Today on Weekend Meanderings a podcast I think you’ll love, how my niece turned a family heirloom into a quilt, the cutest little black dress, a few books on pre-order and the Honey Deuce cocktail.
Happy weekend, friends!
It’s Saturday and I’m joining Kim and Elizabeth for Weekend Meanderings.
Our weekly roundup of inspiration and goings on.
This post includes affiliate links for your convenience at no additional cost to you. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
It’s Labor Day weekend (already), the unofficial end of summer!
I hate to use the f-word, but fall is definitely in the air.
Mostly felt in our cooler, crisper mornings.
Is anyone sorry to see the summer heat in the rear view mirror?
Jim’s mom is celebrating her 90th birthday!
Ruth, Jim, Kyle & Sasha, 2003
We’re getting together with family for a wine tasting and dinner.
What are your holiday weekend plans?
DEAR ALICE PODCAST & THE ALICE LANE HOME COLLECTION
I adore the Dear Alice interior design podcast hosted by Jess Bennett and Suzanne Hall of Alice Lane. It’s one of the most fun and informative pods in the home decor genre. After stumbling across the pod I started following them on Instagram … at Alice Lane Interiors, showcasing their work and Alice Lane Home, their online shop full of uniquely wonderful and beautiful things from decor items to furniture, rugs and lighting.
When they invited me to do an Instagram collaboration via LTK (follow my LTK shop here) I jumped at the chance and chose to showcase this beautiful teak serving board. It’s made of a thick teak slab … this board is substantial! I love its live edge which makes it unique and different from my plain wood boards. I’m so enamored with it I’ve been making cheeseboards all week. We’re going to a friend’s for dinner tonight and I’m making yet another cheese board using my friend Karen’s (Lemon Grove Lane) baked brie and fig recipe. So good.
In addition to the teak board, I bought their small Crane Temple Jar to add to my blue and white ceramic collection. It’s a great little size and ideal for showcasing flowers from our new cutting garden.
With Labor Day weekend here and early fall weather in the forecast I put together a fall picnic mood board using beautiful pieces from Alice Lane Home.
Linen Towel | Stripe Outdoor Pillow | Fringed Outdoor Pillow | Drinking Glasses | Champagne Candle | Claw Foot Dish | Teak Board | Vase | Hydrangea Stems
It’s always fun to discover a new source for fabulous home decor and these are a few other Alice Lane Home pieces on my radar.
Use code ALICELANE20 for a 20% discount code (exclusions apply) at Alice Lane Home.
TURNING A SENTIMENTAL BLANKET INTO A QUILT
My sweet dad passed away a little over a year and a half ago and I recently received another box of his memorabilia from his wife’s family. Niece Sophie looked through the box and a light-weight, blue and white striped blanket caught her eye. We suspect it’s a coverlet from my dad’s Bancroft Hall dorm room at the Naval Academy. It might also be from one of the ships he served on.
Sophie was very close with her grandpa and thought she could have it made into a quilt for baby Rett. Last week she surprised me with photos of the quilt!
Maureen, a friend of Sophie’s in-laws, took on the task of turning the blanket into a quilt by pairing it with a compatible fabric for backing and designing the anchor pattern. Her friend, Amy, did the actual quilting. It turned out beautifully and I know my dad would be thrilled with it and to know that his story continues as a tangible part of his great-grandson’s life.
There’s even a patch on the blanket from an old repair.
What a great idea to turn a sentimental piece of family history into a quilt. I did a little googling and came across Ashley Byrne Quilts. She has a line of Naval Academy themed quilts that are adorable. And it looks like she makes custom quilts too … you can message her here. Etsy is probably a good source for custom quilt makers too … if you’re not lucky enough to have one in your family circle.
In 2010 we visited the Naval Academy with my dad for his 55th class reunion. He was excited to take Sophie on a tour of the yard (campus).
Sophie & Grandpa, Homecoming Weekend 2010
Bancroft Hall houses the 4000 or so midshipman who attend the Academy. It’s the largest single dormitory in the world in a beautiful beaux arts style building dating to 1901.
