STYLE IT: platypus designer duct tape

have been busy working as the "other" me (the marketing + creative strategist me) for platypus designer duct tape and other clients too.

i was celebrating the holidays back in october conceiving + creating this spot - soup to nuts - for this awesome company that makes super fun duct tape.

(i even pulled an all-nighter in the warehouse of parent company of fortis design, located in raleigh, nc, to style out this set....).

a team effort with the platypus people: head honcho, rob jordan and louise jordan, a.k.a.'s rob's mom and our awesome production assistant + the talented filmmaking team at taproot films. you won't believe your eyes....very unexpected. and, well, we had a ball.

click here to watch this really fab spot ('cause it is not uploading properly right now...).

"make it with tape." i did. ;-)

happy holidays!

lissa

note it:

"carol of the bells" by bird and the bee

CRAFT IT: platypus designer duct tape

these lovely gifts would make anyone's day brighter.

in addition to leading the marketing and creative direction for the brand, i styled these presents for the "remake christmas: make it with tape" holiday shoot for platypus designer duct tape.

you can create your own handmade packages too. here's how:

~ find modern + colorful gift wrap. these are from paper source in palo alto / san francisco (you can also order it online)

~ select a fun gift topper. these gorgeous handmade lollipops are from the candy store in san francisco.

~ make various styles of bows + then wrap with wide ribbon, crafted out of assorted platypus designer duct tape, of course!

my choices included:

~ pink polka dot

~ denim

~ leopard

~ wool stocking

~ houndstooth

i also gussied up the packages even further with some pretty french ribbon generously donated by rob's mom, louise jordan. she is one of the "platypus people" + was the "production assistant" on our holiday film shoot - pretty much the best PA ever!

now see, who can resist?

(not me. i basically pulled an all-nighter at the fortis design warehouse in raleigh, nc to make sure the film set and all of the styling was very "martha." oh, the things a girl will do in the name of platypus designer duct tape....It's not just for repair anymore.)

note it:

"she's crafty" by the beastie boys

COOK IT: or should i say, milk it?

am snow behind....

(even if i am in california.)

will be back soon.

note it:

"informer" by 12 inches of snow

(photo credit: bakerella)

STYLE IT: happy hearts today

merry, merry, merry!

(on a side note, whoever peggy is sure did rake it in with these custom-designed jewels...gorgeous.)

may your hearts be happy today.

xo,

lissa

note it:

"happy holidays" by bing crosby (beef wellington remix) from san francisco's six degrees record label

(photo credit: amanda brooks, i love your style)

TABLETOP TUESDAY - green hues

for the holiday table, i'm thinking hues of green + cream with a dab of gold....and you?

note it:

"green christmas" by barenaked ladies

(photo credits: anthropologie catalog, nov '08; elle decor, jan '10; unknown; gumps ad; anthropologie catalog, nov '08)

STYLE IT: thanks + giving

olive you.

happy thanks + giving!

(olive branches personally plucked in st. helena in napa valley...at a most amazing ranch + vineyard where i was on location with roger davies + crew shooting images for mcguire. wow.)

note it:

"kind and generous" by natalie merchant (this song bears repeating...)

(photo credit: lissa lowe)

TABLETOP TUESDAY - turkey treat

isn't this the sweetest turkey ever?!

okay, it's really jonathan adler's peacock but i'm re-imagining as a gobble gobble!

hee. hee.

note it:

"flamboyant" by pet shop boys

GIVE IT: brilliant braille

how brilliant! this "braille" bracelet from the mom-owned company "at first sight" just won the "2010 people's design award" from the smithsonian's cooper-hewitt national design museum.

ligon, the mother of a blind son, created this line of jewelry to increase awareness of braille literacy. A percentage of the company’s net profits are donated to Braille literacy organizations, including National Braille Press and BrailleInk.

for limited time, this jeweler's metal bracelet made of stretch tiles is available in fashion finishes of shiny silver or brushed silver plating and being sold online for 25% off retail price for $35.63 each. 7", 7.5" or 8" available. perfect for holiday gift-giving.

both educational and evocative, this bracelet tells a story of a mother's love...and i think that's incredibly noteworthy.

note it:

"learning to fly" by lady antebellum

SATURDAY'S SPOONFUL - a small dose of sugar, spice + everything nice...

my mom would've loved these little colored glass boxes from iittala.

(ironic to find today as i reading "inside the god box," an article written by mary lou quinlan in real simple about her enduring love + memories of her mother, mary....)

this new collection of vitriini by snu penttinen offers jewel-tones for jewels or other trinkets. beautiful eye candy for the bedroom, bath or office. would make a lovely holiday stocking stuffer.

(i miss you mom, my mary.)

note it:

"somewhere over the rainbow" by jewel

TABLETOP TUESDAY - simply adore

i simply adore this simple statement.

perfect for thanksgiving or winter holidays.

note it:

"thankful" by kelly clarkson

(photo credit: torryne choate/birch sf)

CRYPT IT: monster mash

from our house to yours, BOO!!!

note it:

"monster mash" by bobby "boris" pickett + the crypt-kickers

SATURDAY'S SPOONFUL - a small dose of sugar, spice + everything nice

this vintage candy dish from etsy's ivorybird would be perfect for next halloween.

i just may have to treat myself.

note it:

"candy" by tom petty + the heartbreakers

THE "WRITE" STUFF: fallen trees

i'm a sucker for trees.

not surprisingly, these limited-edition handcrafted recipe boxes from rifle paper co. really whet my whistle.

salvaged from destined-for-landfill trees, each is eco-friendly, gorgeously designed + one-of-a-kind. plus, these charming recipe cards are throwback + fun.

i think it's the perfect wedding/holiday gift. by stocking the box with collected family recipes, it becomes an instant heirloom...definitely the "write" stuff in my book.

to wit, charlie (my son who "schooled" me in the ways of an old-fashioned apple peeler/corer, my latest obsession from williams-sonoma) made this single-crust beauty. a snap to make - even if you're 4 years old!

just goes to show you that fallen trees are as fabulous as apples fallen from trees....nourishment for the body + soul.

note it:

"american pie" by don mclean

charlie's "4-step" apple pie

(closely adapted from "mustards grill napa valley cookbook")

~ 8 or so large apples - peeled, cored, sliced about 1/4" thick (i like a mix of mostly granny smith with a few honeycrisp or fuji thrown in for good measure. my tip: place the apples in cold water spiked with lemon juice to prevent them from browning.)

