Tag Archive: gifts

MANDAY: A Man’s Perspective on Pinterest

Written on March 19, 2012 by Thom Crowe

I’m an early adopter of technology when I can be. I like to beta test new apps, and I go crazy trying to get access to new social networking sites to try out. Anything new and I want to play with it. Anything except Pinterest. When I first saw Pinterest, I was not a fan. I tried it for a day on my wife’s account and wasn’t impressed. After scrolling through page after page of DIY wedding ideas, home décor, baby animals, dresses, nursery plans, Ryan Gosling, shoes, purses, hair styles, I wrote Pinterest off as something for girls. The wife kept bugging me to try it out and raving about Pinterest so finally I gave in. The snarky side of me created a board of things with the word poop in them. That’s where Pinterest and I parted ways for about a year. As I was getting geared up for Lent this year, Christine suggested I try looking at Pinterest for recipes. I gave in and gave Pinterest another look. I made my first board, started pinning, and almost immediately other people were repining…talk about validation. So I started asking myself why I hadn’t found many other guys active on Pinterest?

With 65% of the users on Pinterest are women who are driving 80% of the traffic, it’s easy to see why some men are hesitant to take the Pinterest plunge, and others have started “Pinterest for Men” sites like Gentlemint, Manteresting, or Dartitup. While there’s nothing wrong with these sites, I don’t really think they’re needed. Pinterest is great, even for us. Here’s how to get started:

- Find something you’re interested in. I love to cook, so recipes were my gateway drug to a Pinterest addiction. I created a board that was specifically for recipes that would be fun to try during Lent, and it exploded from there. I had tried saving recipes on several sites, in Google Docs, in a binder, and so many other ways, none of which really did what I wanted. Now I open my Pinterest at dinner time, click a board, find a picture that looks good like this:

MANDAY Pinterest01 MANDAY: A Mans Perspective on Pinterest

image via Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

and I’m good to go.

- Find your friends. I mean your real ones. Link your Pinterest to Facebook and start following friends. This will help you find some cool stuff and learn a little more about your friends.

- Grow your footprint. Make new boards. As you’re making boards, be sure to categorize them so others can find you. When you find something like a DIY steampunk USB drive, you’re going to want others to see it. I mean, who doesn’t want to make this :

MANDAY Pinterest02a MANDAY: A Mans Perspective on Pinterest

image via Instructables

- Build your wish list. I’m always finding cool stuff I want, but when my birthday or Christmas comes around, I can NEVER come up with good ideas. So, I have a wish list on Pinterest with things I want, and my wife knows it. When it’s time to shop, she can pull up my board (and forward on) and I know I’m going to get some cool stuff. Just because it’s on my list doesn’t mean I’ll get it; I can’t imagine anyone would buy $900 knives like these, but I can dream, right?

MANDAY Pinterest03 MANDAY: A Mans Perspective on Pinterest

image via Amazon, per Deglon

- Use it to shop. I can pull up my wife’s Pinterest account when it’s time to get her something that shows how much she means to me, and I know I’m in for a win. Next month is our 8^th anniversary, and I may have found this on one of her boards

MANDAY Pinterest04 MANDAY: A Mans Perspective on Pinterest

image via Verabel

- Replace your bookmarks. I have bookmarks, but when I go to look at them, they can be overwhelming. With Pinterest, you can look quickly at the pictures and find what you’re looking for without reading through a list of links.

A new dashboard for Pinterest called Pinerly is getting ready to launch, which is supposed to help organize Pinterest and give you stats on your account. It looks cool, and I’ve signed up to hopefully get access early.

So guys, if I’ve convinced you to join me as one of the Pinterest minority, follow my boards and I’ll follow you back so we can share some manly stuff.

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Design, Entertaining, Gifts, Home, Inspiration, MANDAY, Recipes Tags: gifts, Manday, Organization, pinterest

MANDAY: St. Patrick’s Day is almost here….

