BLANC Mailers!

I'm excited to share these special mailers that Chelsea Heffner of plainMADE  and I collaborated on to reach out to some special museums / shops / press from Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, and NY.

Each card is unique and it's just a little something that we hope will entice them to come check us out and/or support the event!

....but mostly I just wanted an excuse to get Chelsea to do some beautiful hand-painted artwork! :)
Her free-hand color washes is totally perfect for what I had envisioned for BLANC.  She even got these beautiful slightly textured thick water-color paper to paint on. Then I did the layout for the text and printed it with just my printer!

I was more than surprised and happy to find that my ghetto Canon MP470 printer did SUCH a stellar print job, didn't chew up the paper or die!

I really hope people will get them and keep these for awhile....I know I totally would!

BRITE Terrarium Workshop...Round 2!

Due to popular demands we decided to do a 2nd Terrarium Workshop at BRITE again! This time will be a Valentine's Day theme terrarium workshop! Let's spread the love!
Date: Feb 12th
Time: 4-7pm
Cost: $20/person
Includes: Terrarium ornament kit, tools & materials, treats & refreshments, and good times!
More details & how to sign up here!

You can see some photos from our last event here!

MORE at UCU!!

I'm also SUPER excited to have some terrarium ornaments & kits at UCU this weekend.
We did this for our Brite Terrarium Wonderland Workshop couple weeks ago, and figure this is also a good opportunity to share what we created!
These will be available at our L&G booth with ornaments already made, and also the kits for the DIY peeps out there.The workshop was a collaboration between our friend Nicholas Nyland where he did the lovely illustrations and I designed the kits!

Each kit comes with:
Instruction, ornament ball, ribbon, soil, activated charcoal, various moss types, and a surprise white animal figurine.
Once I started making them, I just couldn't stop!! It was like putting together a miniature world...or more like a miniature WONDERLAND...
The great things about these ornaments is that you can keep them up beyond the holiday season especially for someone like me who never get around to do much holiday stuff! Who really has time to put up lights in & outside of the house, decorate trees, go gift shopping, wrap the gifts, send out Christmas cards, AND bake holiday treats?...I supposet that's the majority of people, huh? :P

With the little time we have to do all the fun holiday activities that most people gets to do...my little terrarium ornament is a nice little added festivity in our boxes-stacked-and-shipping-supplies-filled house!

Brite Terrarium Wonderland workshop! 11/20th, Saturday

Brite & SOIL Artist, Nicholas Nyland is excited to present:

TERRARIUM WONDERLAND WORKSHOP!!

WHEN: This SATURDAY, 11/20th, 12-3pm.

WHAT: You will learn to make lovely terrariums ornaments for the holidays and also make terrariums from found containers!

WHERE: Brite Social Studio- 676 S. Jackson Street,

HOW: Pay $15/person, which will include:Terrarium ornament kit/ tools to use/ instructions/ Vita coffee, Tea, or Dry Soda/ Treats/ and good times!

Bring your own containers and make more terrariums or donate to the group!

There's a limit of 20 people for this workshop. So please RSVP by 11/18th at britecollective@gmail.com

photo by Land-Rich

Brite's Take Out Take Off

As we did ourselves out of a blog-hole...here's a little glimpse at our very first official event in the new Brite space on Jackson and 7th here in Seattle.

Our goal was to introduce people to our new neighborhood in a fun, engaging way. Quick, what's the most fun, engaging thing you can think of?... If you said "FOOD!" you're 100% correct!

Here's how it worked:



Our lucky guests got to mingle and draw maps of the area from memory. Everyone's knowledge varied a lot...just what we were hoping for.



After mapping, we divided everyone into teams of 3-4 members and assigned them a two block section of the International District. People then each picked two adjectives from a hat.

The mission: go to your area and find a single dish that can be described by the two adjectives.



The stores in the area ranged from restaurants, grocery stores, medicine shops, to bakeries...

After finding their dishes, everyone brought their take-out back to the Brite space, where everyone shared stories from their part of the neighborhood and gorged on the buffet of delicious treats. What a way to kick off the Brite space?

For more, check out the Brite blog and flickr

See the rest of the photos of the event HERE!

BRITE Space in Progress

Brite crew: Dylan, Jean, Christa, Nin

Here's what we've done to the Brite space so far....Just so you know...it's a work in progress...and also our budget is limited (i.e. no budget)
But between finding materials from Dylan's work, collecting crates from the ID, and bringing random things we have around our house, we're pretty happy with what we've been able to do so far for the space!
A coffee table made with stacked pallets.
the wall of crates are all scavenged from the ID since there's such an abundance of Asian produce shops! Nin impressively put that up in mere couple of hours!

