Scouting with Jenn Elliott Blake

TO MEET · 06/20/2013

Scouting with Jenn Elliott Blake

Jenn Elliott Blake wears many hats—to put it simply, she’s a prop stylist and event designer. Aside from that, she hosts the occasional pop-up shop, dabbles in renting out vintage furniture and runs a blog called Scout. The blog captures everything that she does in her career (plus projects that she wants to do, just because). And the name Scout is what she does to accomplish all of these projects—she’s always scouting for new creative ventures, pieces to highlight within her work and things to make.

In the weeks leading up to her shoots, Jenn ventures to a few places in particular to gather inspiration and start collecting items.

The Vintage Mall in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood is a spot she visits at least twice per month. From the street level entrance, you’d never guess what’s hidden below: numerous vendors showcasing their found wares, all displayed so you can imagine them in your own home. “They have some amazing mid century pieces,” Jenn told us, pointing out a couple of hanging lamps with golden velvet shades.

“If I’m styling a tabletop, I’m always looking for a set of four glasses,” she said of her shopping strategies. At the Vintage Mall, vendors are willing to barter—even if they don’t accept your lower offer, it’s at least worth a shot.

“After a while, you start to recognize which pieces you’ll probably never see again,” she said as we meandered through the different vendors’ spaces. She picked up a bright teal and yellow hamster wheel and deemed it an item she couldn’t pass up. “I could stick flowers through the top to make it into a centerpiece,” she told us, already busy brainstorming. It’s only in traveling that she’ll occasionally have to leave items behind—it’s just not logical to ship a chair home from Paris.

Lucca in the Ballard District is another shop that Jenn frequents, and one that she never leaves empty handed. “If you’re looking for a good gift from Seattle, get it here,” she suggested.

The front section of the boutique feels like a small apothecary, with a range of different soaps, perfumes and candles (plus handmade caramels, for good measure). If you’re heading to a party, the back room has everything you need to prep what you may have found as a gift up front—it’s stocked with letterpress cards and stationary, single sheets of wrapping paper and ribbon.