Blog

Forced to spend night in the bush with only apple and Akubra

April 1, 2016

Australia’s former deputy prime minister, Tim Fischer took a hike on Mount Jack, Victoria, Australia. He underestimated the time and realized that he would be forced to spend the night in bushland near Dederang.

“One Akubra hat, one AA code coat and one apple from Stanley kept me going all night,” he said.

timfischer

That Cattleman looks like it’s held up over the years!

Read the full story here.

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Akubra Cattlemans

The Ruf Duck Apron

March 18, 2016

If you need an apron for any outdoor work, Ruf Duck’s will suit all your needs. It’s unique design places the straps on your shoulders rather than on the back of your neck. This way you can avoid “neck fatigue.”

There are no pockets to catch water or chemicals. Cleans and dries easily.

ruffduckapron

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Ruf Duck

It’s Straw Hat Season

March 4, 2016

With spring arriving in many parts of the country, it’s time to bring out your straw hat made of either toquilla fiber or hemp. We’ve got a new style this year from Akubra. It’s also made of hemp, like our Range and Planter, but it’s got a finer weave, which gives it a more refined look.

 

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Panama Hats

Hemp Hats

Cornell Lab Bird Cams

February 12, 2016

David Morgan has recently begun to advertise on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This is a wonderful site that features live cameras at nesting and feeding sites throughout the US and Canada.

The Ornithology Lab has plenty of information for anyone interested in birds and birding. They are always looking for participants, so get involved if you’re interested!

Here is a link to the site.

Ideas for Valentine’s Day

January 29, 2016

With Valentine’s Day just two weeks away, you might be in a bind on getting that perfect gift.

David Morgan’s Everlasting Love earrings and necklace are a reasonably-priced idea. Among the Celts, the triskele is used to represent the tripartite nature of life and people. In these earrings two triskeles are linked together to form the circle of eternity, denoting two people, in body, mind and spirit, joined together in everlasting love. The earrings are made of sterling silver.

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Everlasting Love Earrings

 

 

 

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Everlasting Love Necklet

 

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Everlasting Love Jewelry

 

 

 

One Yard at a Time

January 15, 2016

A gentleman recently came in to the store to by Ruf Duck overalls. This isn’t unusual until he told us he was using it for pouring concrete. Portland Cement, which is one of the ingredients for concrete is very alkaline, which can burn the skin. When it gets wet, it gives off heat and can cause skin burns.

In honor of those who pour concrete, we offer this tune, “One Yard at a Time” by The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit.

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Ruf Duck

 

Haida Watchmen

December 24, 2015

A Haida custom is to place watchmen on the top of totem poles. These iconic figures can be seen throughout the Haida lands and represent sentinels who keep guard over the Haida people.

Since the 1980s, however, Haida Watchmen are real people who keep a lookout over old Haida villages and protect them from vandalism.

Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve’s cultural resource manager Barb Wilson says the Skidegate Band Council started the Watchmen program in the early 1980s because they wanted more people out on the land.

People had always been out on their territory, but around this time a lot of “pot hunting” was going on—people digging for artifacts and taking them without permission, she says. Some even cut pieces off monumental poles that had fallen. In fact, the Haida Gwaii Museum has a pole fragment on display that was recovered from a tourist’s yacht after a Haida noticed them at the dock in Prince Rupert.

The full story can be read here. The watchmen are beautiful works of art. We’re happy to have them as one of our chess pieces and as a keychain.

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Watchman Pawn

 

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Watchmen Pawn

Watchmen Keychain

 

Remodeling our Store

November 25, 2015

We recently replaced our carpet and had our walls painted. It was quite the chore to move everything out of the store. David and Dorothy have collected many unique items over the years that give our store a unique look.

Here are a few photos during and after the remodel.

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Peshtemal: Turkish Towels

October 16, 2015
These Turkish towels, or peshtemal, are 100% cotton towels, made in Turkey.

Peshtemal Turkish Towel

 

Turkish towels, also known as peshtemal, have been used in Turkish baths for over 600 years. Each region of Turkey has its own design. The peshtemal we provide come from the Aegean area of Turkey. According to ancient Turkish traditions, when a couple decided to marry they gave each other a bath set as a gift, with the peshtemal the most indispensable piece of the set.

Originally handwoven, with the advent of electricity most are now woven on electric looms, with the ecru colored fringes hand finished. The patterns are woven into the cloth, with the colors from vegetable dyes. The towels are thin, lightweight and will dry quickly, perfect for the beach!

 

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Gifts for the Home

 

New Jewelry from Silver Seasons

October 1, 2015

We are pleased to offer jewelry from the Silver Seasons collection, designed by Michael Michaud. Each piece is hand crafted in New York.

Michael Michaud resides in Fairfield, Connecticut. Michael’s love of nature and his exceptional knowledge of jewelry making inspired him to launch the Silver Seasons Collection in 1992. Years of experience has given him the ability to capture the finest details of nature and to craft them with metal. He has perfected the technique of creating models from natural botanical elements and, after the models are made, manipulating these “copies of nature” into his jewelry. Using primarily bronze and natural stones, the Silver Seasons jewelry we offer is renowned for its craftsmanship and beauty.

Below are just three of our many gorgeous pieces:

 

Cranberry Necklace, Bronze

Cranberry Cluster Necklace

 

Sea Horse Key Ring

Sea Horse Key Ring

 

Weeping Willow Earrings, Bronze

Weeping Willow Earrings

 

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Michael Michaud Jewelery