Lil' Bits of Beth

My Own Personal Prop Giveaway

2011-03-26T14:01:00.000-07:00

Hello! Thank you for visiting my newly revived blog...Lil' Bits of Beth. When I started this blog a year or so ago, I really had every intention of adding interesting info about my life as a Prop & Food Stylist in the Chicago area. I had a bit of free time, I was busy writing a "Prop Styling" class for Photo Styling Workshops and I was working on building my base of props. Then "BAM!", food and prop styling jobs started coming at me left and right, I decided with the help of a wonderful mentor, Susan Linnet Cox, I would write an ebook on "Prop Styling", and continue to find amazing props on a weekly basis. It's been wonderful! I have so many photos and stories to share...so, in honor of me starting back on this blog, I will be having a "Prop" giveaway. I will put together a beautiful grouping of kitchen props that I have used on a commercial shoot and send them to a lucky friend! Please start following me, forward my blog to friends and family and let's have some fun here. How does it work? Leave me a comment about what you love to see in food packaging and ads these days....what props do you love to see?....new and contempory?...yummy vintage woods and metals?...what sort emotion do these props make you feel? Have fun with this! I will choose my winner on Easter, April 24th...good luck! For now, here's are couple of shots of some recently used Props :)

An Amazing Prop Styling Job.....

2011-03-25T15:21:00.001-07:00

My Love for Summer

2010-08-22T17:00:00.000-07:00

My love for summer will never end...I crave it year round. I tell my husband and children I need warmth from the sun, so, they ship me off from NW Indiana to Arizona or Florida. I love my summer attitude, I turn down jobs, I can't wait to get the pool pass, my life becomes so loose and easy. I take photos all summer, my camera never gets a rest. My garden is so important to me, I strive to get outside each and everyday, spending hours in the garden, digging, planning, re-planting and enjoying all the beauty that is given to us. Plan to see many photos, all my favorites from the summer...some of my garden, some from our numerous trips, some of food photography, some of my beautiful children, but know that all of these photos touch my heart...and hope they do the same for you!

In Love with Anthropologie....my love affair never ends

2009-10-09T14:57:00.000-07:00

I have always loved fabrics and textiles, as a child, then as a fine arts student at Arizona State University, then as a starving post graduate living in the city of Chicago on a meger starting salary, until today. There is a reason I went into Prop Styling, because I get to see and work with fabrics, textiles, plates, utensils, you name it...almost everyday! It was certainly meant to be...I do know that. While my style in clothing, propping and furniture varies on any given day...I almost always seem to gravitate to a combination of vintage and modern, which brings me to my current obsession, Anthropologie! Sweaters that looked like they could have been my Grandmothers with a modern twist or embellishment, couches and chairs which feature traditional structure, yet covered with an amazing, colorful new pattern from 2009. I simply LOVE this store, did I mention I have visions of the store closing and I am still in it playing house, reading a good book on one of the couches, or sleeping in the ever-so-fluffy 4 poster beds which look as if it came straight out of Paris?!? Of course, I will spend half the night trying on all the incredible dresses, skirts, blouses, sweaters and jackets, each catalog sends shivers through me, what can I possibly buy from this catalog?! The construction going on in our basement has certainly had my design ideas working overtime...the contractor and my husband go running when I say, "Hold on, look at this photo I found on-line!" Seriously, they have taken to pretending they are listening and then gingerly step back away from me and my little laptop. Well, the contractors are done for the week, painting starts next week and perhaps the cabinets for the mini-kitchen and the media room will be delivered as well. Until then, I set aside a little time every day to view all my favorite websites and dream of what the final will look like. Today, in my inbox was the Anthropologie October Catalog...this chair is to die for! I simply can't wait!

