Honest Abe Living, May/June 2013

May-June, 2013

Claytons’ Home Photographed By Pros

LOG RAISING: July 20, 2013 Getting Crafty With The Smiths: Mason Jar Craft Recipe by Lodge: Dutch Oven Danish Cake

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May - June, 2013

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Cover Story: Claytons’ Home Photographed By Pros Join Us For A Log Raising on July 20, 2013 Getting Crafty With The Smiths: Mason Jar Craft Dutch Oven Danish Cake Recipe by Lodge Cast Iron

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Claytons’ Home Photographed By Pros

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eeing a home photographed and published in a magazine represents the journey of how it came to be. Dedication and hard work is visible in every shot. The homeowners feel a sense of pride and accomplishment when seeing their home captured in still frame and put down on paper to be passed down through family and viewed nationwide. It is a tribute to a goal that was met. called on him while working for a pre-press film shop When the Claytons (owners of the home pictured in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She sold color separations, below) were asked if their home could be used for a prepared films for print media, etc. Their clientele inphoto shoot, they didn’t think twice. The couple was cluded print shops and design agencies. At that time, very warm, hospitable and willing to Roger was doing graphic design along share their home with the camera crew. with his photography, sort of a full ser“Every home But with any home that is to be photovice photography/design studio and is special in graphed, there are many things to do printing broker. A mutual client, based its unique beforehand. in Missoula, Montana, suggested DebThe homeowners should be willra call on him. “I got his business after design/build ing to take an extra effort to make their the very first time I visited him with our characteristics. ” home spotless. The styling of the furportfolio! I have always been a pesky niture and decorations need to be apsales person!” Debra said. Roger was a pealing for the viewers. No one knows about the styl- client of Debra’s for about a year or so, and then they ing and photography process more than Debra and started dating long distance, with mad dashes back Roger Wade. and forth between Montana and Idaho on the weekRoger and Debra first met in late 1990 when she ends. The couple dated for a year or so, then married

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in the summer of 1993. Their 20 year anniversary is coming up in July.

At that time Debra became part of Roger Wade Studio, again taking up the role of sales and marketing. “We were doing all sorts of photography then, including architectural photography. But that end of the business really started picking up, especially with the marketing I was putting into it, traveling with our portfolio all over the state and down into Wyoming, and Idaho,” said Debra. Before long there was such a demand for our photography that they set all other types of photography aside, it became too difficult to try to schedule architectural shoots in the region and still take care of clients wanting product photography or portraiture.

Roger’s first log home documentation was for Rustics, a log home producer right here in the Swan Valley, where they live. At that time Roger was newly located to the Swan Valley as a permanent resident and needed work to support his wife and very young daughter. He had not started up his own company at that point (back in 1985). He went to work at Rustics peeling logs. They were a handcrafted log home company. It was in the winter and his first day on the job he was peeling 2 inches of ice off knot laden spruce, it was painful. Roger got paid by the foot and he made $17 for the entire day. That is all it took for him to decide to start his own photography business. He had worked for other photographers

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in New York City, including AV work for his father, who owned Roger Wade Productions in Manhattan. So he pretty much knew the ropes of the business. “He figured it had to be worth a try, better than peeling logs in the dead of winter! He has great admiration for the strong and hardy folks who do that for a living!

“In terms of what makes photographing a house memorable, it is foremost the homeowners, they are the life and breath of a home. Every home is special in its unique design/build characteristics, but it is the owners, hands down, that make the experience of photographing a home so enjoyable. Another wonderful thing about shooting log and timber frame homes, is that they are generally situated in rural areas.

Roger and I have travelled the entire country and seen the most gorgeous scenery throughout this land, we feel very fortunate that we have had that opportunity.” added Debra.

In Debra’s opinion, magazines are looking for an attractive home, as always, to feature, with pulled together elements of design, materials, environmental setting, all of those things. But they are also looking for something out of the box, with a good story. She also said that they are mostly wanting to feature homes that will be interesting to readers, so the homeowners stories are definitely a huge aspect of what makes the www.honestabe.com

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cut in terms of magazine editors picking and choosing projects.

