Nashville

Tennessee summers are seriously beautiful.  Everything just seems to glow yellow and pink. Here are a few shots I've taken around my parents' house since being home for surgery.

San Francisco is definitely gorgeous, but it's got nothing on a Nashville summer sunset. :)

Renegade Craft Fair

I have been waiting for this weekend all summer long folks, and finally it's here. :) I give you, the Renegade Craft Fair. My artistic soul lives for this event.

 It will take place July 31-August 1, from 11am – 7pm each day at the Fort Mason Center Festival Pavilion. 

Always free to attend, the Bay’s favorite craft, art, design and DIY spectacular will feature over 225 of today’s finest indie-craft talents from all over the nation.

Remember my sailor dress from our engagement shoot? It was purchased at the 2008 Brooklyn Renegade Craft Fair. :) So for all you ladies that wrote me looking for where to buy it, here's your chance!

Honeydew, Mint, and Lemon Thyme Soup

I just came across this delicious looking summer recipe. I've been making lots of Gazpacho lately and hunting down other yummy cold summer soup ideas.  How can you go wrong with sweet honeydew melon, a little cucumber, lemon juice and lots of mint with lemon thyme? It's super simple and perfect for fighting Nashville's summer heat (SF's summer needs no cooling down :).

And for something a little more substantial, pair it with savory crackers, crispy jamon serrano, pink peppercorns and lemon thyme.

I love the idea of serving it in little cups instead of bowls, giving it more of a fruit smoothie feel. How perfect would this recipe be for a casual summer wedding appetizer?

Enjoy!


*Photos and recipe via the incredible Cannelle-Vanille

Post-op

As some of you know, today I had a little surgery on my left wrist. I've been thanking the powers that be all afternoon for being right handed. :)

I debated whether or not to mention it because it's so small and I'm just fine, but my adorable grandfather sent me the cutest "get-well-soon" email that I simply couldn't resist posting it.

He writes:

laughter is the best post-operative medicine.

love,

grandpa

He also happens to be a retired surgeon, so I think it's best to take his advice and :)

Max + Margaux

Many congratulations to the beautiful new Mr. + Mrs. Max Wanger! I have been in love with Max's photos for years now and am so happy to finally see the photos from his big day. And what a beautiful day it was! A DIY dream wedding with felt animals, tiny flag banners, and twinkle lights hanging from the trees.

Check out this little highlight video from their ceremony. If you look closely, you can see that Margaux and I wore the same hair clip on our wedding days! I suppose great minds think alike. :) Many thanks to the ladies at Bando for the lovely piece.




Max & Margaux from Shark Pig on Vimeo.

Oh, how I love love.

Ken, let's have another wedding. :)

Holding Court

Today dear ones, it is with great sadness that I write this post.

I recently discovered that our design blog community has lost one of its cherished members. The beautiful, witty, sweet, and intelligent Marija of Holding Court was recently killed in a car accident driving home from a work trip. 

She has left behind two beautiful children and an adoring husband, who bravely posted this message to her devastated readers.

I am so grateful to have had the chance to know Marija through her blog, and think I speak for all of us in saying, her family will undoubtedly be in my thoughts and prayers during the coming weeks.

Marija, you are so greatly missed. 

An Enduring Spirit

Today I stumbled upon what will change the next two months of my life.

A print studio, free, beautiful and open to the public.

Sponsored by the iconic denim brand, Levi's, this workshop is one of many established around the country in an effort to foster creation, inspiration, and collaboration in communities.

This community print shop will only be open for the months of July and August, after which Levi's will open up a new workshop in New York for 2 months, dedicated to a different craft. The traveling workshop will continue to roam the country, establishing workshops for 2 months at a time.

Check out the below video to see what they've been up to for the last two weeks, in under two minutes. :)




If you're interested in learning the basics of classic letterpress machinery, screenprinting design, or type setting, check out their class schedule.

It gets better. Sundays are open studio days, meaning anyone with any print skill level, can show up and make prints for free with instructors right there by your side.

I think you can guess where I'll be spending the rest of my Sunday. Anyone care to join?

*photos via The Post Family

Jel-fish love

We've been back from Thailand for nearly 2 weeks now and are already feeling nostalgic over our far-east adventure.

These photographs taken by Leah Nilson blew my mind and took me instantly back to our boat rides around Koh Yao Yai. Ken and I saw what seemed like hundreds of thousands of these translucent orbs floating right under the surface of the water. If we'd been in the ocean with them, I imagine this is what we would have seen.

*I think these would make the most incredible ink paintings, ps. 

Bike Basket Pies

What's better than pie?

Pie that arrives at your front doorstep... on a bike.

I give you, Bike Basket Pies, a brilliant little solo operation run by fabulous baking superwoman, Natalie.

After moving to San Francisco, Natalie decided to combine her love of baking and biking, thus founding her small batch pie-baking and delivery service, Bike Basket Pies.

With an emphasis on sourcing seasonal and local ingredients, her flavors range from strawberry rhubarb, nectarine blackberry, shaker lemon, and summer blueberry. Yumm.

Natalie can also whip you up some savory treats, if you're watching your waistline.

Handheld pies are $5 including delivery (perfect for lunch). Deliveries are available in the FiDi/downtown, SOMA/South Park, Mission & Dogpatch neighborhoods.

And just when you thought pie couldn't get any better...

Stop Motion Love

This stop motion wedding video of Max & Margaux made my heart melt.



Max & Margaux Stop Motion from Shark Pig on Vimeo.


*via the little lady behind The Cozy Hunter

Kent

I've recently reverted to the barter system of old, and started trading my drawings for things. This really isn't a bad system if you're an artist. Make a drawing, use it like cash. Awesome.

Here's a recent little illustration I did for one of my ever-so-talented musical friends, Mr. Kent. In exchange for the drawing, I get to hear dibs on a new song of his. Anyone else out there want to trade? :)

Thai treats

I've received a few requests to see the loot Ken and I brought back from our Thailand adventure. I have to admit, we spent most of our money on cheap massages, but the few little treasures we did find have proved greatly useful.


*1 blue and white striped beach dress: 5 dolla

*6 yellow Buddhist Shrine candles: 20 cents

*1 string paper flower lights: 4 dolla

When filling out our customs form to re-enter the US, I felt impossibly satisfied writing we only had $9.20 to declare.

Jill Thomas Photography

I'm recently in awe of the wedding photography of Jill Thomas. She is one of the few photographers out there that has made the switch back to film (yay), and has the expertise and talent to pull it off.

Check out the charming San Diego wedding of Dawn and Brian. I know I'm biased when I say this, but I think California is the most beautiful state to get married in. :)

I love the paring of yellow and gray. It's such a great combination of chic and modern.

After the ceremony, guests were invited to join the couple in a game of croquet. I'm guessing the bride and groom won. :)

Their center pieces were stunning, as well as their whimsical wedding cake.  Not to mention their adorable paper cake toppers--probably the cutest I've ever seen.

The pictures of Dawn holding her shoes are particularly near and dear to my heart. I'm pretty sure every bride longs to do this right after her ceremony. :)

Their invitations were equally lovely, incorporating their yellow and gray color palette from the beginning. It's hard to see, but we used the same stamps as them on our wedding invites! 

Congratulations to the beautiful couple, and thank you so much for sharing your special day!