Color Story: Deep Teal

Updated March 2023.

Originally published January 2020.

While Pantone’s 2020 Color of the Year is Classic Blue, I feel like I’ve already explored that in my 2018 Blues color story. Instead, what’s been on my mind – colorwise, at least – is teal.

It’s a tricky one to define exactly.

Teal resides at the divide between blue and green, undulating from one to the other, like waves over the border between sea and ocean. The side it falls on depends on who is seeing it and how.

You might find dark, dramatic shades of teal in a flowing river, in paint and pottery, in flora and fauna. Maybe it’s made its way into your home.

Teal can feel tranquil. Like a deep breath. Like that time after the holidays but before you’ve completely resumed your regular routine. Like the peace we need more of in 2020.

For now, maybe we can start by simply taking a moment to breathe deeply and take in some gorgeous teal tranquility.

1. A dramatic shade of natural stucco paint made with minerals sourced in Europe. / via Kromoxi (H/T A Girl Inspired)

2. Diving kingfisher near Kirkcudbright, Scotland. / One of over 720,000 photographs Alan McFadyen shot during his 6-year quest to perfectly capture the birds’ dive into the water. / via Daily Mail

3. Detail of VisionShift, Sonia King’s mosaic installation for the HALL Arts complex in Dallas.

4. Mudstone font sample. / I’m not sure whether this festival actually exists, but I kinda hope it does. / via You Work For Them

5. Tips for making a eucalyptus leaf bundle to hang in your shower. (Or purchase a ready-made one.) / Photo via Healthline

6. Prickly pear cactus earrings created by Australian artist Amelia Marks. / via e.g. etal

7. Tiled steps at The Dreamcatcher Guesthouse in Ocean Park, Puerto Rico. / via BLDG 25 + Dreamcatcher on Facebook

8. DIY tropical wreath with paper foliage by Lia Griffith.

9. Ceramicist Gwendolyn Yoppolo shows the lovely variation from different glazes and firing techniques.

10. Hand-printed vintage camper tea towel by Cara Hibbs. (Her Etsy shop, ohlittlerabbit, is taking a break. More fun, hand-screened tea towels here.)

11. Sea lions and pelicans enjoying a sunny day at Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey, California. / I took this photo when we were there in 2012. We stayed in a cute little vintage camper that looked a bit like the lower right one on the tea towel above.

12. Lacinato kale + recipe for kale and sausage skillet via The Rainforest Garden.

13. 1960s brushed metal pendant lamp by Doria Leuchten via VNTG.

14. “You Belong Among the Wildflowers” embroidered Tom Petty lyrics wall hanging by BreezebotPunch on Etsy. (Currently out of stock but you can get on the waitlist or request a custom order.)

15. Abstract sketchbook painting of the Smith River in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park (Northern California) by Heather Day. / Her work is more about sensory experience than the literal represensation of a scene. She camped + painted in a spot overlooking this river in 2017. / via VSCO

16. The Vintage Turkish Over Dye Rug by Cadrys is one of the accessories “Interiors Addict” Jen Bishop selected to help your home feel cozy over the winter. (H/T The Home)

17. This adorable little square planter is handmade in Maine by Elizabeth Benotti.

Teal we meet again!

Photo sources: the Monterey and Venice photos are mine. Others are as cited.

This post contains Etsy affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission on purchases – at no extra cost to you. So shop away!

December 6, 2022December 6, 2022

Antique Gold and Forest

Updated December 2022.

Originally published December 2017.

Since my recent autumn and indigo color palette article received such a great response, I thought I’d keep up the color-themed posts with a more wintery entry this time.

Currently on my mind is the combination of vibrant greens (from kelly to forest) paired with softer golds – think mercury glass, champagne, heirloom jewelry, candlelight.

Small table with cakes that look like birchwood. — Cake table via Elizabeth Anne Designs (photo: Jacque Lynn Photo)

While this combination could go modern, I particularly love it as a complement to rustic decor. It looks fabulous with natural materials like birch bark, adding just enough sheen to make it all feel chic and festive.

