Yosemite | The Live Authentic Tour

A couple months ago @rseabve and I grabbed a new Cadillac CTS and headed from LA to NYC. Our goal along the way was to see as many National Parks as we could in three weeks. Today we begin sharing that journey with you! Our first stop was Yosemite National Park…

Once @rseabve and I arrived at Yosemite in the Cadillac CTS we were immediately hit with some of the best and most scenic views of any of the 59 national parks here in the U.S. This view is of Half Dome. Yosemite was the nations second nation park, but has been a protected area since Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant during his presidency and the OG hipster John Muir lobbied for the area outside of the valley to be added to the protected area as well. After the OG American badass Teddy Roosevelt created the National Parks Service in 1916 the Yosemite area was added shortly after Yellowstone became the first national park.

So the secret….this view is literally a pull off on the side of the highway. If you’re looking for a national park to visit, but don’t have the ability or desire to spend hours hiking for views…go to Yosemite. @rseabve and I only had a day to spend in Yosemite, and sadly none of that included time for hikes. 

The history of Yosemite begins 10,000 years ago when people first visited the valley. By 3000 years ago the Ahwahneechee tribe had settled in the valley. They would remain here until the American government would force them out in the mid 19th century. Their villages were burned, their people were slaughtered, and the first tourists arrived in 1855 as four New Yorkers came to the valley to document the nature for an exhibit in the city. Today you can stay in a variety of lodging at the park. @rseabve and I are especially fond of the tents! 

Goodfight Mercantile | A Conversation

Continuing our maker conversations series we sat down with the guys behind the curated box collection Goodfight Mercantile. When it comes to boxes the market is flooded, but these guys stand out by including a wide selection of goods that are both useful and beautiful. We especially love that everything is American made! Check them out HERE or continue on below. 

Why are you a maker? We are probably best categorized as a curator of makers. 

What is your business? We are a marketplace that specializes in well-made American Made homewares. Our name is Goodfight Mercantile, inspired by the companies that we feature. Companies that toughed it out and never outsourced production. Those truly fighting the good fight. 

How long have you been a business? We opened 6 months ago, but we’ve been in development for about three years now.

Why support makers? Absolutely to promote jobs, but also we strongly believe that maker culture leads to innovation culture, and we want quality things!

The guys behind Goodfight Mercantile provided us with a bit more about their business:

GoodFight Mercantile, seller of quality home goods produced in America, along with GoodFinds, which offers a curated selection of new handmade and used American-made items, are the brainchild of Jason Seck and Tim Mahoney. Jason, GoodFight Brand Partners Director, brings over a decade of business negotiation and creative production skills, having honed them at The Jim Henson Company. Tim, GoodFight Creative Lead, has vast branding and marketing experience, which he has gained through his work as an Advertising Creative for large national and international brands including Apple, Chevrolet, and Jack Daniels. Their vision for GoodFight was to create the online shopping experience they were seeking: a well-curated selection of quality, American-made home goods.

Soon to join GoodFight were Joel, expert of things; Andi, an expert in branding; Matt, a Creative Director of Copy in advertising; and Chérie, an editor and writer. This rounded out the start-up team, all of whom share a strong interest in spending with purpose (buying less by buying better), keeping their money at home, strengthening community (locally and nationally), and supporting businesses they believe in—even when that means paying a little more. The companies represented on GoodFight are committed to creating long-lasting products domestically; this in the face of strong global marketplace pressures focused on creating cheap, low-quality goods. At GoodFight Mercantile, we are all about championing the movement of producing goods in America. That effort extends to GoodFinds, where we present a curated selection of new handmade and used American-made items. Our curators, who aggregate items for sale from all over the Internet, are focused also on finding quality, well-made home goods—and add in the occasional flair of lovable, heirloom-grade items.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Savarin & Co. | A Conversation

Wool American Flags Handcrafted in the U.S.A. Savarin & Co. is reviving the art of fine flag making in America. Using Sustainable materials, American manufacturing, and U.S. sourced materials.

I am obsessed with all things Americana. When I first heard of Andrew Savarin from Savarin & Co. I knew I needed to know more about why he started making flags, why he is a maker, and why wool!

Who are you: Andrew Savarin

Where are you: Brooklyn, NY

Why are you a maker: The need to create something with my hands has always been a way for me to express myself starting from as far back as I can remember. I wasn't always a great communicator so making objects was a form of communication for me to get my ideas out into the world. It gave me a chance to explore my natural curiosity for the world. For the flags its a bit different as we are making essentially one object. But because they are handmade each one has its own little personality. So within the framework of the flag there are small nuances which make each piece unique. That is why I love being a maker because these things that you cannot control become a part of the work and are what make it a special experience for me and hopefully for the people who purchase one of our flags. 

Why flags: The American flag is probably one of the most recognizable symbols in the entire world and yet its success has only helped to fuel an industry that uses it solely to make a profit. We chose to make American flags because we want to change that way people view the flag and try to make an impact on one industry that has gone on too long without focusing on quality, sustainability, and responsibility. We're hoping that our flags can be a symbol to inspire change, even in some small way, for how products are produced and consumed in America. 

Why wool: A little known fact: some of our earliest American flags dating back to the 18th century were originally made out of wool fabric. Wool was chosen for flags because of its excellent ability to withstand water and natural resistance to mildews and molds. The absorbent fibers "breathe" by wicking away moisture from the body of the sheep and releasing it into the air. Because of this Wool over 200 years old can still be vibrant and supple. Our flags are proudly made using wool woven at the oldest continuously operated vertical woolen mill in the United States. Woolrich, Pa. Supporting American workers and American manufacturing since 1830.

Why support makers: By supporting a maker you are helping to support a revival of American made goods and fine craftsmanship. 

LEARN MORE + THE KICKSTARTER 

Andrew also provided us with a few details about flag making! 

Facts about Our flags!

The wool for their flags is sourced from Woolrich in Pennsylvania, the oldest continuously operated vertical woolen mill in the United States. They chose wool for its sustainability, longevity, and beautiful aesthetic.