Written on March 12, 2012 by Elliot Nelson

Every St. Patrick’s Day millions of people celebrate their Irish ancestry. Patrick was a Scotsman. He is credited with not only converting the island to Christianity, but also ridding it of its snakes. Until recently, March 17th was a holy day in Ireland, many of the pubs were closed and the celebrating was mostly done in the more touristy areas of Dublin. Here in the States however, it has always been a day to celebrate. Almost 20% of our country can trace part of their ancestry to Ireland, and March 17th is the day we pay tribute, and unfortunately for some, over indulge in our Irishness.

No matter how or where you celebrate, I recommend a pint of Guinness and a bowl of lamb or seafood stew as a base line. Also, you’ll want to wear green so as not to upset the little people. Obviously, a green t-shirt is the easiest solution. However, I think one should invest in their St. Patrick’s Day wardrobe – having some good green pieces allows you to celebrate all year long.

I would start with some green shoes. I personally own some green drivers that always get compliments, but I think these green boat shoes from Quoddy in Maine would be a great addition to any wardrobe. They’ll prevent pinching this Saturday and kill it at the pool this summer.

MANDAY SPD02A MANDAY: St. Patrick’s Day is almost here....

image via Mr. Porter

then these pants from Orvis should be in your wheelhouse.

MANDAY SPD01 MANDAY: St. Patrick’s Day is almost here....

image via Orvis

That should cover the more low hanging fruit. If you want some real Irish gear, then go no further than Donegal tweed. Magee’s of Donegal, which sits right on the main street through town, has been selling handmade Irish tweed for almost 150 years. Donegal tweed, compared to some of its sister fabrics from Scotland, is generally brighter and more colorful. It still looks like tweed, but instead of the subdued reds and mustards you would fine in Harris tweeds, it is specked with sea foam, lime green, purple, and pink. The fabrics are gorgeous and they’re made in a place where tweed is still made to protect you from the elements of the Atlantic – not just to help you fit in at the coffee house. You can order direct from Magee’s on their website, but I recommend going in person – Northwest Ireland is one of the world’s most beautiful places plus you can get yourself a made to measure tweed jacket (and the Guinness taste pretty good, too).

MANDAY SPD03 MANDAY: St. Patrick’s Day is almost here....

image via Magee

Finally, next time you need a gift for the Irishman in your life, look to Rory Conner’s handmade knives from County Cork. I first discovered them through Zingerman’s in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and they were further romtanticized by Matt and Ted Lee in an article for Travel and Leisure. The knives themselves are works of art and function wonderfully. Here’s one of the cheeseknives available from the guys at Zingerman’s, but they make a full range of kitchen and field knives.

MANDAY SPD04A MANDAY: St. Patrick’s Day is almost here....

image via Rory Conner Knives

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Fashion, Holiday, Inspiration, MANDAY Tags: fashion, gifts, holiday, Manday

MANDAY: Valentines for Men

Written on February 6, 2012 by Thom Crowe

Valentine’s Day is just around and the corner. If you’re a guy, chances are you’ve given a great deal of thought about what you’re going to do for that special lady in your life. If you’re a lucky lady, you know you’ve got something special on the horizon. Valentine’s Day has had a strong female focus for years but, truth of the matter is, guys like to receive gifts too. This year is the year to do something for Valentine’s Day for the guys.

I will admit, when it comes to this day of love, we men have it easy (especially if our wives are on Pinterest), so, to make it easier for you, I’m giving a starting point for something a little different this year.

I love to cook, so if your man is like me, you can’t go wrong with something for the kitchen. Everyone needs a good, solid cutting board, but why not one with style? 1337motif has a hand-made walnut and hard maple end-grain cutting board inspired by Fibonacci’s Sequence. Not only is this a high-quality cutting board that is sure to last, but it adds a cool, geeky element to the kitchen for $140.

