Farm Fresh

June 26, 2013 by ark_admin

Having spent the last 20 years living in Oregon, Tara Protiva-Brown and Brandon Brown were accustomed to the bounty of fresh food available in the Pacific Northwest and the many restaurants that supported local foods and farmers. “After moving here, we saw a void waiting to be filled in that respect,” Tara says. With a combined 46 years of experience in the food industry, the Browns were ready to open a place of their own. It wasn’t long before the couple had found the perfect location in Little Rock’s historic Hillcrest neighborhood, and in November of 2010 Hillcrest Artisan Meats (H.A.M.) opened its doors.

The small but popular shop features a wide variety of fresh meats and Arkansas-produced foods. “Our meats are always raised naturally without the use of hormones or antibiotics,” Tara says. “For many, food is an intimate affair and shopping in stores with plastic-wrapped and stickered meat is abnormal. We want people to know where their food comes from.”

H.A.M.’s Duck Ham sandwich is well known for its simplicity, flavor and locally sourced ingredients. Naturally raised duck breast from Falling Sky Farm in Marshall, arugula from Arkansas Natural Produce in Malvern and fresh bread from Boulevard Bread Company come together in this mouthwatering creation, which also happens to be a shop favorite.

…

Conscious Closet

June 26, 2013 by ark_admin

When you spend your days working for a company that puts sustainability at the forefront of everything it does, it’s easy to find yourself incorporating similar practices into your everyday life. Susie Shinn, the director of development at Habitat for Humanity of Pulaski County, says she loves working for a company that keeps her mindful of the ways she can reduce her carbon footprint.

“Habitat for Humanity, at both the international and local level here in Pulaski County, employs green practices in all our building standards,” Shinn says. “For example, all of our homes must be Level 3 Energy Star certified homes.” Because Habitat for Humanity serves low-income families, the organization also employs energy efficient technologies to keep utility bills affordable after the home building process is complete.

Habitat’s annual fundraiser, ReStore and After, invites others to take part in these green practices. The event features furniture and home décor items from Habitat’s ReStore resale shops that have been transformed into works of art by local artists and supporters. At the end of the evening the pieces are available for purchase. “To date, we have seen more than 40 artists come together to give new life to our ReStore donations,” Shinn says.

…

Out & About: Little Rock Metro

June 26, 2013 by ark_admin

Perhaps due in part to its convenient central-Arkansas location as well as its status as the state’s capital city, Little Rock is a bustling hub of activity. Whether you’re visiting from a corner of the state or simply want to be in the know of the latest and greatest in your city, we invite you to shop, dine and enjoy yourself at a few of our favorite metro area locales.

{Antique Brick Outdoors} 1609 East 9th Street, Little Rock, (501) 375-0060, antiquebrickoutdoors.com

Creating beautiful outdoor living settings is easy at Antique Brick Outdoors. This family owned and operated business, located in downtown Little Rock, has everything for enjoying the outdoors from pizza ovens and barbecue equipment to relaxing furniture and durable dining sets. Whether you’re building an outdoor kitchen, renovating a patio or need assistance with outdoor fabric selections, consult with their on-staff interior designers to turn your patio dreams into a reality. Visit them to shop their latest outdoor furniture arrivals including the sleek, contemporary Gloster line, the fully upholstered options from Ebel and the more traditional appeal of Woodard. For your convenience, they’ll be open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. through the end of September.

…

Owen Rein, The Moffett Hollow Chair Company

June 26, 2013 by ark_admin

Outside of Mountain View signs direct cars down Owen Road, the unofficial name of a passage so narrow it feels as though the forest is closing in on you. Just when you are certain the road couldn’t go any further, the trees open up to a small clearing. This is where craftsman Owen Rein has made his home and work, creating handmade dining and rocking chairs, bowls and baskets from timber he harvests from the property.

Having loved woodworking from an early age, Rein built houses and made furniture for other people for most of his life, but frequently saw small business owners struggle to keep up in tough economies. He realized that if he applied the same ideas he had about living simply off the land in the woods to making his own chairs, he could remain in control of his own economics. Plus, since he lives on land he owns with plenty of trees, the resources were already there.

Rein breaks down his craft into three important steps. “These tools I’m using are really old hand tools, so the first step is to find a tree that’s just the right size, shape, and in the right place, too. That’s how I can work without machines.” Once Rein finds the perfect tree for a project, he takes the main section of the trunk and, rather than sawing it into boards, he splits it into wedges. “That’s fundamentally where you part company from conventional woodworking, because with conventional woodworking, the saw determines the line. But when you split wood, you’re following the grain so the line is actually in the tree. From then on, it’s a completely different thing.”

