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Herons along North Creek

July 28, 2017

Heron

At David Morgan, we are fortunate to be surrounded by incredible beauty. A creek meanders through the office park and the City of Bothell does a wonderful job of maintaining it.

Right now, blackberries are ripening and available to anyone walking along the path next to the creek. Wild Roses are finally shedding their last flowers and the rose hips are turning red. Wild Rose hips, by the way, make excellent tea. It’s best to pick them after the first frost, but that won’t happen in the Northwest for at least five months.

Wild Rose in Bloom

 

Willow Tree

 

Herons like to walk along the creek, but are very shy around people. One, we believe, was nesting on a small island. Ducks are also numerous. A family of ducks once crossed the path and didn’t seem to be bothered by the people who stopped to watch.

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Heron Jewelry

 

 

July 1st, Repeal of Proscription

June 23, 2017

July 1st celebrates the repeal of Proscription. In 1746, after the Battle of Culloden, the Parliament of Great Britain enacted Proscription to assimilate the Scottish Highlands. The Dress Act was part of this Act and made wearing the Highland Dress illegal. No Scot was allowed to wear their clan’s tartan or kilt. Over thirty years later, on July 1st 1782, the Proscription Act was repealed and Scots could once again display their tartans.

If you have Scottish ancestry, this is your day to proudly wear your clan’s tartan.

 

 

The Vibrancy of Northwest Art

May 19, 2017

Pacific Northwest art has a long and vibrant history. Stretching back over ten thousand years, coastal tribes created artwork based on materials that they found locally and could trade with other tribes, such as copper and shells. When Europeans moved into the area, the artwork utilized products traded from the Europeans, including iron.

At David Morgan, our traditional jewelry has been made from patterns over a hundred years old. These traditional patterns were designed by Tlingit tribes. In the early 1900’s, Mayer Brothers, a jewelry manufacturer in Seattle, produced silver bracelets to sell to the Indians along the Pacific Northwest coast. These trade bracelets became favored items to be given away at potlatches. Production has continued to this day under a succession of manufacturing companies here in the Northwest.

Lovebirds Trade Bracelet, sterling silver. Designed by Bill Wilson, made in USA.

Pacific Northwest art continues to be vibrant and innovative today. Odin Lonning, a Tlingit from Juneau, is an award-winning artist who has designed several of our jewelry pieces, including the ever-popular Raven and the Box of Daylight.

Corrine Hunt has made a tremendous impact in the art world. She is also a Tlingit/Komoyue and a member of the Raven Gwa’wina clan. She designed the medals for the 2010 Winter Olympics. We are proud to sell items from her Spirit of the Wild collection.

Corrine Hunt Deerskin Wristlet. Spirit of the Wild Collection.

We are pleased to offer a range of trade bracelets and matching rings designed by Bill Wilson, a Tlingit raised in Hoonah, Alaska. The bracelets are struck from the original dies made in the early 1900’s for trade with the Indians of the Pacific Northwest. Typical of the early patterns, the bracelets are relatively narrow, with the design on the terminals. The bracelets and rings are available in sterling silver.

Christian White carved the argillite chess pieces of which we sell the Boma reproductions. He is a Haida from the island of Haida Gwaii, British Columbia.

Please enjoy this article about Christian White from the New York Times.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/30/world/canada/totem-poles-haida-nation-british-columbia.html?_r=0

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Pacific Northwest Art

 

Try a Tilley This Summer

April 28, 2017
Warmer weather has arrived and many are wondering what kind of sun protection they need. Tilley Endurables, the Canadian company long recognized as the maker of high quality outdoor hats, was started in 1980 when Alex Tilley needed a good hat for sailing and couldn’t find one, and decided to make one himself. He spared no effort, sought advice from a milliner, sailmaker and hat maker, and, as he says “got it right”. Only afterwards, when he saw that he had an outstanding hat, did he decide to sell it through stores. The sale of the original hat, and expansion into a range of hats and travel ware, has benefited from Alex Tilley’s imagination and insistence on outstanding quality.

Tilley Airflo

 

Tilley produces hats in a variety of materials including Harris Tweed and Nylantium. One of their more innovative hat fabrics is hemp. Industrial hemp is an outstanding fiber, useful in textiles, high strength cordage and papermaking. As a farm crop it is relatively pest-free, does not deplete the soil, and requires little fertilizer. Tilley’s hemp fabric has a linen-like appearance and feel. It is resistant to mold and mildew, and to salt water. It has a UPF rating of 50+, the maximum UV protection rating given. The fabric makes up into a truly high performance hat. This is possible because they make the hats very well, of outstanding material, enabling them to offer their lifetime guarantee of replacement if the hat wears out.
Please see the individual hats for care instructions, as care varies with the material used.  The hemp, Nylantium and classic cotton hats are washable. Machine wash, air dry. Do not bleach. If your hats must of necessity be dried or stored under warm conditions, regular use of a Hat Stretcher will be beneficial.