Comfort Food...needed on a daily basis

2009-10-08T16:46:00.000-07:00

The last week here in Indiana has been wet, and dreary. Thoughts have turned to comfort food, so I spent a good majority of the day pulling out my cookbooks, reading food blogs and seeing what everyone is cooking. I also decided I had some time to cook, set up and shoot some food shots today as well, so I was cooking away! I made ham, au gratin potatoes and then, decided I needed to use up my heavy cream and made the ultimate, creamed peas! They remind me so much of my Mom's fabulous cooking growing up. My Mom comes from a large Irish family, 8 brothers and sisters, lots of cooking and food in their house. Mom always made huge dinners, every night! My sister Kelli & I learned how to cook most of Mom's meals...meatloafs, chicken and wild rice casserole, beef and pork roasts, turkeys, cornish hens, sauteed brussel sprouts in bacon, crab dip, you name it...we learned how to cook it! I have to admit, I was known for being the only cook while in college...everyone came to my condo in Arizona for a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner, stuffing, mashed potatoes and even real gravy! This year, I will again be serving Thanksgiving Dinner at our home, the whole plan was for the contractor to have the basement finished by that date so I can have a mob of family here. I make all the food, I LOVE making Thanksgiving dinner! Anyway, back to the creamed peas...make a roux...about 2 tablespoons of butter melted in a saucepan, add a spoonful of flour and make a paste. Start adding your cream slowly and working it into your flour, generously add salt & pepper. I add at least 2-3 more tablespoons of butter into the cream/milk. Eventually you will add at least a cup or so of cream/milk. Tasting is neccessary for me as I do not really follow a recipe for a roux. Turn off the roux mixture, add 2 cans of drained baby peas. Let sit in the cream mixture for a while to heat through, serve immediately. I can't tell you how much my family loves these creamed peas! You can also use cauliflower, broccoli, and another one of my favorites, spinach. Fall is certainly upon us and with fall weather comes comfort food, be ready for many blog posts featuring cozy, calorie-ridden recipes such as this! Enjoy!

Savory Soup on a Cold Fall Day

2009-09-29T11:55:00.000-07:00

I guess Fall is officially here in Indiana...when I awoke this morning, the temperature was 47 degrees. I'm not ready for Fall, nor am I ready for Winter and Snow...I never am. I am a warm weather person! My daughter Sophie and I are leaving for Houston, Texas on Friday for a family wedding, looking at 85 degrees. We then leave for a week in Orlando, Florida last week of October, more warm weather. Where can I go next?! I will do anything to get out of the cold weather here in the good old Midwest...another wedding? Sure, I'll go! A conference in San Diego for Photo Styling Workshops?! Sure, I'll go! Really, if you live somewhere warm, and would like me to come, play, cook, photograph, you name it, I can be there in the winter months! Anyway, sitting at Sophie's freezing cold soccer game yesterday got me in the mood to make a yummy soup. I had a ton of editing and photo printing to do today, so what better day than to start up a huge pot of soup. What kind you ask? This soup happens to have chicken (cooked and shredded), Haricot Vert (french green beans, frozen, Trader Joe's), baby red potatoes, Cannellini beans, a full stick of butter :) leftover angel hair pasta, and all of it is simmering in chicken stock, herbs, and 1/2 and 1/2. I have no recipe...I add whatever sounds good and most of the time I have enough veggies and meat/chicken on hand to make a very simple yummy soup. Although, my soups tend to be rather chunky, so the kids ask for a fork as well as a spoon. I then serve a crusty bread, smothered with butter, and sometimes a simple salad as well. Don't forget to put a dollop of sour cream on top of the soup...really adds a great bit of flavor as well as a richness I really need in these winter months. I hope you are enjoying your day, whether it be warm or cold! Off to another soccer game, this time I have my blankets and a warm fuzzy hat!

Putting away the straightener...today

2009-09-21T07:46:00.000-07:00

I know this is off subject, not my normal blog discussing food, propping or photography skills, but about fashion styling and my hair. Yes, my crazy hair. Most of my friends and family do not know that I have crazy, curly hair...why crazy? My hair stylist Dianna knows my terrible hair secrets...a strange little patch lacking hair on the left side of my head, bendy hair on the left vs. very curly on the right side. While my 13 year old daughter's hair styling skills surpassed mine several years ago, I thought I had finally mastered my hair straightener, a long, hard task. Not two days go by without me burning myself on this hotter than h--l piece of equipment. It takes so long to straighten my hair, at least 45 minutes and sometimes I just don't want to do it! Hence the pony tail...a busy week will see my hair in a pony tail 50% of the time. What can I say, it's easy, it looks cute & casual, great for working around food and product, easy way out. So, why the blog on curly hair? Because it's back in again! Yes, maybe just for special occassions, but looking at fashion magazines and ads are just one part of my prop styling job. I have to notice what is going on in the fashion, food, and home styling, it all goes hand in hand. So, today I celebrate not using my straightener, I admit, it's a look that I may use only on occassion or on a high humidity day such as today, but nonetheless, it's curly, not straight. Sophie says it looks ok, I can live with that, she is such a little fashionista, I completely trust her judgement. My yoga teacher tells me it's good to change life up a bit, change is good for the spirit, the mind and the soul...welcome to the new week! What are you going to do differently today?