A little known fact: some of our earliest American flags dating back to the 18th century were originally made out of wool fabric.

At Savarin & Co. their goal is to create flags of the highest quality that can instill the values and principles upon which the flag was created. They believe that a flag if produced with fine materials and attention to detail can be displayed year round as a work of art.

The signature flag is completely sewn, meaning each star and stripe is individually stitched together by a skilled artisan. There are very few flag makers still producing flags this way because it is a very costly and time consuming method that was phased out by the end of the 19th century and replaced with painted or printed stars.

They believe it is one of the best ways to make a beautiful flag that will last for generations. $3.6 million worth of flags were imported into the U.S. in 2013 from China, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

At Savarin & Co. they believe the best way to make an American flag is using American resources and manufacturing. They want to help create flags while helping to rebuild jobs in their own communities. 

LEARN MORE + THE KICKSTARTER 

Tatine

Sometimes inspiration is found in unlikely places. Other times it only seems natural. The ladies over at Tatine seem to find things a little more natural and easy to come by than most. Rock n' Roll is their inspiration but instead of that coming at the hands of marketing and polls it happened through passion. 

The company started by inches not leaps and bounds. Margo Breznik first started teaching herself the art of candle making her tiny Chicago apartments kitchen. Soon after that she opened a store that simultaneously fronted as furniture and home decor while she made candles on the premises as well. As more and more interest grew in what she was creating she decided to go into wholesale. 

"I'm a self taught business person. It's a continuous growing process. One that I love. I'm constantly learning and always challenged.I always aspired to do something creative for a living. I worked in the music business for 10 years, then worked at a foreign and independent film company for 8 years."

A move to New York City came next, and landed her a job working for an architecture firm, but it was mostly numbers all the live long day. Moving back to Chicago she began working for a direct marketing company and according to her "paid the bills", but not being able to express herself in design she filled that need by teaching herself how to make candles after work and every weekend. By researching fragrances for hours upon hours she couldn't wait to get out of work to make candles. So she decided to take a huge risk, quit her job, borrowed $10,000 from family and opened a store to showcase the Tatine brand in 2001.

"I was dying to do a build out, create an atmosphere and share my work for people to bring into their homes. The store was well received and I kept it open for 7 years when I decided to flip the coin, take another huge, scary risk and walk away from what I built, and completely rebrand, redesign and go wholesale."

So the first three months after closing she was scared, tearful, and quite worrisome. She went from having this beautiful store with daily sales, to no income as she was rebuilding and redesigning the entire brand, which takes time and patience.

She kept at it, and invested everything she had into it, and low and behold it paid off for her. Anthropologie came calling and she went into production hand crafting approx. 50,000 individual candles for their stores Nationwide. At this point she was the only employee! Her friends & family helped when they could, but it was a labor of love for her to say the least. They hired her to produce two more lines for them and this combined, resulted her working 8 months solid, 10 to 12 hour days without a single day off. So it is only fitting that some tears fell into the wax of some of those candles. That much work would be exhausting and not without a meltdown or three for anyone, but for her it was the most incredible learning experience and so worth it. Now in her 15th year in business those days are what she leans on to realize what has gotten her to this point. 

We decided to ask her some question about how she made it this far!  

Q: Other than rock n' roll what inspires you?

A: I'd definitely have to say the world of design. In particular I'm very influenced by modern British, Industrial and Scandinavian design; in furniture, interiors, and products. Design magazines are sacred for me I'm constantly on the lookout for the latest trends and things that inspire. This does not mean that I disregard tradition. I find a blending of the two elements most interesting.

In addition, traveling is a constant source of inspiration for me. Any chance I get I'm off exploring! The sights and sounds and scents of places I've traveled to inspire many of our fragrances, in both literal and abstract ways.  

Q: Where do you see the company going over the next 5 years?

A: The sky's the limit! We're experiencing a moment of tremendous growth. One I've worked very hard at attaining. And I have hundreds of ideas! And I like to change things up, keep current. Naturally I anticipate continued growth. 

Q: What are your candles made of? How do you pick your scents?

A: Our candles are made of 100% soy wax. And our scents are a product of a lot of thoughtful blending and experimenting until we get just the right fragrance. I pride myself on our fragrances. I won't put just anything out there until I feel it's unique and the best it can possibly be. It's a task I really enjoy.                                                                                                                

Q: How often do you change scents on both of your products? 

A: We have many classic fragrances which people love. And those we tend to keep around. However, I do love change. So I am consistently unveiling new scents in all of our collections. 

Q: Is there anything you guys are developing?

A: We've expanded our company to include apothecary products over the last year or so. And this has been very exciting! We're now producing a pump soap and lotion as well as a line of hand soaps. We're adding new fragrances to those and we also have an exciting plan to introduce another new product. But that's still a secret! As I mentioned before, you can always count on Tatine to have something new and exciting up our silky sleeves.

Q: How long does your development take? Do you fail often? And do we always get to see your successes?

A: Development periods differ. The ideas come relatively easily. But full development can take some time, over the course of several months. This is due to the fact that alongside product creation we also design all of our packaging. There's a lot of back and forth during that process. But I find that process rather thrilling! I must say, we have not experienced any complete failures. Of course some lines or fragrances end up being more popular than others. And we've discontinued fragrances or lines due to lesser sales. But I see this as positive. It allows us to understand and adapt to our market, while still speaking and creating from the soul.

And up until now yes, you have seen all of our successes for the most part. We have done huge jobs for big brands like Anthropologie, Williams & Sonoma, Terrain, and smaller projects for Robert De Niro's Greenwich Hotel, Ian Shrager's Public hotels to name a few. These collaborations are generally custom, so they aren't sold as part of the Tatine brand, but they still represent us. These collabs allow us to learn and grow, and generate the revenue to develop and design for Tatine.

Q: Do you team up with other makers often? 

A: We do collaborations with other brands and build products and fragrances for them from the ground up. We don't do private label though, we are a design studio and we love to create custom, exclusive products for other brands that represent them, and help them tell their stories. We give the same attention to detail, love and care to these collaborations, as we do to developing products for our own brand. We love creating!

