amanda mcclements

There was a T magazine article last spring that really stuck with me examining why we're drawn to eating outside. Of the Victorian's penchant for picnicking, Tamar Adler wrote about "the pleasurable collision between human refinements and the places and energies in the natural world ..." "Those overly decent people instinctively knew the frisson of performing petty formalities amid beetle and toad, and so they happily trudged in waistcoat and bustle through field and stream for lunch," Adler writes. While happily trudging in a forgiving flowy dress rather than a waistcoat, I had a fun opportunity to pull together a picnic look for The Washington Post' s Local Living section last week. For me it's all about bringing some elements of interior style out into the grass. Here's a little behind-the-scenes peek, and be sure to check out the full story here , along with all of the local sources for the pieces I used. Also check out the trans...

  I've always been noncommittal when it come to putting anything on my walls. Art? Photos? Prints? But what if I change my mind? Add the hassle of framing something and voila, a growing pile of unframed prints and photos gathers dust on a shelf. So I much appreciated a recent gentle nudge from friends at  Framebridge , a DC-based company that's making it easier and less expensive to get those pretty-if-neglected pieces framed and on display. We hung out at my place, whipped up some Green Hat gin and tonics, and I shared tips for stocking and styling your bar at home. (Any old table will do!) And yes, I actually put a nail in the wall and hung a print. Head this way for my full interview with Framebridge . Cheers! all photos by  Laura Metzler Photography  for Framebridge

I'm bidding a reluctant adieu to summer on this first day of fall and looking back with fond memories on one of the season's highlights — our Summer Salt Fest at the Gordy's Pickle Jar headquarters. Ever since opening Salt & Sundry three years ago, I've been dreaming of a down-home party that celebrates all things salty. With the perfect partners in crime, Sarah and Sheila of Gordy's, and my phenomenal team at Salt & Sundry, we hosted a gathering of good friends and toasted our shared love of salt. The feast included fried chicken, boiled peanuts ( made by my husband !), Rappahannock' s Olde Salt oysters, deviled eggs topped with Gordy's Sweet Pepper Relish, and probably the best fried pickles I've ever eaten (yes, I've eaten a lot) ... Gordy's Sweet Chips and Cajun Okra dipped in roasted garlic aioli. There was crisp Virginia rosé from Early Mountain Vineyards , local brews from 3 Stars and DC Brau , and a watermelon cooler tha...

Right about 4 p.m. most afternoons at Union Market , the ice cream procession starts. Shoppers casually stroll into Salt & Sundry toting tempting cones and thick milkshakes filled with flavors from our market neighbors  Trickling Springs Creamery . Resistance is futile. I'm partial to mint chocolate chip. And I'm crazy about the gorgeous new brass jewelry that just arrived at S&S from Portland-based designers Betsy & Iya . Come see me soon and check out both!

Faribault Woolen Mill , t he maker of this beautiful blanket, celebrates its 150th birthday this year. A wonderful American goods revival story, Faribault is one of the lines I love stocking at Salt & Sundry . The Minnesota-born mill was founded in 1856, at the close of the Civil War, and provided military blankets for two World Wars. We have a few of the wool flag blankets at the shops, along with several other styles. From favorite blankets to favorite cocktails ... Toast the July 4th holiday with one of my favorite summer sips: El Presidente makes 1 drink 1.5 oz white rum 1.5 oz Dolin Blanc 1 barspoon Grand Marnier 1 barspoon Jack Rudy Grenadine Stir well over ice and strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a Luxardo maraschino cherry and orange twist. Enjoy!

You've probably heard me say it before, but you can never go wrong gifting really good food. With that in mind, we've created three Valentine's gift boxes — the LOVE, LOCAL and LUSH — filled with fabulous cocktail/food items, available for preorder and pick up at Salt & Sundry . Pictured above, the LOCAL box rounds up some of my favorite DC-made goodies, including Langdon Wood Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup, Gordy's Cherry Pepper Spread, Mango 'Chups and Capital Honey Co.'s raw urban honey. For details on the LOVE and LUSH box, and how to place an order, head to Salt & Sundry's Instagram .

After the riotous bold colors of the holidays, I'm feeling drawn to a palette of pinks and purples — which sounds like a 6-year-old girl's favorite colors, but in dusty muted tones, the pair can be quite sophisticated. Here's a little winter eye candy to cut through the cold. Silk tie dyed tablecloth from Shabd , available at Salt & Sundry. Sibella Court's fabulous new book Gypsy, full of warm bohemian interiors. A recent harvest from the gorgeous bed of greens Love & Carrots planted in my backyard this fall.

