10 November 2019.  This table setting encapsulates everything we're feeling about fall at the moment. Simple, nourishing, warming...that's just what we want.  

We did a little looking around to find a soup that captures all those feels and this white bean soup with tomatoes and kale from our friend Erin at Reading My Tea Leaves hits all the right notes. It looks easy to put together without too much fuss and lends itself to making adjustments depending on what you've got on hand.  

So, soup's covered. Now how about the napkins? This fall we've got some new linen napkin color ways that feel so right for an autumn table. James is pictured above, and Emma and Stanley are also new to the mix. You can see all of our napkin patterns here.

We love using linen napkins for a few reasons. First, they wear well and feel nice to the touch, becoming softer with each wash. Second, they're re-usable, and as they're made from linen where the whole plant is used in the process, there's no waste in production. We really appreciate the sustainability factor.  

And although we tend to take using napkins a bit for granted, here are two interesting perspectives on napkins throughout the ages.

From Atlas Obscura, a look at the history of napkins.

From The Salt, the lost art of elaborate napkin folding.

25 October 2019.  Just in time for holiday entertaining we have some new brass in the house that will add some warmth to your table and your home.  They all make lovely gifts for hosts, hostesses, friends and family as well.  

Our new brass cup is suitable for beverages in the kitchen and dining room or as a handy storage cup in the bedroom and bathroom.  

If you're looking for an elegant way to scoop your coffee in the morning, look no further than this brass coffee scoop.  We think this would make an excellent gift for the coffee lover in your life.

The brass knife makes a lovely addition to your serving ware.  Use it as a cheese or butter knife or as a spreader for any condiment or jam.  This makes a very nice hostess gift.

And we love this brass muddler which will class up any cocktail game. 

Please let us know if any items in your order need gift wrapping.  We are happy to wrap each gift in simple white paper, add a pretty Fog Linen sticker and tie on some ribbon.  We'll even add a handwritten note on one of our seasonal postcards if you like.   

For more brass items, please visit our Et Cetera Etc. section.

10 October 2019.  We're so ready for fall cooking.  As soon as it starts cooling down outside, we're dreaming of all the stews, braises, and one-pot meals that add comfort to shorter days and darker evenings.  And while we're always drawn to old favorites, this season has us wanting some new flavors too.

We want to try everything in the latest cookbook At Home from Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich of London's Honey & Co., where Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors are at the heart of their simple and accessible recipes.  Each recipe looks homey and delicious, perfect for a cozy dinner at home or a festive meal with friends and family.  Just to whet your appetite, here are a few sample recipe titles:

Potato and feta fritters
Baked artichokes with lemony ricotta dip
Spinach egg and filo pie
Tahini cake with lemon and white chocolate

Are you hungry yet?

Our brick and mortar sister store, Pod is carrying the book this fall, so if you're in the neighborhood, come check it out!  Or you can order it on-line here.  

So, with flavorful recipes in mind, our mango wood spoons are here to help you cook and serve.  See our full selection in the Et Cetera section. 

P.S. The mango wood server in both small and large is a staff favorite for scooping and serving rice and grains.  

3 October 2019.  Just in time for colder weather, the first shipment of Winter clothing has arrived.  Featuring beautiful linen denim, these versatile pieces are going to become our winter staples.  We do love a uniform around here!  

Here's what's so special about linen denim: it's a tightly woven fabric of 100% soft, but thick, denim colored linen thread, which offers warmth and flexibility, and unlike cotton denim, holds its color after washing. A navy linen denim and a blue linen denim is being offered this season.  On an environmental side note, the production of linen uses the whole flax plant without any leftover waste.  We like that.  

Here's a selection of some favorites so far.  

The Kristen Kurta.  A tunic dress with front patch pockets.  Perfect to wear with tights or over pants.  A comfortable and versatile winter option. In denim navy and denim blue.  

The Allison Pant.  Pull-on pants with an elastic waist.  Slim fit.  We just might wear these every day.  And not just in the winter time.  

The Sara Balloon Pant.  Such a great pair of pants.  Loose fitting with lots of swingy attitude.  

The Erica Jacket.  A true work-style jacket.  With an A-line shape that hits mid thigh, Erica features a notched collar and patch pockets.  

The Herena Coat. A longer duster style jacket with a pointed collar and patch pockets.  Super duper cute.  

The Nellie Top. A smock style pullover with a single patch pocket and 3/4 length sleeves.  Perfect for winter layering.

A selection of linen/wool items will land in late October, but in the meantime, you can view all current winter pieces here.

If you have any questions regarding sizing and fit, please do reach out to us here.

12 September 2019.  Every year, a box arrives at the shop that looks perfectly normal, cardboard and scuffed from travel. But this box is different from all other boxes. It's full of calendar cloths, the once-yearly, limited edition cloths that arrive to a waiting list and our collective bated breath. Though the kitchen cloth is the workhorse of the kitchen, the calendar cloth can live as a casual wall hanging, clipped to a piece of twine or pinned to the wall throughout the year. Each cloth features an artist's unique design that conjures a mood or sentiment to usher in the new year. This year, we welcome the work of two artists: Isabelle Boinot and Mayumi Kuchihiro.  With illustrations ranging from flowers and herbs, to cheeses to simple cookie recipes, they offer us a snapshot into the simplicity of day to day life, reminding us to live well and mind the passing of each day. At the end of the year, the calendar cloth can continue to hang on the wall or it can have a Cinderella moment, changing back to a workaday cloth.

