veins

photograph by kristin karch

the goat farm

i recently visited the goat farm near downtown atlanta. it was such a treat! it is 20 acres of old factory buildings where machines were once made to gin cotton. now it is taken over by artists, farmers, dancers, potters, fashion designers, and all sorts of creative people. the old buildings are beautiful in themselves, but new creativity is blossoming everywhere you look. creatives live and have studios there. there's a wonderful coffee shop to hang out in, an organic garden, dance studio, and more. it feels like out in the country; no tall buildings in sight. there really are goats at the goat farm, too! it feels like a groovy commune. i loved it!

photographs and words by rebecca wood

cherry

photograph by rinne allen

wisteria

most southerners have love hate relationship with the wisteria vine.  when it blooms there is no smell that compares to the sweet and fragrant air that breezes throughout town.  it's lovely white and lavender blossoms coat the trees and sky which make is so easy to look up and admire the spring canopy.  when you have wisteria in your yard you tend to have a different take on the vine! it can take over a tree in no time and its large and strong vine is almost impossible to control.  i still can't help but love this time of year and the sweetness that it brings!

photographs and words by kristen bach

golden hour

photograph by kristin karch

crumbling history

this house is a favorite of mine and has been visited by rebecca a few times as well. it used to have a "for sale" sign that is gone now, so i am hoping someone is going to give some love to this ca. 1820 home. here are some photographs of the crumble before it all changes - for good or bad.

photographs and words by kristin karch

honeysuckle

photograph by rinne allen

spring flowers

photographs by rebecca wood

window beauty

photo by kristen bach

a simple foraged meal

they say that the morel mushrooms growing season is when the dogwoods are in bloom.  with foraging, you really never know if you will find anything on your hunt.  this year we have had a few plentiful hunts and many days where we came home empty handed.  it really is the fun part about going out to hunt! 

the nice things about morels is that they really need very little preparation.  they are naturally so flavorful that a little oil or butter, salt and pepper is all they need!  we love to pair them with some spring peas and toss them over a bed of buttery noodles.  so good! 

we are still hoping that we may find another patch of morels on a spring hike in the next upcoming weeks as our dogwoods are still in full bloom!

photos and words by kristen bach

white dress

photograph by love stories by halie & alec

beauty everyday guest book

our photographer friends over at love stories by halie & alec recently shot a styled wedding that included our beauty everyday book as the guest book. 

there have been several weddings that have used our book as a memorable keepsake from their special day.  we love the idea of friends and family picking their favorite page and inscribing a sweet message to the bride and groom. what a way to remember your wedding day!

models: erin + sam . planner: grace lionetti at lionhearted events . flowers: bud and bloom . makeup + hair: margaret snider . dress: kelly's closet // rue de seine chloe gown .  rings/jewelry: rhys may . cake: sweetie pie by savie

header image by kristin karch, all others by love stories by halie and alec

bluebells

photograph by rinne allen

spring woods

i took a walk by the river and there was chartreuse everywhere. love this time of year!

photographs and words by rebecca wood

studio visit: jess dunlap

STUDIO VISIT documents artists and where they work in and around Athens, Georgia. Artist and curator Hope Hilton is paying a visit to one space every 2 months, and asking the artists she visits to send her to the next artist, with the only rule being that it must be someone's studio she’s never been to. Jess Dunlap is the first artist she visited.

———

STUDIO VISIT

The artist Jess Dunlap is also a writer and an alchemist. Living and working in the green and brown and red country fields of Winterville, Georgia, an opportunity to visit her studio is always a treat. Where she works is like stepping into a cabinet of wonder, and her life and art are parts of the same world, inseparable. 

Recognized around Athens for her pyrographic drawings on wood featured at 1000 Faces Coffee, her practice incorporates many different processes, including many materials and mediums she makes herself. My very favorite homemade walnut ink comes from her, and she’s always trying out new recipes and ideas from foraged berries and plants. I’m inspired by her approach to art as a slow process, created with intention, with simple materials. 

She told me that wild persimmons used to be called possumwood around these parts, so named her website www.possumwoodarts.tumblr.com  Have a look!

Here is a peek into her studio:

photographs and words by hope hilton

climbing

photograph by kristin karch

wisteria

with the coming of spring comes the sweet scent of wisteria. white and lavender blooms signify that it has woken up after winter sleep and is ready to begin climbing once again.  

photographs and words by kristin karch

dew

photo by kristen bach

kumquat glaze and pound cake

for easter i made a dessert for our friends and family feast.  we had so many kumquats left from our florida harvest and i have been wanting to make some sort of desert with them.  so my daughter and i made a basic poundcake, this recipe is one of my favorites.  we slow cooked some kumquats in a simple syrup and served a dollop of cardamon whipped cream on top.  what  a decadent treat it was!  here is our recipe for our kumquat glaze, enjoy!~

kumquat glaze
1 pint of kumquats
1 cup of water, add more as needed
1/2 cup sugar, add more depending on the tartness of your kumquats
1 vanilla bean, sliced down the middle
a dash of salt, optional

-thinly slice your kumquats, remove seeds.  note... you will also find seeds as you cook them
-in a saucepan add your sliced kumquats, 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 cup sugar, and your vanilla bean
-simmer for an hour and continue stirring every now and again
-as the liquid gets cooked off add more water
-slowly cook for about an hour
-add more water and sugar as needed
-after an hour your kumquats should be cooked down but still intact.  spoon over your pound cake,  ice cream, or fresh bread.

photos and recipe by kristen bach

beach walk

photograph by rinne allen