The last sunset of our vacation a few weeks ago. |
In the Kitchen: Bee Sting Cocktails
About a month ago, while making BBQ ribs and collard greens for dinner, I wanted a cocktail that would complement our summery, southern meal. We happened to have lemonade on hand, and there's always rosemary growing out in the yard, so the Bee Sting was born. It's now my favorite summer drink- refreshing, not too sweet, and a good match for most any meal. As an added perk, for parties with folks who may not drink, you can make a pitcher of the rosemary lemonade, leaving the rye on the side for people to add in themselves.
Bee Sting Cocktail
(makes one 16 oz drink, just multiply for a pitcher)
2 Tbsp honey
1 cup lemonade (I prefer Simply Lemonade or Newman's Own)
1/4 cup sparkling water
1-2 oz rye whiskey (to taste)
Lemon slices
Fresh rosemary sprigs
Pour honey into bottom of glass and mix with a splash of very hot tap water so it'll mix in better.
Add lemonade, whiskey and ice.
Top with sparkling water and garnish with lemon and rosemary.
For a stronger rosemary flavor, place 3-4 rosemary sprigs in the lemonade and leave overnight.
I hope you enjoy this one as much as I have been!
P.S. A special welcome to those of you who found Gather and Hunt today via Folk Magazine's Instagram takeover. I've really been enjoying all your comments and likes today- thank you!
Original recipe, styling, and photographs by Danae Horst for Gather and Hunt.
Out and About: Lake Arrowhead
After lunch we went on a little nature walk on a trail along some stands of Sequoias. We spotted a few creatures, and enjoyed the peace and quiet of the forest. In the morning as we drove up the mountain I thought about how I would love to have a feather to add to a little photo display, and I actually found one- a little extra dose of joy.
It may not be the Pacific Northwest, but I did enjoy our time around Lake Arrowhead. Next weekend, for my birthday, we're heading on a camping trip near Santa Barbara and 'm looking forward to finding more things to love about SoCal.
What do you love about where you live? Is it easy to love your city or a challenge? I'd enjoy hearing your stories!
At Our Table: Fourth of July BBQ
Did you have a nice fourth (at least, for those of you from the US)? We threw a little BBQ in our shared yard, and had a great time with a few friends.
Although it was a bit of a last minute event, I still wanted to make things special. Taking cues from some supplies we had on hand, plus some things I found while out shopping in the morning, the party felt festive, but still casual.
Happy weekend everyone! I'm looking forward to being around here more often- I've missed you.
Finds to Fancy (And some winners!)
For this week's Finds to Fancy, I thought I'd highlight some other great shops who also use the Big Cartel platform (which I highly recommend to anyone looking to start an online shop). I think you'll find lots of things you'll love in these shops.
{Via} |
{Via} |
{Via} |
{Via} |
And now, since I know the suspense is killing you- the winners of the Grand Opening Giveaway (drum roll please)...
Tammy, Kate, and Bethany, you have all won a $15 credit to spend in the Gather and Hunt shop! Please email me at shop@gatherandhuntvintage.com so I can give you your discount codes. Congratulations to the winners and a big thank you to everyone who entered. I wish I could give you all a prize!
On a final note before I sign out today- if you're in the Seattle area, my friends (plus several more) are having an amazing vintage yard sale happening this Saturday that you will not want to miss! Seriously- some of my favorite things in our house, used to be in their house. Find photos of all their goods, and a link to their ad here.
Happy weekend everyone!
It's a Grand Opening! (And a giveaway).
Today is the day. The new Gather and Hunt online shop is finally open! There you will find vintage goods for your home, office, or shop that I hope you'll love.
To celebrate the grand opening, I'm giving three readers the opportunity to win $15 to spend in the shop! Here's how to enter:
1. Visit the Gather and Hunt shop, find something you fancy, then leave a comment on this post about it.
2. For extra entries:
Like G&H on Facebook
Follow G&H on Twitter
Follow G&H on Instagram.
3. If you already 'like' and follow G&H, you can earn extra entries by sharing the shop link on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram- just be sure to tag G&H in your post.
