making memorials

In the olden days, people called Memorial Day Decoration Day. Families visited graves and memorials, paid their respects to the war dead and adorned these sites with flowers. We believe the date was chosen as so much of our country is in bloom in late May.

In the modern age (that's us), we also mark the official start of summer, we approve the wearing of whites and we fly the American flag at half mast from dawn until noon.

my maternal grandfather, floyd e. johnson, 1909-1999, charlottesville, virginia

I've come to think of the holiday as a time to recall our personal and national history.  I use the day to tell the children about their extended and distant family. I tell them the basics, the legends and the lies (let's don't let the truth get in the way of a good story!)  As a child, my father amused and taught with stories whose characters came straight out of Big Fish or The World's Largest Man; that's entertainment. And to pull all these sentiments together, last year, my sister sent me this New York Times article that suggests that families that tell family stories stick together longer and better.

In the last ten years, my husband and I start one selected project on or about Mother's Day. We garden, plant trees or flowers, build something.  Sometimes we finish in a day, but we often finish on or about Memorial Day. Then we go fishing as a family.

Of course, all the fish take our sorry, undersized bait as soon as it hits the water. We spend all day and half the night passing the pole between our muscle fatigued arms. The monster won't tire!  The sand gnats swarm in island sized clouds. We land the beast on deck just in time before the tidal waters disappear. We've narrowly escaped being beached and with a hearty supper that will feed all of Vernonburg! True story!

2010: springhouse roof redux, 2013, spring house "porch", 2014 springhouse vertical garden, 2015 potting bench, sink (wip)

Also true, it strikes me as I write this post that I am making memorials to my family, passed (in service to our country or simply in service to our family) and present. I pay homage to Savannah and to the life that I am carving out. I'm also creating a standing memorial that refers to the past, present and future. Our projects are informed by and honors those around us, some dear, some strangers. Both the making and the associated story helps us to create our own traditions and to recall some part of our past.

I'm looking forward to torturing my children with history and projects this entire month, but especially on Memorial Day. Whose story will you tell? Who will you honor and what form will that endeavor take?

plant in vertical garden adopted from lynn serualla + adam kuehl in turtle shell found by family in the georgia woods 

Blogging this week for The Paris Market, artist and collaborative designer katherine sandoz makes abstract paintings, fiber arts, illustration, portraits and collaborative works of art in a barn behind her home in Savannah, Georgia. The flora and fauna of the low-country serve as fodder for her imagery. Sandoz, a former service member herself, is moved and inspired by soldiers and warriors of all kinds and times.  

Cozy Corners: Rustic Living Room Vignette

Last week at the Paris Market we completed a huge store-wide reorganization & with that has come a lot of great new spaces down in our basement. This rustic living room vignette is definitely one of our new favorites! We're all about the nitty gritty details & this space is full of them. From the vintage books to the natural curiosities to the hanging votives, there is always something new to catch your eye. And, of course, it's hard to miss the centerpiece of the space: the beautiful, taupe, Paris style sofa. If you can resist the pull to curl up & take a nice, long nap, then you certainly have more willpower than we do! Be sure to stop by the store soon so you can explore our basement & see all the great, new spaces for yourself!

Apartment Feature on Design Sponge: Kelsey & Erik Riley

Over the years, Design Sponge's blog has become an integral part of our day. Kelsey and I look forward to reading it every morning as we wake up and savor our first cup of coffee. Separate of enjoying Design Sponge on a personal level, as the blogger for The Paris Market, I've looked to the work they do as a constant source of inspiration and guidance for how to capture the importance and beauty of design, interior spaces, products, aesthetics and creativity. Working at a store like The Paris Market, you quickly learn how to appreciate good design, quality and anything with a story. So much of what Kelsey and I do at work has made its way into our home in some form or another and over the years, our apartment has become a direct reflection of our travels, lifestyle, interests and workplace. As we're nearing the end of our time in Savannah and The Paris Market - two places we care so much about - a home feature in Design Sponge feels like the perfect end to this chapter in our lives. We couldn't feel more honored and happy to share our home with Design Sponge, The Paris Market and you. Enjoy a few photos from yesterday's feature below and check out the full post on Design Sponge!  

Candle of the Week: Price's Housekeeper

Summers in the south can get pretty hot and humid. At times, the heat can become so intense that survival without an air conditioner is almost unthinkable. Though opening your windows for a cool breeze sounds like a good idea, the reality is much different. And not surprisingly, homes can get pretty stuffy from being closed up all season long, which is exactly when we know it's time to pull out the big guns. Price's Housekeeper candle is one of our absolute favorite scents. With extracts of beeswax, mandarin and lemon you can't go wrong. Just as the name suggests, the fragrance transforms your home into smelling like a Housekeeper has just added their finishing touches to every nook in sight. And as the summer continues to warm up, it's clear that Price's Housekeeper candle is without a doubt, a must have. Stop by today before it gets too hot and keep your house smelling fresh all summer long with Price's candles!

Available at The Paris Market.

On the Table: Colorful Kitchen Essentials

Seeing as summer is officially here we thought it might be a good time for us to start making the house feel as warm and colorful as the season itself! The past couple of days we've been keeping busy stocking our shelves with all kinds of summery kitchen essentials, some of which includes our favorite French cheese knives, playful tea towels and our intoxicating Archivist candles. It's the season for fun in the sun, relaxation and delicious meals with friends and family, and what better time to add a pop of color to your home and kitchen than at the start of a new season! Stop by today for all of your colorful summer essentials!

Candle of the Week: Price's Open Window

It's time to open up those windows and air out the house because spring is here and it's about time your home smelled like it! One reason why we love Price's candles so much is not just because of their numerous wonderful scents but also because they employ Odourfoyl technology that neutralizes unwanted odors leaving your home smelling clean and fresh as a spring morning! Open Window's extracts of Lily, Violet and Orange Flower make for an intoxicating aroma that's light and airy and undeniably refreshing. Open Window may be our candle of the week but that doesn't mean we aren't also obsessed with all of Price's other delightfully scented candles! Enjoy the intoxicating aromas at the store or shop our online boutique and rid your home of all those lingering odors!

On the Shelf: Spring Cleaning Essentials

Spring is in the air, which means it's time to roll up your sleeves and start tackling that dreaded list of spring cleaning to-do's! Nothing makes a job worse than being ill-equipped with lackluster tools, which is why we've prepared ourselves with all of our favorite household products. Even the toughest of jobs don't stand a chance against our strong brushes, thick towels, and household sprays! And when your hands have had enough scrubbing, our myriad of revitalizing lotions will make your skin feel as fresh as your home! It's time to get those cobwebs out of the corners and that stale winter smell out of the house, because spring is here and cleaning can wait no longer! Stop by soon and shop our entry display for all of your spring cleaning essentials!

Current Obsession : Monk Made Candles

These candles have been on our shelves for barely a day and we are head over heels in love! Not only are we obsessed with the myriad of intoxicating scents to choose from but the details in which makes every candle unique has us swooning! Each candle is carefully made by hand deep in the forest by orthodox monks. Wow, With a backstory like that, how could you not want to bring one of these home? Made with 100%  pure beeswax and olive oil, every candle is scented with essential oils and poured into a hand blown glass vessel. Packaged with a beautifully letter pressed vintage illustration, these candles are an absolute must have this spring!

Available at The Paris Market.