MANDAY Vday01 MANDAY: Valentines for Men

image via 1337motif

While we’re in the kitchen, how about a good chef’s knife? I got one for Christmas that I’ve been using and love. The Calphalon Contemporary 8” Chef’s Knife is a solid forged, full tang, high carbon, stainless steel blade with great balance. It came with a nice, sharp blade that has been a cinch to keep up. You can pick this up from Amazon.com for $39.98 here.

MANDAY Vday02 MANDAY: Valentines for Men image via Calphalon

Dirty Deeds Soaps offers an affordable shave set including a vintage shaving cup, badger hair brush, shaving soap, and “The Art of the Manly Shave.” If he hasn’t started using a shaving brush and soap, this is a quick, easy way for you to become a hero. You can’t go wrong with this great $50 set available here.

MANDAY Vday03 MANDAY: Valentines for Men

image via Dirty Deeds Soap

If you’re still looking for something you’re sure he doesn’t have but needs, check out Stitch Coasters. Not only do these coasters have a unique look, they are made from reclaimed materials, so you can feel good about giving him something with an environmental conscience that looks great. Prices start at $16/set.

MANDAY Vday04 MANDAY: Valentines for Men

image via Stitch Coasters

Men like to smell good too. Bison & Bear, in the heart of downtown, is carrying Moonshine, a gentleman’s cologne, designed for men comfortable in their own skin – those who don’t need to be associated with the latest trend or fad. A classic and timeless scent that embodies a lifestyle of strong history and heritage. Moonshine has a woodsy aroma with hints of spice: including notes of black pepper, tobacco, leather, gin and patchouli. Created by France’s top parfuemers, and designed, owned, and bottled here in the USA. We aren’t selling celebrity, rather this is high quality hootch, crafted in small batches. This modest bottle is packaged inside a burlap sack that’s protected by a wooden box. It’s available for $72 at 509 S Boston. While in, check out all of the other unique men’s gifts he’s carrying.

MANDAY Vday05 MANDAY: Valentines for Men

image via Moonshine

I’m really picky about wallets and it’s hard for me to find one I really like. For Christmas a few years ago, the wife picked up a handmade leather wallet from in blue. This is the longest I’ve ever carried the same wallet, and I still love it. She had one customized for me with an elk and my initials, but there are so many choices (woodgrain, bicycle, ships, guitar, beer, trees, octopus, and the ever so timely, anatomical heart). The quality and printing is top-notch, giving you a gift he’ll love for years for around $17. Check out the selection here.

MANDAY Vday06 MANDAY: Valentines for Men

image via in blue

This Valentine’s Day is a great time to show the man in your life how great he really is with a thoughtful and unique gift.

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Gifts, Holiday, Inspiration, MANDAY Tags: gifts, holiday, Manday

Stuff for Stockings

Written on December 20, 2011 by LisaW

Growing up, my favorite thing to open on Christmas morning was the stocking. I loved pulling out what fun, little trinkets Santa found to fill it. So, now as a parent, I love buying stocking stuffers! If it were up to me, each child would need more than one stocking, so I have to rein it in every year. I try to find things that are fun and different and if possible, useful. Here are some of my favorite things I’ve found out and about this year…

1. Snow Time instant snow at Snow Goose, Tulsa 2. Constructible Drinking Straw, MoMA Store 3. Robot Travel Puzzle at Kiddlestix, Tulsa 4. Monster Bobble Head Kit, Snow Goose 5. Lego Headlight, Kiddlestix 6. LED Shoelaces, Hearthsong 7. Yellow Owl Workshop tic-tac-toe Kit, J. Crew 8. Hero Hacky Sack, Backwoods 9. Rosette Headband, GAP 10. Natural Crayons, Moolka 11. Paintball Stripe Socks, Little Miss Matched

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Gifts, Holiday, Kids, Lisa W. Tags: gifts, holiday, kids

MANDAY – Man Gifts

Written on December 19, 2011 by Shane Hood

What better time than the last Manday before Christmas for a rounding-third-base-and-heading-for-home gift guide for guys. (Sports analogy free-of-charge.) Honesty and functionality are both themes for this guide that draws on beauty through utility and living through doing.

