight-on shot of the new counter top.  As you can see, the camera is practically inside my laundry closet. I was willing to move all the stuff on top of the washer so Michael could sit in there, but he didn't take me up on that offer.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4343271161_f58be26ec7_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="720" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4343271161_f58be26ec7_b.jpg" width="540" /></a></div><br />And now, your official sneak peak of one of the final images taken by Michael Lee.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDciCCviVkBs8UMJZyRBS6VwhIYKyaJaoA0KPqkTP9hPLQ_-nGPtnuQ3GX6WKD2sdkik1aPOCpsh7-n_m-cRxRFdKIdVnNTSKU-i4kado0s7fVUrbBtgjx3VL2iwXP_UgZ0GCTCgs1e4k/s1600-h/LindaMerrillBar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="704" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDciCCviVkBs8UMJZyRBS6VwhIYKyaJaoA0KPqkTP9hPLQ_-nGPtnuQ3GX6WKD2sdkik1aPOCpsh7-n_m-cRxRFdKIdVnNTSKU-i4kado0s7fVUrbBtgjx3VL2iwXP_UgZ0GCTCgs1e4k/s640/LindaMerrillBar.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><br />Doesn't he take a beautiful photograph - even in a very tight space? I am so looking forward to using this new counter as a bar and serving area for when I entertain. And this is what I mean about feeling that photo styling should indicate how a space is really lived in by the people who live there. I have always used this are of the kitchen as a bar, it's just now, I have a nicer one with more service area.  While we certainly spent a lot of time putting all the elements into place just so for the photo, there's nothing here that's foreign to how I live. And, I just love the simplicity of the image and the play of light on the wall.<br /><br />As I said, more photos are to come, so stay tuned.  Meanwhile, will you have a gin and tonic, or a martini?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

Linda's Kitchen: Photoshoot sneak peak

Yesterday was an exciting day here in my kitchen in that I did the final photo shoot with Michael J Lee . It's going to take a few days ...

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Cast Your Vote for the Academy Award® for Achievement in Art Direction

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSszK3txmkJbBcJB7L-sXXeYmclbP6RQtmPXf0ONBPjn6TECLxKeFDgJVSHft8ph5HTUMvLtO6-eb7f_Nx2OqjLPRtKuI9C1LRWJvCXFWk49BLMJucTL7f60MNZl_Yu3dTEEpv0R5fUt2p/s1600-h/academyAward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSszK3txmkJbBcJB7L-sXXeYmclbP6RQtmPXf0ONBPjn6TECLxKeFDgJVSHft8ph5HTUMvLtO6-eb7f_Nx2OqjLPRtKuI9C1LRWJvCXFWk49BLMJucTL7f60MNZl_Yu3dTEEpv0R5fUt2p/s320/academyAward.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://outnow.ch/Media/Movies/Bilder/2009/Avatar/movie.fs/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://outnow.ch/Media/Movies/Bilder/2009/Avatar/movie.fs/01.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://outnow.ch/Media/Movies/Bilder/2009/ImmaginariumOfDoctorParnassus/movie.fs/07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://outnow.ch/Media/Movies/Bilder/2009/ImmaginariumOfDoctorParnassus/movie.fs/07.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://outnow.ch/Media/Movies/Bilder/2009/Nine/movie.fs/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://outnow.ch/Media/Movies/Bilder/2009/Nine/movie.fs/22.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://outnow.ch/Media/Movies/Bilder/2009/SherlockHolmes/movie.ws/03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="http://outnow.ch/Media/Movies/Bilder/2009/SherlockHolmes/movie.ws/03.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://outnow.ch/Media/Movies/Bilder/2009/YoungVictoria/movie.fs/05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://outnow.ch/Media/Movies/Bilder/2009/YoungVictoria/movie.fs/05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Click <a href="http://silverscreensurroundings.blogspot.com/2010/02/2009-academy-award-nominees-for-art.html">here</a> to read more and to cast your vote!<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

Cast Your Vote for the Academy Award® for Achievement in Art Direction

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The Real McCoy: An ode to my cookie jar

