Sweet Sarah

I'm not exactly sure what these are but I know I want to try them. That was my first thought when I saw this picture. Upon further investigation, I found it to be the work of baker, Sarah Moraes of West Palm Beach, Florida. These yummy concoctions are chocoloate guimauves, French marshmallows made with Michel Cluizel chocolate. 

These aren't your typical marshmallows which can be bland and sticky. As Sarah shared with me, "My guimauves are extremely tender and packed with flavor. Also, I do not use corn syrup in my guimauves, I use honey as my invert sugar which also adds to the depth of flavor. They are hand cut, hand rolled and hand packaged." These luscious bites are a mix of matcha green tea and passion fruit. 

Sarah makes all kinds of tasty goodies, from the guimauves to macarons, candies, cookies and pastry. She plays with ingredients and creates masterful presentations. As she shares, "I strive to create flavors that are not unique just for the sake of being different but that are genuinely delicious." 

Sarah's chocolate salami with almond biscotti is an easy party favorite. It's her take on the popular Italian and Portuguese sweet that is a delicious and rich chocolate truffle with homemade almond biscotti cookies. I want, I want... 

If you had any doubt that Sarah was a culinary artiste, all one must do is look at her perfectly pretty macarons to know she is all that and more. 

Her flavors sound amazing...from Rogue (chocolate, hazelnut and cognac) to passion fruit with chamomile or honey sesame pistachio. Macaron shells filled with rich, delectable ganache make an excellent dessert and I personally love them as hostess gifts. (so much better than the ubiquitous cupcake, don't you think?) 

Sarah was born and raised in Brazil but moved to the States 14 years ago. As she states, "I combine my Brazilian heritage, American inheritance, love for Asian culture and passion for French cuisine into each and every one of my products." With that description alone, we know her flavorful confections are uniquely her own. 

Mason jar concoctions are always a Southern favorite so I was happy to see Sarah's Spiced Banana Fruit Butter. As she explains it, the batch is made of "golden ripe bananas and Saigon cinnamon, a delicious alliance underscored by the comforting flavor of nutmeg." 

As Sarah shares, "Sweets are the pinncale of creativity." I love the passion that goes into her confections...that translates beautifully into her playful photographs. See all of Sweet Sarah's sweetness here.   

Photos: Sweet Sarah Artisan Confectioneries    Content: Sweet Peach

Roll and Tumble Press

Christie and Caleb of Little Rock, Arkansas are true artists at heart. With a shared love for design, music, antiquing and letterpress, they have combined their talents into their lovely print shop, Roll and Tumble Press. 

I think my favorite works of theirs are these wonderful big, bold letters. As they share, "These letterpress prints have been printed using large, rare and very old wood type that was used to print vintage circus posters in the 1940's and 50's." I really like how they display them with simple pieces of masking tape. It works. 

The great thing too is these letters are printed on thick paper which is sturdy enough to lean against the wall...or not, your choice. Find the fun and quirky Kissing Booth print here. 

Christie and Caleb's work exudes an obvious passion for their craft. As they share, "We print using traditional letterpress methods, all hand set type and wood blocks from our own illustrations. Each print is hand cranked, one at a time through vintage presses." 

Peruse their shop today if you have a little time. They have dozens of vintage inspired prints to choose from...

Photos: Roll and Tumble   Content: Sweet Peach

A Frame Style

Characterized by steep sloped sides, the A frame home came to be in the mid 1930's when Austrian, Rudolph Schindler designed one for his vacation abode in California. From the 1950's-1970's, this type of home became quite popular and referred to as the 'do it yourself dream-come-true home for the middle class.' The A frame soon popped us as hot dog stands, liquor stores and churches around the country before the fad faded away. But I love the ones that still stand...or were made anew. 

The advantage to the A Frame is snow and debris moves off the roof easily, offering low maintenance. Plus, the striking design is an immediate eye pleaser and conversation space. Yet because of the shape, it offers much less storage. 

In this version, they added a rectangular room to the triangular shape and it works beautifully. I love the large windows looking out into the wilderness. I doubt I could keep it that clean and tidy though...

What a wonderful idea to build bookshelves into your A frame. There seems to be an inherent coziness to an A frame room, doesn't there? I think lots of blankets, pillows and texture work beautifully here.

These next two rooms don't have the steep angles of the A Frame but still take advantage of that wonderful angled roofline. I love the exposed beams as it adds such depth and character to the rooms. 

For those who don't have enough artwork on their empty walls, the A frame can work quite nicely. The walls just speak for themselves, no need to add a thing...

I think the fun part would be deciding which light fixture to hang from the middle. This chandelier is quite charming and rustic above, fitting the tone of the space. 

This stunning modern version is the Allandale House.  

Ah, coziness and prettiness. Wouldn't this be delightful? 