We even got a coffee & tea station! Thanks to Caffé Vita for always supporting our endeavor!
Nothing like some take out Chinese food after working some late hours at Brite...That's one thing that we don't have to worry about...that there's always food available in the International District!
Curious people passer bysBrite's theme for this month, to explore the concept of "space Available" and what it means to use space in a creative way.

A BRITE Opportunity...

So we all know that summer is officially over, and that this year has definitely gone by WAY too fast. But we're happy to share a great exciting news for BRITE Collective where we have been given a store front spaces for the next 3 months as a temporary residency in the Seattle International District!

What does this mean?
This means that we get to use this space to host creative events and activities as a platform that can foster individuals to create, connect and leave inspired. Also this will give us an opportunity to connect with local groups/designers/artists/businesses and collaborate to do something fun and out of the ordinary!

Here's a preview of our space and the rough set up. ...
How did this happen?
well...really...it's because of our current unfortunate state of the economy.... But all this is a total blessing in disguise! I see it as a new Renaissance way of living where people, whether they like it or not, have to keep an open mind for things that more temporary, flexible, and unpredictable....and I think all of us are learning to adjust to this new way and trying to embrace the concept of "living in the moment" by taking advantage of the resources & opportunities that are all around us. Just within the past year I've seen so many interesting new food cart/truck business popping up, met new people doing super interesting projects, or new groups coming together to gain forces to do something great...I think we all are looking to make the best out of the worst.

And his is exactly what the Seattle Store Front project is all about. The idea formed when all these vacant/for lease spaces are popping up and dramatically changing the dynamic & the feel of the area. It's never appealing to see or walk through places where you see that every turn you take. So various local Seattle organizations formed this project to encourage creative individuals/groups of all realm to utilize existing vacant store fronts as an opportunity to experiment and bring something positive to the neighborhood as well as help building a stronger sense of community and arts in the area. So despite the unfortunate existence of these vacant spaces around town, this is totally a perfect creative way to put a positive spin on it all.

Brite is really looking forward to take full advantage of such opportunity and is planning on teaming up with local groups, artists, designers, musicians, you name it!
We got a ton of ideas to host variety of workshops, installations, music and film related events, holiday parties and more!!
For the first small event, we invited couple of guys who organizes the annual PARK(ing) Day for Seattle, where they get people to set up parks in what would normally be parking spots or vacant gravel lots for one day simply for the goal to get people to see & use existing spaces differently.
We participated in last year's PARK(ing) day, and this year the timing worked out that we got the space around they same time that PARK(ing) day was happening. So we decided to set up temporary park-like elements in our vacant space as a way to get some fun activities happeing there to start!
Our set up of an indoor picnic with some ARCADE magazines....
Four Square = four times the fun! So much space (1300 sq/ft much of it!), so many ideas, and so little time!....It's going to be an action packed winter because we got LOADS of ideas/plans which will be taking place really soon!
Stay tuned! 

Eay My Story Report Part III: Stories+Maker=Awesome Pizzas

Not to make this a novel or anything...but there's just so much to every pizza that I must share! There are 18 pizzas total, and each has a great story and interesting combination of ingredients! Feel free to make any of these pizzas so you can try it yourself!

Here's a run down of each pizza and the cliff-notes version of the stories:
Jared: Improv of this quote:
Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.

Ingredients: Pear, olive oil, sage, salami, ricotta, and mozzarella woven together on a web of self-made happiness!

David: Improv of this quote:
Star light, star bright,
Here’s the wish I wish tonight.

Ingredients: olive oil, mushrooms, eggplant, fresh tomatoes, figs rosemary and fontina cheese
Chika: Improv of this quote
His Elvis impersonation left something to be desired; his lip didn’t
quite curl and he always forgot the verses to Hound Dog.

Ingredients: peanut butter, almond butter, apple slices, peeled amd seeded grapes, honey, and ricotta cheese.
Jamie&Brian: Compromise Pie (Improv)
Story:Brian and i share a LOT. when we go out to eat we always share each course. That way we can order an appetizer, a salad and entree and sometimes when we're feeling crazy, a dessert. this allows us to experience the entire meal progression without breaking our belts or our wallets. the only thing we do not share are our drinks. but of course, we each get two of those.

Ingredients: one half: potato, onion, salami, goat cheese and green onions
one half: black olives, goat cheese and green onions
Melanie: Improv of this quote

OUR share of night to bear,
Our share of morning,
Our blank in bliss to fill,
Our blank in scorning.

Here a star, and there a star,
Some lose their way.
Here a mist, and there a mist,
Afterwards—day!