For a woodsy vibe, you can bring in the classic evergreen boughs and pinecones or whatever’s growing outside your door. Twigs, olive branches, rosemary sprigs, eucalyptus leaves, berries, potted cacti, or mossy driftwood could all work well.

1. Campground in Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona. 2. Woodland cakes with sled. 3. DIY gold pinecone garland. 4. Rustic elegant table. (H/T Apartment Therapy)

Here are more ideas for places to visit, projects, products, and recipes in this palette.

5. Mercury glass ornaments. (Shop similar ones.) 6. Gingerbread terrariums 7. DIY gold leaf pinecone garland. 8. Grönkålsallad (cached) – kale, orange, and chèvre salad.

9. Recipes for Christmas cookies topped with sprinkles. 10. Decorated wine glasses (+ other New Year’s Eve crafts.) 11. Sequin table runner. (Shop) 12. Homemade olive branch wreath with bells.

13. Woodland tablescape with wood slice chargers + place card holders. 14. Rain drops on the window. 15. DIY Hanukkah Gelt (chocolate coins). 16. Luminarias at Tucson Botanical Garden. (If you’re in Phoenix, you can see Luminarias at DBG.)

17. DIY Natural Branch Menorah. 18. How to make asymmetrical wreaths. 19. Gold circle garland. (Tutorial)

20. Spinach mushroom polenta. 21. Holiday bar set-up (similar: glasses, sugar stirrers, fillable ornaments.) 22. Decorated cactus.

I hope you enjoyed this taste of the holidays!

Each photo links to its source, except for 1. + 14., which were taken by me.

This post contains Etsy affiliate links, like this one: favorite Christmas ornaments and decorations!

November 30, 2022November 29, 2022

Fresh Fruit Platter Ideas

Phillip popped into the kitchen and declared that I was “cutting up fruit for democracy!”

Which is really just a generous way of saying I was slicing a kiwi, as part of my assignment to bring a fruit plate to the potluck at the voting center where I’d be working the next day. My soon-to-be co-workers and I would need to be on the premises for something like 15 hours, so we were all going to take food to share.

As simple as a fruit plate may seem, I kind of drew a blank about it at first. It had been awhile since I’d needed to pull together the type of “platter food” that you’d set out at a meeting or a party or… other gathering that has been in short supply the last couple years.

I spent awhile searching fruit tray images and info. (Getting inspiration or just procrastination? Sometimes it’s a very fine line.)

But I did end up with tips for a fruit plate worth sharing. So, if you’re in need of some pre-holiday platter food inspiration, read on!

Citrus mural Downtown Tucson — Mural by Isaac Caruso in Downtown Tucson.

Fruit to pick:

One guideline I saw recommended about 10 cups of fruit for 15 guests.

Fruits like berries, peaches, melon, oranges, grapes, kiwi, pineapple, and cherries tend to work well on a fruit tray.
Avoid bananas, apples, and pears, since exposure to air will make them turn brown and mushy.
A variety of colors and textures make even a simple arrangement look really appealing.
Consider adding a garnish of fresh herbs, like mint, basil, rosemary, or lavender, especially if you happen to have them in your garden and can just snip off a few sprigs.

party fruit tray — Party fruit tray via Ain’t Too Proud to Meg.

In my particular situation, I knew all the potluck food was going to be crammed onto a single table in an out-of-the-way corner of the room. We’d be rotating lunch times and/or just grabbing snacks when there was a lull.

So I wanted to avoid anything too messy and focus on fruit that would be easy for people to plate up (or pick up) and eat quickly. I stayed away from anything you’d have to pick pits or seeds out of while eating.

Painting by Clendolyn Corbin. — Painting by Clendolyn Corbin at George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center in Phoenix.

Serving It Up: Home vs. Away

There are certain conveniences you can take advantage of if you’ll be serving food from your own kitchen. You have more options when it comes to set up and presentation.

However, if you’re taking a fruit plate to an office party or a friend’s house or a picnic, you have to think about how you’ll get it there, how you’ll keep things fresh, and what you’ll do once you arrive.