You have until 11:59PM Thursday, June 6th to enter. I'll announce all three winners in Friday's post! Good luck!
Farm Chicks Time!
Though I won't be there this year- vending
or
attending- I had to take a moment to give
, one of my favorites in the vintage world, and her amazing
, a shout out.
Beginning Saturday, June 1st at 9am, the fairgrounds in Spokane, WA will be transformed into an amazing wonderland of vintage goodness. A curated show, Farm Chicks is one booth after another just full of some of the best vintage in the country. If you're anywhere near Spokane this weekend- I highly recommend a trip to the show- you won't regret it!
{
booth via
}
It's been a sad and strange feeling the last few days, knowing that I won't be a part of the fun this year. Though I'm grateful to not be loading a trailer up right now- I do wish I was headed to Spokane for a weekend of vintage shopping. If you attend, you'll have to tell me all about it- I might be jealous, but I'd love to hear what you found!
Weekend Plans
For those in the Seattle area, Jenn from Scout is having a pop-up shop! She's retiring her vintage rental company to focus on styling projects, so this Saturday and Sunday you have the chance to shop from her lovely collection! Plus, it's at Trophy Cupcakes, so it'll be a tasty adventure to boot.
For all you folks on the other side of the country, Three Potato Four, one of my favorite vintage/vintage inspired shops, is having a moving sale in their Philly studio all weekend long! If only they could wait a few more weeks- I'll be out that way in mid-June! You'll all have to show me what you bring home, so I can shop vicariously through you.
Last, but definitely not least, my best friend Melissa officially opened her new Etsy shop, Restock Vintage, this week! There you'll find her handmade paper goods (like this cute notebook)- all created from vintage supplies. I'm so excited for her, and hope you'll check her shop out!
Happy weekend everyone! I'll be working on the upcoming online shop (it's looking like we'll be open by June 1st!) and watching the long awaited new season of Arrested Development!
Out and About
{Via} |
{Via} |
{Via} |
{Via} |
Language of Flowers
If my mom lived nearby, I'd bring her this bouquet to say that I love her, am thinking of her, and am thankful for the happy life she gave me. What would you like to say to your mom (or mother-figure) with flowers?
Something Old/Something New
{Via} |
{Via} |
{Via} |
Out and About
{Via} |
{Via} |
{Via} |
{Via} |
{Via} |
{Via} |
{Via} |
{Via} |
DIY: Solid Perfume
To make your own solid perfume you'll need:
2 Tbsp. beeswax, grated
2 Tbsp. almond oil
40-45 drops of essential oils (starter scent recipes below)
{All the above supplies can be found at natural foods stores. For a complete selection of essential oils, Mountain Rose Herbs is a great, affordable online source}.
Containers for your solid perfume- I used a vintage stock locket like this, and these little tins, but even an empty chap stick tube or lip balm pot will work.
Start by bringing about an inch of water to boil in a small saucepan. Reduce heat to low. Measure beeswax into a heatproof glass measuring cup and place in the hot water. Wax will begin to melt. Once it is completely melted, add the almond oil and stir until combined (I like to use a wooden skewer, since some essential oils can affect plastic or metal). Remove from heat.
Let oil/wax mixture cool for about a minute, then add essential oils, stirring to incorporate.
In the Kitchen: Perfect Party Margarita
Margaritas are always popular in our house- we make them often and have come to like them better at home- mostly because we are now margarita snobs and to get a good one out can cost a pretty penny. As you probably know by now, I love throwing a good party, and my favorite party food is any simple Mexican dish, so we often also have margaritas at our parties. Over the years, I've developed this Perfect Party Margarita- perfect because a) it's not quite as strong as a really high quality margarita you'd get from a good bar so people can have several without incidence, b) it's a little sweeter, thus appealing to folks who are used to margaritas made with syrupy sour mixes, and c) it uses simple, high quality ingredients so I still feel proud of what I'm serving my guests. It also gets rave reviews, which is always a bonus.
You'll Need:
6 cups good limeade- I like Simply Limeade, it's just water, lime juice and sugar.
1 1/2 cups 100% agave tequila- I use Sauza gold, it has nice vanilla notes and is quality, but not so nice you feel like you're wasting it by mixing it with other flavors.