“I am not an expert in terms of describing what makes a story interesting to read, in that I am not an editor, so to speak. But I have been writing stories for five years now and what I aim to provide to readers, personally hoping they will find the story interesting, is the process of locating property, choosing a builder, describing the process from design to completion, inquiring about particular challenges along the way, both tangible and emotional, those sorts of things. I have the good fortune of being able to write stories about homes that we have photographed, so I get to know the homeowners and experience the house itself! A real plus in terms of being able to share a sense of “being there” to readers. I believe my best stories are the ones that include a lot of information delivered to me by the owners, making it THEIR story, not so much mine.

I also strive to involve all of the principal parties involved in the shoot…. the designer, log home company, general contractor, landscaper, interior designer, etc. I like to include them to round out the story and deliver a story about collaboration and teamwork,” said Debra.

She has been a photography stylist for about 18

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years. In depth, Debra styles the room for the camera to help the photographer create an image that will inspire the viewer. Her personal style is that “less is more.”

Here are some tips on how she styles and gets rooms ready for a photo shoot. Use of color: Debra believes color is essential for well being. She likes to bring elements of color into every photo. Many log homes are photographed with a warm but neutral pallet to blend with the earthy tones of the wood. Debra feels that it is important to accent the neutral with splashes of bright, bold color to add contrast to the wood tones.

Creating comfort: “What should our homes be if not comfortable. Comfort, calm and serenity, pleasure and relaxation are the feelings I strive to elicit in a room.

Pillows and throws provide an opt to interject color into a room.” Debra said. One of her more challenging aspects of styling a home is what to do with the collectables. She says to display your collection items in a manner they deserve, in their own space and set apart from the other accessories. Her favorite styling and life enhancing accessories are flowers. She believes they are essential to styling a home. Placemats are also high on her list of favorite home accessories. In her opinion, you can never have too many dishes, napkins or placemats.

Outdoor shooting: “When documenting a home with photography, generally the shots are interior, but the exterior shots are extremely important as well, and so is the styling of these outdoor spaces. Make the space inviting and a reflection of your persona lifestyle. When I’m styling an outdoor space, the same essential ingredients for interiors apply to exteriors,” according to Debra.

She feels that our home, our shelter, right up there with food and water, is one of the elements necessary for our survival, our life. Life itself is a virtual feast to be enjoyed to the fullest extent possible. www.honestabe.com

Join Us For A Log Raising!

T

hese demonstrations allow you to see firsthand how an Honest Abe Log Home is built.

We’ll show you how to stack the log walls, install beams and ceiling and apply the roof system. Tour our manufacturing facility, and have the opportunity to speak with the people involved throughout the process.

July 20, 2013 View a YouTube preview by clicking below!

The log raising will be hosted by Josh Beasley, President and Jackie Cherry, Vice-President of Honest Abe Log Homes. Honest Abe staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. It is also very common for some of Honest Abe’s dry-in construction crew leads to be on hand to answer questions.

So join us at our National Headquarters in Moss, Tennessee on July 20, 2013 at 9 AM CST. Seating is limited, so please call for more information and reservations at: 800-231-3695.

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Reusing That Old Mason Jar Getting Crafty With The Smith’s Welcome to a new section in the Honest Abe Living newsletter! In the “Getting Crafty with the Smith’s,” you’ll see fun and innovating ideas to re-use, recycle and get the full use out of items that often go overlooked. This section is to inspire your creative side while enjoying fellowshipping with family.

Our family, which consists of me April Smith Patterson and my husband Nick Patterson; Mom, Janie Smith; Bub, Shane Smith and his wife Lesley Smith; Niece and Nephews Lily, Isaac, Eli and Andrew gets together weekly. Bub mans the grill while Mom and I both bring a side dish. This is my favorite thing to look forward to each week. Mom, Les and myself get our “craft” on outside while the children play with Uncle Nick. Lily does her best to help craft but usually ends up covered in paint or decorates herself instead.