~ 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

~ 2 teaspoons penzey's madagascar or mexican vanilla

~ 1 cup sugar

~ 1 teaspoon of penzey's apple pie spice (or cinnamon, if you prefer)

~ 1/4 teaspoon salt

~ 2 tablespoons flour

----

~ 1 pillsbury refrigerated pie crust, taken out of refrigerator to soften 15 minutes prior to assembling pie

----

~ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits

step 1 - preheat oven to 425 degrees. make the filling by combining top (7) ingredients + toss to evenly mix.

step 2 - place pie crust in 9-inch pie dish, crimp the edges by hand. pile the filling into the pie dish.

step 3 - dot the pie with butter + place in freezer for 15 minutes to "set" the butter (otherwise, it gets too greasy when cooked).

step 4 - bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes. then lower temperature to 375 degrees + bake for 40-45 minutes or so longer. (start checking at 40 minutes + remove from oven when filling is bubbly + apples soft when poked with a toothpick.) serve at room temperature with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

(photo credits: box, cards+tag/rifle paper co.; charlie+pie/lissa lowe; box close-ups/design*sponge)

SATURDAY'S SPOONFUL - a small dose of sugar, spice + everything nice

inspired by the recent pottery barn catalog that arrived in my mailbox, i've begun to get into the spirit of autumn.

yep, i baked a sweet potato pie.

bringing my southern sensibilities to my west coast kitchen, this bright orange pie tugged at my tar heel heart.

gobbled up fast, my "secret" recipe is from food network star and marin resident curtis aikens, a georgian himself:

ingredients

~ 1 9-inch unbaked fluted pie shell

~ 2 medium sweet potatoes, diced

~ 1 stick unsalted butter

~ 1 cup sugar

~ 2 large eggs, beaten

~ 1/4 cup buttermilk

~ 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

directions

preheat oven to 325 degrees. place potatoes in cold water, bring to boil and cook until tender tender, 15-20 minutes. drain, and mash the potatoes while hot with the butter and sugar. let this mixture cool slightly and stir in the beaten eggs, buttermilk and vanilla. bake 45 minutes to one hour, or until set.

my time-saving tip

using a rice cooker, steam a batch of sweet potatoes in advance and store in the freezer. makes last minute pie baking a snap! (also great to have to make other veggie/fruit purees, particularly for baby/kiddie foods).

my spooky serving idea

prop a scary black widow toy spider atop the pie for a fun topper!

get your halloween pie supplies now + bake somethin' southern in your oven. it is mighty good, y'all.

note it:

"swamp music" by lynyrd skynyrd

(photo credits: panel+tabletop/potterybarn.com; pie/lissa lowe; spider/bigzoo.com)

STYLE IT: fireworks

make your own fireworks tonight....

hee.

happy 4th!

note it:

sunday, i mean "saturday in the park" remastered by chicago

(photo credit: haven - love this "living" room, don't you?)

SATURDAY'S SPOONFUL - a small dose of sugar, spice + everything nice

a few fun last minute ideas for the 4th:

~ cute menus

~ buckets of berries with cheery self-adhesive labels via office supply store + your printer

~ homemade pie (my fave!)

~ "operation gratitude" stationery station. this idea fires me up! (thank you, bh&g)...set up a postcard station where your friends + family write notes to our men + women in service. decorate the cards with "fireworks" stickers, glitter and send the bundle to:

operation gratitude

17330 victory blvd.

van nuys, ca 91406

have yourself a firecracker of a fourth of july!

note it:

"4th of july" by shooter jennings

(photo credits: better homes & gardens/menu, bucket, stationery + midwest living/pie)

COOK IT: 3 steps to "cranky"

this memorial day, we hand-cranked.

honeyed banana ice cream studded with walnuts, black cherries + chocolate chips

adapted from "ice creams," published by hamlyn

~ 1 lb ripe bananas

~ 2 T lemon juice

~ 3 T thick honey

~ 2/3 cup plain yogurt (we used Fage 2% Greek)

~ 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

~ 2/3 cup heavy cream (we used Clover Organic)

~ 2 egg whites (we used Trader Joe's pasteurized + the equivalent of 1 egg)

add ons, if you wish:

~ 1/2 cup black cherries (to avoid spoiling, we decided to throw in the leftover cherries we had purchased a few days ago at the farmers market)

~ 1/2 cup chocolate chips (my son's pick)

(step 1)

put bananas into a bowl with the lemon juice + mash until smooth. stir in honey, followed by yogurt and nuts (and any add ons). beat well.

(step 2)

place banana mixture into canister of a ice cream maker (ours is from White Mountain). on each side of the canister, add 2 cups crushed ice and then 1/4 cup of table salt (it freezes faster than rock salt). keep alternating until the ice + salt nears the top of the can. begin cranking.

(step 3)

lightly whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks. midway through cranking add to the ice cream maker. continue to churn until ice cream is frozen (it took us about 20 minutes).

yep, 3 steps to "cranky!"

note it:

"crank that" by soulja boy