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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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.
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.
Everlasting Love Earrings
Everlasting Love Necklet
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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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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.
Watchman Pawn
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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.
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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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 Cluster Necklace
Sea Horse Key Ring
Weeping Willow Earrings
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With David’s passing, it has given us pause to look back at our company throughout the years. David Morgan began as Austral Enterprises in 1962. Many items that found their way into the catalog began as unique items that David and Dorothy found in Wales. (David spent much time there over the years and could speak Welsh. He was a staunch advocate for Welsh independence.)
The photos below were taken from a catalog in 1980. The models are usually family and friends. Enjoy this blast from the past.
Welsh Fisherman’s Smock
Hickory Shirt (not the same maker of our current Hickory Shirt)
Medical Sheepskin
The Slouch (we still carry the Slouch, and nothing has changed on this Classic.)
And nothing has changed on caring for your Akubra!
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.