Fried Green Tomatoes

2009-09-18T11:55:00.000-07:00

Fall produce in the midwest is starting to arrive in our Farmer's Markets and local farm stands. I have a personal favorite in Crown Point...just a small, local produce stand with kind, happy farmers running the stand. No frills, produce separated nicely, in little baskets, with hand written signs. Telltale signs of barn kitties, tiny little bowls of food sitting atop the hay bales. I soon saw the mama kitty, I was then told she had two little kittens to feed as well. It's everything I love...homemade goodness, fresh beautiful produce. I stopped by there yesterday and with no plan or recipe in mind, decided I was going to purchase whatever caught my eye and just go from there. I settled on green tomatoes, acorn squash, mild peppers, and plums. The plums were gone by last night, the kids thought they were fabulous. I decided to make Vegetable Fried Rice for lunch today and incorporated the mild peppers into it, simply the best Vegetable Fried Rice I have ever made. Even though it is unseasonably warm today, the acorn squash is now roasting in the oven, washed with butter and syrup, and will be waiting when the kids get home for their after school snack. Lastly, I will make friend green tomatoes tonight, sliced very thin, lightly dusted in flour, salt & pepper and fried a golden brown. Can't forget the ranch dipping sauce either...tonight will be a vegetarian dinner night, all of the produce fresh from the local produce stand. Now that is a great way to start our weekend!

The Best Assistant Ever!

2009-09-17T07:39:00.000-07:00

Although I am a very healthy person, yesterday I had to take to my bed for the day and get some super rest and wait for my prescription to set in. I dread the change of seasons, one after-effect of my lung removal surgery is a consistent chest cold when we move into fall, happens every year despite my every effort to take Vitamin C, get my flu shot and take my allergy pills. My fabulous doctor (shameless plug, Dr. Gerard Davidson, Dyer, IN, not only is he easy on the eyes and charming, but I have trusted my lung health to him for over 15 years) has instructed me to call at the earliest sign of a cold as I do not have any other lungs to spare should my left one go out :) He instantly calls my prescription in, never to take the chance of my cold developing into something worse. Anyway, thank goodness I had a lull in photo shoots, not one contractor had to come yesterday and Mark was on children duty from 6:00am til 8:00 at night, luckily he could clear his schedule for little old me. I had the entire day to get myself well and let the Z-pak do it's job. Which brings me to my point of today's blog entry....between my sleeping and eating, I was using my laptop in bed and doing some much needed research. Funny, I was really in the mood to read other food blogs, design blogs, look up new photographers and stylists and basically catch up on my student's work for Prop Styling 101. I made myself soup for breakfast, stayed in my cozy jammies all day, slept on and off the entire day, watched snippets of tv dramas and cooking shows, worked on the computer and basically willed myself to get better by my own pampering. Not only did I accomplish an enormous amount of work but I felt almost 90% better by the time Mark brought the kids home. Happy mom, happy family! Oh, so my pal and sidekick Zoey, knew something was amiss all day. She followed me around when I awoke and then followed me back to bed and slept next to me the entire day. I am so grateful for this little pup who basically lives every day to please and love me! I needed that...so, at the end of the night, after a full day of rest and relaxation, I came back into the bedroom to see my sweet little pup all ready to help out on my blog. I thought it was the most adorable site, she was waiting for me to jump back on the computer, warming up my spot. Really made my day, and I thought it would bring a smile to everyone's face after reading the story behind it. Stay healthy, and keep blogging!

2nd Prop Styling 101 Class is added! Oct. 13th Start Date

2009-09-16T15:33:00.000-07:00

The 1st Prop Styling 101 Class, http://www.photostylingworkshops.com/, is off and running with it's first group of students! We are on Week 2, Lesson 2 and I am very happy with my students progress. Prop Styling 101 is a one-of-a-kind class, no where to be found but on Photostyling Workshops, written and taught by me, and run by the enormously talented Susan Linnet Cox. This fun, creative class is for anyone who loves food, loves photography, loves fabulous plates and props and wants to learn how to create a career for themselves in commercial food photography, styling, food blogging and much, much more. Prop Styling 101 is a self-paced 4-week online class: you will need a fun, creative attitude, a digital camera and scanner and a desire to learn more about the wonderful, crazy work of a Prop Stylist! Join me for the next class, starting on October 13th. Please go to the website for more detailed information and registration details. Happy Styling!

For the Love of IKEA's Swedish Meatballs!