Back when I opened Salt & Sundry two years ago, I was extremely fortunate to find an incredible and talented team of women (and the occasional man!) to work with. One of those women is Mallory Shelter . While holding down a full-time job in PR, she works at the shop on weekends and last year, she launched her own jewelry company. She likes to stay busy. On Nov. 29, we're throwing a trunk show and soirée featuring Mallory's gorgeous handmade pieces as part of American Express and Etsy's nationwide Small Business Saturday campaign. Working with local makers and designers is one of my favorite parts about owning a shop, and I'm excited to showcase Mallory's one-of-a-kind work. The trunk show runs from 1-7 p.m. at Salt & Sundry Union Market, and from 4-7 p.m., we'll serve up snacks from Bayou Bakery , seasonal sips and tunes by DJ Shanti Shree . Hope to see you there! Photos by Jeff Martin

Stop reading if you're a friend or family member because you'll ruin your holiday gift surprise. ... For the rest of you, this spiced vodka infusion is a perfect DIY gift. I fell for this during  Salt & Sundry 's most recent  Drink Lab  class, hosted with our Union Market neighbors Cordial Fine Wine & Spirits . Barman Dan Searing, who's graciously hosting the series, provided the recipe. Make a few batches and divide into small bottles. Or create a spice kit for your friends and give it with instructions and a bottle of good vodka. The infusion is delicious in cocktails or to spike hot cider.   Warm Spiced Cocktail Infusion makes 1 750 ml bottle adapted from Boyd & Blair Vodka 375 ml high-proof vodka, such as Boyd & Blair 151 from PA 1 whole nutmeg, crushed into several pieces 1 cinnamon stick 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise 2 whole cloves 2 whole cardamom pods 4 black peppercorns 1 star anise 3 allspice berries peel of 1 ora...

October has to be my favorite month, and this year, it's shaping up to be an exciting one. I'm looking forward to ... • Opening the second  Salt & Sundry  (fingers crossed)! • Making pumpkin pancakes  • Finding time for apple picking • Warming up with hot buttered apple cider spiked with rum

I love a good utilitarian apron. Two current favorites we're stocking at Salt & Sundry :  above: This half apron sports a cool vintage cutlery print and crisp stripes at the waist.  below:   Hedley & Bennett 's impeccably crafted chefs aprons, handmade in Los Angeles. (Instagram friends: @ hedleyandbennett has such a fun photo stream.)  Here's to looking sharp in the kitchen ...

The fine folks over at Mutiny  recently whipped up a few summer-perfect spins on the Rickey ( the official cocktail of DC ), styled up with some pretty pieces from Salt & Sundry . Here are the gorgeous photos by Justin Gellerson to inspire your weekend drinking. Check out Mutiny's full post for drink recipes and a little Rickey lore . Bourbon Rickey with Mint Gin Rickey with Royal Rose Strawberry Fennel Syrup

Last week, the Salt & Sundry team joined author Phil Greene and our friends at Mockingbird Hill to toast Ernest Hemingway's 115th birthday. Phil signed copies of his Hemingway cocktail companion " To Have and Have Another ," and we sipped classic daiquiris. Mix one up this weekend:  Hemingway Daiquiri  courtesy of Phil Greene  1 1/2 oz white rum  1/2 oz lime juice  1/3 oz grapefruit juice  1 teaspoon maraschino liqueur  Shake with ice and strain into a glass. 

I've been a coffee ice cream fiend since I was little. Lately, I get my fix at our Salt & Sundry neighbors at Union Market: Trickling Springs coffee bean frappe (above) and Dolcezza 's Mexican coffee gelato. For a perfect summer ice cream pairing, drizzle with Spoonable 's Salty Caramel sauce, available at Salt & Sundry, along with the other pretty things above.

One of the most fun parts of running a shop? The days when gorgeous items we ordered weeks or months ago arrive on our doorstep. We're all going a little gaga for our new Moroccan poufs and the incredibly thick sheepskins from Virginia's Border Springs Farm, pictured above. Pop in Salt & Sundry for a visit and check 'em out.

A few of my favorite Valentine's gifts, currently available at Salt & Sundry . top ... • Marshall's Haute Sauce Smoked Habanero Barbeque These small batch hot sauces make a great gift for cooks and heat lovers. • Love Blocks Handmade in Michigan, this wooden block set says 'love' in 12 languages. • Red Butter Warmer This petite pot pulls multitasking duty in the kitchen for hot cocoa, frothing milk for lattes or melting chocolate. • Royal Rose's Rose Simple Syrup Put the roses in a bottle this year with this floral simple syrup. It's excellent in cocktails (try a Coquette ) and on ice cream or yogurt. bottom ... • Lighted Carousel Letters Standing about 2 feet tall, these playful letters (sold individually) light up a room. Call us at the shop to special order: 202.556.1866.

When it comes to cleaning products, mixing form and function can make chores ever so much more pleasant. When I'm scouting lines to stock at Salt & Sundry , I'm looking for the cleaning trifecta: they must be beautiful, eco-friendly and, most importantly, functional. These are my current favorites in the shop. top row... • Murchison-Hume Superlative Liquid Hand Soap I was so excited to start stocking this cleaning line. The coconut-based liquid soap protects against dry hands with wheat proteins, chamomile, rose hip extracts and vitamins. And it looks killer by the kitchen sink. $16 • Christophe Pourny Cutting Board Tonic I met the delightful guys behind this furniture care line at the Martha Stewart American Made Marketplace last fall. The cutting board tonic is amazing. White vinegar and rosemary oil sanitize while walnut oil moisturizes the wood. $22 • Murchison-Hume Scrub Brushes Natural plant fiber bristles and smooth wood make these litt...

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Oysters, gently grilled with a squeeze of lemon. A bottle of chilled rosé and a beautiful sunset on a dock. We had a good run, summer. I'm ready for you, winter.