The 2013 Interior Design Show West (IDSwest) introduced Kate Duncan, a designer and fine woodworker, and I - even though during the four-day, ALL-day event, we did not manage to meet in person. (And a gregarious person would even consider our booths neighbours.) The fact that simple tasks such as going to the restroom and getting lunch required a "favour" system with your fellow sellers greatly reduced my mobility. You know, someone must man the booth at all times! I was so set on that concept, fearing that an eager buyer would arrive at just the most inopportune time. Alas, that constantly forced auspiciousness drained my energy and left me demoralized at this whole "craft fair" thing.
Perhaps it was this same reason that Kate wanted to design her own kind of pop-up shop. She asked me (and several other local makers) to join. I sort of did, still not trusting my salesmanship. But she went all out and did an amazing job, at The Chinatown Experiment - in all her many roles as a leader, curator, and as always, designer. She would spent hours setting up the space and then plop down on the floor, have a beer with someone while singing along to the music that she just turned up. I mentioned to her how I am really into making videos. She said, "We should make a video, too!" And she actually means what she says. So, this happened.
That one weekend I just followed her around her 1000 Parker Street Studio (a place so cool that it merits its own post) while she made her beautiful cutting boards. Surveying the space, I became fascinated by how much the wood shavings resembled chocolate curls (I am, like, literally, fascinated by the littlest things.) and how black walnut is basically blocks of chocolate. But of course, she indulged this by making a spin-off video where she made a "chocolate" sponge cake for me.
A wooden "chocolate" cake that I later decorated with wood shavings and things you'd find in a woodworking studio. A very delicious spin-off. A bitter-to-sweet story? I will stop now.
