July Notebook, What Made Me Smile
Bits and bobs that made me happy, my perfect summer drink, my go-to cookbook and more. Dive into what will make staying in even better :)
1. Table cloth by arkitaip x Olivia Sewell
In my experience, table cloths are not an easy find. Size is always an issue if you don’t have a table of standard sizing and it’s also hard to find something fun and modern.
This collaboration between conscious label arkitaip and artist Olivia Sewell ticks many boxes. It is the perfect table cloth for your summer table. Inspired by the Greek Aegean colours, it is playful and instantly uplifts any table setting.
You can also use it as a picnic blanket for a very elegant spread outdoors.
2. Negroni Sbagliato - My Go-To Summer Cocktail
During a recent weekend in Venice, my brother Virgile who loves Negronis made me discover a lighter, more summery version, the Negroni Sbagliato.
The word "sbagliato" means "mistaken" in Italian, referring to the happy accident of substituting prosecco for gin.
Lighter, yes but do not be fooled: despite their refreshing nature and very appealing sunset-colour, these little drinks can sneak up on you :)
Ingredients (serves 1)
25ml Campari
25ml sweet vermouth
25ml prosecco or to your liking (add more prosecco to make it lighter…)
Ice
Slice of orange
Method
In a highball glass, pour the Campari and sweet vermouth and gently add in the prosecco – pouring it down a bar or long spoon that's been placed in the glass will stop the bubbles roaming over the edge of the glass. Stir contents of the glass together, add the cubed ice, add more prosecco if needed, and garnish with the orange slice.
Virgile’s tip
To have a beautiful professionally looking drink as well as keeping the ice from melting too fast, make ice balls using these ice cube trays.
3. Glasses by Sophie Lou Jacobsen
The ‘Bouquet’ collection by Sophie Lou Jacobsen is inspired by the shapes of blooming flowers.
I particularly love the Tulip Wine Glass. They will dress any table in a very delicate manner. You could also use them as small vases and play with them for your tablescape.
Available in five different forms and sold in sets of four.
Sophie Lou Jacobsen is a French-American designer with an initial focus on objects of everyday use. She alters these objects in a surprising and delightful way, elevating the user’s experience.
4. Raffia at La Double J
I attended a flower workshop by La Double J at Harrods with acclaimed florist Butter Wakefield. Aside from the great lesson in flower arrangement (I will be sharing what I’ve learnt soon), I discovered these great raffia placemats. These will be an easy way to uplift any tablescape with that touch of red.
I used to stay away from too much prints, I preferred my tables slightly more minimal but recently I’ve been eyeing bolder colours and designs. And in terms of colourful prints, La Double J does it best. The Appollo Brick collection works perfectly with the placemats (featured above).
5. Little Sun Solar Lamp by Olafur Eliasson
These Little Sun solar lamps in the shape of a flower were one of the most sold product on my previous website Forward Lab.
You can use them as table lighting at night as we did in our house in Greece (see pictures). They are super easy to use as you just need to put them in the sun during the day to charge them. They are dimmable allowing you to adjust the brightness of the lamp for the different moods of your evening!
They are also a great toy for kids: they can use it at night for bedtime reading and it’s a great tool to teach them about solar energy and sustainability!
Finally, there’s one last benefit :) When you purchase a Little Sun, you make solar energy available to communities without electricity at a locally affordable price. More about the work they do here.
OIafur Eliasson is an Icelandic-Danish contemporary artist known for sculpture and large-scale installation using light, water and air. One of his most famous installation was The Weather Project where installed a fake sun in 2023 inside the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern.
6. Nothing Fancy cookbook by Alison Roman
This is not a new cookbook and not a recent discovery but definitely one I’d like to share as it is one of my go-to. My sister bought it for me and I have lots of memories cooking with her as well as sharing our favourite recipes.
If you like to cook delicious and unpretentious food, this is your book! Easy, full of taste and as the name suggests it is nothing fancy but will always impress your guests.
Some of my favourite recipes: one pot chicken with caramelized lemon and dates, tomato dressed in toasted fennel and anchovies and roasted squash with yogurt and spiced buttered pistachios.
Keep it cosy until next time!