Q: Does living in the midwest offer opportunities to partner with both the east and west coast more? 

A: Not necessarily, in this day and age it doesn't really matter where you live, you can develop and design for anyone, anywhere. The joy is when brands reach out to us because they love our work.

Q: Who are your favorite makers?

A: I have so many! I am so inspired by products and brands that live and breathe the hearts of the makers. I have a great deal of adoration for Le Labo and Cire Trudon. Their fragrances are outstanding. I'm also inspired by interior design and design in general. For example, when traveling, I get so inspired, the designs of places like St.John Bread & Wine and Fernandez & Wells in London inspired me a great deal. Their restaurant build outs and aesthetic inspired the gut rehab I did in my own kitchen, and being in their environments highly influenced the style of my brand.  

Q: Was there steady growth or a big boom?

A: Actually, a bit of both. It's been steady all along but there have been a few high profile companies who bought deep and created somewhat of a boom for us.

Q: Where is the end goal to get your products?

A: Right now, we are working to build an international presence. We have some big accounts in Tokyo, Australia, and Korea, and we are currently in production on a big job going off to Switzerland. I'd love representation in England, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, you name it.

Q: Any crazy stories about how a product came about or anyone who has bought one?

A: Well, if you consider sauntering by certain rock gods' homes in London and being inspired by the escapade and translating that into a fragrance crazy, then yeah! We have indeed also had a few notable musicians purchase our product and some that even visited our production studio. But of course our lips are sealed!

Beverly Cleary Turns 100

In honor of one of our favorite childhood authors 100th birthday we decided to pick our top 5  Beverly Cleary books!

1. The Mouse and the Motorcycle

2. Dear Mr. Henshaw

3. Beezus and Ramona

4. Henry and Beezus

5. Ramona the Brave

Clayton & Crume

How was Clayton & Crume created?

Clayton & Crume was created over a few beers at 3AM in a Gatlinburg hot
tub. We had been sewing and creating for the better part of a year, and
decided to make it our livelihood. Three years later and we're growing
faster than ever.

What was the first product you made and/or sold?

As young men on a college budget, we wanted a belt that wasn’t on the
market--so we made it. We started with custom-designed canvas belts for the
collegiate lifestyle, constructed entirely in our dorm room workshop. As we
began to focus on developing solid leather goods, we fell in love with the
challenge of offering beautiful, durable goods at an honest price.

How do you decide on products?

Each product has been created to fulfill needs that have arisen in our own
lives. The plan for the future, after overwhelming request, is to add more
lifestyle goods-- particularly for women. Leather clutches, totes and
duffels are on the immediate horizon. Last week we took a 10-day trip and
made ourselves prototype leather dopp kits. Those will be up on the site
within a week, and they're killer.

How do you find new ideas for products?

Our mission is to create possessions we can use for the rest of our lives,
and in that endeavor, the ideas are never ending. Every worn-out item in
our lives is an opportunity to reinvent and create anew, C&C style.

Do you create collaborative products with brands you work with?

Our dream is to collaborate with an iconic, time-tested brand. Custom belts
with Pendleton Wool or Harris Tweed would be insane. Maybe one day.

What inspires Clayton & Crume?

Good products tell stories, and we’re inspired by the stories our products
will tell after decades of use by those we’ve created them for.

What's your favorite thing about supporting American makers?

Makers don't work for a paycheck, rather, their work is the expression
of a lifelong passion to create. We'll always support a maker, American or
otherwise, who puts his/her name on the product as a testament of passion
and quality.

What's been your biggest challenge?

Our biggest challenge is probably the same as any other maker-- scaling
our operation. Every item is made by hand in our 300sf workshop, and there
are only so many hours in a day to create. We'll likely never be the brand
with 100 retail shops and global distribution, but that's the way we like
it. We know who we are and plan to stay that way-- small and dedicated to
our craft.

Clayton & Crume
502.694.2615
sales@claytonandcrume.com
www.claytonandcrume.com

Upstate Stock

Starting From Scratch

We just wanted to get the word out on our friends over at Upstate Stock and their amazing new store. So here is a quick Q&A on their new venture.

Q: Why the location?

A: I had been looking for a space for a flagship store for over a year and when my good friend took the space beside this he said I had to see it. It was very raw, but very large, particularly for Williamsburg. 

Q: When did you decide on a brick and mortar store? And why?

A: The wholesale side of the business has been doing very well for a number of years but we wanted to represent the brand properly, so I have been planning the brick and mortar for almost 2 years. 

Q: What brands do you carry? Who are the markers?

A: Apart from our own core line of knits made in upstate NY, we carry our Canadian made cotton flannels, Brooklyn made candles, and even backpacks made by D'emploi here in New York. Also, we a lot of Upstate NY brands for small goods like soaps and foods. For apparel we mostly carry our friends brands, people we travel the world with, doing tradeshows and working together. Friends like Slightly Alabama leather goods, Freenote denim, Knickerbocker MFG Co, and Klaxon Howl.  

Q: What made you carry American Made only?

A: We carry made in North America only. Mainly these are the people we know and love, we see how hard they work at creating a brand and making sure they are putting out quality product. 

Jones of Boerum Hill

We sat down with our favorite apron maker to learn more about them, their aprons, and their thoughts on the maker movement...

Who are you
Deirdra & Iestyn Jones, a husband and wife team that live and work in
Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. Iestyn is from Wales, and comes from a sales and
marketing background. Deirdra is from New Hampshire, and has been in NYC's
fashion industry doing design & production for the last 10 years (I just
left my long term job at Steven Alan last month).
 

What is your business
Jones of Boerum Hill is an apron & workwear company started in 2012. JoBH
supplies high quality, stylish, and durable aprons to restaurants, hotels,
perfume shops, butchers, tattoo parlors, and barbers all over the world.
JoBH also sells to the home chefs and artisans worldwide. JoBH has been
lucky enough to collaborate on some great projects with the likes of
Knickerbocker Manufacturing, Marcus Samuelsson, Eataly, and Le Labo
Perfume, among many others.
 