We will try to bring you a fun new idea each month

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that will bring you closer to your family while inspiring you to use your creative side as well!

We hope you enjoy this article as much as we have enjoyed it ourselves!

Mason Jar Craft We all have mason jars lying around the house, whether it’s a wonderful gift of goodness someone has given us or we can ourselves. We can garden vegetables and jellies, so we had many jars to spare for this fun project!

What you’ll need: • Acrylic Paint • Mason Jars • Sponge Brushes • Fabric • Buttons • Embellishments • Craft Glue • Ribbons

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First Step: Painting the mason Jars First, pour some paint inside the jar. Then, take a sponge brush and begin painting the inside of the jar. If you want more color to show through, then do a second coat of paint after the first layer dries. Rustic Tip: If you want your jar to look more rustic, paint outside the jar instead of inside.

Second Step: Decorating the mason jars The next and final step is to HAVE FUN! We took buttons, fabric, ribbons and embellishments to complete our jars. Simply cut the fabric and glue on with craft glue. You can also tie fabric tightly around the jar if you don’t have glue. We had a lot of fun trying different ways of spicing up the jars.

Helpful Hints: To glue fabric around the jars, simply take the art glue, apply it to a sponge brush, and brush lightly on the back layer of the fabric. Then, place the fabric on the jar and let it dry. Try gluing flowers or buttons in the middle for an added embellishment.

You can also leave the jars unpainted.

Sometimes less is more. It all depends on what you’re going to do with them. Here are some ideas of what to use them for: • Candle holders • Pencil/ pen holders • Flower vase • Change jar • Small flowering plant pot • Office organizers

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We hope you enjoy this recipe from the new Lodge Cast Iron Cookbook: A Treasury of Timeless Delicious Recipes.

The cookbook can be ordered from the Lodge web site or from Amazon.

For more information about Lodge and their cast iron cookware, visit: www.lodgemfg.com 10 • Honest

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Dutch Oven Danish Cake makes one (12-inch) layer cake; serves 10-12 Cake:

3 cups cake flour 4 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup vegetable shortening 1 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 5 large egg whites

Topping:

1 ( 4 3/4-ounce) package strawberry-flavored Danish dessert mix (such as Junket Danish Dessert) 2 cups confectioners’ sugar 1 (16-ounce) tub Cool Whip 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled

1. Grease 2 (12-inch) cast iron camp Dutch ovens (ovens with flat lids).

2. Make the cake: Sift and measure the flour into a medium bowl. Add the baking powder and salt and sift again. In a large bowl, beat the shortening. Gradually add the granulated sugar and beat until fluffy. Add the flour mixture to the shortening mixture alternately with the milk and extracts. Beat until blended after each addition.

3. In another large bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form; gently fold into the batter until no white streaks remain. Divide the batter between the prepared Dutch ovens and bake with 8 coals evenly arranged underneath each oven and 17 coals on top of the lids of each oven. Cook until a wooden pick inserted into the center of each comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.

4. Make the topping: While the cakes cool, make the Danish dessert following package directions for the pie glaze.

5. Flip the cakes out of the Dutch ovens onto their lids. Stir together 1 cup of the confectioners’ sugar with the Cool Whip. In a separate bowl, beat together the remaining 1 cup confectioners’ sugar and the cream cheese. Combine the cream cheese and Cool Whip mixtures. Spread about half the Cool Whip mixture on the top of one of the cakes. Arrange half the strawberries on top. Place the other cake layer on top and spread the remaining Cool Whip mixture over the cake layer. Arrange the remaining strawberries attractively over the topping and spread the Danish dessert over the strawberries.

“The Lodge Cast Iron Cookbook: A Treasury of Timeless, Delicious Recipes” - Oxmoor House. 2012 www.honestabe.com

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