Tilley Outback

Tilley also insures your hat against loss. If you do lose it, or the family dog destroys it, Tilley will replace it within two years of the purchase date at half Tilley’s current catalogue price, through Tilley’s mail-order department. (Tilley always try to meet their clients at least half way!) With your hat, you’ll be provided with “The Straight-Shooter’s Statement of Loss of a Tilley Hat” insurance policy. Again, the insurance is for two years, all perils, 50% deductible, and is not issued by Lloyds but by Tilley directly. Simply send your insurance certificate or proof of purchase directly to Tilley and Tilley will send you a replacement hat for 50% of their current catalogue price.
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Crosses for Easter

April 7, 2017

With Easter approaching, you may be struggling to find a unique gift. Our Celtic Crosses are rich with history that stretches back over a thousand years.

The Celtic Cross Pendant is inspired by the stone Celtic crosses found in many parts of Wales, dating from the early days of Christianity in Britain.

Muiredach’s Cross Pendant

Muiredach’s Cross of Monasterboice is an outstanding example of later period Celtic crosses, with full ornamentation on both front and back and on the sides. This small cross is a finely detailed reproduction, including edge ornamentation.

Trinity Cross Necklet

Our Trinity Cross Necklet has triskeles incised in each arm, symbolizing the Trinity in an ancient Celtic style.

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Celtic Jewelry

Driza-Bone Now in Midweight

February 9, 2017

Driza-Bone has created a midweight version of its world-famous coats. The midweight coat weighs 30% less than its heavyweight counterpart, allowing for more flexibility while providing superior protection.

According to the Driza-Bone website, the traditional oilskin first came into existence in the 1890’s when British sailor Emilius Le Roy had the idea of creating an indestructible wet-weather jacket made from recycled ship sails that were treated with oil. From here, the oilskin legend was born and would later become the famous wet-weather coat and an Australian workwear staple.

Driza-Bone Short Coat in midweight black

Driza-Bone Short Coat in midweight black

 

Driza-Bone Riding Coat in midweight black

Driza-Bone Riding Coat in midweight black

 

The midweight is still a fine, 2-ply cotton with a high count weave. If you were looking for a more flexible version of the duster, this is your chance.

Available in black.

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Driza-Bone

 

Cavin Jewelry Now Available in Silver

January 6, 2017

We are very proud of our Cavin in Bronze jewelry. Cavin’s attention to detail and fine craftsmanship
has produced a high quality series of jewelry. Now we are introducing several of the same items in silver. These pieces do not have the antiquing of the bronze jewelry, but the detailing is superb.

Shown are the images for the Sea Turtle Pendant and Earrings. Also available are the Sea Turtle Necklet and the Tree Frog Earrings.

 

Sea Turtle Necklet, Sterling Silver.

 

Sea Turtle Earrings, Sterling Silver.

 

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Cavin Jewelry

A Hat Stretcher from the 1800s

December 3, 2016

A customer recently sent us his hat stretcher made in the 1800s. Just like our Hat Jack, this one has a center piece that turns and twists the end pieces in or out. This one also has two metal guides. It is made of rock maple. The reason he sent it to us is that he finally wore it out. This hat jack was used for over 100 years. Amazing.

hatstretcher

Two New Hats by Akubra

October 28, 2016

We are pleased to offer two additional hats from Akubra: The Mansfield High Country and the Kentucky Rancher.

Mansfield High Country

Mansfield High Country

The Mansfield High Country takes its name from the Victorian Alps region of Australia. It is the only area of Australia where deep snow falls annually.  The raw edge curled brim is 4 inches wide, making it, along with the Territory, our widest brimmed hat. Comes with a braided hat band with horsehair tassels.

Kentucky Rancher

Kentucky Rancher

The Kentucky Rancher adds a Southern flair to the Akubra line. The pre-creased crown has a center crease with two side dents, known in the American West as a cattleman’s crease. The raw edge, rolled brim is 3-1/2 inches in the front and back and 3-1/4 inches on the sides. The braided cloth hat band has horsehair tassels.

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Akubra Hats

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