Why are you a maker
We spent years in the corporate world, and it just wasn't for us. We both
prefer to work with our hands, and create a product that people love. We
both are drawn to the creativity of designing and producing, it's exciting
and also a very fulfilling way to make a living.

Why support makers
The reason that people should support local makers is two-fold: 1. they are
getting a much, much higher quality product for their money, and 2. they
are supporting a system of ethical and sustainable sourcing and production.
This is a very good thing for the economy as well as the environment.
 

Why keep Main Street alive
Community and local commerce should be the backbone of the economy and
society for so many reasons. We would sustain a better place to live and
work if this idea was more widespread in America.

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At Home with Miss Molly Vintage

Emily Riddle LOVES vintage. 

STORY: GINA YOUNG | PHOTOGRAPHY: EMILY RIDDLE

Together with her mother, Missy Schmidt, this young entrepreneur has made vintage clothing and housewares her business. Their company, Miss Molly Vintage, named after their beloved family dog, features vintage apparel and housewares, which they sell at a booth in a local store. Gina sat down with Emily to learn more about the art of vintage...and to peek inside Emily's home.

Her interest in vintage has been going strong for nearly two decades. Emily fondly recalls going to garage sales with her mother from the young age of a kindergartener and becoming completely hooked. She grew up going to thrift stores and antique stores, which really gave her an appreciation for vintage items. 

According to Emily, the best places to find vintage are Estate Sales. These are the best place to find good deals for vintage clothes, accessories, home accessories, and furniture. She also recommends thrift stores, because they are cheaper than actual vintage stores. 

You can find vintage items at garage sales, Goodwills, thrift stores, actual vintage stores, antique malls, antique shops, peddler’s malls. Etsy, and Ebay.

Keep some important things in mind when buying vintage. Emily suggests checking the item very thoroughly for holes or stains. They can be difficult to see while in the store, but often are more visible once you get the item home. Also, always try on the item. Even if they are marked with the size, vintage sizes tend to be MUCH smaller than modern day sizes, so always go the measurements and fit, rather than sizing. Finally, research prices for the item to keep from overpaying. Sometimes you can get a very similar item for a much better price if you do some price comparisons. Don’t let the excitement of an amazing vintage find cause you to forget these essential tips…this will prevent you from major shopper’s remorse later! 

Emily’s favorite vintage find is, surprisingly, not her stunning lace wedding dress, but, rather, a kitchen appliance. She proudly tells the story of her refrigerator, bargain buy of a lifetime. While (going to garage sales with her mother), she found a young couple selling old items left at their newly purchased home. “They didn’t know what they had,” says Riddle of the pre-World War II-era fridge. It was in near-perfect condition, and the couple offered to sell it for $25. Emily accepted immediately. (She has seen a similar fridge being sold at a thrift store for $450.)

Emily has made vintage her job. She says, “I love to show people how they can actually use the items by refurbishing them to be more modern, and educating people about how they can use vintage pieces in their own homes. I give them examples by how I do displays.” 

How to make a vintage outfit more modern? Emily suggests wearing more modern shoes, given the difficulty of find vintage shoes, since they tend to only be available in very small sizes. She also suggests hemming dresses and skirts to make them shorter, which makes the fit and style slightly more modern. 

For more information about Miss Molly Vintage, visit her instagram: @missmollyvintage

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FOLK x Eastown LA

A couple of weeks ago, we had a unique opportunity to work on a new project. Our friends at We Came in Peace asked us to partner with them on a project for the Eastown LA apartment complex in Hollywood, CA. With a lot of help from Johnny, Kim, Chris, Andrew and the team we put together a weekend of events that sunny LA rarely sees, a Fall Festival. We kicked off the weekend with a dinner by chef Josef of Ledlow DTLA, a dinner full of friends and fun with a Southern Comfort food inspired menu and gifts supplied by Original Grain watches. The rest of the weekend held special visits and pop-ups from Commissary Coffee and Clyde May's bourbon, as well as a Maker's Market on Sunday. Here's a recap of some of our favorite moments.

Domestic Domestic

This holiday season we've been partnering up with some of our favorite stores and makers to share their stories. The stories of they created their businesses and what owning their own business means to them. When you support a small business you support, a community, a family, and a dream. This week we meet Heather Smith, the owner and creator of Domestic Domestic and get to know her lifestyle brand store.

How was Domestic Domestic created?

Domestic Domestic is my 7th small business start up. Previously, I owned a kitchen shop called Eggshells. As the buyer I began to notice my habits gravitating towards American goods – mainly for their quality. That transition opened my eyes up to the transparency of working with American companies. One company in particular, PK Grills, which is located in Little Rock we credit with the inspiration for this shop. 

Were most of the products in the beginning home goods?

Yes. Clothing and shoes fell into place after discovering so many great brands. 

How do you decide which products to carry from your brands?


It varies from brand to brand. Ethically produced, well designed, lasting heritage, or just plain awesome!

In addition to your heritage brands, how do you find new brands?

Talking with makers and other shops. I am blown away by the open communication we all have in this field. Clearly we all realize the better each does individually the better we all will do. We also attend events such as American Field to make new connections. 

Will/Do you create collaborative products with brands you work with?

Absolutely! We have a few on the floor now and are always looking to team up with other companies. 

What inspires the Domestic Domestic brand?

We are driven by the “quality” lifestyle. There is a satisfaction when you are surrounded by well made things. 

How do your hobbies influence what you carry?

I believe in a well balanced life. There is a time to work hard. There is a time for travel and learning. There is a time for family. And there is a time to relax. Combining all of these creates that well balanced life. Our products are for this lifestyle. 

What has been your biggest lesson?

Still working on this!

What's your favorite thing about supporting American makers?

The results are very immediate!

What's been your best advice you've been given?

Do what you love. I can sell anything. I chose to sell what I believe in.  

What's been your biggest challenge?

Growing too quickly. Sometimes we have to take a step back and refocus. 

