In many places, this weekend marks the start of summer vacation, and no more school until fall. I remember that exhilarating “School’s out!” glee like it was yesterday, don’t you? For my friends and I, summer break was always full of so much exploration and imagination. Our bicycles became our chariots, and we spent the days alongside creek beds, in the shade of old orchards, making paths through the endless grasses of the prairie, and picnicking on the mossy carpet of a forest floor. All these places were transformed, and became our castles, our fortresses, our uncharted territory. The world was ours, and it was magical.

These perfectly summery images from one of our summer issue (print no. 6!) advertisers, Grass Stains Boutique, bring back so many memories of those carefree days — how we gathered sticks and twigs and gleaned bits of string and leather and wood from the workshop, and used these found objects to assemble little forts and fancy accessories and build an entire kingdom and become whoever in the world we wanted to be before the late, long shadows of midsummer sunset called us back inside.

Grass Stains Boutique is a brick-and-mortar shop located in Graham, Texas. The friendly little shop stocks some of our favorite brands — labels like MarMar Copenhagen, Tutu du Monde, Manuela de Juan, How to Kiss a Frog, Wheat, Emma Levine and Petit by Sofie Schnoor. Be sure to check out the Grass Stains website, and say hello on Instagram or Facebook!

Photography: Susan L. Stroud of Two Sisters and a Bubba | Hair: Jennifer Atkins | Styling: Dawn Donohoo Phillips | Clothing: Grass Stains Boutique