Photos: Apartment Therapy; Desire to Inspire; House and Home; thestarsthemoon.tumbler.com; Maxwan Architects; Plummedinteriors.com      Content: Sweet Peach

Barrett Alley

Just like a good man is hard to find, so too is a good wallet. But if you met Barrett Alley, you may just kill two birds with one stone. 

Barrett is a Dallas, Texas based leather goods designer who takes great care in handcrafting items for the modern man that have integrity, style and durability. He utilizes U.S. vegetable tanned leather as well as a selection of organic materials such as cotton, linen, glass, bone and vintage metals. 

The Revelation Wallet has three separate areas for your credit cards, business cards and folded cash. I love the exposed stitch which is made with an ivory colored thread. All their goods are hand stitched using a traditonal saddle stitch. Although a slower process, the end result is a much stronger and durable product. 

This is the Devilish Wallet, which took a lot of time and care to perfect. Each is individually numbered with 5 card pockets and a large bill opening. The highest quality leather allows it to age beautifully over time. As stated on their site, "Our leather is cut by hand with a knife and pieces are trimmed to fit together perfectly." As Barrett shared, "I worked on prototypes for over two years to get it just right." 

My favorite part is you get to pick out which antique lining you prefer...

The Petite Pill Pouch is such a stylish way for a man to carry his meds or vitamins. At 1.75 inches by 2 inches, it's made to fit inside your jean coin pocket. I could use one of these for my next plane trip...

The uber handsome Dom Sunglasses Case comes in 5 different colors with some incredible antique lining options. 

The Judas Pouch may just be my favorite creation of Barrett's. It's finished off with a deerskin strap and an antique bone button. It's one of those items a guy can have and use for a lifetime...and it just gets better with age. 

It' always so nice to stumble upon a good artisan and craftsman, to find goods you know are top notch and made with care and passion. See all of Barrett's beautifully handcrafted creations, (which make amazing gifts) here. 

Photos: Barrett Alley     Content: Sweet Peach

Cookies & Corks

I drink a lot of wine with cheese and bread, but after reading about this business, I realized I may be missing out on something even more tasty. Cookies & Corks is all about pairing our favorite wines with delectable sweet and savory cookies. Their all natural cookies are made with distinctive ingredients, such as apricot, dark chocolate, sea salt, espresso, sage and lemon. Each cookie is meant to complement and enhance your overall flavor experience when combined with the right wine. 

Business savvy entrepreneur, Laura Englander and baker, Leah Kuo are from Falls Church, Virginia. They met at their kids playgroup and quickly found they both shared a lot of the same interests. They realized that together, they may just be able to create something unique and profitable... So far, so good. 

Laura and Leah currently sell three box sets of cookies. One for red wine, the others for white and sparkling. They also sell the cookies individually, based on your favorite flavor. 

For this box of five espresso chocolate peanut butter cookies, ($3) they highly recommend pairing them with a nice Pinot Noir. As Amy Reiley, their cookie sommelier shares, "The cookie's espresso harmonizes with the wine's earthy undertones and the tannins in the cocoa echo the wine's subtle, dusty tannins. As for the peanut butter, when its flavor mingles with the wine's up front berry notes, it tickles the taste buds with the essence of the world's most sophisticated pb&j." I doubt I'd be able to discern all that...but I could tell you if it tastes good. 

All their cookies have recommended wine pairings that sound fun to try. Above is their red wine chart...

It's a great business concept. Plus, I think this could also make a fun DIY project at home. Try making your own cookies and see which flavors enhance your favorite glass of vino. In either case, it's just another reason to have some friends over to drink wine and eat dessert...I'm in! Learn more about Cookies & Corks here, and have a lovely weekend! 

Photos: Cookies and Corks     Content: Sweet Peach

Becca Stadtlander

While perusing Etsy last week I was intrigued by one of their featured sellers, Becca Stadtlander of Covington, Kentucky. Becca paints images inspired by mother nature and everyday life. She drew me in...so I wanted to share. 

As Becca shared, "My favorite paintings start out as images that zoom into my head out of nowhere. It's usually always something simple- like an object or an animal- and I know I just need to paint it and get it out of my head." 

Because of the success of her Etsy shop, Becca can paint from home full time. Which is why her work studio needs to be comfortable, safe and full of good energy to be open and creative. I like seeing her cozy and charming workspace. I bet it's even better when it rains...

Becca offers reproductions of her paintings in both print and card form. 

A bouquet of strawberries would be oh so fun... Becca's work has a sense of happy comfort, don't you think? See all of her lovely illustrations here.

Illustrations: Becca Stadtlander   Content: Sweet Peach

Inviting Conversation...

A couple years back, I visited Buenos Aires with my friend Vanessa. On our to-do list was a trip to Faena, a sumptuous, gorgeously designed hotel in downtown. We couldn't afford to stay there but we could afford a cocktail. We sat in the stunning Library Lounge, designed by Philippe Starck and marveled at how beautiful our surroundings were and how expensive our drink was...