2/3 c triple sec- for this recipe I use the cheapest I can find.
1 orange
Lime wedges
Flake sea salt, or the margarita salt they sell in the mixer section
Ice
Start by mixing the limeade, tequila, and triple sec together in a pitcher. Squeeze the juice from the orange in, and mix again. I like to also float a few small slices of orange in the pitcher for color, and a little more flavor.
Prepare the lime wedges by slicing a small slit near one end of each wedge.
Prepare the glasses:
-Using the slit, place a lime wedge on the rim of the glass and slide all the way around a few times to wet the rim with the juice.
-Remove the lime and dip the rim of the glass into a saucer or small bowl of salt. You may need to press it into the salt a few times to get good coverage.
-Fill about 2/3 full with ice and place a lime wedge on the rim.
Now just add the margarita mixture to each glass and serve! This recipe will make enough for about 4-6 drinks, depending on the size of the glass and how much ice you use.
I hope these Perfect Party Margaritas will serve you well at your next shindig- I know we'll be enjoying some this Sunday at our Cinco de Mayo fiesta!
Enjoy the weekend everyone! ¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!
P.S. I'm trying to think of a name for a cocktail column, rather than lumping them in with the recipe column. If you have an idea for a name, I'd love to hear it!
At Our Table: Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is one of my favorite excuses to have a party. Though I am as caucasian as can be, I've always had a love for Mexican culture(s), especially after visiting Quintana Roo and the Yucatan peninsula in college. One of my dreams is to spend time living there someday, finally becoming fluent in Spanish, learning to cook authentic dishes, buying up loads of textiles and pottery, and experiencing Cinco de Mayo in Puebla, the site of the Battle of Puebla- the moment in history that Cinco de Mayo celebrates. Until then, I'll enjoy putting together little fiestas whenever I can.
Having a patio for the first time in many years, it seemed the perfect setting for this inspiration shoot. When we have our real Cinco de Mayo party this coming Sunday we'll probably spread out between the house and the patio, since the patio is a bit small.
Not feeling talented enough to make papel picado, I opted for an easier fringed tissue paper banner. Easily made in an evening by folding cut sheets of tissue paper and creating fringe with scissors, simply hang the sections of tissue paper over twine and staple each section in a few spots. You can then hang the banners either by attaching them to walls, or long wooden dowels staked into the ground if your outdoor space doesn't have walls.
I focused on simple, but colorful details- festive cloth napkins, a cacti centerpiece, a Mexican serape used as a runner, and striped straws turned place cards. Serving low key, but delicious, dishes like chips and guacamole (recipe here), carnitas with warm tortillas, and fresh margaritas (recipe here), allows the cook to spend more time celebrating with everyone and keeps the fiesta going into the night.
In the Kitchen: My Favorite Guacamole
Recipe, photography and styling by Danae Horst for Gather and Hunt.
DIY: May Day Treats
Did any of you celebrate May Day as a child? I don't remember doing it regularly, but I know there were several years where we made little baskets out of construction paper, filled them with treats, left them on the neighbors doorsteps, rang the bell, and ran away before they could detect who left the little surprise on the first day of May. May Day has a long established history, which I won't go into (if you'd like to learn more, Wikipedia has a great deal of information on the holiday), and though it's roots are in pagan festivals, I've always loved this tradition of surprising your neighbors with a little anonymous treat!
For this DIY, I kept things simple. Though you may not have the exact supplies I'm using- the basic concept can be adapted for pretty much anything you have on hand. This is also an easy project, so it's a good one to get the kids involved with! Let's get started.
For the paper cone (or Tussy Mussy, to use the fancier, vintage term) you'll need:
Heavier 8.5"x11" paper (use whatever you like or have on hand. I used this paper in 'paper bag').
Washi tape (again, use what you like- I picked summery colors/patterns).
Twine, cord, yarn, ribbon, or wire (any of these will work).
Hole punch in a small diameter
Scissors
With the sheet of paper oriented with the long side facing you, work the bottom right corner to curl it slightly.
Starting with the bottom left corner, gently curl the left side of the paper towards the upper right corner.