Bancroft Hall
The entire yard is spectacular as is the surrounding town of Annapolis. And Navy-Marine Corp Memorial Stadium is a bucket list visit.
Class of ’55 pregame tailgate.
LITTLE BLACK DRESS FROM RAILS
How many little black dresses is too many little black dresses? I’m kidding, there’s no such thing as too many. Obviously. We have a couple events coming up this month and this little black linen dress is absolutely perfect for both. I love the lace up back, believe it or not I was easily able to tie it myself.
I’m wearing it with the low block heel sandals that I bought for Italy, they work with everything. And my little basket bag with bamboo handles!
Dress | Hoop Earrings | Basket Bag | Sandals
The dress comes in a floral pattern too which gives it a completely different and fun vibe.
By the way, I now have three Rails LBD’s in my closet. They’re kind of like martini’s, one is too few and (more) than three is too many.
SOME BOOKS I’M EXCITED ABOUT FOR FALL
My book pre-order list has grown by a few (or four) new additions. I’ve lost track of which I’ve shared previously, so here’s the list in its entirety.
The Cottage Garden by Claus Dalby, arriving September 5
Ten-Minute Decorating Ideas: Simple, Stylish and Budget-Friendly Projects to Refresh Your Home by KariAnne Wood, arriving September 6
Stay Organized: The Ultimate Guide to Making Systems Stick by The Home Edit gals, arriving September 19
Wear it Well: Reclaim Your Closet & Rediscover the Joy of Getting Dressed by Allison Bornstein, arriving September 27
Heirloom Rooms: Soulful Stories of Home by Erin Napier, arriving October 3
The New Classic Home: Modern Meets Traditional Style by Paloma Contreras, arriving October 25
Carolyn Bassette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion by Sunita Kumar Nair, arriving November 8
House Love: A Joyful Guide to Cleaning, Organizing, and Loving the Home You’re In by Patric Richardson (The Landry Guy), arriving December 27
With all these great books on the way, there’s even more reason to look forward to a cozy fall season.
THE U.S. OPEN’S HONEY DEUCE COCKTAIL
The U.S. Open is underway at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing, New York. Are you watching? Apparently the Honey Deuce is the favored cocktail at the tournament with one sold every 3.8 seconds. Alrighty then … let’s give it a try.
1 1/4 oz Vodka (Grey Goose is the Vodka sponsor)
3 oz fresh Lemonade
1/2 oz Chambord, or other raspberry liqueur
Frozen honeydew melon balls for garnish
Pour vodka, lemonade and Chambord in a tall glass over ice. Stir and garnish with a skewer of three frozen honeydew melon balls.
Odds & Socks ~
Fall candles from my favorite Hood Canal Candle Co. are now available and they smell divine. I’m loving the new gold vessels in addition to amber glass. Click on the images to shop.
This perfect-for-fall woven bucket bag (already well priced) is 40% off using code SHOPNOW.
Favorite blogger Cindy shared a thought provoking piece this week.
We started the third season of this fun series last week … guess which mega-star joined the cast?!
I’ve become a late-in-life Birkenstock devotee and just ordered these suede clogs for fall.
Current favorites ~
And that’s what I have for you this week.
Let’s see what’s inspiring Kim and Elizabeth …
If you missed my last post, you can catch up here.
You’ll find all my weekend roundup posts collected here.
You can also follow along on Instagram and Pinterest.
Any thoughts you’d like to share?
I’d love to hear them and you can drop them in the comments below.
Cheers from Snowberry!
Juliet,
Your dads quilt brought teas to my eyes. How wonderful that your niece was able to make your dads quilt into something for her son. IT is the little things in life that bring the most joy. It will be like a hug from your dad each time they use it.
Happy birthday to Jims mom! 90 years old is a wonderful milestone. I hope that you have an amazing celebration.