…

Making Waves

June 11, 2013 by ark_admin

As the president and CEO of a children’s therapeutic ranch, a regular day for El Dorado native and occupational therapist Kristi Lowery can include anything from horseback riding to parent support groups. Situated on a beautiful 80-acre ranch just west of El Dorado, HOPE Landing provides occupational, physical and speech-language therapy to children with disabilities. “Each day varies for me,” Lowery says, “but every day, I look forward to seeing the smiles of the children and visiting with their families.”

While many schools are quiet during the summer months, HOPE Landing is full of activity as children of all ages arrive onsite to attend therapy and camps. When Lowery has a moment to get away from the ranch’s high-energy scene, she heads to her parents’ home on Lake Hamilton. “I love being on the water—either on the boat, inner tubing or skiing,” she says.

Lowery describes her summer style as casual and comfortable, with lots of jeans, sandals and jersey dresses, and she loves to experiment with patterns and colors. “However,” she says, “everyone that works at HOPE Landing has a pair of dusty boots under their desk.”

…

Out & About: Hot Springs

June 11, 2013 by ark_admin

When it comes to Arkansas icons, you might think Hot Springs has more than its fair share. Long known for its historic architecture and tempting respite, Bathhouse Row remains a favorite destination for both travelers and locals alike. In a similar fashion, Oaklawn Park and events such as the Arkansas Derby often conjure up stories of weekend trips or day outings. Still, for many it’s the area’s natural beauty that first comes to mind, including the tree-lined shores of the city’s three nearby lakes—Lake Ouachita, Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine—as well as the majestic appeal of the Ouachita National Forest. Whatever it is that comes to mind when you think of Hot Springs, here are a few of our top places to visit when you’re in the area, as well as a few of our favorite resources for building and design if you plan to take up residence in this scenic city.

{Accessory Gallery and Sparkle! Accessories boutique} 2200 Central Avenue, (501) 321-9168

Known as Hot Springs’ family owned destination boutiques, Accessory Gallery and Sparkle offer well-curated lines of clothing and accessories. Along with their energetic staff, owners Debbie Grubb, Lori Hamilton and Betty Hasstedt work together to provide customers with a wonderful shopping experience and the best selection season after season. You’ll find lines such as Tribal, Flax, Nic & Zoe, Frank Lyman, Joseph Ribkoff, Sharon Young, Jag and NYDJ at Accessory Gallery. Next door, Sparkle! Accessories Boutique offers jewelry and handbags, including Big Buddha, Waxing Poetic, Echo, Brighton, Charleston Shoe Company and their newest addition, Spartina 449. Pop in to find the latest trends for your closet.

{Arkansas Furniture} 1901 Albert Pike, (501) 623-3849, arkansasfurniture.com

…

Sweetly Summer

June 11, 2013 by ark_admin

“Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

…

On the Bright Side

June 4, 2013 by ark_admin

Gather friends and family for an evening of al fresco fun with these simple, stress-free ideas for a backyard soiree

Summertime is all about rest and relaxation, which is why Chris Norwood, AIFD, CFD and vice president of Tipton & Hurst, believes entertaining should be easy and never exhausting. For this summer dinner party, Norwood grouped whimsical yellow and orange ranunculus with multihued “Free Spirit” roses and happy Gerbera daisies in small, color-blocked clusters. “People are really moving away from fussy arrangements,” Norwood says.

…

Fresh Infusion

May 9, 2013 by ark_admin

Growing up with eight brothers and sisters, Diana Bratton recalls hours spent helping her mother in the kitchen. Years later, after receiving her culinary degree from El Centro College in Dallas, Texas, as well as time spent studying in California, Bratton landed in Hot Springs. It was here that she began making and serving her own creations, and in 1997 founded Café 1217. The restaurant’s “gourmet-on-the-go” style is inspired by what Bratton calls “truly fresh” ingredients—so fresh, she changes the menu monthly.

In 2008, Bratton collected more than 500 of her favorite recipes and published her first cookbook, The Original Cafe 1217 Cookbook. Her recipe for Apple Lemon Ginger Juice is a popular beverage from the compilation, and is also served seasonally at the café. The sweet and tangy juice is perfect for spring entertaining, and she often serves it in place of punch at weddings and events.
…

The Collected Table

May 2, 2013 by ark_admin

Two design-savvy sisters set an elegant table to celebrate with friends and family

When sisters Mona Thompson and Talena Ray of Providence Design celebrate Mother’s Day with their family, the group gathers around a table set with the sisters’ signature style. “For a brunch or luncheon, we want a table that’s a bit more formal,” says Mona. “Unique and found items give it a collected feel, which is our style.” Ladylike details, such as custom linen ruffled napkins, upholstered chairs and a tufted bench from Providence Design’s booth at Fabulous Finds Antiques, create a neutral backdrop for an expertly combined collection of antique silver, textured woods and white accents. Perfectly pink flowers and bright green apples add pops of springtime color.