Southern Sonoma Country Life

Sonoma County Designer Emma Gardner's Rug of the Month - Swirl

"This adaptation of a vintage Japanese textile changes so much with each different color way: here it reveals itself as a wind-blown field of fresh grass," says my favorite Sonoma County based textile designer, Emma Gardner of her inspiration for this serene and grassy composition in one of my favorite colors combos.    

Realized in 50% Chinese silk and 50% Tibetan wool hand-knotted in 5mm pile. Emma Gardner's exquisite, Goodweave Certified rugs are made to order in Nepal, custom color and sizes are available.

For more info call 877.377.3144 or contact@emmagardnerdesign.com

 

California Tea Time

Sausalito-based Heath Ceramics is having a summer sale. My friend Lara and I had a lovely little shopping foray in the factory store last Fall. I think it's soon time for another visit. 

An array of teacups was screenprinted on one of Heath's featured highy absorbant, textured cotton, natural hopsack tea towels pictured above, using water-based ink. Hand-made by Skinny laMinx (Heather Moore) in Cape Town, South Africa.

Alas, not in the sale, but so classic, this iconic Heath piece tea pot, designed in the 1940s to work with any of the company's ceramic dinnerware lines. It's copper handle is hand wrapped in leather. Tea for two under the shade of a silk mimosa tree. 

 

And every proper summer's afternoon tea table, even a makeshift set-up in the yard or on the porch must have its own bud vase and a fresh bloom or two.

North Bay-based Mighty Leaf exquisite Tea's add a splash of pizazz to the locavore's tea table, hot or iced.

Les Claypool's Duo De Twang - Live Fundraiser at Lagunitas Mini Amphitheaterette June 25th

Bay Area-based musician Les Claypool of Primus fame has teamed up with Sonoma County's rock star brewing company in a June 25th fundraiser to help one of our regional fishermen back on board his capsized vessel and back out to sea.

Tickets for Claypool's duo De Twang are on sale from June 11th for a BBQ/Pasta Feed/Hoedown at the Laguminiamphitheaterette at Lagunitas Brewing Company in Petaluma and they won't last long.

With limited space at the Lagunitas hot-spot, what an intimate opportunity to hear some outstanding live music and be a part of helping commercial fisherman Ted Frank back on his seadog feet. Click here to for tickets - $50 without dinner/$75 with dinner.

 

The Summer Cottage (Part 2)

Jane Austen is hard to beat when it comes to the quotable quote. Hence her sage reasoning that: "There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort," strikes me as so right-on for the summer months with gardens in full bloom.

Who would want to leave a scene such as the one spotted at this sweet little West Petaluma cottage? Especially when summer evenings are warm enough to sit on the porch and ponder the simplest pleasures? 

If you don't have one of these bountiful cutting gardens to fill your home with blooms, it's farmer's market season and some of the best deals in fresh flowers can be found amongst vendors. I came home from the Saturday Petaluma Farmer's Market with four stunning bunches of star gazer lillies, sunflowers and assorted blooms for $20.

Thursday Evening in the Vineyard in June

“Green was the silence, wet was the light, the month of June trembled like a butterfly.” 

Pablo Neruda

photos: Dominic Rivetti

Bold and Distinctive - California Dreaming Architectural Images on Show at Aqus Cafe Depict Iconic Area Structures

British artists and photographers (London based) Andrew Pegram and (Petaluma based) Gail Foulkes launched their collaborative show California Dreaming at Aqus Cafe at Foundry Wharf in West Petaluma this month, with an enthusiastic welcome from a bustling crowd gathered for the artists' reception.

Pegram's bold and distinctive work features complex screen prints of architectural subjects, including multiple iconic Petaluma landmark structures, using his newly developed 12-layer technique.

Foulkes (prolific & celebrated Trans-Atlantic multi-media artist) captured many of the original images that Pegram transformed with his signature process, in his Islington, North London studio. Original photography by Foulkes is also featured in this striking exhibit, on show through mid-July. Prints are available for urchase. As are prints of

Pegram's work on architectural structures in San Francisco, as well as a delightful series of English pub fronts (also on show at Aqus).    

Specializing in private house, hotels, school and college portraits of properties all over the world Pegram is commissionable to capture your home in his unique pen and ink style. Contact him at ajpegram@msn.com.

The show moves on to the Redwood Cafe in Cotati after its run at Aqus Cafe. I'd love to see a permanent exhibit of the Petaluma prints here in town at the Visitors Center, Museum or other appropriate locale. 

The Summer Cottage (Part 1)

"I am excessively fond of a cottage," wrote Jane Austen in Sense and Sensibility. "There is always so much comfort, so much elegance about them. And I protest, if I had money to spare, I should buy a little land and build one myself.....where I might drive myself down at any time, and collect a few friends about me and be happy. I advise everybody who is going to build, to build a cottage."

Following on from my porch series, American flags, Wisteria and rose series, I've decided on a California cottage in summer series. Resplendent in full June bloom, these sweetest and simplist of Sonoma County abodes are in abundance in West Petaluma. Perfect timing for early morning or evening pedal power outings, pottering around town on my bike with camera.   

Counting Sheep

Watching this flock of contented SoCo sheep play follow my leader, I figured this bucolic scene was a little too scenic not to share.  

A Farm to Table Dinner with Foxes in the Henhouse June 29th 2013

Southern Sonoma County's popular Foxes in the Henhouse are a busy bunch of music mavens this month, popping up for performances all over the county and neighboring West Marin. 

Here's something a little bit out of the ordinary for a Foxes Show and one that's packed with delicious cuisine, the chance to meet some fun new folk and share a special evening at Cotati's sustainable SucherNova Farm with friends and family.

As the Foxes entertain, Chef Marie Michelle Mutrux will prepare an outstanding, multi course organic dinner from the day's bounty from the farm as well as foods from surrounding farms.

Bring your own beer or wine or place an order for featured DeLoach Vineyards wine to be delivered to the table. 

Cost is $100.00/person which does not include Beverages. Space is limited & payment is required to reserve a space. RSVP to SucherNova Farm - 707.992.0056 with payment to SucherNova Farm ~ 909 W. Sierra Ave. Cotati, CA 94931.

Cowgirl Creamery's Father's Day Collection

Cowgirl Creamery is celebrating dads and all they do, in the nick of time for Father's Day 2013, June 16th.

How about a surprise for your own dear Dad of one of our favorite cheese outfitter's scrumptious Father's Day Collection basket of picnic items including the earthy Barely Buzzed from Beehive, a cheddar-style cheese rubbed with espresso beans and lavender oil, Rogue Creamery’s spicy, sweet and sharp Smokey Blue, cold-smoked over smoldering hazelnut shells, and Cowgirl's own triple-cream,  washed-rind RED HAWK?

For an extra kick, they’ve added Creminelli Salami and Cowgirl crackers made especially by Rustic Bakery. Priced at $79 with a variety of shipping costs according to where you are in the U.S., you might be able to save the delivery dollars if you live within driving distance of one of the Cowgirl's popular stores. 

And if Dad's in the Bay Area/Sonoma County/Marin area, a Cowgirl Creamery tour, class or special event might be something memorable to consider.