When food stylist, photographer and writer, Mowie Kay, showed up at my book launch at Liberty in London just to give me a hug and wish me well with my new book I knew that this was a guy that I wanted to work with someday. He was charming. And social. And I liked him. I just didn’t know how we’d ever cross paths again because we are in two completely different circles with me in interiors and him being an over-the-top foodie. Well, kismet has its way and after the party Mowie told me about his magazine idea and that he’d like to shoot me cooking in London and have me pull together an article featuring some of my favorite recipes. Gulp. Well…
I was flattered, but I don’t cook a single meal that is so amazing that it deserves to be in print (!) and I’m completely fine with admitting it because I’m not a foodie and tend to admire the whole food craze from afar. I’m perfectly content to press forward with my often fusion style cooking as Julia Childs and Nigella feel simply unreachable to me. I love to eat out, once a week (sometimes more), at foodie types of places though along with those ethnic eateries that are complete hole-in-the-walls but have drop dead amazing meals. Tony Bourdain is my food idol and there is nothing styled up about what he eats. And I have a ton of cookbooks, though I am first to admit that I buy them for mostly their design and photographs though I have most recently experimented with the Ottolenghi cookbook gifted to me by Leslie. I read food blogs, but I don’t really read them, I scan to see the pretty photographs because I can’t imagine making the things that I see.
I often feel like it’s a patience thing. But it’s also a free time thing. I don’t have hours to spend on meal planning, preparation, cooking and clean up each day and some of the meals I see would take an unskilled cook such as myself quite awhile to whip up, never mind to be photo worthy. Long story short, I’m not the perfect candidate to contribute to a beautiful foodie magazine! I don’t fit the profile, my piece of cake on a plate looks like a piece of cake on a plate, not artful or overly styled at all.
My goal with food is to make it with love, from my heart, and then put it in surroundings that make it look so much more enticing. So I thought about Mowie’s offer and was tempted to kindly turn him down… But then I thought, “Hey, I love to style tabletops and I adore entertaining, and I do know how to create a good mood around food… So perhaps there’s my angle for a story in a food magazine”. And so, with shaky knees, I pitched to Mowie an alternate idea and since I know Mowie loves pink, I tried to make it as close to his aesthetic as possible without compromising my own. Ah, a story was born and he accepted my idea! You can find my story on pages 61-73!
I spent a day prop shopping (mostly in my own china cabinet), making things by hand, ironing linens, and then I went to work during day two to pull it all together and photograph it and now it’s in Mowie Kay’s beautiful premiere issue on computers everywhere – click here to view the entire magazine and to read my story beginning on page 61. I also give lots of tips in my story on how to make a tabletop come alive on a budget and I’ve included a luncheon playlist on page 73. I hope that you enjoy it. The tabletop was definitely a spin off from the one Leslie, Sania and I did for Liberty in London – for my table at home, I was able to use stuff I had already and channel some of that Liberty inspiration into it as well.
In the article, I mention my friend Anne Wendlandt (above on page 69), you can see more of her work on her blog since she’s not linked in the article (sorry, Anne).
There’s even a nice page in the magazine where Mowie interviewed me (that was fun!) and he is giving away 3 copies of Decorate, thanks to my London-based publisher, Jacqui Small. If you would like to win a copy of Decorate just comment on his blog HERE and you’ll be entered to win one of 3 copies. :)
Thank you Mowie for including me in your premiere issue and I wish you loads of success with your e-magazine!
(images: holly becker for mowie kay)
June 30th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
I love the table setting! and the flower arrangements!
June 30th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Congrats, darling! I love those!!!!
June 30th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
such pretty detailing !
June 30th, 2011 at 2:45 pm
Love love love those table arrangements in all the photos! Stunning!
p.s. that pink peonie, is it real or fake? I saw it in your previous photos and it s just so gorgeous.
June 30th, 2011 at 3:04 pm
The nices things keep happening to you, Holly. So lovely.
Fondly,
Glenda
June 30th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
CONGRATS!!! That is amazing.
June 30th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
@far and away – it’s real!
June 30th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
Absolutely GORGEOUS! I love it, Holly and the parasols on top, with details dangling from the lovely ribbon….inspired. So many great ideas and loved the interview with you too. So much fun and so inspiring! As usual :)
xo
Melis
June 30th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
love love love!! so practical and beautiful at the same time!!
June 30th, 2011 at 5:18 pm
I would love to have lunch at that table…so pretty!
June 30th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
i echo your sentiments about cooking, holly :) although i am experimenting more and more because as a photographer with no people to shoot at the moment, food is my only accessible subject. i was delighted to see your spread in mowie’s magazine — your photography is just stunning!
June 30th, 2011 at 7:02 pm
This is a great opportunity for you , Holly.
I look forward to reading it in Mowie Kay. You are so talented. My copy of Decorate finally arrived from Amazon. I’ll see you in Aug in Boston for a chat and signing. Alexis
June 30th, 2011 at 7:32 pm
Holly, I am so happy for you! Congratulations!
June 30th, 2011 at 7:58 pm
Beautiful! I especially love the hanging parasols:)
June 30th, 2011 at 10:43 pm
This is so wonderful. I would love to prepare a long lunch to serve on that table and sit there for hours and hours. Well done!
x Iris
July 1st, 2011 at 1:20 am
It looks great Holly! Love the colours and loads of fabulous details. Looks like you had fun putting it all together… and you have glasses! ;) Great photos too!
Sania xo
July 1st, 2011 at 3:22 am
dear lord Holly this is gorgeous!!! congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 1st, 2011 at 5:19 am
So so pretty! I love the little floating parasols above the table :) Can’t wait to read the full article – and maybe even pick out a few details to inspire the first birthday party I am throwing this weekend for my little one! xo Laura
July 1st, 2011 at 10:25 am
Lovely! Makes me want to buy a summerhouse so I can deorate more romanticly than the strictly scandinavian style in our apartment!
July 2nd, 2011 at 2:54 am
Very pretty tables!
July 2nd, 2011 at 7:14 am
I *adore* Mowie. Looking forward to sitting down with his e-mag and a cuppa :)
mj.
x
July 3rd, 2011 at 6:09 pm
Wow, what a gorgeous production! Something to be really proud of! ;)
July 5th, 2011 at 10:48 pm
Gosh you can really see how much effort went into your beautiful table, I’m inspired. V x
July 8th, 2011 at 6:53 am
Table settings and flower arrangement are so great.. congratulations to you.
July 10th, 2011 at 8:11 pm
So pretty, but the e-magazine link didn’t work…said Page Not Found :(