Kristen Loves Design

So I read about this absolutely fantastic blog, Paper and Salt over at Craftzine a little while ago and I’ve been meaning to write about it ever since! I have such a long list of things I want to write about (hello, a closet update is kind of overdue too), but when I saw this from theKitchn, it jogged my memory in a hurry.

Image courtesy of The New York Times (via theKitchn).

I don’t know about you, but if I had to choose – I would go with Truman Capote, for sure! I’ve always been fascinated by how creative people are inspired to create. Is is what they eat, where they sit, what they do that day? What do they do when they are creating? Do they snack, tap their fingers, walk around? I wish we could discover the process of what happens (before and after) when they are struck by the creative muse. In fact, I love the inspiration in the ordinary, but also in the spectacular. I am equally entranced by someone who is inspired by a weed poking through a sidewalk or by someone finding inspiration at a costume ball in a museum.

I think in general there are preconceived notions about what “creating” means and we think everyone is sitting behind a desk in a studio being brilliant. I think for the most part that is the furthest from the truth. I love the concept of Paper and Salt, according to the author Nicole, it is “..part historical discussion, part food and recipe blog, part literary fangirl-ing, [she] attempts to recreate and reinterpret the dishes that iconic authors discuss in their letters, diaries, essays, and fiction.” I also love how some of these recipes came to be because the creatives were part of a larger community. My favorite, for example, is the recipe that Jack London submitted to the Suffrage Cook Book after he met author Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a vocal supporter of the women’s suffrage movement. Bacon and tomato baked risotto with a heaping side of history – sure, why not?

 Image courtesy of Paper and Salt.

So are elephants the new “birds” – as in the “Put a Bird on it” trend I mentioned here?!

Yes, I think so. Well if they’re not, I am declaring they are because I am seeing them everywhere! And really who could resist an elephant (or two). Don’t you agree?

Images courtesy of (clockwise): MoMa Store, J.Crew, Baggu, Jonathan Adler, Asos, and The Elephant Art Gallery.

• I saw these absolutely adorable leather bookends a long time ago and in fact I bookmarked them in case I would ever want to purchase the cutest way to hold up books ever!
• Of course J.Crew has a brass elephant pendant. And of course, like most amazing items they carry, it is already sold out. Here’s hoping it comes back in stock. Oh J.Crew, remember when not everyone loved you so much? Don’t I get any extra points for working there?!
• For the most part, Baggu bags are in solid colors, but this cute bag could be the bag that lives in my purse until called into action. Think about it – when at Target, I’m offered a plastic bag, but instead pull out my elephant-printed reusable bag. And everyone swoons! Or thinks I’m the most pretentious person ever, ha.
• I’m not sure I exactly need a Jonathan Adler elephant nightlight. But of course none of this is based on need.
• I saw this shirt on Sydney and I must have it. Period.
• Well I have saved the absolutely best for last. Why yes, that IS beautiful art painted by actual elephants. Seriously, it’s for a good cause, and all the paintings are made at the Elephant Art Academy at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center (National Elephant Institute). Click here to read more about it!