At Home

Arranging fruit on a cake stand will elevate it and keep it from getting lost on a busy buffet table.
I also like the rustic look of a wooden serving tray or board. You can line it with parchment paper for easier clean-up.

Blossoms in Southern Arizona — Tree blossoming at Chiricahua National Monument near Willcox, Arizona.

Away

Combo containers: A cake carrier or repurposed deli tray would work for both transporting your fruit plate and serving it.
Bring along serving utensil(s). Whether you choose tongs, a large spoon, box of toothpicks, or just a regular fork, having it with you means you don’t have to scramble to find something at your destination.
Leaving stems in grapes, cherries, and strawberries help them keep a little longer – especially if you won’t have access to a refrigerator.
Don’t forget the ice! If you keep your food cool using actual cubes of frozen water (rather than cold packs), empty it out once you arrive and don’t need it. You don’t want ice melting and leaking all over the break room or your host’s floor. Better to dump it on a thirsty plant!

fruit board and chocolate fruit dip — One epic fruit dessert board by Glitter Inc.

I Dip, You Dip, We Dip

While fruit dip seemed too messy for the potluck I was preparing for, here are some delicious-sounding recipes I’d like to try at a later date…

Cream Cheese Fruit Dip by Little Broken
3-ingredient Chocolate Lava Dip from Two Healthy Kitchens
The Honey Coconut Fruit Dip recipe by Simply Jillicious – which uses coconut cream as a dairy alternative

Of course, there are also plenty of ready-made dip options, like Nutella, yogurt, and kosher (dairy-free) chocolate spread.

How It Worked Out

After seemingly wandering the produce aisles in a fugue state, I managed to buy way more stuff than I actually needed. That includes a cantaloupe I didn’t even cut into and some nectarines that I was sure were ripe in the store, but definitely weren’t once I got them home.

What ended up on my fruit tray were grapes, strawberries, blackberries, plums, and kiwi. I used kitchen shears to snip big bunches of grapes into smaller clusters that would be easier for people to grab (a tip from my mom!)

I arranged the fruit on a sectioned plastic tray with a snap-on lid. This very convenient container was repurposed from a meat-and-cheese platter that we’d picked up for Phillip’s Mount Lemmon birthday picnic a couple weeks before.

It was a simple spread, but people seemed to enjoy it. And I think we all appreciated the return of potlucks and platter food.

Fruit Platter Inspiration + Information Sources…

Little Broken: Fruit Platter + what to serve with it
Veggie Desserts: How to Make a Fruit Platter (Fruit Tray) in-depth tips
Ain’t Too Proud to Meg: Fresh Fruit Board + lots of dip ideas
Glitter Inc.: One Epic Fruit Dessert Board
Two Healthy Kitchens: 3-ingredient Chocolate Lava Dip
Simply Jillicious: Healthy Coconut Honey Fruit Dip

10-inch diameter rustic ceramic plate or serving platter. — Handmade Ceramic Dinner Plate image via AVIhomeware on Etsy (affiliate link).

Your Serve

My fruit plate image search also turned up some very cool platters, serving bowls, boards, and baskets. Find my Etsy faves in my Food Serving + Storage collection. Since I’m an affiliate, Etsy purchases you make after clicking that link help support this site too!

November 19, 2022December 5, 2022

Dog Gifts with a Personal Touch

I don’t think my dog, Quijote, knows Christmas is coming. But we still use the holidays as an excuse to splurge a bit on pup presents we’ve been putting off purchasing.

It’s even better when we can buy them from independent makers and artists who put extra care into what they create.

A Win-Win-Win Situation

Not only do I love supporting talented creators, I love introducing others to them – whether it’s in person at a local market or where they’re selling online.

In fact, I was linking to people’s Etsy shops so frequently, I applied to become an affiliate. Now when you click one of the links in this post and then buy something on Etsy, you’re supporting the seller/artist and helping me keep this site going!

Cyberweek Sale: Lots of Etsy shops are offering discounts of up to 60% off from now until November 30!

Gifts for Dogs and Dog Lovers

So here are 5 gift ideas for your canine companions or the dog lover in your life that are made by artists with Etsy shops. I’ve purchased things from all of them before – either via Etsy or here in Tucson – and they all do fantastic work!