To learn more about Heather and Domestic Domestic, follow her on Instagram @domesticdomestic and visit her website at www.domesticdomestic.com.

Tinlid Hat Company

As part of our Christmas American maker series we have been getting to know a few of our favorite brands and partnering with them to tell their stories. This week we are sharing the story of Jon Tuck, the owner and creator of Tinlid Hat Co. I asked him to share in his words a bit about his brand and his journey being a small business owner. Read what he had to say below.

We started Tinlid Hat Company in August of 2014. Initially, we made some hats for us and our friends that said "FROLF" on them because we love to disc golf. We started selling them at our local disc golf course and decided to run with the idea of a hat company. Hats were not something we were that into. Of course, we would wear the occasional cap before Tinlid, but the reason we got started on hats was just to make something other than a t-shirt.

We all sort of pitch in ideas for a design, but I (Jon) do most of the design work. I enjoy the creativity involved and designing the caps are one of my favorite parts of running Tinlid. We found some manufacturers that make our hats. In the future, we hope to be able to buy the machinery and start making them ourselves, but that may be a bit down the road. Most of the ideas for our products come to us while we are in the outdoors. We don't necessarily set aside a specific time to think of new products. We like the ideas to come to us naturally. 

I've always believed in social entrepreneurship. I was interested in this concept at a particularly young age. Over the years, I've read and studied about it, and when Tinlid began, we decided to implement a social cause. We plant 15 trees through Trees for the Future (trees.org) for every product purchased. We believe in preserving and restoring the earth's forest for a number of reasons, one being that we just love to be outside. I love being outside. There is so much to do and so much to discover. Our hobby of disc golfing actually started the whole brand, and we thought of the side strap on the hats for pencils when we were out disc golfing one day. 

I think one of the most important things I've learned since we began is the idea giving efficiently. For example, we used to only plant 1 tree for every product sold, but now we plant 15- for the same cost. It's important to do your due diligence and not just throw money at causes. There is so much to enjoy about running Tinlid. The thing I take the most pride in is giving back. Some customers have gone out of their way to write letters and email us to thank us for our work. It feels amazing knowing we are making a change!

I've been given a lot of advice. It's hard to come up with just one thing. One piece of advice I received from my friend and a mentor was don't be afraid to reach out to people and ask for help. Even if it seems like they'd have no interest or reason to help you, if they like what you're about and you're genuine, they are willing to help. If I could give a piece of advice to anyone, I'd tell them do what you love and find a way to make it impact others. Our biggest challenge was the first 2-3 months without a doubt. We pretty much just stumbled our way through it. I remember one of our first goals was to make just one sale on the website. I think we sold only two hats online during September 2014 so the biggest struggle was just learning how to market the brand. Eventually, we started to figure things out, but we learn more every day.

FOR MORE VISIT: TINLIDCO.COM

Oh Holy Delicious! | Our 5 Fav. Pecan Pie Recipes

Christmas is coming! The warmth of the autumn season is quickly fading into the cold joys of the holiday season. With that the woods are scattered with delicious organic-free-range pecans. You could spend hours harvesting the tiny nuggets of delicious only to spend even longer busting those nuts--we mean cracking those nuts, as you prepare to turn them into pie...but who are we kidding...you nor I are Ina Garten...so just go to the store and stock up and lets bake some pies. These are our 5 favorite pecan pie recipes from 5 of our favorite bloggers.

1) Chocolate + Pecan Pie by Living the Gourmet. 

2) Rich Chocolate Pecan Pie by Crumb Kitchen

Chocolate chunks and crunchy pecans swirl together with a flaky pie crust in this decadent rich chocolate pecan pie.

3) Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie by Crumb Kitchen

4) Dark Chocolate Brownie Pecan Pie by Melanie Makes

5) Pecan Custard Pie by Briana Thomas

There you have it! Our 5 favorite pecan recipes for this Christmas season! No Ina needed. Just simple and easy and festive. Always festive.

Make your pecan pie experience Mariah Carey level extra festive by ordering our FOLK coffee. CLICK HERE TO ORDER. Roasted weekly. Mailed Daily. Only 25 bags per week.

FOLK + Harden Family Roasters

We often work with small makers and small businesses to share their stories. To celebrate in their successes and learn from their failures we've started a new series dedicated to the ones. The ones who we built FOLK for, and who helped us build FOLK.

Justin Harden of Campbellsville, KY is the owner of Harden Coffee, a small batch coffee roasters and coffeehouse in the middle of rural central Kentucky. Retiring from a career in construction he started to follow his dreams of working with food and coffee after returning to Campbellsville from Kansas City. When Justin first started roasting coffee, he began roasting the beans in a popcorn popper on his back porch and selling the fresh coffee in his brother-in-law's whole foods market in town. As the popularity of his coffee grew, he and his wife saw an opportunity to make his passion a full time career when they bought and opened Harden Coffee.

Campbellsville, is a small town with a local university, and it's what some would say is the model for the new frontier of America. Justin is doing his part to grow with the community in that frontier town and is doing his part to bring something new and accessible to his hometown by giving people a better look at how their favorite morning brew is produced. Sourcing and roasting his own beans in the back people can come in and experience the process from green coffee beans to cup or bag.

Being able to raise his four children in he and his wife's own hometown while chasing their passion, Justin is truly living authentic and redefining what the American Dream means. Though living in a rural town as small as Campbellsville can sometimes be a challenge, Justin and his wife have worked hard to make their passion a success. This is a look at their business and the life they've created through it.

Early Style Stump Doll

Trudy Honeycutt

Crows in the Attic Primitives

Early dolls were made from a variety of materials – fabric, feed sacks, pieces of wood, corn cobs, etc.  Many of these were made by mothers and children, and often took on a very primitive, simple form.

This representation of an early doll was made from stained muslin, and stuffed with fabric scraps, known as rag stuffing.  You will need to cut two pieces of the pattern, which is easily done by tracing once on a double fold of fabric.  Sew on the tracing line, trim to about a ¼” seam allowance, clip all around, and turn right side out. After stuffing and closing the opening I chose to heavily grunge the dolls, bake them in a low heat oven, and then sand them.  I doubt that this step would have been taken in the early days, however!

