Monhegan Moments

After a weeklong island retreat I am feeling relaxed and refreshed. My creative spirit is brimming with inspiration and ideas for our premier EKLUND GRIFFIN collection, set to launch in 2015. Monhegan is such a wonderful sensory experience. The sights, sounds, and smells of the island are pure and distinct.

Throughout the week, which happened to also be National Picnic Week, I went on 3 picnics, each with a different vista overlooking the cliffs and endless ocean. Between painting sessions I spent time at the island yoga studio and local cafe, and played quite a few rounds of bananagrams. Gathered below is just a small selection of photographs from this past week to share.

I hope you’ve been able to get outside and enjoy the long days, especially now that we’ve celebrated the solstice!

Happy summer, Hayley

6.20.14

Picnic-Perfect Lemon Love Notes

Did you know that this week is National Picnic Week? We just found out ourselves, but we love picnics so we’re sharing a family favorite summer dessert that is picnic-perfect. They pack up really well in a box or tupperware container, just be sure to put a sheet of parchment paper between stacked layers.

This Lemon Love Note recipe has been passed down for at least three generations now. I’m not exactly sure where it originated, but I know it will be sticking around! The lemon filling really tastes like lemon, which is rather rare for lemon bars these days. My boyfriend says these are the best lemon bars he’s ever tried, which he may just be saying, but it makes me beam regardless. Be prepared to share this recipe with whomever you give a Lemon Love Note!

Enjoy! Blair

Lemon Love Notes

For the crust:

1 c. flour

¼ c. confectionery sugar

1 stick (½ c.) cold butter, cut into T. size chunks

For the lemon filling:

1 ½ c. granulated sugar

3 T. flour

3 t. baking powder

3 T. lemon juice, fresh squeezed (I had ½ T. extra juice that I tossed in, it’s all about how lemony you like it. I would even try 4 T.)

zest of two lemons

3 eggs, lightly beaten

For the icing:

¼ cup confectionery sugar

½ t. vanilla

1 T. butter, room temperature

zest of one lemon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line an 8” square baking dish with parchment paper.

In a medium size bowl cut with a pastry blender the flour, confectionery sugar and butter. When the butter is completely incorporated press the dough into the pan lightly with your hands. Pop it into the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, until the edges are a light golden brown.

While the crust bakes, mix together the granulated sugar, flour, baking powder, lemon juice and zest, and eggs. Pour this into the crust and bake an additional 30 minutes or so, until the lemon filling is set and doesn’t jiggle in the center. It will have a spongy appearance when done.

Let the lemon bars cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack. Once fully cooled, mix the icing ingredients: confectionery sugar, lemon zest, vanilla, butter, and milk. Allow the icing to set up for a few minutes before cutting into as many pieces you see fit (four if you are feeling generous, sixteen if you’re a just-a-taste kind of person).

Baker’s Note: Always wash and zest your lemons before you juice them! It’s much easier. Then, before juicing you can roll them under your palm on the counter while pushing down to burst the pulp and make it easier to juice.

6.18.14

Greetings from Monhegan!

After a thrilling ferry ride last Saturday morning ~~where I nearly lost my breakfast~~ (ha! That was fun!) I’ve fallen back into the Monhegan routine with ease. Daily hikes around the island and walks through town have inspired me to break out my oil paints. I completed my first painting yesterday and have two more blank canvases to fill by Sunday. Inspiration is everywhere.

Last night, after we enjoyed the sunset at the dock, we trudged across the island to the lighthouse to lay in the grass and watch the light beams twirl and the stars twinkle. Monhegan is simply breathtaking and has become a trip I look forward to all year. Right now, it’s about living in these Maine Island moments.

I’m excited to share more of my trip with you next week!

Cheers, Hayley

6.16.14

Beyond Wine: Gifts for the Host + Hostess

My summertime schedule always fills up fast with lots of social events. Maybe it’s having the use of outdoor spaces to host gatherings or because the sun stays out later, perhaps it has to do with the summer school vacation that is ingrained in us from a young age… whatever the case, I find myself throwing and attending all kinds of dinners, cookouts and celebrations throughout the warm, sunny days and nights of summer.

