Combining mediums in art takes creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. Artist Cadence Hodes specializes in many art forms, like watercolor paintings and hand-painted stationery, but she might be best known for her incomparable vinyl records she paints freehand and individualizes for her clients.

When creating these art pieces, she takes vinyls and thinks through the person’s connection to the music before adding any designs. In other words, each piece is completely personalized. “The finished product celebrates the meaningful relationship we have with music,” Cadence notes.

In one of Kirkwood’s designated historic districts stands a new home with an old lineage.  Constructed of stone, the home embodies the spirit of a much older structure, honoring both its surroundings and the heritage of its owners. That homage to the past is deliberate, says John Vella, who owns the home with his wife Theresa.

When creative friends collaborate, their combined energy often produces something quite magical. A unique momentum evolves almost naturally—a dynamic nearly impossible to duplicate. Such was the case when a St. Louis builder and an interior designer joined forces with photographer Heidi Drexler and Troy Stehr, a dynamic, soon-to-be-married couple who were looking to construct their own little happy place. It all began one evening back in 2020 when Monte Herring, a custom home builder at Herring Design & Development, was out with the couple, who happened to be long-time friends.

The homeowners had an idea. Caleb Bauer of Bauer Falls had a vision. And Bill Spradley of Trees, Forests and Landscapes painted it with living color and texture. Along the way, Mother Nature weighed in to put her own stamp on the design.

While we are giving credit, we should also give a shout out to Sheila and Boo, the homeowners’ heelers/Australian cattle dogs. They are the reason that a 106-foot rippling stream with rapids-filled waterfalls and five-foot-deep swimming hole, complete with koi, came into being on a property in Wildwood.

Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or cooking a quick lunch, utilizing fresh herbs can add flavor to your meal while also providing additional health benefits. We’ve gathered four common herbs for beginners that will get you into the garden and cooking fresh, homemade meals.

Basil

Much like the cooler temperatures in May here in St. Louis, September is another great time of year to witness roses in bloom. The intensity and profuseness at which the roses bloom in September is akin to the floriferousness of the spring flush. Like most plants, there is a sweet moment in time when roses look and perform their best. The cooler temperatures that hint of a cold winter ahead and shortening of daylight initiates a response in roses similar to the warming and longer days in spring.