Our good friend, Beth Weintraub, is an amazing artist. Her prints and metal etchings are filled with botanical images…but not those girly, sweet flowers you might be imagining. Beth is drawn to wilted, bizarre and deconstructed flowers.

Her work is on plywood panels that are inspired by mid-century design. Their modular nature lets you customize your collection and the format in which they hang. Group them vertically, horizontally or in square. They adapt to your space.

The blog Seeds and Fruit recently wrote a great piece about Beth’s work.

Stop by Grounded to see her work in person or check out Beth’s website for more incredible images of her work.

These adorable necklaces by Figs & Ginger are inspired by the forest.

They’re made from at least 50% recycled sterling silver (although they try to use 100% recycled whenever possible). Each necklace has a blackened patina, which means no polishing is required.

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, get your order in soon. I’m pretty sure we’ll sell out.

I’ve been admiring Alice Roche’s jewelry for some time and we finally have it in the store! Alice’s jewelry is inspired by both nature and architecture. Handcrafted in her San Francisco studio, from hammered silver with a matte finish. Perfect to wear every day.

Oh, and don’t forget…Mother’s Day is just around the corner!

Spencer Peterman is a master craftsman. He creates these incredible salad bowls in his workshop in Massachusetts. First, he goes on the lookout for fallen trees rotting in the woods. His favorite are those trees that are covered by moss and dirt. In those trees, is wood disfigured by the beginnings of decomposition. When he turns that wood on a lathe, the result is a strikingly unique bowl.

Each bowl is kiln dried to 6% moisture to stabilize the wood and prevent future checking and cracking. They have a food-safe oil finish to bring out the beauty of the wood.

These days it’s great to find a solution to make entertaining a little easier. We fell in love with Bella Cucina Artful Food. Everything is hand-made in small batches from high-quality ingredients in the true artisan tradition.

The artichoke pesto is fabulous and a best-seller. Use it in a warm artichoke dip (recipe on the jar), to top pasta, as a bruschetta topping.

For a delicious brunch idea, top a poached egg with the Spinach Artichoke Bruschetta Spread. Or try adding it to an omelette or scrambled eggs.

Bella Cucina also makes a thoughtful hostess gift.

If you love to cook (or just look like you do!), you’ll adore our new Vervacious collection of cheese complements, sauces and rubs.

Artisan-made by hand in small batches in Maine. The tastes are sophisticated, truly delicous and oh-so-easy to use. Even the packaging is amazing. The glass bottles and jars are designed to stack on top of each other to create a wavy, glass tower.

Don’t miss the espresso balsamic drizzle. We tried it over grilled peaches and thought we’d gone to heaven. It’s also great with cheese. The black mission fig paste is another cheese winner. Available as singles or in gift sets, Vervacious products make fantastic gifts.

Our friends, Bethany and her mom Tere, have the most amazing line of hand made goods called m•o•m. What started as a line of one-of-kind aprons for little girls has grown into a line of clothing for girls ages 2-10 and accessories for women and they’re even beginning to make a few items for boys. Many of their designs include vintage fabrics, buttons or other accents.

Last year, they opened up a new studio that would allow them sell their adorable items and still function as their work space. We’re lucky enough to be located just down the block from 42nd and orange in downtown Encinitas.

[images: bethany jensen / 42nd and orange]