the haystack needle

rue magazine

Have you heard? There's going to be a new online magazine on the block soon! A talented crew of design + style bloggers are working on the debut issue of Rue Magazine, which is launching in September. And yours truly is styling a shoot for them tomorrow. I'm really excited about this photo shoot — I've found some amazing props for the space (can't give you any more details now, sorry!) and magically everything has arrived without a hitch. Can't wait to meet the Rue girlies tomorrow! Anne and I have exchanged a zillion emails in prepping for the shoot and I can't wait to spend the day shooting with her (photo shoots are the best when you're working with an enthusiastic, creative crew with good energy — let's just say, I'm not worried about tomorrow.). I have to finish getting ready as I'll be waking up at the crack of dawn to hit the flower district. Sadly my local coffeeshop will not be open when I head out tomorrow — it's truly tragic as their iced chai has been saving me all week with needed energy boosts in this heat. 

sweet afton shopping market

The Sunday brunch shopping market at Sweet Afton that Chris organized went so well! I got to meet a bunch of talented local designers and eat some delicious scrambled eggs with Irish cheddar. It's so cool to see people's reactions to our Cabin 7 collection when they see the gilded blocks and photo/card holders in person. The paper accordion fans even made an appearance!

 

It was my first time in Sweet Afton, and I have to say I was so impressed with the space. So my style. I will definitely be going back with my camera to take more photos (the place got crowded so quickly on Sunday!). I was talking to Ruairi, one of the owners, and we share a love of the Brimfield Market and reclaimed wood. The entire restaurant space was built using reclaimed materials — gorgeous reclaimed wood from oak barrels and even some wood from the Brooklyn Bridge. All the lighting is vintage. These pendant lights are so fantastic. Our booth was right in this corner by the window. Thanks to everyone who came out on Sunday to see us! I promise to share more pics of Sweet Afton soon — love that place!

 

fresh heifers milk prints

 

On Friday, Dan and I will be scooting up to Maine for our annual trip to see his family over July 4th. I am in full countdown mode. I'm also terribly excited to roadtrip up there (for the first time with our very own car!). Our Subaru still needs a name, but I know she's excited, too. When we're up at his family's camp, I love to take drives around the area, which is full of farms. It's so cool to see all the old farmhouses, classic barns, and fields of grazing cows. I can't help but dream of one day living in the country. So discovering the Fresh Heifers line at the Stationery Show was a match made in heaven. The entire letterpress collection is so charming. These milk prints on recycled paper cotton were inspired by vintage milk bottle cap designs. Tamara, the designer, actually grew up on a dairy farm in Missouri. I'm so in love with her work, and since I grew up in New Jersey, I'm thinking I may need a Jersey Dairy print. Check out the shop here. 

  

friday pause

Have you picked up the July issue of Martha Stewart Living? It's the 200th issue of Living. I recommend running out and getting a copy. Honestly, it's the best magazine I've picked up in months. The entire issue, cover to cover, is packed with inspiration. I love how they included a bunch of "made in America" finds and stylish touches of Americana done right. My favorite feature was on decorating with map textiles. (Remember my love of vintage map art from Julie & Julia?)

Other favorites from around the web:

+ a peek at Thomas O'Brien's home and his new book American Modern 

+ gingham gift tags — yes, please. 

+ sign me up for a pancake party!

+ gelato on a stick? amazing. 

+ these made me smile: rooftop gardens. 

+ I can't help but dream of a country home like this. 

ps. Thanks to 100 Layer Cake for including the Cabin 7 LOVE blocks in their pretty colorboard! And I spotted a photo from my wedding in Alyson's guest post on A Cup of Jo (that was a cool surprise!). 

Have a lovely weekend! Chris and I will be part of a designer brunch market at Sweet Afton in Astoria on Sunday (from 12 - 5pm). If you're around, stop by and say hello! There will be more than a dozen local designers and artists, good food, drink specials, and a charity raffle (we're raffling off a gilded cardholder!). It should be a really fun day. 

For a Friday song, I was feeling like some Yo La Tengo. Here's Speeding Motorcycle. 

Photograph by Dana Gallagher for Martha Stewart Living. 

gilded cupcake toppers

The biggest thrill of launching our Cabin 7 shop has definitely been seeing other people's excitement in our work — I honestly get a butterfly feeling of happiness every time I ship out an order. But it's even more incredible to see friends we know love our little collection. So it absolutely made my week to send off our gilded letter blocks to be a part of the wedding of my friend, Lisa, to her guy, Mike. (And Lisa and Mike made their own wedding bands — talk about a personal handmade touch! They are such a cool couple.) Lisa thought of using our gilded vintage letter blocks as cupcake toppers. Brilliant! We custom painted the L and M blocks (from this line) black for them along with the plus sign block. I think the cupcake display turned out amazing. I personally love when cupcakes look more simple and homemade. Their cupcakes came from Sugar Sweet Sunshine (must check out that bakery!). 

A big congrats to Lisa and Mike! Thanks so much for sharing a peek at your wedding. xx Jen

Cupcake display/flowers by Kelly Moore of Ambiance Event Planning. 

Photography by Simon Jon Photo. 

 

siggi's yogurt

My new favorite yogurt comes from Iceland — Siggi's. It has a nice thick texture (like Fage, another yogurt I love). I recommend it with a drizzle of agave nectar and a handful of fresh raspberries. I also think this may be the best yogurt packaging around — love the illustrations! I eat yogurt almost daily in the summer — it's the perfect quick snack when hunger crankiness starts to come on strong. 

typography + pillows

 

 

I'm always so drawn to the fonts, logos, and handwriting of vintage ephemera. I like to dig through the drawers of old papers at flea markets to see what cool typography I might discover. Sometimes you can find amazing uses of color and typography in simple letters, advertisements, and food labels. And with handwriting, it seems everyone once knew how to write in the pretty cursive script that's become a lost art only used for special occasions and outsourced to calligraphers these days. I love these pillows from the French site, Bonjour Mon Cousin. I'm definitely stuck on the idea of using typography as a decorating element at home.