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0opHhyphenhyphen49xTkcJN7EK8cFPKZn3QwpfzRmQDGqLQ5dfRPrjwklCuTN87qj5gV1_KVMvBBu9zmXYa41E2NDT_LRNhiwQ-DCmIeRh83PW336kQeHL3QlS9oIZ-ziy0h2i9-YdDs7OcFyOEfZt/s1600-h/BrushHumpty+cookie+jar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0opHhyphenhyphen49xTkcJN7EK8cFPKZn3QwpfzRmQDGqLQ5dfRPrjwklCuTN87qj5gV1_KVMvBBu9zmXYa41E2NDT_LRNhiwQ-DCmIeRh83PW336kQeHL3QlS9oIZ-ziy0h2i9-YdDs7OcFyOEfZt/s320/BrushHumpty+cookie+jar.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">via <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Brush-W-29-USA-Pottery-Humpty-Dumpty-Cookie-Jar-11-1-2_W0QQitemZ110487041076QQihZ001QQcategoryZ18895QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D4%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7576690449871211220">Ebay</a> - starting bid $39.99</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>For my fourth birthday, my best friend and next door neighbor Patty Zimmerman (who was three) gave me this very cute Humpty Dumpty cookie jar.  This became our family cookie jar, gracing our kitchen through many moves and houses.  Although it was technically mine, I didn't have free reign of the cookies inside, sadly. However, I did master the ninja art of silently removing and replacing the lid in pursuit of a purloined cookie or two. It took a steady hand and steely nerve with my sharp-eared Mother sitting in the next room.  It was quite a skill!  When I moved out in my twenties, Humpty came with me. While I've rarely used him for cookies, he still has his place in the kitchen with his Cheshire Cat-like grin firmly in place.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/2547215878_580bcca8c4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/2547215878_580bcca8c4.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> "The Cookie Thief" via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36507874@N00/2547215878">Flickr</a></span></div><br />So, as I've been blogging about, I spent the last several months remodeling my kitchen and Humpty was moved to the relative safety of my dining room. My kitchen is finally finished (woot!) and I'm getting ready for the final photo shoot on Monday. I'm thrilled that <a href="http://michaeljleephotography.com/index.htm">Michael Lee</a> is going to be shooting the kitchen (he did the<a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/2009/10/michael-j-lee-photography-architectural.html"> gorgeous shots</a> of a Boston town house living room that I did which was recently <a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/2010/01/media-talk-boston-sunday-globe-magazine.html">featured</a> in the Boston Sunday Globe). Michael's process includes a site visit prior to shoot day so he and the designer or stylist can decide which shots will work best and what kind of styling should be done to bring out the best in the space. It's a fantastic extra level of service that really makes for wonderful finish shots. So, Michael came over to my house this past Monday. I didn't spend a lot of time "styling" my kitchen for this pre-shoot visit, but I did put Humpty in a place of honor on my new counter.  And what does my fantastic photographer say? "Is Humpty going to stay?" Hmm, apparently, Humpty is not sexy enough for prime time. <br /><br />Or is he?<br /><br />Below is one of the scouting shots Michael took. Now, these are not meant to be beautifully finished shots. There was no photographic lighting, my kitchen is dark and required a wide open aperture to bring in as much light as possible to the shot and he was holding his camera by hand, not on a tripod. And, as I said, I had done no styling so there are visible sponges (the horror!) and brown bananas in the otherwise empty wire baskets. Oh, and my pans need polishing. But, doesn't Humpty look fetching in profile?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmNzfvMKj8v_WeQSpmCzA84ae-xuvgctoBLri5L-PweNezJFxxePkOthtZr_a9WxIO7WjxjTxrf8uxpAof6sLr6UujN-s4rvkNOllAxpIX7kjgDnTtyhPJ8eIdLt8UhQhLiI-desTROO_/s1600-h/LindaMerrillScoutingDuxburyKitchen007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmNzfvMKj8v_WeQSpmCzA84ae-xuvgctoBLri5L-PweNezJFxxePkOthtZr_a9WxIO7WjxjTxrf8uxpAof6sLr6UujN-s4rvkNOllAxpIX7kjgDnTtyhPJ8eIdLt8UhQhLiI-desTROO_/s640/LindaMerrillScoutingDuxburyKitchen007.jpg" width="491" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Un-styled scouting shot taken by<a href="http://michaeljleephotography.com/index.htm"> Michael J. Lee</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Anyway, we'll see if Humpty makes it into the final shots, maybe yes, maybe no. But I spent a little time researching his provenance and found out several currently for sale. He was made by the Brush Pottery Company of Ohio (formerly the Brush McCoy Pottery Company) and the bottom is marked "W29 Brush USA".  According to <a href="http://artpotteryblog.com/">ArtPotteryBlog.com</a>, the Brush Pottery Company produced over 50 different novelty cookie jars between 1954 and 1971.  My Humpty (with the jaunty cowboy hat) was made in 1962, and so was I, actually.  The "W" in the marking denotes that my jar was made by Don and Ross Winton, who worked as freelance potters. <br /><br />Ebay has two listed one with a starting bid of <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Brush-W-29-USA-Pottery-Humpty-Dumpty-Cookie-Jar-11-1-2_W0QQitemZ110487041076QQihZ001QQcategoryZ18895QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D4%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7576690449871211220">$39.00</a>. But there are some antiques sites where they are listed upwards of <a href="http://www.icollect247.com/googsticker.php?UniqueID=18359">$250.00</a>. Not that I'd ever sell, but it's interesting to learn a little more about something I've owned nearly all my life.<br /><br />Meanwhile, it's been doppelganger week on Facebook and as I was doing research about Humpty, I couldn't help but notice a few similarities... Blue eyes, pink cheeks, round face, big grin, pale, and dare I say it, porcelain complexion... ah, I crack me up. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg266pUUoMAB0AMrJ3TW4kY7ITgLiLMJu2QOPUeouiP5I82WTzzNBUo5JyhEbhFJMPsjs-oSwkYE880z0KEnExXNxK5dXT8aP7tKB9AE2tE0NC56Qz2jPgCCSWZgH3ExzrXf3GDPVup0V0o/s1600-h/lindahumpty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg266pUUoMAB0AMrJ3TW4kY7ITgLiLMJu2QOPUeouiP5I82WTzzNBUo5JyhEbhFJMPsjs-oSwkYE880z0KEnExXNxK5dXT8aP7tKB9AE2tE0NC56Qz2jPgCCSWZgH3ExzrXf3GDPVup0V0o/s400/lindahumpty.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

The Real McCoy: An ode to my cookie jar

via Ebay - starting bid $39.99 For my fourth birthday, my best friend and next door neighbor Patty Zimmerman (who was three) gave me this v...

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