Roll until you have a cone the shape and size you like. For small treats you'll want a tighter, more narrow cone. For larger items, it's best to keep the top opening as wide as possible.
To ensure your cone doesn't come apart, tape a 'seam' at the spot where the inside corner meets the back of the cone. You can do this with either washi tape, or Scotch tape- if you'd prefer the seam be less visible.
Now that your cone is assembled, punch two holes near the top and towards the back, about 1/2 an inch down. You don't have to be exact, just pick a spot where the hole is far enough from the edge to not rip the paper, and far enough back to keep the cone balanced once it's full.
Feed one end of your twine (or other material for hanging the cone) through one of the holes and tie a small knot to secure it. Repeat with the other side. You now have a complete cone, ready to be filled! Repeat until you have the number of cones you plan to deliver.
To fill the cones you'll need:
Fresh flowers
I used ranunculi, but if you plan to do multiple flower filled cones and want a less expensive flower, mini carnations in a single color are a great choice- they smell nice, are actually quite pretty when arranged well, and last a very long time).
Fruit, candies, small cookies, or any other treat you can think of.
I used strawberries because they're in season here in Cali, but small tangerines, kumquats, or other small fruits would be cute too. I didn't have time to bake anything so I picked out some all-natural fruit jellies from Trader Joe's. If you'd like to bake something any small cookies would work- I think Mexican Wedding Cakes or Macaroons would be charming and are the right size for the cone.
Disposable pastry bags cut to the size of your cones.
I used these for several purposes. With the flowers, I put water in the bag so the flowers stay fresh while they're waiting to be discovered. I put the berries inside one to keep them from bleeding through the paper. With the candies, I used a bag to keep the sugar coating from getting all over and attracting ants to the neighbors door. Depending on what you fill your cones with you may not need the bags.
A quick tip- while you're arranging your flowers in the pastry bag, set it inside a glass to keep your hands free.
The last part is easy- fill your cones with the treats you've selected, make a little tag out of whatever you have on hand (just don't put your name on it- the fun is leaving these anonymously), and deliver them on May 1st! Ringing the doorbell is optional, but it's best to leave these for people you know will be home within a few hours of leaving it- that way everything will be fresh and tasty.
My favorite thing about this project is how easily customizable it is- I made a few variations, but you are only limited by the supplies you have on hand. Be as creative as you like.
Do you have any May Day traditions? I'd love to hear about them!
All styling and photos by Danae Horst for Gather and Hunt
Finds to Fancy
{Via Non Perishable Goods} |
{Via Heather Bullard} |
{Via Three Potato Four} |
{Via Andie Powers} |
Happy Friday everyone! I hope you have a lovely weekend ahead of you. I'll be working on a few posts for next week- including a few Cinco de Mayo posts and a little May Day DIY. See you then!
Something Old/Something New
As you may remember from the Easter At Our Table post, I've been gathering up vintage enamelware dishes. The simplicity of the design, the clean black and white colors (my preference, though they also come in a variety of other colors), and the durability of an unbreakable dish is what continues to draw me to enamelware.
{Vintage plate set via The Wild Plum} |
{Via West Elm} |
Do you like enamelware? Do you go for the colorful pieces or the simple black and white I prefer? As always, I'd love to see photos of your collections! Tag me in your IG or Twitter photo and I'll share it here as well!
Work In Progress: Office
Today's space is my office, which is really just a desk and some drawers facing the back of the mister's desk and tucked into one side of our living room. While I don't have any before photos for this one, it's definitely not in a completed state, so we'll return to see the progress in the coming months.
Pink &: c/o Dots & Stripes Courage decal: Oh Hello Friend WA laser cutout: c/o Squirrel Loves Nut (website not functioning) Plaster D: gift from Paper N Stitch- DIY here |
Today print: c/o Oh Hello Friend Triangle photo holder: Dots & Stripes |
Be Brave print: Sophie Blackhall-Cain |
Any item without a source listed is vintage |
What are you working on in your home? I'd love to share reader submissions for this new feature- send me an email if you'd like to contribute (danae{at}gatherandhuntvintage{dot}com).
All photography and styling by Danae Horst for Gather and Hunt