I’ve compiled a mix of useful, well-designed items that stand the test of time and Tulsa-centric pieces that explore Tulsa’s past and future.

Without further ado, I humbly present a few last minute things that I think are “cool” and that the significant male in your life might like – otherwise known as the “Manday Gift Guide for Guys”. Enjoy!

SHChemex MANDAY Man Gifts

Images via Dear Coffee, I Love You. ; Selectism; Kaufmann Mercantile

The Chemex Coffeemaker

There is no better morning ritual to start the day than a cup of great coffee. A ritual performed millions of times a day across the country; we have allowed electric coffee makers to ruin not only our coffee, but the act of making our coffee. Add meaning to your guy’s morning coffee ritual with the Chemex Coffeemaker. Designed by German chemist Dr. Peter Schlumbohm in 1941, the Chemex Coffeemaker is known to create arguably the best cup of drip coffee possible. The design adheres to a no frills, ultra functional aesthetic featuring an hourglass body wrapped with a wooden collar and leather tie. Three years after Schlumbohm invented the Chemex Coffeemaker, it became a part of the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection; in addition it was selected by the Illinois Institute of Technology as one of the 100 best-designed products of modern times. The best part is that once you purchase a Chemex, you’ll never need to buy another coffeemaker again. A great cup of coffee and a masterpiece of design to start the day – what more could you ask for. The coffeemaker is sold at local gourmet shops, or is available on both Chemex.com and Amazon.

Bison and Bear

Having trouble finding that perfect last minute gift for that certain guy? Drop by Bison and Bear, one of the Deco District pop-up shops, located in the Philcade building downtown. Joel Hitsman (pronounced heights-man) has curated a wonderful collection of gifts for guys, including a line of Hitsman neck-ware, skincare by Portland General Store and a great variety of vintage “mantiques”. That said, the Hitsman line of ties is something special. Designed by Joel’s brother Michael, these Tulsa natives have had their neck-ware featured in many publications including GQ magazine. As the story goes, Michael had trouble finding a tie that he liked, so he did what more guys need to do – he made his own. That ingenuity has evolved into a successful business. Bison and Bear stocks Hitsman neck-ties and bow-ties in a variety of smart patterns, colors and materials. These are American hand-made ties meant to be heirloom pieces – something that’s rarely found today. In addition to the ties, Joel has brought in a variety of men’s skin-care products including a gift pack of Portland General Store items containing shampoo, conditioner, aftershave splash, wet-shave soap and shaving jelly. This temporary shop is an absolute must this season if you have a man on your list.

Vintage Industrial Stapler

There is no other place your guy spends more time, aside from home, than his office. Most likely, a lot of that time is spent at his desk and there is no reason that the mundane office supplies necessary to do his job can’t be stylish, well-executed examples of industrial design. The stapler is an easy entry-level piece of collectible utilitarian design. The thing I find so appealing about them is their simplistic beauty, and the fact that after sixty years or so, the things still work flawlessly. They are examples of a time when products were designed and built to last. There are two routes to finding a great stapler – your first option would be a thrift store or estate sale. Often times these items can be scored for as little as a couple of bucks and are usually still loaded with forty year old staples. The other option, (excuse my shameless self promotion) is to drop by the HOOD pop-up shop located in the Thompson building downtown in the Deco District. The chrome strike plate, hammered paint finish and wonderful typography are sure to make any guys’ desk a bit more sophisticated.

