SHIM + SONS

a summer table

You would think with all the socializing we've been doing the past few weeks we would lie low for awhile. Not so. We've hosted two dinner parties last week and I'm certain we have several more in store this month. We Portlanders have to take advantage of this beautiful weather since al fresco dining opportunities are limited.

Speaking of entertaining outdoors, I put together a simple "summer table" [scroll down a bit] for The Stir. I was originally planning to use linen + wood as the base for the table setting, but opted to go with a more festive and summer-like color palette of fuchsia + black. Check out several other ideas for summer tables right here.

wishing you s'more summer fun!

I love simple + sweet food kits. They can be used as favors [like our caramel apple kits we gave away for j + Miss E's birthday party, hostess gifts or I-think-you-are-a-great-friend gift [the best kind of gift in my book!]. Food kits can also be quite affordable, easy to assemble and fall under the category of "I would definitely enjoy and use it if I received it but probably would not make one for myself". Last month I was inspired to make s'more kits and as I was brainstorming packaging ideas I came across some cute s'more kits that were given away as wedding favors.

I could have gone the homemade marshmallow + homemade graham cracker + gourmet chocolate [with a package of sea salt] route but I went the around-the-corner-market route. I repackaged the marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate into clear glassine bags and placed them into a glass jar from Ikea. I love using glass containers for packaging because they are attractive and reusable.

I printed out a "wishing you s'more summer fun" label on to sticker paper and placed it on the outside of the jar. I also included "directions" on how to make the s'mores. Have you tried baking them in the oven? I highly recommend this route if you are campfire-less or don't want to roast your marshmallows on the stove. The final touch was tying a bow of gingham bias tape around the lid of the jar. I've given a few away to friends and made some extra kits to store in our pantry [you can place the re-packaged chocolate in the fridge to make sure it doesn't melt]. 

We will be leaving soon for a family trip to California. I am excited to hold my new niece, spend time with family, see old friends, meet new ones and eat some good food! If you have any recommendations for restaurants/shops in LA or the SF bay area, please let me know. My plan is to squeeze in as much fun + food as possible! Wishing you all s'more summer fun! 

CHOW time

In junior high school I was part of a mentorship program where the students selected two occupations of interest. Our teachers then set up internships for us within the community. My two dream jobs back then were an architect and fashion designer. [I am neither now, but I live vicariously through my dear friend Martha.] Since junior high my list of "dream" jobs has grown quite long. Although right now I have to say designing and making handmade goods is a pretty sweet gig. One job on my "would-love-to-try-it-out-for-a-day" list is being a photo stylist. And recently I had a chance to do just this!

A few months ago an editor at CHOW contacted me about designing a Thanksgiving centerpiece for one of their upcoming stories. Since I love decorating and entertaining I thought this was something right up my alley. I had so much fun putting together a tablescape which was influenced by my love of neutrals, texture and organic shapes. You can read the full story here [more detailed photographs below]. I really love Cate Kellison's [Rose & Radish] modern woodland tablescape and Victoria Smith's [SF Girl By Bay] vintage + eclectic centerpiece. [Design-inspired stories is a new area CHOW is delving into, so if you like this story and would like to see more in the future, please be sure to leave a comment/feedback on the CHOW site.]

:: gingko nuts in glass cup :: handmade cup cover :: Japanese fabric + handmade linen buttons ::

:: acorns in glass cup :: linen cup cover ::

:: namecards ::

:: names printed on strips of linen ::

:: hand sewn on to linen leafs ::

:: linen leaf tree :: linen + cotton patchwork runner ::

A big thank you to Michele over at CHOW for making this such a wonderful experience!