sunday suppers: best birthday gift from mom


All photographs are by Karen Mordechai, courtesy of Sunday Suppers

Sunday Suppers is a sensory cooking and dining experience organized by two ingenious women, Casey Solomon and Karen Mordechai. Casey runs a catering business, Karen is a photographer, together they host a cooking class and a sit-down dinner where every single detail is beautifully considered and arranged which Karen beautifully documents on their blog.



Aran Goyoaga, the talent behind the gorgeous blog Cannelle et Vanille, joined the team to demonstrate how to assemble a multi-layered Nectarine, Pistachio and Lemon Mascarpone Tart (a delicious ensemble of flavors and textures). See recipe here. Aran is a pastry chef, a food stylist, a photographer, and an inspiration. Aran recently finished her portfolio website, which is stunning.



For the berry consomme with lemon champagne sorbet I made pink rustic bowls, numbered 1 through 18 (the number of guests at the dinner) which set off Aran's creation beautifully.



The dinner took place in Karen's studio, with views of the East River and the Manhattan skyline. The light was gorgeous as it traveled through the afternoon.



It's the people who attended that made the event so incredible. I loved my conversation with Jessica and Evan, my neighbors at dinner. Jessica is the author of the blog Pictures of Cake. I highly recommend her Chocolate Peanut Butter creation.

Thank you, mom, for such a fulfilling, educational, delicious and inspirational birthday present.

end of summer gleena dinner platter with
fern drawing by cynthia treen


Cynthia Treen draws delicately and exquisitely. Perfect for gleena plates which exist only as a Photoshop mock up at the moment, but will soon be a real thing, can't wait.

end of summer leaf by heather smith jones


Click on the image to go to Heather Smith Jones' website for more of her incredible pinhole works on paper.

end of summer answers from maira kalman


Click on the image to get all the answers.

end of summer dresses on etsy


Saying goodbye to summer is hard, but it's a little bit easier in a sensual handmade dress from larimeloom, on etsy. I can see wearing it well into the late fall, keeping the summer with me.


Or one of these elegant handmade linen and cotton dresses from modaspia, on etsy. You know you will look forward to wearing it again next season, and the next... The weather promises to be on the chilly side for the next few days, with a splash of rain, perfect for a light dress with a sweater. Have a wonderful last of summer weekend!

set satisfaction at moss


Urania designed by Trudi Petri and Sigmund Schutz in 1938


Etrange Vegetation designed by Elisabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti in 2001


Suomi designed by Timo Sarpaneva in 1974


Neuosier designed by Friedrich Elais Meyer in 1776

If you are looking for a unique table setting, moss on line carries a wonderful range of beautiful porcelain dishes. Yes, some are over $1000 per place setting, but others are barely above $100. Even just web-browsing through the sets is so so satisfying. Click on the images for more information on each.

P. S. Moss has a wedding registry...

sunday suppers update...


Take a look at Sunday Suppers recent posting of the gorgeous table setting from the Supper that I attended (thanks to Mom). The dainty menu cards were designed by Thoughtful Day.

The setting featured artful flowers by Roundtree Flowers. I love that Jessie used poppy seed pods in her arrangements.


All photographs by Karen Mordechai

quiet porcelain from coe&waito




all photographs are from coe&waito

Coe&Waito is a design duo of Alissa Coe and Carly Waito. Their studio is based out of Toronto, Canada, where they produce elegant and touching slip-cast porcelain work. I have no idea how they assembled the pine cones, truly incredible. Please find more of their delicate creations on coeandwaito.com.

big summer in gourmet magazine


quince

grapes

tomato

squash blossoms

xuxu

John Kernick photographed a gorgeous food story for the September issue of Gourmet magazine. You can almost smell, and taste, the fruits and veggies in his images. Great use of white plates and bowls in the styling of the recipes.

unglazed porcelain and handwriting...



Decided to experiment more with typography on unglazed porcelain. I am liking the results. Bowls and handwriting go so well together, don't you think?

jen renninger: 365 and more




The super prolific and incredibly talented illustrator Jen Renninger has vowed to create an image every day of the year for 365 days. To keep her resolution, she is documenting the images on her blog: 365. Jen is selling the gorgeous pieces on her etsy shop, along with the wonderful illustrations from her 'Modern Design Deck' series. Her Modern Design Alphabet poster is just brilliant.



All images copyright Jen Renninger

jan burtz of bella porcelain






I first saw Jan Burtz's work, one of her cups, at my friend Leslie's home, and then followed it to ABC Carpet and Home in Manhattan. I am inspired by her use of glaze on the delicate hand-formed porcelain. Her painterly glazing accentuates the fluidity and grace of her pieces. I aspire to be such a master with my glazing technique. Ah, so much to learn.

You can find more of Jan's work on her website: Bella Porcelain.

monday morning in sweet contemplation


As I savor my morning, I am thinking about last evening's adventure. I participated in Sunday Suppers, and loved every moment of it: the people, the place, the food, the conversation. I need a few days to gather my impressions, and will write more in a few days.

synchronisity





All images are from 3191: Evenings

"On the morning of December 7, 2006, Maria Alexandra Vettese and Stephanie Congdon Barnes each took a digital photograph of everyday objects randomly arranged on their kitchen tables, and unbeknownst to one another, uploaded them to the website Flickr..."

The new book from this wonderful collaboration of synchronicity comes out in November. You can pre-order a signed copy of 3191: Evenings here.

Click here, you won't be disappointed.

set satisfaction: No.1



I have to admit, I love the way my pieces look in a set. I created the above rustic bowl, salad plate, and platter at separate times over a span of five years, yet they fit so well together. That is an unexpected bonus.