Images via K Willow Gallery and Shane Hood

Gaylord Oscar Herron

An appreciation of the arts is a must for any man. A great starting point for that appreciation is one of the sepia prints of Tulsa photographer Gaylord Oscar Herron. Most people are familiar with his bike shop, G. Oscars, located in downtown Tulsa. Herron has also been a prolific photographer in Tulsa for almost 50 years. He has spent the majority of that time documenting a changing Tulsa. Images of a Tulsa that used-to-be are powerfully juxtaposed with our own mental images of the Tulsa we know now, evoking strong feelings of nostalgia for what might have been. The images are an honest reflection of Tulsa’s history and Gaylord Oscar Herron is a True Tulsan. Most recently Herron had an exhibition at Dwelling Spaces in the Blue Dome District in downtown Tulsa. His prints are currently available at Dwelling Spaces, you may also contact him through his website at kwillowgallery.com.

Images via Shane Hood and Fab Lab Tulsa

Fab Lab Memberships

Last but not least, here’s something that has been an interest of mine for quite a while. There is a generation gap in the US between those who know how to make/fix things and those who don’t. It used to be common to fix your own car, build your own addition on your house, tinker around fixing appliances and such, even gardening. Nowadays our hands are bound by our own fascination with efficiency and automation. We know how to code a computer or push buttons on an interface, but might not know about bleeding brakes or building a dog house. Fab Lab to the rescue. Rekindle the interest in making stuff in your man’s life.

From Fab Labs website: Fab Lab is short for Fabrication Laboratory. It is a community workspace providing access to an array of computer-controlled fabrication technology such as 3D Printers and Laser Cutters that can be used to conceptualize, design, develop, and fabricate almost anything. Fab Lab was originally developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It has been deployed to over 100 different locations on 5 different continents. Fab Lab Tulsa is one of the first in the Midwest. It is a community center for innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological education.

What better gift than the gift of “fabrication technology”? The Fab Lab has a variety of membership packages available in the form of hourly equipment usage. Memberships include orientation on the equipment and assistance from the Fab Lab crew in helping your man make whatever his heart desires. You can visit fablabtulsa.com to learn more about the lab as well as membership opportunities.

So there you go, five last-week-before-Christmas ideas for your boyfriend, husband, father or brother. Have a great holiday and a Happy New Year.

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Gifts, Holiday, MANDAY Tags: gifts, holiday, Manday, tulsa

‘Tis the Season for Baking

Written on December 2, 2011 by Roxanne D

When the temperature drops and the air gets crisp I start finding any excuse to use my oven. I like to keep things simple in the kitchen, so lots of quick breads get made to make the house smell good, warm up the kitchen and share with friends and neighbors. I also tend to munch on these all week as a toasted breakfast treat but when the holidays get nearer, these make great gifts.

RDbanana bread 062 Tis the Season for Baking

Image from Whats 4 Dinner Tonite

Banana Bread with Cinnamon Crumble Topping

(adapted from multiple recipes through the years)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I actually use up to 1 cup whole wheat flour mixed with all-purpose)

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon (I really heap this measurement)

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 3 medium bananas, but I often add another)

2 large eggs

1/2 cup grapeseed oil (I often use this instead of vegetable, it gives a lighter taste)

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup water

and for the topping:
2 Tbsp. sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 1/2 Tbsp. packed dark brown sugar (I make my own)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9×5 metal loaf pan. Or make a sling with parchment paper to make lifting the bread easier.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. If you like adding chopped nuts, put them in with the dry ingredients, I find it helps them become more evenly distributed in your finished loaf. In a large bowl (or stand mixer) mix the banana, eggs, oil, honey and water. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well. Pour into prepared pan.

In a small bowl, mix the topping ingredients and then sprinkle evenly over the batter.

Bake until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Mine is usually around 55 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for half an hour then carefully remove from pan. Let cool completely before slicing.

Enjoy! Oh and I’m working on a cinnamon scone recipe. It turned out pretty well the first time, but I’ve got to test it again before I turn it loose on you guys. I’m trying to replicate this really great scone I had at a little coffee shop in Claremore.

