My family has an amazing garden every summer, out of which I am lucky enough to be able able to eat endless amounts of beautiful vegetables. I am constantly amazed by the bounty of food available to us here in the Northwest; salmon, berries, veggies, shellfish, mushrooms, etc...My wonderful mother, who loves feeding me (and everyone around her) brought me this lovely basket of veggies and flowers the other day and I couldn't resist the urge to take its photo-it was too pretty!
Rivers & Roads
Last weekend The Photographer and I went to see one of our favorite bands, The Head and the Heart, with my folks in Portland. Since discovering them a few years back, Seattle-based The Head and the Heart have been one of the bands whose music most consistently inspires and moves me. It is heartfelt, genuine, beautiful, and nostalgic. It speaks to feelings of belonging, of being rooted and uprooted, and of all of the different ways we can create family and home.
The show was at the Portland Zoo, which has an amazing Summer Concert Series in their lovely grassy amphitheater. It is the best of Portland-attractive young families with their picnics, trendy gay couples, children everywhere, the occasional odd-looking folk, and blankets and bottles of wine everywhere.
We brought our own amazing picnic that Mama Bear had created-grilled chicken, curried rice salad and a green salad all from the garden, as well as a bottle of white wine and chocolate espresso cookies. It was, as you're probably imagining, amazing.
All around it was a lovely warm summer evening, full of inspiring, uplifting music, good food, and family. Here's a lovely video of The Head and the Heart playing in Doe Bay, WA. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AclhwQKlgfw
New Shops!
I have been extremely busy these summer days, working on jewelry orders for new shops who will be carrying Roots &Wings! These past couple weeks found me hunkering down at my jewelry desk at every possible opportunity-for a few hours in the early morning, between day jobs, and after dinner with a cup of tea.
I am SO excited to have my work in some new locations, and I want to share a little bit about the shops with you!
My friend Zoe, who I grew up with here on the coast, has recently opened a lovely little shop with her partner called The Woolly Bear Cafe, in Nehalem, OR. It is a warm, light-filled space where she is selling local art and handmade creations as well as delicious sandwiches, wraps, and drinks. It feels very much about community, and I am honored to have my jewelry there.
Atlas Decor is a brand new shop in McMinville, OR, the brainchild and dream of Ashley Sexton, where she is selling a lovely selection of home decor, jewelry, accessories and beautiful creations. To see more, check out their facebook page here.
Aubrey's Earth Duds is located in Charlottesville, VA and sells an earth-friendly selection of USA made natural fiber clothing, accessories, and handmade jewelry. I am going to a friends wedding this September in Charlottesville and I'm excited to check out Aubreys' shop in person!
Etsy Shop About Page
Etsy recently added a great new feature called the About Page. It allows you to share some photos and a bit of the story behind your creations. One of the things I love about Etsy and the current movement back to handmade goods is getting to know the person behind the art. It makes it so much more personal and special and the item in question becomes more than just a thing.
As you know I have been insanely busy lately, but last night I finally found a moment to create my own About Page and I'm pretty excited with how it came out. Check it out here.
One Lucky Girl
Last night I took the evening off, something I have't done in awhile, and spent it catching up with a few dear friends. I have the most amazing friends in the world, and I always feel so lucky when I get to spend time with them.
Coconut rice, curried chicken, mason jars of wine, a balmy sunset walk on the beach, and lots of chatting and giggling ensued. I can't say how happy I am to have these beautiful, intelligent, funny, inspiring women in my life.
I am slowly learning how to manage my time and balance work and play as my business starts to take off. Spending time with good friends is always a perfect reminder of what matters in life and a way to clear my mind. All around it was a lovely evening.