Although many of the early dolls are faceless, I have seen examples in my research of those that had a simple stitched face as well.  You might try both!  I used two strands of embroidery floss and a long doll needle for stitching the features, starting my stitching in the back where the knot will be covered by the clothing piece.

To stay with the theme of simplicity, I have torn a piece of fabric into a 6” x 12” piece, wrapped it around the body, and then tied it with some black heavy thread.  For the hat I tore a similar piece of fabric, 3” x 7”, and then tied heavy thread around the neck to secure.  For more stability you could tack the hat and the dress to the doll as well.

After dressing your doll, sign and date, and enjoy!!

Late Summer Gentleman Farmer Photo Shoot

Jennie Love, of Love 'n Fresh Flowers, fills us in on this richly-hued, earthy wedding inspiration shoot:As someone who works the land every day, I feel deeply connected to the seasons and to the heritage of farming.  When I started brainstorming with the talented ladies at Love Me Do Photography on a photo shoot, we were all immediately drawn to the idea of celebrating the richness of a full harvest in an intimate setting ripe with agrarian history.  We wanted to highlight the natural beauty of the late summer season's flowers, fruits, and vegetables.  Everything in the shoot was locally sourced, including the flowers grown at our own flower farm, just a few miles away.  

Wyck, the venue, was the absolute perfect fit for our vision, and it inspired so much of this shoot.  Located in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Wyck is the ancestral home of the Wistar-Haines family, colonists who helped build Philadelphia when they settled here in 1690.  The home and property remained in the same family until 1973 when it went into a trust and became a National Historical Landmark.  Today, it's beautiful garden, house, and small urban farm are open to the public for exploring, including the original glass greenhouse that was likely one of the very first to ever be built in colonial America and the oldest rose garden in America still growing in its original foot-print.  Wyck is a truly remarkable place.  When it was first built, it was in wide-open rolling hills, the country estate for its Quaker owners who traveled to and from the city of Philadelphia by horse and carriage.  Today, swallowed up by Philadelphia as it expanded over the centuries, Wyck is now a petite 2.5 acre green oasis in a tattered urban neighborhood.  Step inside its gates and one immediately escapes the dull roar of buses to hear bees from the farm's hives buzzing around instead. 

Our models for the shoot are a real-life couple deeply in love, and it was a pleasure to watch them giggle and blush together throughout the summer afternoon. We had them "marry" under the 250 year old Concord grape arbor beside the house, which was heady with the fragrance of ripening grapes.  The foodie-inspired bridal bouquet was quirky and fun with a mix of dahlias, zinnias, air plants, blackberries, raspberries, mint, sage, and garlic.  Yes, garlic!  The boutonniere included succulents, blackberries, gomphrena and celosia.

The celebratory farm feast that followed was set-up in the rose garden.  The handmade rustic farm table and antique chairs were provided by Maggpie Vintage Rentals. Birchtree Catering designed a scrumptious rustic late summer menu that was inspired by the colors and tastes of heirloom tomatoes.  The table was decked out with a lush sprawling centerpiece of zinnias, dahlias, kale, sage, hydrangea, peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes.  More heirloom tomatoes were placed down the center of the table and each place setting got its own garnish of either an adorable baby eggplant or string of green baby tomatoes.

We made one of my favorites, a Blackberry Shrub, for cocktails.  A shurb is a tart drinking vinegar that was popular in Wyck’s heyday as a way to preserve fruit for consumption throughout the year.  Today shrubs are an excellent mixer for cocktails and super easy to make. We served a "cheese cake", literally a stack of locally-sourced cheese rounds in lieu of traditional cake and a great idea for less traditional couples who love savory more than sweet. 

All in all, this shoot felt so natural and joyous, especially when we all sat down at the end to enjoy a delicious meal together in the late summer twilight.  A last hurrah for summer! And the perfect inspiration for an intimate farm or backyard wedding. 

Wyck is available to rent for weddings and other special events. 

Vendor Credits:

photography: Love Me Do Photography //   venue: Wyck House in Philadelphia, Pa //  florals & styling: Love 'n Fresh Flowers //  food: Birchtree Catering // dress: Free People // bow tie: Forage  // rentals: Maggpie Vintage  //  paper goods: Loveleigh Invitations //  hairpiece:  Lovely Bridal

Great North Collection

hroughout this Winter Issue there is a collection of astounding images of the beautiful natural landscape of our Northern neighbor, Canada. All of these images have been collected and created by a group of traveling creatives and photographers called Great North Collective. We asked two of the chief members of the group to share with us a little about the history of the group and their effort.

David Guenther of Rowan Jane Photography was one of the founding members of Great North Collective, the group of photographers and other creative individuals who are capturing the landscapes of wild and natural Canada and creating a portfolio of it online and through Instagram. David says he first had the idea a couple years before he started his adventures, but it was something that had to start at the right time with the right people.

He found the Collective in a group of old friends, wedding clients, and new friends and began his adventures after discovering their amazing work on Instagram. “Ryan is a good friend is always up for a bit of adventure,” Guenther says, “so that just made sense. Chris was a wedding client of mine, and Mike was his groomsman, so after that I kept up with them online and connected with their landscapes.” Using their existing adventures, and combining it with his own idea, Great North Collective was born.

Dave started Instagramming landscapes and documenting the Canadian terrain about a year and a half ago. “I travel around a lot for my work as a photographer,” he says, “so Instagram was just a good way to keep creative and document these beautiful places I was going.” The typical photo trip for the Collective is usually a random drive in a certain direction, the group has a region in mind and they drive there documenting their adventures and resting moment to moment. “While we'd like to be roughing it a bit,” David jokes, “it's tough to camp in the Canadian Rockies in winter with camera gear. So in that case it's hotels or B&Bs.” Aside from taking photos of each other, the Collective just enjoys their time together exploring, driving, walking or hiking. “It's nothing too extreme, but we just try to see as much as we can while we're out there,” he says.