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Home, Kitchen Tags: food, gifts, kitchen, Recipe

Deco District Pop Up Shops!

Written on November 30, 2011 by SarahV

Deco District Pop Up Shops!

“Silver Bells” has always been my favorite Christmas song. It’s about shopping, what did you expect? But more than that, I have always loved the imagery it conjures up – bustling city sidewalks, filled with merry people enjoying the holiday season and shopping happily for their loved ones. So when I heard that the Downtown Deco District was putting together a group of Pop-Up shops for the month of December, I was giddy with excitement!

I headed down to 5th and Boston for the soft opening on Monday to check out the goods, but the grand opening is TONIGHT from 5-8pm with carolers, Santa, live music and more…finally, a chance for my “silver bells” moment!

PUIndie Deco District Pop Up Shops!

Indie Emporium shop vignettes

My first stop was at our friends at Indie Emporium’s shop – they have several rooms dedicated to some of their core vendors, set up in true indie fashion with vignettes of various products including some adorable paper goods and prints, handmade jewelry and hair accessories, my favorite tea towels (above) and more!

PUIndie2 Deco District Pop Up Shops!

More yummy smelling candles and adorable felted soaps in the Indie Emporium shop

hood Deco District Pop Up Shops!

HOOD shop goodies – Vintage Christmas, dishware and more!

Next to the Indie Emporium shop, our favorite atomic archaeologist (and Prairie Hive MANDAY contributor), Shane Hood, has set up a shop featuring a jam-packed room full of treasures. I had to restrain myself from shopping for my own home while I was in here…he has tons of great barware, dishware, vintage Christmas decor, clocks and a few small furniture pieces as well. Remember that cabinet from Issue One? Multiply it by 100. I definitely crossed a few people off my list in this shop!

soap Deco District Pop Up Shops!

Theraganics Soaps

Just down the hall, you can smell the Therganics room – I had never been in their shop in The Farm, but these soaps and bath products smell so fantastic I couldn’t resist…plus they use all natural ingredients and essential oils in all their products. I can’t wait to lather up with the scents I bought (I practiced the one for you, one for me principle in this shop)!

airplant Deco District Pop Up Shops!

Airplants a variety of containers (ready to give!) in the Earthly Delights shop

Down the street a bit, Mecca has set up a mini version of their Brookside shop, with kitchen goods, holiday decorations and other gift items.

meccawindow Deco District Pop Up Shops!

Mecca’s window display

mecca Deco District Pop Up Shops!

Oil and Vinegar tasting bar at Mecca…YUM!

Across the street, in the Philcade Building, there is also a bookstore, Bison and Bear men’s gift store, an art gallery and the Candy Castle. On the corner is Odds and Ends, another great shop for handmade items like scarves, baby booties, jewelry and home goods.

outside Deco District Pop Up Shops!

Odds and Ends Window display

scarves Deco District Pop Up Shops!

Tie Dyed Scarves in Odds and Ends

(these are now on my wish list!)

In addition to finding some great unique gifts, it felt great to shop downtown, buy from local merchants and chat with the shop owners as I browsed. This is such a great effort by the Deco District to boost downtown businesses and push for more downtown revitalization with some much needed retail! I hope you’ll go down and visit and that you enjoy it as much as I did!

window2 Deco District Pop Up Shops!

Don’t forget:

Grand Opening

TONIGHT, Wednesday, November 30

5-8pm

Live music, Santa, shopping and more!

See below for even more information on this month long pop-up!

Poster Deco District Pop Up Shops!

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Events, Gifts, Holiday, Tulsa Tags: events, gifts, holiday, things to do, tulsa

Thanksgiving Weekend Reading List Roundup

Written on November 25, 2011 by Roxanne D

Something about the holidays and the promise of a couple of uninterrupted days away from work make me want to snuggle up with a big stack of books. This weekend I’ve quite a pile on my side table and thought I would share what I plan to rifle through this weekend.