My MIL is 96 and I am just beginning to realize that someday she won’t be here. I only hope that I am blesses to have my own parents for that long.
YOU look beautiful in everything but that Rails dress looks spectacular on you! I am sure you will be the best dressed person at the parties.
I cannot wait to make this cocktail! I love cocktails and have made almost everyone that you have shared.
I am in big trouble now that I see this book list! I now have 4 of them in my cart! Yikes, I am running out of room on my shelves.
As for the F word…it can not come soon enough for me! I am SOOOOO tired of being hot. Enjoy the cool days and crisp nights.
HAve a wonderful weekend Juliet, give your MIL an extra hug on her birthday.
xoElizabeth
What a wonderful keepsake for your nephew! I hope it brings a smile to your niece (and you!) every time he is wrapped in it. I also noticed that you brought back the “Odds and Socks”-another sweet tribute to your dad! I am also looking forward to the “F” word but here on the East Coast it will still be awhile before we can enjoy cooler temps. Have a great weekend!
Yes, Sandy … Odds & Socks is back! Thank you. Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend with cooler temps in the forecast! xo
I too own 3 Rails black dresses ! The Ivy , the Khloe and the new Saylor . Cut me off !!
Thanks Juliet , great blog !
Jo! Yes, we’re both cut off!!! 😉 xo
Hi Juliet,
Happy birthday to Ruth turning 90. A huge blessing.
Sophie and your dad at the Homecoming weekend of 2010 is a special treasure.
The collective effort to create a quilt for baby Rett was a beautiful idea. Your father would be over joyed. To have his blanket now being used this way is deeply touching.
Good for Sophie for having such an outstanding idea. I love Sophie’s heart.
Thank you, Katherine … we’re fortunate to have these things and places that keep us feeling connected to our dad (and grandpa). xo
Juliet, I hope you have a really fun time at Jim’s mom’s birthday! That’s a wonderful milestone. You are going to look darling in that black dress. I love the back. I’mm so glad you like Rails as much as I do. I just want more of their things they are so nicely made! I think black dresses are great for the closet!! Never too many. I wear my black dresses the most.
I love the story of your dear dad’s quilt and that baby Rett now has it. Your dad would be happy knowing it will be loved by a new generation. How wonderful you all went to that reunion with him. That would have been so interesting. I did not know all that about the naval academy. How cool was your dad?? Thinking of you. I know you must miss him when those games are on.
Your collaboration with the Dear Alice gals was perfect for your wonderful cheese boards. That ginger jar is darling too on your new island!
I am going to make the deuce drink this week when I am back home watching the tournament in warm weather!
Have a beautiful weekend Juliet and safe travels. xoxo
P.s. Love all the books
Lovely post, Juliet. I saved a few items from my mom and have considered a quilt. Your father’s Navy blanket turned quilt, with the anchor stitching, is wonderful.
I have saved the brie recipe and looked at lemongrovelane’s Instagram: inspirational! Thank you for that fun resource.
Joan, I love the idea of turning our heirloom pieces into quilts … I hope you do it. Don’t get hooked on the brie recipe, that’s a real danger. And it’s too late for me!!! xo
Hi Juliet,
Oh my the quilt is lovely and a perfect memento.
I love, love, love the lace up dress. It looks fabulous on you!
Such great book ideas, thank you! Now, where do I put any more book? That is the question to beat all. ( I always find room!)
That drink sounds so good. Going to have to try it. But first I need melon balls…
Hope you are enjoying this long weekend. It’s been foggy and overcast here for two days now and I love it!
Xo Heidi
You’re right, Heidi … we always find room for books! xo
Hi Juliet! Love love that quilt. What a wonderful idea! And that black dress looks fabulous on you! Thanks for the podcast and book recommendations. I will definitely give the podcast a listen! I am huge fan of Birkenstocks –wearing my clogs as I type! Hope you had a fun weekend!
Molly! I want to buy the clogs … searching for the right color. It’s feeling very fall here so I’d better hit the buy button! xo