Gezellig Gazette No. 01

things to make, do, and discover for cozy homes, convivial gatherings and joy-filled days.
brought to you by SoloMahj.com

No. 01 · Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Welcome

Gezellig, and Why We Named a Newsletter After It

There's a Dutch word that doesn't translate cleanly into English, and that's precisely why we borrowed it. Gezellig is the warmth of a room where people want to stay. It's the second pot of tea. It's the game still spread out on the table at eleven o'clock because nobody wanted to be the one to put it away.

That feeling is what this letter is about. Every Tuesday we'll bring you a few things worth making, a few worth doing, and a few worth discovering — all of it aimed at homes that feel good to be in and tables people linger at.

We're glad you're here. Let's begin.

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The Month Ahead

September at a Glance

Birthstone Sapphire · Birth flowers Aster & Morning Glory

September's stone is the sapphire, and while we all picture it deep blue, it comes in nearly every color but red — pink, yellow, green, and a rare peachy variety called padparadscha, named for the lotus blossom. It has stood for wisdom, truth, and loyalty for centuries; medieval clergy wore it because they believed it kept the wearer honest, and it remains a lovely thing to give someone you intend to keep.

The month claims two flowers. The aster takes its name from the Greek word for star, which is exactly what it looks like, and it has the good manners to bloom in September when most of the garden has given up — a bunch of them in a pitcher is the easiest table arrangement of the season. The morning glory is the opposite sort of plant: each bloom opens at first light and is finished by afternoon, replaced by a new one the next morning. It has come to stand for affection, and for the particular beauty of things that only last a day.

Mon, Sept 7

Labor Day — the unofficial close of summer, and a very good excuse for one last outdoor table

Tue, Sept 22

First day of autumn. The equinox falls at 8:05 pm ET; from Wednesday the nights are longer than the days

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From the Gazette Kitchen

Something Easy to Start With

Honey & Thyme Cheese Board Drizzle

Makes about ½ cup · Keeps one week refrigerated

You'll need

½ cup honey · 3 sprigs fresh thyme · 1 strip lemon peel · pinch of flaky salt · pinch of cracked black pepper

To make

Warm the honey gently — do not let it simmer. Add the thyme and lemon peel, take it off the heat, and let it sit for twenty minutes. Strain, then stir in the salt and pepper. Pour over a wedge of sharp cheese just before guests arrive. It takes five minutes and people always ask.

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Gezellig Picks

Three Things We're Loving This Week

A small, well-edited handful — the way we'd recommend them to a friend.

Cashmere Throw

Williams-Sonoma

A throw is the fastest way to make a room feel cozy. Drape one over the arm of a chair and the whole space reads as an invitation to sit down and stay a while. This one is soft enough that guests reach for it without asking.

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Tart by Taylor Match Striker

Anthropologie

Beautiful enough to leave out beside the candles, which is exactly the point — the prettiest household objects are the ones you never have to put away.

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Michael Aram Serving Set

Dillard's

The kind of piece that makes an ordinary Tuesday supper feel like you meant it. Also our standing answer to the question of what to give at a wedding.

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News from SoloMahj

What's New Around Here

First, a hint at what's coming: we've been working on a new size. The Thistle is the largest SoloMahj board we've made, built for the new, even larger tiles that haven't fit our other boards. More on it soon — but if you've been waiting for a board that could hold your oversized set, this is the one.

Check out this new tile company. We love their aesthetic!