Kras Children, Lauren Phelps, 2022
Dear Friends,
I have to be honest. As an adult, I have never looked forward to summer. For the many years between college and becoming a mom, summer was just another passing season, sticky and short as it is here in New York City. Sure, it meant more frequent trips, but all in all, I was going about my workaholic fashion lifestyle as usual. There were still collections to design and production to manage.
Now, as a parent, I crave routine and predictability wherever I can find it, which is everything that summer is not. But, as my boys have gotten older, I am learning to become friends with the hot, unpredictable, yet more free-flowing days to come. This might be the first time in my adult life that I am genuinely looking forward to summer. June means camps for the boys here in the city. The early days of July will be spent in the glorious North Carolina mountains, where we will convene with our extended family to enjoy BBQ, dancing, trout fishing, swimming, and plenty of hiking. It is a magical place where I feel like I have stepped into a romanticized version of a 1950s retreat, a la Dirty Dancing.
In August, we will have our first stay at our new (old) home in picturesque Brookhaven, Long Island. It is an 1850s colonial with plenty of space for gardens. Through the back gate, our little dock on the creek leads out to the Great South Bay. We can’t wait to slowly and lovingly restore and update her over the years, and I will be sure to share our progress along the way. I have dreamed of this home since I was a little girl. My husband and I share a love for water, and being near the ocean has always been important to me. I grew up fishing and being in nature, with frequent trips to the Alabama beaches. My favorite childhood memories are of being with my family on the coast. We can’t wait to give our boys summers filled with tree climbing, canoeing, crabbing, and sandy turkey sandwiches while watching the waves at Ho Hum Beach.
From my Brookhaven loft studio, I’ll be working on two books, along with all of your Big Little Moments and charcoal commissions. Stay tuned for peeks and progress.
I am so thankful for all of you and wish you a beautiful summer 2025 full of “big little moments” of connection and love.
With Love,
LP
Elena in Cove, San Vicente at Majorca by Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida.