Anna Atkins and sun prints

via love & reason

As we stay inside because of another heavy, humid, and unbearably hot day - the only things I am drawn to are a dark and cooling blue. I'm not just talking about swimming in blue icees or taking cold baths, but I am also presently addicted to the brisk landscape and cinematography of "Wallander." Set in Sweden, the British series is based on a series of Swedish novels by Henning Mankell and stars Kenneth Branagh. It is also really good.

I am also fully obsessed with sun prints and the work of Anna Atkins. Possibly the first woman to take a photograph, Atkins was a British botanist who published multiple books on algae and ferns that included gorgeous photographs created through the cyanotype (or "blueprinting") process. I cannot get enough of these and am thisclose to trying myself.

 

 

 

  

images via nypl

party straws

Paper party straws are everywhere. I can see why- they are eco-friendly and lend themselves to hundreds of different types of themed events. Whether it be for an extra pop of color or pattern, or as a decorative centerpiece, party straws are the way to go....

 

Images: kidsarefrompluto, etsy, etsy, studiodiy, aardvarkstraws, etsy, etsy, craftbits

Did you catch this?

The piece "Every Teenager Should Have a Summer of ’65"  by Joyce Wadler in the New York Times made me smile today. I loved the above illustration by Rebecca Mock that accompanied it as well.

watermelon, arugula and feta salad

A light and delicious salad for this hot summer weekend- courtesy of skinnytaste.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups seedless watermelon, cubed and chilled
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta
• 7 oz arugula
• 1/4 small red onion, sliced very thin
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• kosher salt and fresh pepper

Directions:

Wash arugula and dry well. In a large bowl whisk vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss with the remaining ingredients and serve.

Image:jillslist

spotted: peonies

I have posted before about my love of Trader Joe's flower selection. They are always reasonable and beautiful in any season, but these peonies were amazing. Great big bunches that are yours for the taking (um, I guess buying actually :) )! It makes me wish I was throwing a shower or needed a happy housewarming bouquet....

notes for summer

I feel like snail mail is a thing of the past for some, but I still send cards- birthday, congratulations, just feel better in general cards. There are quite a few seasonal designs out there if something inspires you to drop a summer line... or a thank you ....or a get well.....

Images: tinyprints, etsy, etsy, etsy, etsy, felixdoolittle, riflepaperco, tinyprints

watercolorist's dream

I saw this photograph and could not get over the perfect blending of different shades in the petals. This year I have jumped back into my artwork, but I have yet to do much with my old watercolors.... this flower makes me want to dig them out and grab a paintbrush.

Image: snapshotsofwanaka

tres scary

This Spring there was a piece in theguardian called "Terrifying French children's books-in pictures" about blogger Jenny Colgan's take on the books for kids she was seeing in France.
If these book covers make you chuckle and your kids quake, you must see her commentary- so very funny.

All images: theguardian

Rainy day and Monday

In one of my dorm rooms I had a postcard of the painting shown above, Caillebotte's "Paris Street Rainy Day", 1877, stuck to my bulletin board all year. I am sure I tacked it up there because I love a rainy day and because something about it was romantic....
In the years since dorm rooms, I have found rainy cityscapes that I prefer to the Caillebotte painting- maybe one of these would be the postcard on my bulletin board today.....

 

 

Umbrellas

Occidental Park

Rainy Day in the City

Rainy Day, New York City

ladybug party

A ladybug birthday for my two-year-old meant bright reds, polka dots, grass green and most importantly-some tiny ladybugs fashioned from pom-poms (courtesy of Martha Stewart via Michael's). After we added some antennae-d party hats and fresh flowers-it was a party!