Image: Fromage by Isabelle Boinot.  

2 September 2019.  We wanted to share a bit about the history of the jumpsuit, a clothing staple for workers everywhere. Jumpsuit, boilersuit, coverall...whatever you choose to call it, this item of clothing is having a moment. And we're totally on board!  Originally designed as practical and comfortable workwear, the first jumpsuits were used during the industrial revolution in factories and on the railroads. Made of heavy canvas or denim, they protected clothing from workplace hazards. Loose fitting with over sized pockets for holding tools, they would eventually become popular with manual laborers all over the world.

During the 20th century, designers like Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel popularized jumpsuits for women and as more women joined the workforce during World War II, coveralls became a symbol of gender equality, worn most famously by the character of Rosie the Riveter.

Popular in the 1970's and obscure by the 1990's, jumpsuits have made a comeback in recent years to take their place in the modern wardrobe as a simple, comfortable and fashionable staple.  

We're excited to have a few in our Fall 2019 clothing collection.  We love the Giulietta Jumpsuit for its easy wearability and sense of fun.  It's available in Black, Navy, and George.  

23 August 2019.  We all love summer, but there's something really exciting about fall...especially when we get our fall clothing shipment from Fog Linen Work.  It's so fun to unpack boxes full of beautiful linen and see all the new colors, patterns, and styles.  It really has us looking forward to fall.  Change is good.

This season has us dreaming of Italy, as all of the pieces have Italian inspired names and the colors are right out of a Renaissance painting.

Here's what we've unpacked so far:

The Giulietta jumpsuit:  Ok, how great does this look for fall?  We love how simple and elegant this piece is, while also looking super comfy.  Ever so versatile, it can be worn belted or not depending on your mood.  In Black and George stripe.

The Delfina Coat:  The definition of the perfect fall coat in a duster style.  In Ochre.

Wool Leggings:  A new style for Fog Linen Work, made of 70% wool and 30% nylon for stretch.  Perfect layer for under a skirt, dress or tunic.  In Beige, Mocha, Navy, Charcoal Grey, and Grey.

The Alida Dress: A beautiful tunic dress.  In Jane plaid, Noisette, and Nuit

The Tina Dress:  With a fitted top and fuller skirt, the Tina dress is fun and elegant with side seam pockets.  In James plaid.

The Alessia Top:  In cheerful plaid patterns, this long sleeve shirt has a lovely shape, due to its elasticized gathered bottom hem.  In Jane plaid and Lisa plaid.  

1 August 2019. What's your favorite way to spend a day in August?  Knowing that September is just around the corner, we are savoring these last summer days. Swimming, napping, reading summer novels, and just doing nothing at all are on our list.  

Here are some other easy ways to live in the moment this August.

Find a shady spot on the grass on a hot day and watch the clouds drift by.  

Eat the ripest peach you can find. Preferably out of doors, but over a sink if necessary to catch the drips.

Summer corn...get your guests or children to help you shuck, then boil or steam for 6-8 minutes and eat with butter and salt. Or squeeze some lime and chili powder on. Go ahead and have more than one piece because August corn only comes once a year.  

A great summer read...nothing too serious unless you want to. Check your local library for the latest summer reading suggestions. Added bonus: library air conditioning is the best.  

If you're feeling a bit motivated, making something with summer fruit is a nice way to spend an hour or two. If you've got guests or kids around, rope them in to help out. This black plum clafoutis from Modest Marce looks especially delicious. We hope you'll find a moment or two to laze around and take it easy this month!

photo credit: Marcella DiLonardo

Find the Patchwork Napkin featured here.  

31 July 2019.  Linen clothing is our go to during the summer months.  It keeps us cool on hot days, it wears well, and it washes well.  

If you'd like a little primer on the best way to care for your linen, we're happy to share our favorite tips on giving your linen clothing the attention it deserves through lots of washing and wearing.

Proper care of your linens will extend their life and allow you to enjoy them longer.  Linen can be hand-washed or machine washed.  If using a machine, it’s best to wash with like colors at temperatures no higher than 30 degrees C / 86 degrees F.  Drying on a line is always the best approach, but if you must use a drying machine, tumble dry on a low setting.  Never wash or dry linen with high heat. 

And while we like our linen casually rumpled, here are some pro tips on getting a smoother look.

Remove your linen promptly from the washing machine.  Give it a gentle shake and smooth with your hand on a flat surface, re-shaping clothing as needed.  Then hang on the clothes line or on a hanger to air dry.  Drying flat on a towel on your bed or a table works too. 

Smoothing linen straight from the line or dryer with your hand will render its textures socially acceptable.  It’s really just a matter of what you are comfortable with.  If using an iron, a medium to medium-high setting will have you smooth in a jiffy. 

We hopes this helps you keep your linen clothing in tip-top shape all summer long.  You can find all our summer clothing here. 

11 July 2019.  It's finally that time of year...beautiful fresh veggies are everywhere from the grocery store, to the farmer's market, to the backyard garden, and we can't get enough of them.

This beautiful photo of fresh scallions on our brass oval tray inspired us to find some scallion recipes that include lots of fresh summer produce. 

These corn, jalapeño, and scallion fritters from Bon Appétit were just what we were looking for.  

Wouldn't they be great paired with this deliciously simple tomato salad with feta and pistachios and a tall pitcher of something cool to drink?  We can't wait to try it all out.  Long live summer!

For more brass serving items check out our Etc. section, where you'll find plenty of options for plates, trays and serving utensils.  

Photo credit: Jenny Hallengren