It’s been awhile since I’ve shared an update about what’s happening over at Casa Zuma. The reason? Well, turns out that running a direct-to-consumer products brand while also running this website makes for a really busy schedule. It doesn’t leave as much time as I’d like for reflection—but so much has been happening behind the scenes that I had to pop in and share a few summer updates with you guys.
First, a quick recap of the last 8 months since launch—it’s been a whirlwind. I’ve met countless incredible makers and artists, packed hundreds of orders with our team, designed packaging, acted as product designer/chief marketing officer/customer service rep—it’s been a crazy busy time but so inspiring and fun. I dove in headfirst, and though it sometimes feels like a lot, I also feel like I’m right where I need to be.
Do we have it all figured out? Not even close—but my intention for this brand is to bring you guys the most special, inspiring, creative pieces that elevate your everyday. And that pursuit has meant that, at times, I’ve had to let go of perfection, knowing that we’ll keep dialing it in as we go. As with any new business, it’s required a lot of patience and learning to trust the process. One of the biggest challenges of working with handmade goods from countries around the world is that lead times can be long—we’re working directly with our artisans to design and develop new pieces that are exclusive to Casa Zuma, so the journey from concept to actually having the product in hand is a months-long process.
SO, the products in our summer collection are items I’ve been working on and waiting for for months, and I can’t wait to finally show you! Here are my top 7 picks from our spring collection. Head over to CasaZuma.com to shop them all today.
Solstice Mugs (online today!)
Aaah I have been waiting to share our newest mug with you guys! Our first mug sold out incredibly fast, so I couldn’t be more excited to share the newest in our collection, The Solstice Mug. Thrown by hand in Los Angeles by our friends at LA Clay, this is the cozy, no-handle mug I reach for to start (or end) my day—it’s just perfect. I even use the large size as a pen holder on my desk. They’re online today, so grab yours before this first drop sells out.
Found Dough Bowls
I’ve collected vintage wooden dough bowls myself for years, and they’re one of the items in my home you guys ask me about all the time. So, I’m thrilled to finally bring you these one-of-a-kind hand-carved dough bowls made of reclaimed wood. I use this as a catch-all for keys in the entryway, or I fill it with citrus for a simple centerpiece. This is the time to embrace a wabi-sabi aesthetic—every single one of these is different, so embrace the element of surprise!
Sharing Bowl (online today!)
Our new ceramic serving bowl was inspired by the one I use almost every night on the dinner table for grains or roasted veggies, served family-style. Handmade in Los Angeles by our friends at LA Clay, it’s perfectly sized for sharing any side dish. These are really special with a beautiful speckling in the glaze that I just adore.
Casa Zuma Linen Apron
We’ve been working on our signature linen apron for awhile, and now—I basically live in this one. Oversized front pockets house tongs and towels, and the Japanese-style crossback keeps it simple—no ties or buckles to deal with. Handmade by artisans in Lithuania, this 100% linen crossback apron is thick enough to fully protect from stains and spills while keeping you breezy enough for summer nights.
Sharing Platter (Online Today!)
Our new handmade ceramic serving platter is made in Los Angeles by our friends at LA Clay, and it’s probably the most versatile serving piece in my kitchen. It’s perfectly sized for roast chicken, grilled fish, and veggies—and it also happens to make a great platter for warm chocolate chip cookies. The three muted colors are all pretty perfect, but the robin’s egg blue especially makes me swoon.
Linen Table Throw in “Natural Sand”
Meet the newest color in our incredibly popular linen table throw: Natural Sand (aka my new favorite!) It’s ethically-made in Lithuania of heavyweight linen, and we designed it to toss casually over any-sized table. I usually embrace the linen’s natural wrinkles for a look that’s laid back and not at all fussy.
Sabré Flatware in Ivory
Since you guys love our teak flatware as much as I do, I’ve been dying to introduce a new color to the collection—meet our new Ivory Sabré Flatware! These are made in France, and for those of you who can’t quite get on board with a wood-handle silverware set, this durable acrylic handle is for you. They come in a set of four (one full place setting), and embody the casual approach to setting the table that is so my vibe.
