Davidowitz Country Living

ma ınedavıdowıtz country living magazine asked me to redesign the magazine to better

reflect its mission. The magazine had been reorganized only a year ago, but the look created for that was based on a scrapbook effect that was not serving the subject well. New typography, airier grids, and section icons that reflect unique content were introduced, and art direction was clarified to focus on lush environmental photography with a smattering of silos. Stage two of this redesign will be an enlarged page size, and new cover treatment plus new logo, launching in September ‘10.

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heart of the country

Written by Mary Kate Frank

Peek Inside Secret GardensThere’s nothing like a stroll through someone else’s garden to inspire ideas for your own. So this month, take advantage of the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program, as private lawns around the nation unlock their gates to visitors. The schedule, which runs through fall, includes nearly 350 rarely seen landscapes. Find one near you at opendaysprogram.org.

your guide to the best of what’s happening in the countryside this monthmade in america

“Make every message count by including a link to your favorite charitable cause in your e-mail signature. I use my sign-off to direct people to the Web site of the Humane Society of East Texas, hsoet.org.’’

J.W. Longaberger wove baskets as a hobby for 40 years before his son Dave decided to start selling them in 1973. Today the Newark, Ohio–based Longaberger company produces a million hand-crafted maple carriers each year. Here’s how the family-run business got a handle on the market:

1978 The brand finds success by hiring “home consul-tants”—much like the Tupper-ware model. Currently, 45,000 reps peddle the wares.

1997 Longaberger opens its new headquarters: an 180,000-square-foot replica of the Medium Market Basket, made of steel and clay stucco.

1998 Dave Longaberger appoints his daughter Tami CEO in July; he passes away eight months later.

1999 Hello, Hollywood! Presenters at the Academy Awards receive Longaberger Hope Chest Baskets as gifts.

2010 Three years after launching an online shop at longaberger.com, the com- pany offers more than 50 styles through the site.

A Brief History of Ohio’s Longaberger Baskets

one good deed

—miranda lambert, country musician

heart of the country

18 . countryliving.com . April 2010

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finally, a flower-arranging guide that gets it right. in Southern Bouquets ($24.99; Gibbs Smith), Charleston stylists Melissa Bigner and Heather Barrie bypass the usual fussy centerpieces in favor of loose, natural-looking displays that mere mortals can actually replicate. Just check out these exuberant zinnias in metal buckets (left)—one of 40 earthy yet elegant arrange-ments. Plus, Bigner and Barrie start from the ground up, offering growing tips for all the blooms featured.

Dress Up a Letter with Vintage Stamps

Putting pen to paper, rather than tapping out a message on your laptop, can feel like a revolutionary act these days.

So why not be a real renegade and mail that handwritten note with vintage stamps? There’s no better time than April’s

National Card and Letter Writing Month, sponsored by the U.S. Postal Service, to send these tiny works of art

back into circulation. Sure, you’ll have to use a few old stamps (available on eBay and etsy.com) to equal the going postal

rate. But the fun of making creative collages—combining, say, some three-cent California centennial commemoratives

with a George Washington tribute—is more than worth it.

a new Book Celebrates Simple Bouquets

heart of the country

20 . countryliving.com . ApriL 2010

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april 2010 . countryliving.com . 29

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Fantastic new finds for your home, garden, and more—starting at just $5!

Written by Joshua lyon

Cream of the Crop

fresh picks

Cultivate an air of farmhouse chic with vintage fruit and veggie motifs.

wall Hanging This oversize canvas features reproductions of early-1800s

drawings. ($310; 3’W x 5’H; Wild Thyme; 302-656-4454)

Continued on next page >

32 . countryliving.com . April 2010

streamlined A refreshingly simple design pops with vibrant color. ($119 for two; ballarddesigns.com)

teak When exposed to the elements, Comptoir de Famille’s chair acquires a rich patina over time. ($174; 800-765-1688)

aged Hand-painted metal creates the look of a beloved antique. ($110, Woods & Willow; 800-545-3167)

round An aluminum option in apple- green bucks convention with its circular seat. ($19.99; homegoods.com for stores)

Cutout detail This delicate style comes in 24 colors, from verbena (above) to carrot. ($202; cafesocietystore.com)

the bargain At this price, you can afford to set a patio table for 10. ($15; ikea.com)

The return of the Bistro ChairA bevy of new details has this classic sitting pretty.

the original: In 1889, French furniture company Moulin Galland introduced a lightweight folding chair that proved a hit with Parisian street vendors and outdoor-café owners. Today these portable perches, commonly called bistro chairs, continue to rule the roost at alfresco restaurants worldwide—and make for delightfully low-key garden seating at home. While vintage examples remain relatively plentiful and affordable at antiques stores and sites (the 1920s find at left costs $157 at vintageweave .com), new models offer a wide variety of styles and prices, starting at only $15!

fresh picks

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Pastoral Perfection Toile, the classic French pattern, creates quite a scene when splashed across traditional tableware.

