This piece is an extended version of the monthly zine I create called Chamomile Tea Aesthetic Universe. This zine documents my creative process, inspirations, and noticings. Paid subscribers receive a physical copy of the zine mailed to them each month. To join the zine list, become a paid subscriber to this blessed publication. Free ways to support this newsletter include: sharing it with a friend, commenting, liking, and reposting.
Thank you!
Dear Reader,
Over the past year, I have enjoyed borrowing many books from the little library in my Mom’s neighborhood. The owner of this library has very similar taste in books as I do, and it’s truly a delight to peruse her selection. Recently, I thought I’d like to meet the person who runs this little library.
When I was visiting my Mom, I left a short hand-written review of The Marriage Portrait, a book I had borrowed, a copy of the May Chamomile Tea Aesthetic Universe zine, and a short note sharing how much I love her little library and would she like to go for a walk and chat about books sometime? I was delighted when she texted me later that day and we went for a walk the next morning!
Having these little moments of connection and staying open to making new friends is the magic of being a human. I have often found that if you reach out and make the first move, most people are interested in connecting. Experiencing friendship magic is one of my guiding life principles that is critical in the times we live in with extreme isolation from each other and a dire lack of community.
When I was dropping off an order for a customer who runs an artist space, I met an artist working in her studio and we ended up having a wonderful and deep conversation for over an hour. An unexpected deep conversation where we can talk about art and craft and philosophy and life is an experience I always welcome. What a gift it is to connect with someone new. I’m filled with gratitude for these special moments.
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This month I was blessed to enjoy two page-turners back to back! Both books were found in the aforementioned little library. The first book I read was The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell. Set in 1560s Italy, this story follows a young girl from Florence named Lucrezia who is married off to a 29-year-old man from Ferrara after her sister suddenly dies and she has to marry him in her place. The story is based on an actual Medici 15-year-old girl and re-imagines her story in a more empowering way. There is little actually known about this young woman, as history doesn’t care to follow what happens in the lives of women who endure harrowing situations. I couldn’t put it down and I’m excited to check out Maggie O’Farrell’s other works.
Another book I loved was The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. This one takes place in 1960s and ’70s upstate NY at a summer camp. It follows a wealthy family that owns the camp, as their son and daughter both go missing from the camp, 15 years apart. We learn the backstory of many of the characters as this mystery unfolds. I don’t typically go for a mystery, but I loved this one and could not put it down, which led to many nights where I stayed up far too late reading.
Summer is my favorite time to dive into books, especially when I get to read them outside on a porch or near a body of water. It feels so good to be back in the swing of my daily reading practice after falling off my daily reading ritual in May.
Years ago when I lived in Brooklyn, I was a prolific bicycler dedicated to using it as my primary mode of transportation. Since moving to Detroit, I haven’t biked nearly as much as I once did since it’s a very car-centric city. This month, I started getting back into biking and it feels incredible.
I enjoyed biking to my new job once (before the heatwave hit) and biking around while camping at Pointe Pelee in Ontario. One of my goals for the summer is to get my bike tuned up and incorporate biking each week. When you’re on a bike, you’re able to experience your surroundings in a new way and see things in a different light. It’s pure bliss!
With the heatwave we’ve had recently, it’s been essential to have as many cool and refreshing beverages as possible. I love to drink my herbal coffee, Dandy Blend, every morning, and I created an iced coffee alternative that is so tasty and addictive. I call it Dandy Blend Shakerato.
Here’s the recipe:
Mix 4 tbs of Dandy Blend in a cocktail shaker or mason jar and dissolve with a small amount of boiling water
Fill your jar with ice, add the lid and shake until the jar is cold.
Add a bit more cold water, ice, milk of choice and stir. Optional: add simple syrup and some vanilla extract. So good!
Enjoy your Dandy Blend Shakerato! This was inspired by the freddo capuccinos I enjoyed a few summers ago in Greece. It’s even better because you won’t feel zapped with too much caffeine. CHEERS!
One craft I have been eager to try is turning lake pigments into watercolor paints. Lake pigments are pure pigment in powder form that you can use to create paints and oil pastels. You can create a lake pigment out of any plant material by reducing it down like you’re making a tea, and then adding alum, straining and drying it out. You can also collect any remaining color from an old and mostly exhausted dye bath using this process, which is what I did to create this paint! I made my own watercolor medium with a mixture of honey, water and gum arabic as per the recipe in Natalie Stopka’s book From Plant to Pigment. I ground up the pigment using my glass slab and muller mixed with the watercolor medium to create my own paints made from madder root and acacia wood. I’m excited to make a collection of plant paints to use in my paintings. It’s a very meditative process.
Lately I’ve been making various frames to give as gifts. I got a mini photo printer in January and it’s been a delight to enjoy having printed photos in my house and in my notebooks. I made a red horse candlestick holder for the year of the fire horse on my altar. I have also been making wonky hand built mugs and experimenting with different glaze combinations. I love working on ceramics!
In June, I sewed myself a tank top and shorts set using the Honey Girl Lounge Set pattern. I used a green and white striped cotton jersey fabric I bought secondhand at Arts & Scraps. I self drafted a boat neck button up top last summer and had issues with this so I abandoned it for a year. I think the issue with this is that I let the neckline get stretched out. The fit isn’t right but I like the fabric and it’s still wearable. I made this patchwork dress back in 2021 and after so much wear, the straps started coming apart. I resewed the straps and did some nicer touches on it to clean up the seams. It’s wild to look back on my older projects and see how much I’ve improved.
June garden bounty - strawberries, radishes, and cilantro galore! I also grew snap peas for the first time. I just planted more for the fall :)
I brought a raspberry ricotta cake to a BBQ at my Uncle’s house - this recipe is so good and so easy to make. I always love making homemade pizza, the perfect vehicle for the mountain of arugula I got from my garden. When the heatwave hit, I needed to not have the oven on and I made a massive bowl of pasta salad and a Greek style chicken and rice bowl. So good!
Thank you for reading! Have you enjoyed any books, movies, or recipes lately? Please share them below in the comments.
xoxo
meg
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