Merry & Mod at home

The Story Behind Merry & Mod

Mary and Maude at Crater Lake, 1944

 

The Story Behind Merry & Mod

Merry & Mod is named in honor of my grandmothers, Mary Knutson and Maude Craven. Mary and Maude met in Grants Pass, Oregon in the early 1940s. They were quick to laugh and effortlessly graceful. Mary’s husband Cliff was the manager of Montgomery Ward and Maude’s husband Lev was the manager of JC Penney. Mary had three daughters; Maude had three sons, then many years later a little girl, Mary Kay. My parents met as babies and shared a desk briefly during third grade. 

For me, my grandmothers’ memories evoke the personification of a family’s love and support, good taste, and class. Merry & Mod defines a festive spirit and a modern, yet timeless sensibility to personal style.

 

About Me

I design and create limited-edition jewelry in my home studio in Central Oregon. Pieces are comfortable to wear, playfully feminine, and surprisingly colorful. The jewelry moves with you, adding kinetic grace to its visual appeal. I fashion my work with semi-precious gemstones, handmade Venetian glass beads, fine gold fill or sterling silver chain and wire, and other objects discovered in the world. Merry & Mod jewelry fuses passion and style into refined, contemporary pieces. 

 

 

 

one of those things that makes me happy

One the many things I love about living in our particular location are family bike rides. From our house we hop on a trail, cross only one busy street, and find ourselves at largest park in town, which connects to our elementary school. As far as quality of life goes, I don't think it can be beat. 

Following my first grader to school, watching him practice riding without hands, witnessing his comfort and confidence on his bike...these are memories that have become so deeply embedded that I'll always remember these precious mornings. After school, when the weather is fine*, we stop at the park, play in the little pond, have a snack, discuss the day.

My preschooler is learning to ride his own bike, and loves the trail-behind option we've introduced to our family rides. His enthusiam for teamwork! and constant thank you for my new bike! are just as rewarding as his newfound confidence and love of riding. 

When my husband surprised me with my jazzy bike, my first words were, "It has a basket!" But that wire basket, riding along a bumpy rock trail, is noisy. For years I've imagined dressing it up (instead of just buying a very European looking wicker replacement.) Just before school started, I created this liner with red cotton and a cheery daisy print. There is a special pocket for my iPhone, another buttoned pocket for my journal, a hook for my key chain, and plenty of room for water bottles, apples, and my trusty pocket knife. I even covered a little bungee cord (forever called "bumble bee catchers" in our home) with the daisy print to keep the entire contraption secure. 

It's one of those things that makes me happy every time I see it. Just like freshly painted orange toe nails, boys wandering around in bike helmets, and ripe tomatoes on the vine. 

* Unfortunately, local wildfires have temporarily stopped our rides to school. I pray that rain will come to dampen the fire and clear the air so our outdoor activities can resume before summer takes its last breath. 

Garden Feasts

Our late Summer suppers celebrate the bounty of our harvest. Meals are spectacular, though very simple. A loaf home crusty homemade bread, a pile of Swiss chard tossed about in skillet with bacon, a humble plate of beans. This is peasant food at its most satisfying. And yet we feel like royalty, dining on our rich homegrown goodness.

Ahhh, Summer, don't leave me yet.