Looking out at the space, I noticed how they utilized the large room to create and encourage conversation. It's filled with dozens of couches, chairs, lounges...all smartly placed without being overcrowded. You could just as easily have an intimate conversation as you could a large group one. Ingenious I say...

It got me thinking, what is the best way to encourage conversation in our own living rooms? So I decided to compile some helpful tips. The first, pull your seated furniture away from the walls and arrange them to face each other. 

Add pieces where multiple people can sit, such as benches and lounges. And if you have a big enough space, create more than one conversation area. 

Create a space that is cozy and comfortable, not cramped. Leave 14-18" between any tables and seated furniture and let the traffic lane be at least 3' wide. And when you're placing the sofas and chairs to face each other, leave 4-10' in between. 

Another tip I learned from Faena is to have conversation starters in your design, such as impressive and interesting artwork or unique books, accent furniture or plants. 

Good lighting is essential for good conversation. Natural light is important to set a relaxed, comforting mood during the day while low light is quite nice at night. There's nothing worse, (for me anyway) then going to an evening party and being assaulted by bright light. I like it low and inviting...and I promise to stay awhile. 

Utilize unconventional seating pieces such as fabric poufs or ottomans. It's fun to not always sit in the traditional chair and I think low lying, backless pieces can make conversation a little more relaxed, playful and candid. Not to mention, they add great texture and interest to your space.  

Make sure your furniture is proportioned and fits the size of the room and, as if not obvious enough, that it's comfortable. Once your guests take a seat, you want them to stay a while and get invested in the people and great conversation around them. 

Photos: Faena; Apartment Therapy; Desire to Inspire; My Paradissi; Tim Clinch; Domino Magazine; Houzz.com; en.paperblog.com;   thelennoxx.wordpress.com    Content: Sweet Peach

The Kantha Quilt

After picking up the latest issue of Canada's House & Home, I became inspired by this photograph that featured a variety of kantha quilts atop a bed. You've seen these quilts for sale at Anthropologie, West Elm and Urban Outfitters to name a few. The best part about them, besides their colorful nature, is how you can mix and match patterns for a layered look that's really quite beautiful. 

Kantha is defined as "a type of embroidery popular in Bangladesh and in West Bengal, India." Old, discarded saris and cloth are layered, then joined with a simple running stitch to make a light blanket, bedspread or throw. Kantha originated from the women of Bengal who mended old clothes. They would take out a strand of thread from the colorful border of their saris and make simple, pretty designs with them. 

I'm in awe of the variety of colors and beautiful designs you can layer and play with. Perhaps the idea is to buy one every six months and just keep accumulating...

Today, the Bengalese craft has grown quite a bit of momentum as more U.S stores want to purchase and sell the quilts. Millions of women continue this practice, often at home in the districts of Birbhum Burdway, Hooghly and Murshidabad and have benefited economically from its renewed popularity.  

The wonderful aspect to kanthas is not just their unique designs but how they're reversible. Just flip them over to find a complementary color and pattern on the underside.

Versatile and visual, these quilts look just as good layered on a bed or sofa as they do stacked atop each other on a stool or shelf. I'm sold. May my quest for multiple kanthas begin...

Photos: House & Home; Design Sponge; houzz.com, hawaiiandermatology.com; Joss and Main; anacastudio.com; Raja and Rani; hawaiiandermatology.com; Jesse Campbell; Elle Decor; Raja and Rani, Urban Outfitters    Content: Sweet Peach

Tool Roll

Motorcycle company Deus Ex Machina teamed up with Makr Carry Goods of Winter Park, Florida to create this very hip and functional tool roll for the man on the go. They are limited edition rolls, made from #10 cotton duck Martexin waxed canvas and premium Horween leather. 

It's been touted as "The man bag for mechanics" which makes me an instant fan. As stated on the Deus Ex Machina site, it is "designed to accomodate all the tools you'll need to strip down an engine by the side of the road. 8 spanner pockets, 7 socket pockets, 2 utility pouches for drivers and the stash." 

Due to high demand, this beauty has sold out- but is about to be re-run and available very soon. Leave an email here to sign up to buy this uber stylish tool bag...

I'm doing something I don't normally do here, but I'm enticed to feature an item not handcrafted or designed in the South. Yet it was so good I had to share. The Mopha Tool Roll by E.H. Works in Seattle, is similar to the Makr version but meant for bicycle enthusiasts. 

This handsome and easily accessible tool roll has 10 small pockets, is made of waxed canvas with leather trim and ready to ship immediately. 

I can't imagine a bike guy that wouldn't like this. 

And because it is designed and packaged so well, it makes an amazing gift. Learn more about the Mopha version here. And happy Manly Monday...

Photos: Makr; Mopha    Content: Sweet Peach

Weekend Freebie!