David’s favorite adventure with Great North Collective so far has been a wedding on Vancouver Island last year and he shot with his family joining him. “We spent a week just exploring and relaxing,” he says. “I get to shoot a lot in the Rockies, but it felt different on the Island with my wife and girls with me.” The group's goal is to shoot every part of Canada, but David says he would most like to go to the Yukon and the Maritimes. “This country is so massive and beautiful,” he laughs, “I just want to see it all.” For now, Great North Collective is taking every opportunity they can to document the landscape of Canada and bring together a solid group of photographers, and an inspiring collection of images. “Beyond that, we've got a few other plans in the works, but we'll see where this wild journey takes us all.”

David Guenther - Rowan Jane Photography - www.rowanjane.com - www.rowanjaneblog.com

Ernest Alexander

After going to grad school and studying business for 3 years, Ernest Sabine found himself in the middle of the recession and the fashion district in New York City. The stock market had just recently crashed and for Ernie it seemed like the perfect time to build something from nothing. Having worked in fashion advertising for several years, Ernie learned the ins and outs of the fashion industry and with a childhood dream he set out to create the perfect men's messenger bag. "I always dreamed of having my own clothing line as a kid," he says, "I always wanted to have my own business."

When Ernie began Ernest Alexander he explored the fashion district for a workshop that was able to produce canvas messenger bags. He often carried one for business each day and always wished he could have one that perfectly matched his body in motion and at rest. After finding a workshop only two blocks from his office he started sourcing materials for his first collection of messengers. "I started with one style and three colors when I made my first messenger bag," he laughs.

With the help of twelve very talented seamstresses, Ernie went to work perfecting his first design. "I would design prototypes and test them out for the day. I want my bags to look as fashionable and feel as comfortable and natural while walking and running through the city." With his first design perfected and with three colors available he sold his first 20 bag order, though the power of social media and e-commerce quickly changed that.

When Ernie first started his brand he wanted it to be something could feel proud of. He was tired of foreign manufacturing and unfair wages and living conditions for the foreign laborers. Finding the small garment district in New York City to manufacture his bags and accessories was his way of remedying that problem. With his growing popularity and demand for more products, Ernie has not only been able to support the twelve seamstresses who first helped in creating Ernest Alexander, but has also expanded that workshop and created jobs for new workers.

"I wanted to create a brand with heart and meaning, I wanted to know the people who were making products for me. I wanted to stay close to them and be able to visit any time so that I could stay involved in every step of the process." Today he works, manufactures, and sells his bags within a five mile radius, with his flagship store in Soho on Thompson Street only 20 blocks from his workshop. "Opening the store allowed me to not only get into a shopping area that I'd helping grow my brand, but also allowed me to meet my customers face-to-face." With a growing collection of items to offer including men's shirts, bags, accessories, and a small capsule of women's clothing Ernie is slowly growing his brand which started with one messenger bag into a full outfitter. "I want to be able to offer more to my customers and I think the next step will be denim, knits and sweaters, and tailored clothing and suiting," says Ernie.

Ernie says that the city has played the biggest role in inspiring him to create his clothing brand. "When I need inspiration I go straight to the streets of New York City," he explains. "With so many colors, textures, and personalities the people of New York have their own style, and it inspires me to find new and interesting fabrics and patterns when I source my materials." He also finds inspiration in antiques and often shops at a local antique store called Olde Good things for decor for his store and inspiration for his brand. "My brand focuses on a return to basics with a modern look at vintage fashion, so visiting antique stores helps me focus on those ideas of classic silhouettes and references to the past."

When asked what we could expect to see from Ernest Alexander for the holiday season, Ernie listed a few giftable items that will be out just in time for the holidays. Starting this winter he will offer an apron designed for cooks and blacksmiths alike. Inspired by the aprons of craftsmen, it will feature pockets for tools and is constructed of the same high-quality canvas he uses for his bags. Plaid will be a major focus for the brand this year with a line of weekenders, messengers, and other bags made of classic British woolen plaids and Ernie will also offer plaid neckwear to match.

With workman inspired clothing, a line of utilitarian bags that focus on functionality and style, and classic accessories Ernest Alexander is reviving the American fashion industry. Keeping his focus on the importance of domestic manufacturing and a respect for the history of fashion, Ernie has created a brand that is as classic as it is fresh and modern. "A respect for history and the past has always been important to me, I think it is what fuels this industry and I want to make sure that the people who have worked to keep manufacturing alive here in New York City are recognized."

Made South 2015

This weekend our friends Chris and Kimberly—the owners of Made South, a box subscription for Southern-made goods—decided to bring their brand to life and to the natives of their Nashville home by hosting a gathering with some of their favorite makers. Bringing makers from all of the southern states, Made South was a weekend of camaraderie, food, music, and fun. 

From candles to canoes, if there's something handcrafted you're looking for, it could have been found there. Some of our favorite makers were there, including Great Bear Wax Co., Everyday Eclectic, Gents, Kentucky for Kentucky, and Loyal Stricklin. Here's a recap of some of our favorite artists, events, and people from the Made South. Until next time!

FOLK Valentine's Day

Valentine’s day...it seems to be that one little holiday that everyone either loves or well...doesn’t. While I do enjoy Valentine’s day, I’ll admit it can be a bit silly and sometimes it causes people to go over board buying boxes of expensive chocolates, big bouquets of red roses, giant teddy bears and maybe even diamonds, all to show someone you love them. Me? Well, that’s not my thing. Do we really need all those costly, fancy things to tell someone how much they mean to us? And while we’re on the subject, why can’t we make that same effort everyday to show the love we have for each other- minus all the stuff of course? Someone once told me they were committed to living Valentine’s day year-round. Not only because they like the colors pink and red so much (go figure), but because they want to feel that same amount of love everyday and always tell their friends and family how important they are to them. Imagine how wonderful it would be to live in a world like that, where everyone can put our differences aside and constantly show each other love and kindness. 

