Let's Dip!

Hi and welcome to The Dip! I have been toying with the idea of starting a substack for a while but always thought it best to wait until the right time - Which in and of itself is incredibly antithetical to how I like to live my life (I loathe the idea of having to wait or save something for a ‘special occasion’ or for when the moment is ‘perfect’ - I am actually a firm believer in quite the opposite - Wear your nice coat to the grocery store! Use the fancy china for leftovers! Stop putting off dreams or ideas you have because you’re waiting for the ‘perfect’ moment!) - so, the other morning I woke up and figured today is the day I put the proverbial pen to paper and get this substack started! Without further ado, let’s go ahead and (ahem) dip our toes in!

This past fall and winter, I was knee deep in an art deco / Albert Cheuret / Wiener Werkstätte fever dream that left me wanting to completely redecorate my entire house. But now that I have gotten that out of my system (which, by the way, I do this every year - a Gemini to my core) I am back to my roots and find myself craving sensible, calming spaces peppered with Gustavian antiques and a tight, ethereal color palette (go ahead and throw in an almost all ivory and white wardrobe for consistency’s sake. Maybe some buttery yellow hues too.)

1. Constance spry vase. 2. Toteme bucket bag. 3. Antique Swedish secretary. 4. Dôen cardigan. 5. Astier de Villatte ceramic vase. 6. Dorsey graduated necklace

I absolutely adore Constance Spry pottery. While perusing 1stDibs recently, I came across this vase, a truly iconic design of hers that would look so beautiful situated on a mantel - it’s a work of art in and of itself. For a brief biography on Spry, click here.

For contemporary pottery, I have found myself drawn to Astier de Villatte lately, and am loving this vase. The pedestal base paired with the fluting gives it just enough interest to balance out the understated glaze. A similar one (vintage Wedgwood to be exact) can be found here coming in at a mere $25.

Always on my mind are antique Swedish secretaries - in particular, Gustavian or Baroque. I am currently on the hunt for one to go in our bedroom, and this one is absolute perfection. A gal can dream!

Another item I have been on the lookout for this spring is the perfect ivory leather handbag. While in NYC last week, I saw this Toteme bucket bag in person at their store on Mercer St. and thought it was so lovely.

I recently ordered this Dôen cardigan after seeing it on my friend Emily Schoen, and it’s even more beautiful in person. The soft shade of yellow is so incredibly gorgeous and pairs nicely with these pants. I’m wearing both of those pieces here.

Lastly, I cannot get this graduated bezel necklace from Dorsey off my mind since it launched at the end of last year. I have this bezel necklace from her in the 18” length which I wear *all the time* but I do love the idea of the graduated version.

Ceramics are my weakness. As you may know, I am a big collector of Royal Copenhagen. Scouring the internet for blue fluted pieces is a favorite hobby my mother and I share together - constantly sending each other links and photos of our finds. Most recently, I have been working on ever so slowly expanding my collection of Flora Danica.

The story behind how Flora Danica came to be is fascinating. In the late 18th century, Sweden and Russia were at war, and Denmark was a crucial ally to Russia. However, Denmark's support seemed to wane towards the end of the war, leaving the Danish King feeling the need to reconcile with Catherine the Great. To make amends, he conceived a grand gesture—commissioning an entire dinner service set for 100 people, knowing Catherine’s renowned passion for fine porcelain. The set was to be a tribute to the craftsmanship of Denmark, inspired by the world-famous botanical copperplate engravings documenting the plants of Denmark.

However, the ambitious project took a staggering 12 years to complete, and by the time it was finished, Catherine the Great had passed away. The original Flora Danica service has never left Denmark and today, it is proudly displayed at Rosenborg Castle, Christiansborg Castle, and Amalienborg Palace.

Lately, I have also been doing less of a dip and more of a deep dive on ornamentation and borders in preparation for the branding of this substack. A few favorite resources for inspiration have been A Specimen for Printing Types dating back to 1798, Examples of Ornament from 1855 and this book on ornamentation from 1917. You will see the usual suspects that I always gravitate towards - greek key, vitruvian scroll, boroque shells, anthemion borders, etc - woven throughout my substack.

A special mention to Studio d.Rosi. Dana is exceptionally talented and not only designed my logo, but she also created the stationary card I used for the above which is available to purchase on her website. If you ever are in the need for brand identity, product design, print design, etc., I highly recommend her. Not only is she impossibly chic, but she is also such a lovely human and a dream to work with.

Lately, I have been thriving on a routine. In particular, my night time routine - it’s my way of regaining control after a chaotic day. Having a toddler can sometimes make this a tad difficult but here is what I have been loving lately once the sun goes down:

• My ‘dessert’ smoothie. I usually have a real sweet tooth come 7 pm but lately I have been whipping up this smoothie rather than reaching for something a bit more gluttonous. Here is the recipe (enough for 2 servings) :

  • 2 handfuls of frozen peaches

  • 1 cup of orange juice

  • 1/2 cup of kefir

  • 2 scoops of Armra colostrum

  • 2-3 scoops of Nick’s Swedish Vanilj ice cream. It is imperative that it is Nick’s ice cream and not a substitute - this ice cream tastes very different from others.. almost like birthday cake?! Trust me on this.

  • (Try adding a splash of whole milk if it is too thick)

• Laying on the Kanjo acupressure mat while using my CurrentBody LED mask (code KRISTINEH for 10% off). Habit stacking at it’s finest! Total zen moment and for those wondering, the acupressure mat does not hurt at all - I love the way it feels - complete relaxation.

• My night time sleepy drink. Which is nothing more than a glass of ice water mixed with a scoop of Kroma Calming Restore Magnesium and Sakara Cell Reset (code KRISTINHOCKMAN for 20% off)

• The show ‘Paradise’ - We just finished it on Tuesday and whew, what a cliff hanger! Anxiously awaiting season 2.

• My night time skincare routine. Lately, I find myself reaching for The Outset Micellar Antioxidant Cleanser followed by either prescription tretinoin or Goop 3x Retinol Regenerative Serum, Linné Revive Eye Emulsion, and lastly, I mix The Outset Restorative Niacinamide Night Cream and Linné Balance Face Oil together and slather it on.

• These pajamas from Petite Plume. Something about a fresh, crisp pair of pajamas always makes me feel like I have my life together. I have the white with navy piping and added my initials in the ‘Calligraphy III’ style. Also, I couldn’t resist and had to get Astrid a matching pair.

A notification just popped up at the top saying I am nearing my email length limit so I think that is my queue to wrap this up. If you made it this far, thank you! I am so happy you are here. Chat next week!

xx,

Kristin

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