Ingredients: salami, green onions, garlic, yellow tomato, eggplant, and 4 type of cheese (goat, port townsend, mozarella, and ricotta)
Story author: Linda & Nicholas
Maker: Natalia
Story: They share a sweet story of how every year, a herd of goats are brought in by the Unviersity in Tacoma to graze some 8ft tall of overgrown area for 2 weeks straight. They'd hop on each other's back to get as how friends would do to each other in order to reach higher and eat some more.

Ingredients: goat cheese, blackberries, wild greens, olive oil, salt & pepper
Story author: Chelsea
Maker: Andrew
Story: Two islands: Chelsea contrasted the sites and sounds of living on Bainbridge Island relative to her previous home in Manhatten.

Ingredients: Stinging Nettles, Island Grown Shiitake Mushrooms, Port Madison Farm Goat Cheese, Nanami Togarishi, Dandelion Greens, Old Amsterdam Gouda, Fingerling Potatoes, Goya Hot Sauce
Story Author: Christa
Pizza Maker: Jean
Story: Purple not Pink: a story about childhood obsession with the color purple and how she O.D on drinking grape juice at a party and puked it up on her bed that night.

Ingredients: purple cabbage, purple potato, grape seed oil, grapes, figs, prosciutto, raisins soaked in red wine and balsamic vinegar. ricotta cheese, topped with crushed blue corn tortilla.
Story Author: Nin
Makers: Linda & Nicholas:

Story: Nin tells a story professing his love for ketchup (in contrast to his sister's hatred for it)

Ingredients: heirloom and orange grape tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, honey, chili oil, olive oil, salt and pepper, cheese
Story Author: Julia
Maker: Christianna
Story: Leopard print meets Scarlet Begonias: Julia's college years as a wannabe hippie-child contrasted sharply with her first dorm-mate a rebellious home-schooled punk.

Ingredients used: 1/2 Hippie patchwork side: blue potatoes, yellow bell pepper, beet greens, shallots, soft goat cheese, grape tomatoes, tomato sauce, Parmesan. 1/2 Punk leopard skin side: sliced garlic, black olive slices, yellow bell pepper pieces, Parmesan.
Story Author: Mike
Maker: Chelsea
Story: Mike set aside personal comfort in favor of meeting a challenge to take down a pile of world-famous "suicide wings."

Ingredients: habanero peppers (both yellow and orange), heirloom garlic (both cooked and raw), jalapeno peppers and sun dried tomatoes, marinara sauce, hot pepper oil, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, basil, parmigiano.

Story Author: Andrew

Pizza Maker: Julia
Story: How Andrew won Tricia over with repeated orders of Huevos Rancheros.

Ingredients: chopped hard boiled egg, black beans, green onions, fresh tomatoes, avocado, blue corn tortilla chips, chile oil, tomato sauce, mozzarella, queso fresco

Story Author: Natalia
Maker: Christa
Story: A move back to the NW from LA inspired Natalia's for spicy comfort foods.
Ingredients: spiced brisket, roasted garlic, gruyere cheese, removed habenero jalapeno (not available)
Story Author: James
Maker: Nin
pizza made: James' day-dreamt retirement plan: being a simple shepherd on a majestic mountain.

Ingredient: Sheep's milk cheese, lamb, olive oil, chives, salt, tomato sauce.
Story Author: Jean
Maker: James
Story: Jean laments the low market value of her Asian packed lunches on the American cafeteria exchange.

Ingredients: Pork Belly, Cilantro, Sesame Oil, toasted garlic slices, lotus root
Story Author: Christianna
Maker: Tricia
Story: Christianna shares a story of her recent move from Port Angeles to Seattle and a new neighbor who shared homemade plum jam as a welcoming gift.

Ingredients: Plum Jam, Quince, Lavender,
Story Author: Dylan
Maker: Mike

Story: Dylan tells the story of the atypical ways people's ages play a role in his life.

Ingredients: Green tomatoes, Port Townsend Trailhead Tomme cheese, green onions, queso fresco, salami, extra virgin olive oil

Story Author: Tricia
Maker: Dylan
Story: Tricia learned early on as a child that she's a way better cook than her mom and dares to experiment with unconventional combination of ingredients. Maybe sometimes a little too daring....but she eventually learned overtime that sometime basic classic combination of ingredients simply hits the spot.

Ingredients: Dark chocolate, sea salt, Habanero peppers.

Thanks Tricia for giving us an opportunity to do such a fun event! and of course thanks everyone for making such great effort in coming up with all those amazing pizzas!! GROUP HIGH FIVE!!

All the participants names starting from the left: Nicholas, Linda, Christa, Nin, Tricia, Andrew, James, Chelsea, Christianna, Heath, Mike, Julia, Melanie, Jamie, Brian, Chika, Jared, David, Dylan, Jean, Natalia.