When attending an event at a friend’s, I always try to bring a host/hostess gift. A bottle of wine is an old stand-by, but sometimes it’s fun, and appropriate, to get something a little more special. For a house warming party I love these hand-sanded brass coasters made in Brooklyn, NY (3). Or, for the fun-loving and/or eclectic friend these gold assorted animal drink stirrers (1) are fantastic and whimsical. Here are some other ideas for host and hostess gifts, too… all you need is a piece of nice ribbon for a bow and you’re good to go!

Here’s to kicking off a fun-filled summer season! Hayley

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

6.13.14

Summer Destination Weddings

From Loon Mountain in New Hampshire (pictured above left) to Peaks Island, Maine (above right) I’m going to enjoy the literal highs and lows of scenic New England for a summer full of friends’ weddings! Both of the beautiful brides are good friends of mine from art school and their weddings will, undoubtedly, be absolutely gorgeous affairs.

For each locale, I’ve pulled some style inspiration that is well suited to a peak or shoreline celebration… or any summer celebration, really.

For a mountainside wedding I love the idea of incorporating geographic-specific hints like the cutout in this little black dress and triangular turquoise necklace. A neutral wooden clog ties it all together for a natural but sophisticated look.

By the ocean it’s hard to resist stripes. I love stripes anywhere and everywhere, but they are especially associated with the sea. The satin dress below is elevated with a pair of simple black strap heels and some sparkly but delicate earrings for the more formal island black tie affair.

I can’t wait to share in the joyful days for these two incredible and creative women and share my favorite touches from each of their celebrations with you!

Happy weekend (and early Father’s Day!), Hayley

TOP : L + R

BOTTOM : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

6.11.14

Dreaming of… Fly Fishing in Rangeley

I’m in a hurry to get to City Hall for my Maine Resident Fishing License! This weekend for Father’s Day (that’s a reminder if you needed one!) my boyfriend and I are taking Dad (above) on his first fly fishing trip of the season. Last June, Dad, Hayley, her boyfriend, and I went up to Rangeley for a weekend of fly fishing. Dad caught the biggest rainbow trout out of all of us and had the time of his life. There may have been lobster pasta and cherry pie in there too… it wasn’t a “roughing it” kind of weekend.

This year, Dad, my guy, and I will be trudging through the Maine woods and likely eating cherry pie… again. It’s a favorite. For the rest of the week images of fly fishing trips will be swirling around in my head. Luckily we’re nearly half way through the week already!

Happy hump day! Blair

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6.9.14

Foraged Flowers

We’ve said it before; having fresh flowers in the house makes everything sweeter. And during the lilac bloom this is literally the case. Fresh flowers from a store can be pricey, but when the yard is bursting with life this is one simple pleasure that costs nothing. Which is pretty fabulous.

Without a lilac bush of my own, I was thrilled to visit my father and bring home a few of his lilacs. Blair and I then picked a couple additional stems from my little apple tree and the bleeding heart to compliment the white lilacs. Keeping some of the green leaves on the stem was key to creating a balanced arrangement, and the bleeding hearts add a pop of visual interest set off against the soft heads of lilac and apple blossoms.

It doesn’t take a big garden or lots of money to make an exquisite bouquet. Look around at what you have and you may be surprised by what you can create!

Here’s to a sweet week, Hayley

6.6.14

Bar Harbor Birthday

This weekend Hayley is headed up to Mount Desert Island to surprise a dear friend in celebration of her birthday. The woman of the weekend is an effervescent, generous, and just plain fun gal to be around. She is wildly talented when it comes to anything creative and has the most amazing green thumb. You’ll likely see her fine work pop up on Sea Salt + Chambray in the future.

This Orange Almond Cake with Orange Blossom Buttercream, photo and all, from Adventures in Cooking, is so well suited to her with it’s bright and sophisticated flavors but simple presentation topped with a dollop of whimsy. Even though I’m not headed to Bar Harbor for the festivities, I think I may bake this scrumptious looking cake over the weekend and raise a fork to the birthday girl from afar!

Wherever your weekend takes you, may it be delicious! Blair

To see the recipe for the cake in this post and to visit Adventures in Cooking, click here.

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