2009-09-10T07:54:00.000-07:00

I'm in love with meatballs, most any kind! But there is something so very special about IKEA's Swedish meatballs, Lingonberry sauce, mashed potatoes and the yummiest gravy! Not sure if it is the combination of doing two things I love at this funky store, shopping and eating. Or is it because these meatballs are simply the yummiest little things to eat?! Perfect sized portion, yet this photo does not do it justice. As a stylist, I find this plate of food to be completely boring, but not when you get it. Oozing gravy, lumpy chunky mashed potatoes, huge overfilled mound of meatballs, perfectly seasoned, and a generous colorful ladle of lingonberry sauce. Perfection! So, my game plan each time I have to visit IKEA is: ideally, not have the children or the husband :) Seriously, this is work, three floors of colorful fabrics, cabinets, cutlery, picture frames, the list goes on and on. Yes, I must have all the time in the world, and must eat first before starting the trek around the store. Head up to the top floor, no cart yet. Stop in front of the cute funky cafe and access and take in anything new. Not sure if I care for the new semi-walls they are putting up around the store. They are utilizing these walls to advertise and create wall space within the store. I get it, I'm in advertising, but you are taking away my visual while I eat my yummy lunch. Don't like it. Anyway, on to the food. You must read the signs, do not line up around the cafe, but line up right in front of the food you like, yep, straight out. Confuses people everytime, I actually like to watch people try to fiqure this out as they gingerly approach the area. Crazy right?! Get my yummy food, as much as I want to put my little tray on the funky cart, not neccessary since it's only me, no kids food to carry. Time to savor the huge, overflowing plate of meatballs with extra gravy swimming all over my mashed potatoes. Fabulous as always! Now, I am ready to shop, happily full, although not entirely inspired by my view of the new walls going up. I think out my game plan and the props I need to purchase. That comes first, shopping for my new basement comes second as I can not do both at once. Yes, I'm a little weird about that...completely different mind set for work and personal, must separate. Two hours later, I emerge to find sunshine and beautiful weather outside. Until my next visit, I will be dreaming of Swedish Meatballs, Lingonberry sauce and a huge scoop of mashed potatoes. Do you want to visit Ikea now for lunch?

Prop Styling 101 Begins!

2009-09-07T19:35:00.000-07:00

Can't tell you how excited I am that the class I have been working on all summer, is ready to begin tomorrow! Four weeks of a fun filled, challenging course for anyone wanting to learn more about prop styling on set for: commercial food and product photography, for your websites and blogs, and so much more. The class is open to register for the next week or so, as you have one week to read your lessons and finish up with assignments per week. Stay tuned for an update as to how the first week goes, I am looking forward to all of my students creative energies and posts. Have a great week!

Confession Friday: I'm a Magazine Junkie

2009-09-04T06:43:00.000-07:00

Yes, I do admit it, I LOVE magazines, all kinds. I am obsessed with so many magazines: design, fashion, food, photography, travel, home & garden, architecture, style, to name a few. I also hoard catalogs and catazines...yes, I know I have a problem :) There really is a method to my madness, staying on top of current trends is a must for my job. All of the above magazines have so much in common, in terms of color and style, incredible photography and design. I can look at any of the above magazines and know what trend is current and what trend is coming up the pipeline. Because prop & photo stylists never quite know what job they may be hired for, they must be in the know for so many different jobs. Sure, there is always the panic when a new job comes through that I may be a little apprehensive about. Research is the key to being confident at the next meeting, at least for me. Anyone who has every been on a photo set with me knows I pull out my magazines every chance I get. Yes, I probably drive my photographers, Art Director's and clients crazy, but, it is comfort and security for me. If you ask me about a certain article utilizing a particular lighting technique, I can most likely remember which magazine and what month. Yes, I know, can't remember what I had for breakfast but I can remember an awesome food shot and try to duplicate it. I sometimes dream of a particular shot and then incorporate it into my next job, fun with creativity! I had one of my student for my upcoming Prop Styling 101 Class ask me what she can do to get her name out in this industry, she is in New York. I told her to get her hands on as much information about the industry as she can, promote herself and ask every food photographer in NYC if she can assist in any way on the set. I am confident, even in this economy that the skills of a prop and photo stylist are needed in commercial food and product photography more than ever. Are you a magazine junkie too? Love to hear from you and we can discuss the joyful feeling we each get everytime a new magazine ends up in our mailboxes! Have a great Friday!