1. Blue Gingham Dog Collar Bow Tie Set

The Product: Collar with detachable bow tie

Collar is made to be durable – with triple-stitched cotton over nylon webbing.
Available as a set or you can buy the collar without the bow tie.
Lots of other colors and pattern options too!

Our purchase: We have this set in blue and white gingham, and it’s now Quijote’s everyday collar. We add the bow tie to dress it up for occasions when we want him to look like a little gentleman (gentledog?) – even though we know he probably won’t actually mind his manners.

Handmade by: Katie of Collar Me Charming

Customizable? Yes. Contact this seller (Katie) if you have a special request.

2. Personalized Wood Dog Christmas Ornament

The Product: Natural-finish wooden ornament

Approximately 3.5″ x 5″
Made from locally sourced birch.
Cord looped through the top, so you can hang it on a Christmas tree right away!
Comes in ready-to-gift packaging.
They have a also have quite a few other animal, kid, and keepsake ornament options.

Our purchase: To commemorate Quijote’s first Christmas with us, we got this cute ornament in the shape of a howling dog. He actually does like to throw his head back and howl sometimes, so this makes me smile!

Handmade by: Alexandra Rinde of The Aerialist Press Holiday Shop

Customizable? Yes. Etched with the name and year of your choice.

3. Bundle of Bark Custom Dog Gift Box

[UPDATE: This Gift Box will be unavailable through the end of the year. However, there are still tons of fun a-la-carte items in the Aall Forms of Life shop.]

The Product: Curated gift box for dogs and their humans

Original portrait of your pet painted on a wooden plaque.
Pet bowtie made from colorful fabric and a hand-painted cactus wood charm. The bow easily attaches to your dog’s collar.
“Tell Your Dog I say Hi” vinyl sticker.
Peanut butter pretzel dog treats.
Option to include a personalized message for the gift recipient.

Our purchase: This gift bundle was a new find for me, so it’s the one thing on this list we don’t actually own. However, I have purchased other things from the artist (Nathalie Aall) and have no doubt this would make a fantastic gift. She also does these beautiful illustrations of desert animals and plants that you can get as prints, cards, ornaments, calendars, and stickers.

Handmade + curated by: Nathalie Aall of Aall Forms of Life

Customizable? Yes. Nathalie will paint a black-and-white portrait of your pet(s) from a photo. You can also request a personalized gift recipient message to be included in the box.

4. Custom Dog Bandana

The Product: Cotton pet-sized bandana

Printed to order with your own design.
Lots of bandana colors available.
A variety of fonts and text colors to choose from.

Our purchase:

Size: small
Color: teal
Font options: #3 and #9 in white

We ordered this fun accessory not long after we adopted Quijote. We were starting to notice that people were drawn to him (he is a bundle of cuteness), but he does not like meeting new people! I summed it up with the phrase “Antisocial but adorable.”

The designer (Andrea Karaha) was great to work with! She sends a mockup of your design before printing, so you can request a change if it’s not quite what you had in mind.

Individually printed by: Andrea Karaha of Gigraffe Design Studio.

Customizable? Yes. Very! Choose your own text and font(s) or provide your own graphic!

5. Watch Dog Pet Charm

The Product: metal and enamel collar charm

1.25″
Created from an original, hand-illustrated design.
Ready to attach to your dog’s collar.
They make their own collar charms and they have a ton to go with any dog’s personality! I also like “Adventure Dog,” “Squirrel Patrol,” and “Obedience School Drop Out.”

Our purchase: We chose the “Watch Dog” charm, because Quijote is always on the alert, even for things that are definitely not a threat. He warns us when the mailman is here, when someone walks their dog past our house, when a barista hands me the coffee I ordered…

Illustration by: Rosie’s Barket (a.k.a. AtTheBarket)

Customizable? While Rosie’s Barket isn’t able to offer customization, once you receive the charm, you can have the back engraved without worrying about damaging the front.

Which of these is your favorite? And if you were going to purchase one pet present this holiday season, who would it be for?

