Father’s day can be a tough holiday for me. I lost my dad about 7 years ago, and it always gets me thinking about him — which brings up feelings both sad and happy. I try and stay positive — and one way that works great for me is gratitude. I’m thankful for so many of the gifts my dad gave me — his long eyelashes, a love for the Beatles, seemingly endless car repairs and folded $50 bills to name just a few — but I’m most appreciative of the things that I learned still in use today. A good work ethic, using power tools, and the ability to clean a fish without fainting or losing my lunch come to mind… How about you? What life-lessons did your dad pass on to you? — Megan B.

image courtesy of Etsy sellerVeraJune.

Collaborations are a dime a dozen these days, so it’s rare that one really catches my heart. But when I heard that one of my favorite letterpress stationery gurus, Egg Press, was teaming up with the ultimate rug design diva, Angela Adams, I actually swooned. Now that they’ve finally launched, the Angela Adams Egg Press collection is even more gorgeous than I’d imagined. Every single card is the perfect paper interpretation of those beautiful rugs from Adams’ collection. As it turns out, this really is a match made in heaven: Egg Press’ bold letterpress style lends itself perfectly to Angela’s retro-mod graphic styling. Plus, of course, what really makes Angela’s rugs sing is her use of texture within each pattern, which Egg Press has recreated perfectly.

This isn’t the first time I’ve seen cards that I’ve wanted to take home and frame…but it’s the first time I love them enough that I might actually do it. The textures and colors are so vivid, I can’t help wanting to show off a few – I’m envisioning a vertical line of them down a narrow wall space in my dining room. Or, I suppose I could go the traditional route and actually send them to friends – for all the technology in the world, there’s just nothing like a handwritten note, especially for no reason at all.

With four sizes (including an impossibly adorable mini gift card), and several messages to choose from, I have no idea how I’ll even begin choosing favorites. The only solution? Get one of each! –Becki S.

I have a serious condiment addiction, and my latest can’t-get-enough craving is for mustards. Sweet, yellow, brown, honey … and most recently, grainy. I love to make dressings and marinades with it, top a Chicago dog, and mix into mac n’ cheese. Surprised at the lack of options in my local grocery, this past weekend I decided to make my own. After doing a little internet research I found out the process is actually ridiculously easy! There are lots of variations, but I tried a very basic recipe and am really excited about the results. Here’s my recipe:
Grainy Mustard
• 1/2 cup yellow mustard seeds
• 3 tablespoons brown mustard seeds
• 3/4 cup cider vinegar
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
In a glass or plastic (not metal) bowl I soaked mustard seeds in vinegar and water at room temperature for 1 1/2 days (if you try this and the seeds aren’t fully submerged, add enough additional water to cover). After soaking, I puréed the mixture with a hand blender with honey and salt until the texture was medium-coarse (which took about 2 minutes). Then, I then thinned it with a little additional water and adjusted the salt to my taste. That’s it! It turned out awesomely grainy with a nice tang, and should mellow out in a week. Next time I might try a variation like:
• Using beer, ale, or wine instead of vinegar
• Adding dried fruit such as apricots, cherries or raisins to the soaking
• Adjusting the ratio of seeds (brown seeds make for a spicier spread)
• Using smoked or flavored salts, sugar, or maple syrup to season
• Adding herbs and spices such as tarragon, thyme, paprika, or Chinese 5-spice powder.
Have you ever made your own condiments? — Rebecca F.

Photo: Rebecca Firlik

The world often likes to remind me how amazingly small it is — for example, I found one of my favorite reads, Picnics in the Park, through our comments here. Greta is a regular reader here, and after reading (extensively, and with delight) through her blog one day, I recognized her and her insanely cute kiddos as some of my favorite customers from my previous workplace, some two states away!! I’m so thrilled to have re-connected with her, and am thrilled even more each day to read about her lovely life in my ol’ beach town.

Greta constantly floors me with her creative solutions for decorating on next to no budget. This week’s post on her arriving-any-day new baby’s nursery is of course no exception. She quickly whipped up a garland from a photocopied IKEA napkin with fabulous results, but I was most impressed with her picture frames: embroidery hoops! She simply glued her postcards of choice to sturdy cardstock, and then glued that to the back of the embroidery hoop. To hang, she glued a hoop of bright colored raffia to the cardstock, and tacked it to the wall. Amazingly simple, yes? And I love the art she used, too. If you like what you see, be sure to do what I do — read everyday to find even more inspiration! — Megan B.

This year, my dad will be receiving a shiny, new bird feeder for Father’s Day (more on that to come), but for those of you looking for an indoor gift for Dad, a few very thoughtful ideas worth passing along can be found over at Pinhole Press. First spotted by way of Joanna Goddard’s blog, A Cup of Jo, the company makes gorgeous photo gifts, like the incredible birthday book Joanna made for her father. From customized notepads and stationery to calendars and books in a few formats, the site offers a variety of options in different price ranges that all boast very professional, keepsake-worthy finishes. Though a time-consuming project, a 97-photo signature photo book, complete with linen book-cloth cover, vellum end-leaves and customizable title page will cost you $65, but would be well worth the time and money spent on that #1 Dad. – Sarah C.