38 . countryliving.com . APril 2010

fresh picks

➤Tea seT So darling, even die-hard coffee drinkers will consider switching teams. ($99; 1stopcollectibleshop.com)

➤ ice buckeT A plain Jane staple becomes positively pretty when clad in the right fabric. ($45; decorativethings.com)

➤piTcher Even mundane chores like laundry and goat grooming look idyllic on Burton & Burton’s 10-inch-high stoneware vessel. ($34.95; treasureddesigns.com)

➤glasses Each of these Collins-style tumblers makes a surprising impact by focusing on a single tableau. ($5 each; fishseddy.com)

➤

TablecloTh This stunning cover gives new meaning to the phrase table setting. ($42.70; tableclothdesigns.com; enter clm2010 at check-out for discount)

➤cake server Why not call upon a

pair of old-fashioned lovers to serve your

sweet desserts? ($22.95; theparishouse

.com; enter country living at checkout

for discount)

cl Dealsave 10%

cl Dealsave 15%

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april 2010 . countryliving.com . 61

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idea notebook

Get Crafty!Four clever do-it-yourself projects

1. Easy Easter eggs

an amazing makeover, smart entertaining tips, and five gorgeous plant combos

They look elaborate, but all of these designs were made with plain old masking tape. Simply cut the tape into strips to create stripes and plaids, use paper punches for letters or plant and animal shapes ($9.99 each; eksuccess.com), and try craft scissors for the wavy bands at far right. Then apply the tape carefully to the shells of raw eggs, smoothing out any air bubbles, and tint according to the dye package’s instructions (we used Paas). Once the shells dry, blow out the yolks and remove the tape to reveal your motifs.

—JeSSica DODell-FeDer

75see shop guide, page 143, for product information.

1. placecards Guests will surely crack a smile when you designate their seats with eggs in dainty cups. Just blow out the yolks, then use a Sharpie to write each person’s name on the shell. Card-stock circles slipped underneath offer an elegant resting spot.

5. vases To replicate these earthy vessels, cut birch bark to fit around various-size glasses and jars, and hot-glue the ends to form a cylinder. Or buy premade versions. (Bark, $6.99 per sheet; save-on-crafts.com. Birch tubes, $25 for four; smallstump.com)

6. flowers Keep your centerpieces simple—and natural—by sticking to early-spring bloomers such as tulips, hyacinths, and narcissi. Stay within a complementary palette and arrange the blossoms in loose bunches organized by height.

3. menu Don’t make guests wonder what’s for dinner; spell it out on a robin’s-egg-blue card. A faux nest (it’s actually a placecard holder) acts as a stand. (Cards, $8.50 for 25; paper presentation.com. Nest, $24 for four; potterybarn.com)

2. plates Strike a fun, informal note by mixing dinnerware in different patterns or colors—like these dishes in shades of blue and green. (From $20; middlekingdom porcelain.com for stores)

4. runners Rather than a single horizontal runner, layer two vertically over a plain white tablecloth. Drape them so they fall under your settings and voilà—place-mats! ($33 each; sferra.com)

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Pretty, natural touches make this scene perfect for the season.

Instead of relying on the Easter bunny to inspire the decor for this year’s holiday meal, why not shine a spotlight on Mother Nature? Dressed in colors plucked straight from the garden (pale greens, violets, sky-blues), this table manages to look refined—but not the least bit fussy. Woodsy vases lend a rustic effect, while casual choices like mismatched dishes, stemless wineglasses, and wicker seating keep the mood lighthearted. Throw in homegrown bouquets and clever placecards that reinvent the idea of an egg hunt, and you’ve got a party setting that’ll really put a spring in your step!

—jEssIca DoDEll-fEDEr

Set a Sweet Easter Table

idea notebook

for a foolproof table, follow in nature’s footsteps—let what you see outdoors dictate your color scheme and design.

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go to countryliving.com for more easter table-setting ideas. 74 . countryliving.com . april 2010

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collecting

Made to MeasureGot the notion to start a new collection? Figural tape measures put the fun in function.

Written by Katy McColl

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Vintage finds, what they’re worth, and a hand-me-down valued at $2,000!

This four-inch-high plastic dress form from

the 1930s, valued at $75, features a pincushion

in its base. The 1890s brass spool (left) earns

an appraisal of $300.

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a small town we love, the joy of pruning roses, and pet advice from our country vet

Written by Katy McColl

out and about

Five Reasons to Visit Bisbee, ArizonaThis friendly desert town promises scenic hikes, great antiques, and the chance to overnight in a vintage Airstream.

april 2010 . countryliving.com . 81

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Dot’s, the 1950s diner at Bisbee’s Shady Dell motor court, serves up cheeky dishes like Two Chicks on a Raft, a.k.a. fried eggs on an English muffin. (520-432-1112)

home cookingSimple, satisfying dishes—including seasonal recipes from America’s best chefs

A No-Fuss Easter DinnerWelcome spring with this easy, elegant menu.

Turn the page for how to cook this tender pineapple-glazed ham—with just five ingredients!

Continued on next page >

131Recipes by Cheryl Slocum · Photographs by Kana Okada · Prop styling by Pam Morris · Food styling by Susan Sugarman