Capturing the Spirit in a Portrait

2009-09-03T07:09:00.000-07:00

I really love to take portraits...some days when all I've looked at is food, taking a break and shooting a portrait is exactly what I need. It's a whole different concept. The initial thought is the same: planning the shoot, deciding on the props, deciding on a background or location is very similiar to propping and styling food. But, the similarity ends there. In order to get a portrait I like, I literally take at least 30 shots, I'm lucky if I get one or two that I really feel personifies that indiidual. Thank goodness we now have digital, maybe that's why I have enjoyed shooting portraits more in the last 10 years since the invention of widestream digital. It certainly allows me much more freedom and saves me so much money. Instead of a posed shot, I really hunt to find the real person and spirit. My littlest, Lily Lulu, has the tendency to be silly, make goofy faces and not take herself so seriously. I love her freckles, she doesn't seem to mind them, but give her another year. She's at a great age to take portraits because of her looseness, she follows direction well and basically has fun doing it, quite a joy to shoot. My oldest, Sophie, is a talented photographer and editor herself, she knows what she likes and while I may find a shot I love, she most likely does not like it, the age of 13! I have learned so much from her in this last year of shooting portraits, she is very style oriented, creative and hip to the trends, which has only added to my year of growing through my photography and styling. Today is a portrait day, tomorrow may be a food day. Enjoy!

Who needs a Professional Photographer when you have a Four Year old taking the shot?

2009-09-02T13:40:00.000-07:00

Well, I have to say, our Thrift Store shopping today was by far, the best shopping day I have had in a long time! Started out early, and went to our tried and true shop. It is by far, the largest, yes, and the dirtiest :( but, it is fabulous and cheap! My little pal Cam, had to go to preschool in a couple of hours, so we had to work fast. He was a fabulous shopper today, have toys, have fun! Of course, Bethann kept him very busy in his aisle looking for sports jerseys while I ventured off to my favorite aisle...the china, glasses, and "don't have a home for these knick knacks" spot. Found many treasures here, which you will soon be seeing in some shots. I found the most amazing leather belts today, keep an eye out for me them with my fall fashions. Add to the pile, a cleverly covered large bulletin board, a creamed colored fur vest by Coldwater Creek, and couple of unique serving trays and a bag of vintage jewelry. Just like I predicted...fantastic finds with a fantastic friend! Oh yeah, can't forget my little photographer Cam can I now? Guess this is how he sees us from down there...poor headless Bethann and I, oh, the story of our lives!

Thrift Stores + Imagination = Prop Room Galore

2009-09-02T05:34:00.000-07:00

Today I will embark on a journey, with my good friend and thrifting partner, Bethann. Yes, we will rummage, score, laugh, and thoroughly enjoy our day of attacking the thrift stores for fabulous finds. For quite some time I was able to find the most amazing dishes, glasses and little knick knacks...then, the amateurs came in, came in and moved into my little territory. I see the same funky creative man at all my thrift stores...when I see him, my heart sinks! He has similar tastes as I do. I start sweating, I scan his cart, what has he taken which should be in my cart?!? Yes, it is my territory as I have been doing this since I was 18 and living on my own. Every town I have travelled through, visited and claimed as my own, I have found at least one thrift store I can say I love! They know me, they watched my girls go from sitting in the cart, to running around the store, to picking out their own pieces and eventually to what I call the "thrift store protest". Oh yes, both my girls are now in a phase where they will not attend with me, how can that be? How can they not love this as much as I do? One day, I feel they will come around again and join me in this hunt for all things thrift, all things beautiful! Off I go, Bethann does not look for the same things as I do, but certainly appreciates the hunt as much as I do! Here are some photos of my fabulous prop room filled with many thrift store finds. Enjoy!

What I Love...Right Now!

2009-09-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

I am obsessed with Anthropologie...I dream of being their prop stylist! I finally have a name for the sickness I have "Anthroitis"! Funny, I started duplicating this look when I lived in Chicago and used to visit every thrift store in the city in order to furnish my first apartment. I brought home over stuffed chairs who have seen better days, and threw a comfy but well worn quilt over the rough areas. I scored angora sweaters with fur collars and rhinestones, oh those were the days! Three homes and two children later...I still love this look and my new house, which seemed so hard to decorate at first, has slowly taken on a well worn, shabby, comfy look I so love!

2009-09-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

I did it, I finally did this! I'm pretty sure my friends are tired of me posting beautiful food photos, gorgeous portraits of my children and my artistic nature shots on Facebook...so I decided this is the route to go! I have so much to say, so many photos to take and display, and I must jump on board to blogging!

I'm up and Running!

2009-09-01T11:52:00.000-07:00