A very colorful and flavorful recap of the Pittsburgh Launch of the “Eat Your Feelings” cookbook by Lindsey Smith, aka The Food Mood Girl.
When it comes to my career, I often refer to my “split personalities.” My commercial and editorial styling business is one personality. My Quelcy business is more technical, responsible to more people and sometimes more nerve-wracking. This space, With The Grains, is my very personal personality. It’s where I have complete creative control, but it’s also where I share my stories and my feelings. Every once in a while, a project comes along that blurs the line. The Eat Your Feelings cookbook is one of those very pleasantly blurry lines.
I gave more of the back story as to how I came to work on this project in this post, but the gist is author Lindsey Smith, aka The Food Mood Girl, hired me as a stylist and really trusted my creative direction. We forged a friendship through the bookmaking process and have continued to work together ever since. As the cookbook comes to life, the events feel like a portfolio piece to share on Quelcy.com as well as something personal to share here too.
Considering all the warm, comforting recipes I’ve been posting lately, it’s obvious I prefer hibernation this time of year. Lindsey is the only reason I’ve been dressed myself and leaving the house this wintry season, but in her defense, there are usually healthy snacks involved. This was the case for the Pittsburgh launch of her book Eat Your Feelings. Lindsey cooked (A LOT!), I got dressed, left the house and styled. The guests ate, laughed and maybe teared up a bit. Maybe.
The event kicked off in an apartment at East Side Bond, with a private brunch for press. I worked to make the apartment look like a Food Mood Girl apartment: bold, fun patterns and lots of pops of color.
The press sampled the Potato Quiche, Turmeric Tonic, Almond Chia Bread (gluten free) and a few other recipes from Eat Your Feelings.
Talk about a power suit..!
Then we adjourned to a common room for the public release party, also known as the time I unleashed my felt crafting upon the world.
I have to give a shout out to my Rustbelt Farmer, who helped me cut and glue felt, as well as critique my mushroom shapes when need be.
Lindsey invited me to speak a little bit about styling and how I worked to bring her ideas to life in big, colorful ways. I’m truly grateful for the way Lindsey has valued and supported my work. Stylists are so often hidden in the credits because their work is so generally misunderstood. “So you take pictures?” is a question I get very frequently, or “you assist the photographer?” And while I do “take pictures,” working as a stylist, focusing on what’s in front of the camera, is far more about storytelling, technical food presentation, creative direction and marketing. I’m not an assistant people! I have my own bag of tricks!
From the editor, to the illustrator, to the photographer and kitchen assistant, this book project was a female endeavor. It was a project where we worked together to make each other’s specialties even stronger. It was not competitive. It was not conceited. It was really a refreshing wave of female power!
… it was also really fun and silly and largely powered by Lady Gaga’s Joanne album, so when we’re together, we get a little weird. What were we doing, you might be wondering? The robot? I have nooo idea.
… the Macarena? I really have no idea.
In conclusion:
Buy the book! I’m so proud of my work in this book, but more importantly, the book is a useful guide for navigating emotional eating and using foods to boost your moods. I page through it daily.
Check the tour schedule. I’ll be hitting the West Coast with Lindsey in a little more than a week, so you too could be nibbling on felt pizza and trying to decipher our dance moves.
Cheers,