This brings me to the second (and totally less serious) reason why I enjoy Valentine’s day so much, the sweets! I could never bake enough red velvet and chocolate-y desserts. My sweet tooth really kicks in this time of year but in all honesty, to me, food is love. Maybe a lot of that has to do with being Italian and Greek and it’s instilled in us at an early age, but also there is something so fulfilling to me about spending time in the kitchen baking for my loved ones and being able to give them something I made with my own hands. From my kitchen to yours, I am sharing my 4 favorite Valentine’s day recipes that bring pure joy to my heart to be able to share with my dear family and friends on February 14th. What do you bake for the ones you love?

Recipes:

For little kids and pink lovers alike, this pink velvet cake with white chocolate ganache is the perfect Valentine’s day treat. Let’s be honest, does it get anymore fun than pink cake? If you’re making your cake in a heart shaped pan you may have leftover batter depending on the size, so feel free to use it to make a few cupcakes as well.

Pink Velvet Cake

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/8 teaspoon pink paste food coloring

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

White Chocolate Ganache

2 cups white baking chips

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 Tablespoon butter

In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar and food coloring until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium sized bowl; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.

Fill greased, medium sized heart shaped pan or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. For cake, bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes (this is for a medium sized heart shaped cake pan, adjust baking time based on size, bake until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean). For cupcakes, bake at 350 degrees F for 23-27 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

Meanwhile, place the white chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chips; whisk until smooth. Stir in butter. Transfer to a large bowl. Chill for 30 minutes, stirring once.

Beat on high speed for 2-3 minutes or until soft peaks form and frosting is light and fluffy. Frost cake/cupcakes. Store in refrigerator.

Being that red velvet is one of my all time favorite desserts, these sinfully delicious chocolate-filled red velvet cupcakes topped with cream cheese frosting can always be found somewhere in the kitchen this time of year. Grab one and prepare to indulge!

Chocolate-Filled Red Velvet Cupcakes

1 cup milk chocolate pieces

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup plus 1 Tablespoon butter

1 egg

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons red food coloring

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon white vinegar

For filling, in small saucepan combine chocolate pieces, cream and 1 Tablespoon butter. Stir over low heat until chocolate is melted. Transfer to small bowl; cool for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cover and freeze about one hour, until fudge-like consistency. Divide into 12 portions and working quickly with hands, roll each portion into a ball. Place in freezer. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with 12 paper bake cups. In a small bowl stir together flour, cocoa powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt; set aside. In a medium mixing bowl beat the 1/4 cup softened butter with mixer on medium to high for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar; beat on medium until combined. Beat on medium 2 minutes more, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg, food coloring and vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk, beating on low until combined. In a small bowl combine baking soda and vinegar; stir into batter. Divide half of the batter among the cups. Place a ball of filling on batter in center of each cup and spoon remaining batter into cups. Bake 15-18 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Remove and cool 10 minutes. Serve warm or cool completely and top with cream cheese frosting. Makes 12 cupcakes.

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

8 Tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces and room temperature.

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Place cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl. Using a rubber spatula, soften cream cheese. Gradually add butter and continue beating until smooth and well blended. Sift in confectioner’s sugar and continue beating until smooth. Add vanilla and stir to combine. Yields about 2 cups.

I’ve been so blessed to grow up with such a wonderful, talented and supportive family. My father went to the Culinary Institute of America and over the years I’ve enjoyed learning as much as I can from his knowledge of food to help me in my own career. This recipe for chocolate mousse was one he learned from a charcuterie chef when he was in school (strange, right?!). He then taught me how to make this incredibly decadent and in my opinion, best chocolate mousse ever. I’ve watched my father make this recipe by hand numerous times. Imagine the arm strength required to whip that cream and those egg whites by hand...amazing. I had to cheat and use a mixer but still, this one is for you Dad, I love you!  

Chocolate Mousse

9 ounces unsweetened chocolate

9 ounces sugar

9 egg yolks

9 egg whites

1/2 cup water

1 quart heavy cream

Melt chocolate in a double boiler and keep hot in the corner of the stove. Separate eggs and yolks and put each in its own bowl. Whip the heavy cream until it’s stiff (peaks and stays) and chill in a stainless steel bowl. Mix the water and sugar in a small sauce pan and cook to the thread. Start whipping the egg whites until stiff. While they’re whipping, when the sugar mixture is complete pour it over the egg yolks and whip immediately until it starts to foam bubbles. Pour the hot, melted chocolate over the yolk and sugar mixture and with a spatula, gently fold them together until well mixed. Do not whip. With a spatula, fold the stiff egg whites into this mixture. Do not whip. Gently fold in the whipped cream with a spatula, until the color is uniform. Again, be careful not to whip. Put in cups and refrigerate before serving.

Top your chocolate mousse with some beautiful, frosted fruit for a pretty, wintery garnish that you can eat!

Frosted Fruit

2 teaspoons dried egg whites

1-2 packages of your desired fruit (I used raspberries and strawberries)

2 Tablespoons warm water

Superfine sugar

In a medium sized bowl, whisk the dried egg whites and warm water with a balloon whisk until foamy. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place the washed and dried fruit on it. Using a pastry brush, brush the egg whites over the fruit, covering them evenly and completely. Sprinkle the superfine sugar over the berries and cover completely. Let the fruit dry for at least a couple hours until the sugar has hardened and becomes crisp.

Breakfast in bed. Ok, it’s kind of a cliche Valentine’s day tradition, but come on, who doesn’t love breakfast in bed! This simple pancake recipe is the perfect ‘breakfast in bed food’. Mixing cinnamon and chocolate chips into your batter spices them up and adds a touch of romance while making it easier then ever to surprise your loved ones with something homemade on Valentine’s day.

Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Pancakes

2 cups pancake mix

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Stir pancake mix and cinnamon in large bowl until well blended. Stir in eggs, milk, oil and vanilla just until blended. Add in chocolate chips. Pour 1/4 cup of batter per pancake onto preheated lightly greased griddle or skillet. Cook 1 to 2 minutes per side or until golden brown, turning when pancakes begin to bubble. Serve pancakes with syrup or fresh fruit if desired.