RDThanksgivingBookDesignSponge Thanksgiving Weekend Reading List Roundup

There is one corner of our library that holds most of the subjects I like to peruse over and over. The crafts, building, other DIY, baking, cooking, homes, design, music, games and all other home and hobby related reads are conveniently located together in a sunny corner. Most of the time I just go and start pulling anything that grabs my attention off the shelf. This time I ended up with a mix of home design and handmade reads. Here’s the round up:

RDThanksgivingBookRoundup Thanksgiving Weekend Reading List Roundup

1. The Bust DIY Guide to Life: I was surprised to find so many suggestions for homemade cleaners/ personal products that I already use in this book! It made me feel almost mainstream.

2. The Gentle Art of Domesticity: I enjoy the scholarly take on living a handmade life. This book is a collection of small essays and thoughts the author has on subjects ranging from domestic movies to line drying to soul food.

3. Design Sponge at Home: I have to say I haven’t had a chance to break into this one yet, I’ll be getting into it tomorrow. I’m sure I’ll want to put it down to start something I am inspired to put my own spin on.

4. Pocket Neighborhoods: I’ve read several books on creating neighborhoods, towns and cities. I hope to walk away inspired to get to know my neighbors better. My shy self has a hard time just walking up to strangers and talking even though I’ve seen them several days a week for a few years now!

5. Homemade: The Heart and Science of Handcrafts: I love this one. A tried and true account of several time tested handcrafts that will remain somewhat unchanged through the ages. With a description of the heart, history and how to make it happen of these chosen crafts, I might have to make this part of my personal library.

6. Undecorate: I’ve had this on the list for awhile and expect to find support for my own style of living and decorating. So here I’m looking for a little affirmation as well as a few of those “why didn’t I think of that?” moments.

I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving and if you have any must-read recommendations, please let me know!

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Gifts, Holiday Tags: gifts, holiday, Inspiration

Black Friday Survival Guide

Written on November 23, 2011 by DawnT

My favorite thing about the Thanksgiving weekend, besides the pumpkin pie, is getting to spend quality time with loved ones. My second favorite thing about the Thanksgiving is Black Friday. I’m not the one you will see wrestling anyone in aisle 36 for a television, but I do enjoy the adrenaline rush of scoring a great deal! Plotting out my plan of attack days before, strategizing the best route from one store to the next, waking long before my alarm ever thinks about going off on any other day, conquering the cold, fighting the crowds, and finding my prize before it sells out – it speaks directly to my competitive nature… and my thrifty side.

Honestly, I’ve just joined this craze in the past few years. So I’m no expert on this unofficial holiday, but I have found a few things that have made my trek easier. If you plan to join the early morning shopping masses, I hope they help you too!

It’s fun to lazily peruse the newspaper ads after the Thanksgiving meal, but I absolutely love having a Black Friday iPhone app. There are a few to choose from for both iPhones and Androids, but I have used the TGI Black Friday app with great success. It has all the ads for your favorite stores, lists the times each stores opens, and allows you to add the items you want to a “Wish List.” You can then easily view only the items you marked for each store, which streamlines your visit. (It also lists many ads long before they are released in the newspaper!)

DET BlackFriday App Black Friday Survival Guide image via iTunes

I opt to not wear my heavy coat into the stores. With my adrenaline running, the body heat radiating from the large crowds, and carrying heavy packages, a large coat can cause me to want to pass out from overheating! But to make sure I don’t freeze to death while waiting in the lines for the stores to open, I layer long sleeved shirts and wear a cozy scarf like this Shimmer Open Knit Infinity one as it will help preserve some warmth without being cumbersome once inside.

DET BlackFriday LoftScarf Black Friday Survival Guide

image via Ann Taylor Loft

Warm gloves also help and can easily be slipped into my pockets or purse. These Side Bow Echo Touch gloves can also be used to access my smartphone Black Friday app without exposing my fingers to the elements.