June 23, 2022June 23, 2022

The Agave Heritage Festival’s Sweet Return

Agave has been cultivated in the Tucson area for hundreds of years.

While tequila might be the most widely known product made from agave (a.k.a. the century plant or maguey), it’s certainly not the only one! Different species of the plant are distilled into different spirits, collectively called mezcal.

Native peoples would also use agave to make food, medicine, and even rope. They developed farming techniques to maximize the plant’s adaptability and drought-resistant qualities, so they could grow it where other crops wouldn’t thrive.

Mural of Mayahuel, the agave goddess, by Rock ‘‘CYFI’’ Martinez.

Agave Heritage Festival

The annual Agave Heritage Festival in Tucson celebrates the plant’s natural and cultural significance. It includes special agave-centered menus at local restaurants, gardening demonstrations, concerts, lectures, mezcal tasting events, hikes to ancient agave roasting pit sites, and a re-creation of the traditional way agave hearts were cooked underground.

After the spring 2020 festival was canceled and last year’s was replaced by a monthly series of virtual talks and DIY tastings, the Agave Heritage Festival made a joyful return this past May!

It has come back as a more compact, focused four days of events – in contrast to the week (or more) it stretched out pre-pandemic.

Following right on its heels was the first annual Pueblos del Maíz Fiesta. The kickoff event for both festivals was a concert by multiple Grammy Award winning Mexican-American singer and activist Lila Downs.

Agave Expo

One of this year’s events was the Agave Expo, which included panels, vendors, tables for organizations doing conservation work in Southern Arizona, and a plant sale. It was held on a beautiful morning in Mission Garden, a collection of demonstration gardens where a 17th-century Spanish mission once stood.

Feed the Bats

I arrived right before the first talk of the day, parking next to a woman who was already loading assorted agave purchases into her car.

“Pollination Nations” was a discussion about agave, bats, and ecology on both sides of the border.

Nectar-eating bats cross-pollinate agaves’ nighttime blooms, creating the genetic diversity essential for the plants’ long-term survival. However, agave planted for human consumption is prevented from blooming. Recent large-scale agricultural methods have lead to hungry bats and a monoculture crop that’s susceptible to disease.

The Bat Friendly project promotes more sustainable practices, encouraging growers to let 5% of the agaves they plant to live out their natural bloom cycle and allow bat pollination. Following their guidelines earns mezcal producers a special Bat Friendly™ label, as well as helping to ensure the continuation of their industry.

The panel discussing these topics was made up of experts from Bat Conservation International, Borderlands Restoration Network, and Sonora Silvestre, as well as mezcal-makers from Bacanora Batuq and Mezcal Zincantan. It was moderated by Jesús García, Research Associate at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Co-Chair of the non-profit Friends of Tucson’s Birthplace (FOTB).

(Incidentally, Moderator Jesús had returned from a trip to Mexico just in time for the Lila Downs kickoff concert and gave it rave reviews!)

On the Table

Afterwards, I wandered over to the ramada where raspados (snow cones) were being served in hollowed out half lemon peels, in exchange for donations to the garden.

They had three different flavors made from garden produce, and I was not prepared for that kind of decision making. I was especially torn between the refreshing sounding lime-mint flavor and the artisanal agave syrup, which seemed like the most fitting choice for the occasion. Then the volunteer scooping the crushed ice suggested I have both. Sold.

Sprinkled throughout the garden were informational tables and artist booths, including Found Design Sculptures by Leonard Ramirez and Cold Goose Pottery by Judy Ganz.

found art — Found Design Sculptures by Leonard Ramirez

Tucson Audubon Society was there with resources. They were especially highlighting their Habitat at Home program, which shares ways to support birds and other pollinators from your house. One thing they suggest here in Southern Arizona is to leave your hummingbird feeder out on summer nights, because bats might stop by for a drink!

Before I left, I made a final stop at the Chocolate Ritual booth to pick up some of their mezcal-infused chocolate truffles. They create their chocolates to have a taste that pairs well with either mezcal or coffee. The “ritual” is as simple as sipping your preferred beverage in between bites of chocolate and savoring the combination. It’s a practice I can definitely get behind.