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

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Seattle experienced a tremendous windstorm on Saturday. The Seattle area felt speeds up to 60 mph. Not something we’re used to around here!

The storm knocked out power for half a million homes for many on Saturday and Sunday. Some were still out of power on Monday.

In the park where we work, several trees were knocked down. With the extremely dry summer and branches still heavy with leaves, the wind was able to knock over trees thirty feet high.

Here is a typical tree that fell over:

By midweek, the trees had already been cut up, so all that remains are the stumps and the pushed up dirt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just like shoes, hats are made on standard blocks that hat manufacturers use to accommodate the majority of hat wearers.

But many of us don’t have an average head shape. Our heads are a little longer in the front and back. When we put on the hat, it pinches in the front and back and leaves a gap on the side. This is called, having a long oval.

Many people will think their hat is too small and order a larger size. This is a mistake. In fact, the hat will usually conform to your head shape over time. But to speed up the process, you can manually adjust the hat.

How do you know if you are a long oval? While the hat is on your head, grasp the brim on the sides, with the fingers above and thumbs below the brim. Hold it close to where the brim meets the crown, and push in. The hat should elongate and settle in a more comfortable position. If you are happy with the elongated fit, then you are a long oval.

We have a video on YouTube for shaping your hat.

Finally, for the rare, wide-ovaled person, your hat will be wider on the side than in the front. The only solution to this problem, unfortunately, is to go one size larger and put pads in the front and back.

 

This Father’s Day, give Dad a gift of timeless elegance. Perfect for summer, our Panama hats are hand woven in Ecuador from toquilla fiber–the finest of the straws used in hats.

There are several styles, from the traditional Panama Fedora to a more casual, Darwin Panama. The Gambler has a vented crown with a rolled brim.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matt Schonwald and his father stopped by David Morgan to get fitted out in new Stylemasters. Looking great! Matt is the owner/Lead Guide for Back Country Adventure Guides.

 

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Stylemasters

 

 

 

Mother’s Day is just over a week away (May 10th.) Flowers and jewelry are always nice, but David Morgan’s collection of unique items lets you give Mom a unique gift. Native American themed art is very popular. Here are three gifts designed by Native Americans from the Pacific Coast.

 

Cards

These notecards, designed by Marvin Oliver, show the killer whale with a raven dorsal fin, the raven holding the moon in its beak. The moon is embossed. The eagle is portrayed beneath the raven in a subdued fashion, as are the waves of the ocean.

 

 

 

 

Salad Servers

These salad servers are designed for balance and lightness. The eagle, killer whale and wolf, Corrine Hunt’s symbols for air, sea and land, are portrayed on the salad servers.

 

 

 

Lovebirds Necklet

This modern cross-cultural necklet is designed by Odin Lonning, a Tlingit from Juneau. This necklet displays the lovebirds, eagle and raven, in a traditional form within a heart shape.

 

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Notecards

Items for Hearth and Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With spring officially here (but not necessarily here for much of the country), it’s time to cover your head with the cool comfort of a straw hat. Our Panamas are made with toquilla fiber. This is the straw from Ecuador that has been used for generations in a genuine Panama. Greats such as Teddy Roosevelt and Napolean III sported these hats and made them the fashion icons that we know today. The fiber from our hats is woven in Ecuador, then shipped to the US where they are blocked and finished. We have several varieties of Panamas.

 

 

 

 

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Summer Hats

A customer dropped by the other day with his newly acquired hawk. He was here to acquire kangaroo leather. Falconers enjoy using this leather because of its durability.

For all those interested in falconry, we recommend Mike’s Falconry.