My in-laws are plagued by ticks so when they discovered the Ticked Off tick remover, they promptly gifted one to us. It’s sat, unused, in our junk drawer ever since. Then the dog carried a tick home from a weekend romp in the woods. Next thing you know, I’m digging through the junk drawer, wondering where the tick-remover thingie went. Using it is easy — place the notched cup behind the tick, then slide it forward toward the head. It ensures that the entire tick is removed and the cup catches the tick for easy and touch-free disposal. Designed for use on pets or people, the $10 is well worth the peace of mind. Find it at a local retailer through the Ticked Off website or order online through Amazon, where the original is currently a steal at $2.99 . Made in the U.S.A. — Sarah L.

Last Monday we took the day off to observe Memorial Day and celebrate the kickoff of another summer season. Today we tip our hats to the ambassador fruit of the season by taking pause to recognize the little corner of the internet dedicated expressly to it: Watermelon.org . Whether enjoyed alone or receiving top billing in a popsicle combo, watermelon is one of my all-time favorite fruits and the surest sign (besides the firing of the “check filter” light on my air conditioner) that summer has indeed arrived. This year I’m interested in incorporating the fruit in different ways. For starters, I’m looking to Megan B.’s much-loved recipe for watermelon with feta and mint and Nigella Lawson’s watermelon, feta and black olive salad, which comes highly-recommended by our readers. In the beverage department, 21st Amendment brews a seasonal “Hell or High Watermelon” wheat beer that I’d love to track down and introduce to my taste buds, and for more recipes, both cocktail and otherwise, I’ll be looking to the experts at the National Watermelon Promotion Board, but I’d love to put the call out to our readers as well. Have any watermelon-pairing epiphanies to share? Sound off in comments, I’m all ears and the summer has just begun! Here’s to you, watermelon. 92% water, 100% delicious. – Sarah C.

Every spring when I fill my planters, I comb the nursery for something exotic. More often than not, I end up disappointed and with planters that, well, fizzle. This year, inspired by an article in Country Living, I decided to go basic. Sweet potato vine, creeping Jenny (lysimachia “Goldilocks”) and Kong coleus. I planted them in May and crossed my fingers. Less than a month later, I already have plants that are trailing over the sides and while the Kong coleus aren’t quite Empire State Building big, they’ve doubled in size. Next year, I may switch up the colors, but I’ll definitely stick with the basics. What about you? Got any planter favorites to share? — Sarah L.

The Handelier: a contender for coolest upcycling project ever, found at Curbly.

Take a tour of the kitsch-filled Streamline Moderne Hollywood home of songwriter Allee Willis at The New York Times. Two words: submarine room!

DIY glitter. It’s real. Make it with help from Sprinkles and Sequins — via Whorange’s twitter feed.

We know what we’ll be fixin’ up ’round the fire pit this weekend: peanut butter cup s’mores. Thanks, NotMartha!

Companion planting: the key to repelling garden pests naturally! At DIYLife.

When life hands you a flat of strawberries, do what Say Yes to Hoboken did: DIY dried strawberries!

NotCot unveils a seating marvel: the Knoll Generation chair, meant to be comfortable and supportive no matter how you sit in it (backwards, sideways…).

This Hot Pot BBQ we spotted at CasaSugar does double-duty: an herb planter and petite portable grill in one!

As some of you may recall, my little terrarium was in dire straits a few months back. It’s now become clear to me that, despite all of your sage advice, my poor little plant is not long for this world. It’s a sad state of affairs, but one with which I’m constantly plagued. I’m a black-thumbed girl with green-thumb ambitions. I’ve always wanted to be one of those women who gardens as a hobby, who has beautiful, flowering plants in every corner of her yard, who can make lemons grow on a miniature tree in her dining room. Alas, as evidenced by the fact that I can’t even sustain a succulent, I’m not that girl. I’m the girl that has managed to kill ivy, rosemary, and all sorts of other “indestructible” plants.

Yet every year, I start the spring off with hope, however unfounded. This is the time of year when I find myself desperately wanting a little something to pot and care for, but it’s clear I need to take baby steps. I’d love to plant a little boxed herb garden, but I think it’s beyond my care grade. I’ve heard that strawberries can be an easy starter plant, and the seedling sellers at my local farmers’ market tell me that basil should be nearly foolproof, but I’m skeptical.

And so, I turn to you dear Shelterrific readers for another helping hand. If you’re an expert greenie, is there something out there at my local nursery that I simply cannot kill? Or, if you’re a novice like me, maybe you’ve had luck with a species or two? –Becki S.