A Guide to Summer Bliss with Erin Pollard

Harvesting peas and lettuce at the start of the year with my son in our garden in Montauk.

I live in Brooklyn with my son, stepdaughter, and husband and we also have a small fishing shack by the ocean in Montauk. Both neighborhoods are so rich with history, culture, and beauty. I’m a homebody so my ideal day includes gathering, making things, arranging things, and sharing that with others. If I find myself in either place weaving, harvesting, baking, arranging wildflowers, gathering shells, or taking film images then it’s a great day.

In Brooklyn I am in love with our master bathroom. Living with a six-year-old boy and teenage girl is no joke, so if I go missing, you will find me submerged in the tub, or mud-masked and meditating on the windowsill. When my husband designed our home, we carved out areas for family, like our TV den, where a built-in couch takes up half the cozy room, and we can all pile in for movie night. Jason and I both have studios in our home, and we invite the kids to explore and make ceramics and other projects. Living in a space where everyone is free to be creative, and we live with the things that we make – that’s home.

The foundation of my studio was built through the discovery of a handcraft as meditation. Keeping my hands busy quiets my mind. The irony is that starting a business is the opposite of slow, so I am constantly reminding myself to breathe. I often stop, close my eyes and chant ‘nam myoho renge kyo,’ a Buddhist practice honoring the dignity and possibility of our ordinary lives.

Casa Picosa made me a “hot sauce person” and So Pepper is So Good. I became a vegetarian this year and so I’m always looking for ways to add flavor to food. So Pepper adds a hint of spice to pasta or a tortilla wrap with grilled vegetables, garlic scapes, and feta.

If I were to set a Garden Table using Casa de Suna selects, here’s what I’d choose:

1. Anastasio 810 Tray in Cherry Gold – This eye-catching tray is perfect for serving summer treats or refreshing drinks on your table. It brings a touch of exotic elegance to your sunny gatherings.
2. Hawkins Tablecloth – A versatile, artfully-fringed tablecloth perfect for both formal dining and family meals, and it’s machine washable.
3. Hawkins Marble Bowl – These weighty marble bowls are perfect for storing snacks or displaying items.
4. Ferm Living Still Carafe – The sweetest way to serve summertime drinks, whether it’s lemonade, cocktails, water, or wine.
5. Ferm Living Host Water Glasses – These elegant glasses are sure to add a touch of sophistication to your summer table.
6. Jean Dubost 3-piece Cheese Set – A must-have for any cheese board.
7. Il Buco Board – These sculptural cutting boards, made from reclaimed wood make food prep a pleasure.
8. Il Buco Twisted Beeswax Candle – Handcrafted using a medieval technique, these candles add a timeless touch to any table setting.
9. Il Buco Splatterware Pasta Dish – Love these for displaying your finest Italian cuisine.
10. Mepra Linea Flatware Set – This Italian flatware set is not only stylish but comfy to hold – perfect for those inevitable second helpings!
11. Hawkins Dinner Napkins – Linens ideal for everyday use or special occasions. They come in a range of colors to suit any style.

The shapes of vegetables, 1970’s interior design, 90’s fashion, Japanese farming culture.

A garden salad with all things from our garden, a simple pasta, a fruit crisp, or homemade ice cream sandwiches.

Dirty Dancing

I love arrangements that intermingle with the meal and what’s being served. I think bouquets pulled from the garden make for a full circle experience — wild peas, lavender, and Queen Ann’s Lace; or flowering dill, chamomile, poppies, and mint.