🎇 Mooncake vs. Fireworks

🌭 Fourth of July Weekend

Happy Fourth of July! I spent Saturday walking the Strand from Manhattan Beach to Hermosa Beach, passing people decked out in red, white, and blue, plus a few outfits that could only exist on the Fourth of July.

For dinner, I had a proper Chicago dog complete with celery salt, bright green sweet pickle relish, and, of course, a poppy seed bun. Since I had already gone out Friday night (a rare occurrence these days), I stayed in instead. The evening was spent watching Love Island while comforting Mooncake through the endless fireworks.

🎂 Birthday Traditions

July 5th is my dad's birthday, so this weekend has always been a big celebration in my family. Growing up, it meant decorating the house, setting off our own fireworks, birthday cake, shrimp boils, and spending as much time as possible in the lake escaping the North Carolina heat and humidity.

I couldn't celebrate with him this year, but I made sure to send a birthday package filled with a few of his favorite things. Along with some little goodies, I made him a clay bookmark and a hand-painted clay matchbox. Since his name is Clay, it felt like the only appropriate birthday gift.

🍋 Painting on Paper

I'm currently working on a commission that's a little different from anything I've painted before. Instead of canvas, I'm painting directly onto handmade gift wrap from Paper Source that's covered in the cutest lemon pattern.

I've used pastels on decorative paper before, but never acrylic paint. The paper wrinkles and crinkles in a way that canvas never could, creating unexpected texture and depth. It's been such a fun experiment, and I can't wait to share the finished piece with you in my next newsletter.

🌎 Tiny Worlds

I've also started another large painting that will eventually make its way into my shop. Lately I've been completely obsessed with oven-baked clay (yes, the kind from Michaels haha), so I decided this piece needed a little sculptural element too.

The painting is filled with flower-like, slightly germ-shaped forms, each one holding its own tiny world. So far I've finished a blue ocean world that's home to Mooncake mermaids, and I have lots more little worlds planned.

My Shanghai series and The Things I Keep series will be making a return soon, but I've learned that when inspiration shows up, it's usually best to follow wherever it wants to go.

With love and color,

Rosalie