CasaSugar

Open House: What Are You Doing on Your Holiday Weekend?

CasaSugar — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 05:30:00 -0700

This Monday in the US we celebrate Labor Day. Labor Day, which is always the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. Traditionally, Labor Day was celebrated with a street parade, followed by a festival for American workers and their families. While not every community currently holds a parade or festival, I love the idea of a community celebration of the holiday.

More families celebrate with picnics, backyard parties, or barbecues. This year I'm going to be celebrating with my in-laws. How are you going to spend the day?

Are You Picnicking This Labor Day Weekend?

CasaSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:00:41 -0700

While Labor Day is often too chilly for a swimming party, a picnic is usually a surefire bet. Whether you head to your backyard or a local park, it's hard to go wrong when you've got your wicker basket filled with goodies.

Source: Flickr User Mykl Roventine

Roundup: Perfect Picnic Style

CasaSugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:00:06 -0700

Summer is the season for picnics, warm weather, plants in full bloom, and plenty of ripe and juicy produce. But just because you're heading to the park doesn't mean you have to leave your sense of style at home.

In my opinion, the number of cheapo beach towels and Walgreens-variety nylon coolers are something of a design atrocity. So, take a second look, and consider picking up some picnic gear that meets your home's standards of chic. What's more, these durable, stylish pieces will take you through this Summer season and many more in years to come.

Guess What This Picnic Set Is Made From?

CasaSugar — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 08:30:41 -0700

While it's always best to go with reusable picnic tableware, sometimes you've got to deal with disposables. Luckily, this disposable picnic set is made from a biodegradable plant fiber. Can you tell me what the fiber is? (Hint: It's sweet indeed.)

Do You Have a Picnic Basket?

CasaSugar — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:00:22 -0700

One of the true pleasures of warm weather is eating outside. I love picnicking on a blanket with a bottle of wine and some delicious picnic goodies. My old picnic basket had seen better days, so I was happy to pick up this lovely Vermont-made picnic basket at a flea market over the weekend. Do you have a picnic basket at your home?

Nice and New: Picnic Trunk with Table

CasaSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:15:00 -0700

One of my favorite ways to enjoy the Summer weather is picnic-ing with friends and good grub. But, sometimes picnics can be so orchestrated — "Meet at the north west corner of the park. Bring X,Y, and Z drinks. Oh! And don't forget your frisbee. I don't have a blanket, do you? Should we invite so and so?" — that it gets me down. I always envision the perfect picnic in my mind, and coordinating all the ideal details complicates things and stresses me out. So, it's crucial to have a picnic basket ready to go, so I can have a hassle-free picnic on the fly. The Design Within Reach Picnic Trunk with Table ($200) qualifies as that key ingredient and more; it has all the fixin's (two wine glasses, two melamine plates, cutlery, a corkscrew, two cotton napkins and salt and pepper shakers) and it has an extendable table on which I can serve up my feast. And, its durable canvas fabric and hefty strap will stand the test of time, making it perfect for habitual picnic-ers like me.

Etsy Find: Summer Patchwork Quilt

CasaSugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:00:26 -0700

For me, there's nothing as romantic as a Summer evening picnic laid out on a handmade patchwork quilt. This quilt ($225), named "Poetry in the Summer," from Etsy seller Littlerosequilts, will fit the bill nicely. The name comes from the fact that most of the squares in the quilt are April Cornell's "Poetry" from Moda fabric line, with a few other types added for variety. For added romance, the quilt has ruffled edges and French binding, and at just over four feet square, there's just enough room to fit you and your potential (or actual) sweetheart and your picnic dinner. As far as I'm concerned, that cozy dimension is perfect for inviting some summertime smooching. What could be more romantic than that?

DIY: Oilcoth Placemats

CasaSugar — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:00:52 -0700

Since the grass is green, the weather warm, and I recently broke out my bikini, Spring picnics in the park are constantly on my mind these days. PartySugar has me covered with a delicious Spring picnic menu to fill my belly between rounds of Frisbee and catch, and I came across a wonderful DIY for cheerful placemats to go along with her all-American apple pie bar and fried chicken recipes. The no-sew DIY is just too cute to resist, and easy as apple pie bars, so I had to share.

Supplies:

Oilcloth (15-x-12 inches per placemat)
Grosgrain ribbon (18 inches per placemat)
Scissors
Craft knife
Pinking shears

To learn the steps, read more.

Here's how, from Make Grow Gather:

Cut the oil cloth to 15-x-12-inch rectangles (or whatever size you'd like).
Cut the grosgrain to 18-inch lengths per rectangle.
Trim the edges of the placemats with the pinking shears.
Halfway down either the left or right edge of each placemat, make a small incision with the craft knife (about the width of your ribbon).
Thread the ribbon through the incision that you just made.
With the placemat pattern side down, lay down your napkin and silverware (or plasticware) on top of it, and roll them up.
Then, wrap the ribbon around the roll a few times and tie a bow. Toss them in a your picnic basket and you're good to go!

Source

Before and After: RachelG's Simple and Pretty Summer Change

CasaSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:00:30 -0700

Su Casa member RachelG recently decided to prettify the outdoor space directly outside her front door. Not only did she add visual interest, she also provided some great outdoor seating and entertaining space. Best of all, she didn't spend a lot of money doing so. She instead relied on good old fashioned elbow grease.

Curious? See how she did it

Etsy Find: Cactus Picnic Napkin Set

CasaSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:00:00 -0700

If a cactus could ever look cute, JackRabbit has devised a means to that end with the Cactus Picnic Napkin Set, a set of four 10-by-12-inch handmade napkins screen printed with a grid of perky green cacti. I can't think of a better occasion to debut these prickly succulents than a backyard barbecue - or perhaps a Park(ing) Day picnic. While the weather is still warming up here in San Francisco, temperatures are turning chilly elsewhere, so you'd better snatch these babies up fast and throw some T-bones on the grill. But if you're located in the Lone Star State or other arid environments, these linens won't ever go out of style . . . and you know that cloth napkins are always an eco-fashionable statement.

Missoni Home - jala throw & cushion by missoni home - $276.00	notNeutral Seasonal Metal Lantern - Medium - $90.00
Water Hyacinth Pillows - $29.00	Field Chair - $65.00
Picnic Basket - $19.95	Square Tufted Jute Floor Cushion - $79.00
Cape Cod Lantern - $425.00	Black/Pink Suzani Floor Cushion - $39.99
Picnic Time Windsor Picnic Basket Set - $280.00	Stripe Rope Floor Cushion - $79.00
Sojourner Roll-Up Picnic Table - $129.00	Let the Good Times Roll Picnic Mat - $26.00
Take Your Picnic Basket - $19.95