DET BlackFriday TextGloves Black Friday Survival Guide

image via Echo

Comfy shoes are a must when on a shopping adventure. Comfy, warm shoes are even better. Try the ever-comfortable Uggs, maybe in Classic Cardy?

DET BlackFriday UggBoots Black Friday Survival Guide

image via Ugg

A light-weight cross-body bag is the ideal purse to carry, in my opinion. Long hours of shopping with a heavy bag on your shoulder is torture. Something that won’t weigh you down, won’t get in your way and won’t take up precious real estate in your shopping cart is definitely the way to go.

DET BlackFriday MacysFossilCarsonBag Black Friday Survival Guide

Fossil image via Macy’s

Those are the tips I’ve picked up so far. Have you got any others to share? Share them in the comments!

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Events, Gifts, Holiday, Inspiration Tags: Dawn T., gifts, holiday, Inspiration

MANDAY – A Thread Between Art and Design

Written on November 14, 2011 by Shane Hood

SHropebag5 MANDAY A Thread Between Art and Design

I recall an unassuming package I got last year in the run up to the holidays – A large manilla envelope addressed from a good friend of mine from college currently residing in Brooklyn.

I often credit Doug Johnston for introducing me to Tulsa and being a big factor as to why I decided to move here. As classmates we always had similar design sensibilities and this Tulsa native could always be counted on to provide some fresh inspiration whether it was through music, design or showing me around Tulsa.

As I quickly tore into the Manilla envelope, I was blown away, yet not surprised at all. Instead of receiving the requisite holiday card, Doug had sent me a handmade coiled rope pail. This was right on par with Doug. You were just as likely to receive a hand written postcard as you were a phone call or email.

More recently Doug has developed his coil-rope pieces into a burgeoning business venture. He is doing what he loves and deriving happiness from his work.

SHropestudio MANDAY A Thread Between Art and Design

Doug’s Studio in Brooklyn

SHartist MANDAY A Thread Between Art and Design

Doug Johnston

SHropebag MANDAY A Thread Between Art and Design

The business focuses on the creation of utilitarian pieces that derive their beauty from simplicity of materials and technique. The pieces continue to explore Doug’s interest in a simplified design sensibility using raw materials and devoid of decoration and unnecessary embelishment. Doug is interested in the celebration of the everyday class of people and rejects the notion that raw materials need to be processed in some manner before they have value. A hank of raw cotton rope, simple cotton thread and a zig-zag stitch all work together to realize a complex and mesmerizing final piece to be enjoyed, as well as aid in living – as Doug puts it, “The junction of Art and Design.”

Since his time at Cranbrook, Doug has been studying the idea of linear materials that can be attached to themselves to create their own structure and surface.

In the case of his bags and bowls he simultaneously coils the rope and sews it to itself in a process that allows Doug to sculpt with the sewing machine. Through the expression of connection and material, each piece becomes a diagram for how it is made, making it very clear what is doing what. Color is determined by the shade of thread used to stitch the rope together. Simply changing out the bobbin allows Johnston to adjust the overall color of a piece. Doug is able to determine size, shape and color on the fly resulting in pieces that might be similar in form but aren’t exact replicas. This occurrence of variation, coupled with the imperfections to be expected from a self taught individual on the sewing machine, infuses the pieces with a humanity often found lacking from commercially mass produced objects. The “glitches” in the thread work become patterns.

All images from DougJohnston.net

Doug says:

“I wanted the work to have a language that is attainable by the everyday person. I have a desire to see more people making things and lament the loss of people knowing how to make stuff. I want to make stuff that encourages other people to make stuff. It can be wobbly, quirky and weird, but the joy is found in making something in your world instead of buying it at the store.”

Mark me inspired again.

Doug’s pieces and more information about him and his studio are available on his website.

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Art, Design, MANDAY Tags: Art, design, gifts, Manday