Market Finds: November 2014

With Thanksgiving being only a week away, I thought this month's Market Finds would focus on some of my favorite finds that seem fitting for the upcoming holiday.  Whether you are setting a table this year for friends and family or will be a guest at someone's table, here are a few things that will set a festive and thankful touch to your gathering.  Read below for more details on these finds and be sure to click the links to discover more about the artisans behind these great products and to see more of their wonderful goods.  Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

French & Sparrow: Clay Tags

These beautifully simple clay tags are just the right touch of casual elegance for any place setting this Thanksgiving or for any gift for that matter.  I can easily see using the "Thank You" tag or "Bon Appetit" tag as a napkin ring at each Thanksgiving place setting you set.  Or if you have a hostess gift to bring or favors/leftovers to send your guests home with, these would be a lovely addition and sentiment.  These tags are made by hand using a very unique and specific process that involves only natural materials.  They are made in Australia, but their uniqueness alone would most definitely be worth this out-of-country purchase.

{photo credit: FrenchandSparrow}

Where to Find French & Sparrow:

Purchase from Artisan @ Etsy.com/FrenchandSparrow

Learn More @ FrenchandSparrow.com

Follow @ Facebook.com/FrenchandSparrow

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Sunday Suppers: The Cookbook

Have you seen this cookbook yet?  I love it and I love the idea that brought it to be!!  Sunday Suppers began as a gathering of friends in a Brooklyn apartment that centered around a simple meal and a love of food with the sole purpose being the coming together.  This gathering grew into a weekly gathering and sharing of meals between friends and then became a dinner & communal cooking center for others.  Karen Mordechai, the creator behind Sunday Suppers, just recently launched a cookbook containing a collection of simple and seasonal meals that any expert chef or home cook would enjoy preparing.  There is no doubt in my mind that this cookbook will inspire anyone to gather with friends and family over a meal, so what better time than to pick this up then at Thanksgiving!  Pick it up for yourself as you get inspired about hosting your holiday meal or bring one to the host/hostess of the meal you will attend this year - they'll love it!

{photo credit: Karen Mordechai of Sunday Suppers}

Where to Find Sunday Suppers:

Purchase from Artisan @ SundaySuppers.com

Learn More @ SundaySuppers.com

Find Locally @ Barnes & Noble or Williams Sonoma
Follow @ Pinterest.com/SundaySuppers

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Owl's Brew: Pink & Black

I actually saw this at Williams Sonoma recently and was so inspired by the creativity behind it!  The Owl's Brew is the first I have seen of a Tea that is hand crafted, hand blended, freshly brewed, and then bottled for creating unique cocktails.  The blends are crafted so that they pair easily with Whiskey, Tequila, Vodka, and even Wine to give you a whole new cocktail adventure.  The Brew's come in Classic (English Breakfast + Citrus), Coco-Lada (Black Tea + Coconut + Chai Spices), and Pink & Black (Darjeeling + Hibiscus + Strawberry).  The Pink & Black stood out as an interesting flavor to try and they give you the exact instructions on the back of the bottle for pairing with the right alcohol.  This is would be great to serve your guests this Thanksgiving as they are munching on apps and waiting for the meal.  Made in small batches by hand in Vermont.

{photo credit: Owl's Brew}

Where to Find Owl's Brew:
Purchase from Artisan @ OwlsBrew.com
Learn More @ OwlsBrew.com
Find Locally @ OwlsBrew.com/Retailers
Follow @ Facebook.com/theOwlsBrew

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Peg & Awl: Chalkboard Tablet

I recently saw this item come up in one of my social media feeds, and I thought it was just ingenious!  It combines three of my favorite things - chalkboard, notepad, reclaimed wood!  This husband and wife team who have created this product along with numerous others, are the clever folks behind Peg & Awl.  They live in Pennsylvania and wanted to put to use all the materials that were being tossed aside and unused and put them to good uses for themselves.  This has in turn for them become a thriving business, and out of it this clever notepad.  These chalkboard tablets are made from wood that comes from 19th century buildings, barns, and houses and finished with reclaimed black leather from WWII gun slings, chalkboard paint and tung oil.  What a great way to keep a list of reminders, grocery needs, or menu items.  A fun go-to for keeping track of your menu items or to-do-lists this holiday season!

{photo credit: Peg & Awl}

Where to Find Peg & Awl:

Purchase from Artisan @ PegandAwlbuilt.com

Find Locally @ PegandAwlbuilt.com/Retailers

Follow @ Facebook.com/PegandAwl

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Hester & Cook/Kitchen Papers: Blackberry Harvest Table Runner

I am a big fan of all the decorative paper table runners and placemats that you see out in the marketplace these days.  I just think it is such a great idea for hosting a large gathering because of all the beautiful patterns you can choose from which lends to a great canvas for building your table setting and it sure is easy to clean up after the meal (no laundering!).  This new print from Hester & Cook/Kitchen Papers caught my eye!  The Blackberry print lends to this season of harvest and I think it would pair beautifully with a white table setting and accents of deep burgundy, pine green, silver, or even gold.  This would be great for your Thanksgiving table this year and it comes in a 50ft roll so you will have plenty leftover for other gatherings or to use as gift wrap.  This table runner is printed using soy based inks (they're food safe!) and made in the USA by Hester & Cook who are based in Nashville.

{photo credit: Hester & Cook/Kitchen Papers}

Where to Find Hester & Cook/Kitchen Papers:

Purchase from Artisan @ HesterandCook.com

Find Locally @ HesterandCook.com/Retailers

Follow @ Facebook.com/HesterandCook

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Potted Herbs: by YOU

As someone who attends more gatherings than she hosts, I am always trying to think of unique host/hostess gifts that will be meaningful to the recipient.  And, as someone who enjoys cooking and using the freshest ingredients she can, I am also a grand lover of herbs.  They are my favorite go-to item and they are pretty easy for this novice gardener to find some success at growing.  So, I thought I would include for this month's Market Finds, the potted herb which would make a unique and most delicious hostess gift this holiday season.  It is fairly easy to just pick up a small plant of rosemary, sage, or thyme (big fall flavors), put in a clay pot, add a tag indicating what it is, and take as your host/hostess gift this Thanksgiving. A simple, but lovely gift that can be cared for indoors and that provides for many other meals to come.  

Where to Find Potted Herbs:

Stop by your local garden center or florist to see if they have herbs in stock.  If working with a local garden center or florist, you have the added bonus of asking them if they can get the herb you are seeking from their provider if they don't have what you are looking for in stock already.  Clay pots are available too and are $1-$3 at the most.  Add a tag made from black (or color of your choice) card stock, print the name of the herb on the tag, and attach to the rim of the clay pot with some gardener's twine.  Simple, easy, and a local find too!

The Nest Box: Home Mercantile

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post about celebrating the growth of a couple of local shop favorites that I have here in Central Texas.  Each of the shops I featured in that post are opening second shops or expanding their current one, and I am super excited this week to feature the opening of The Nest Box!

The Nest Box, which is the adjacent and complimentary shop of Cherry Tree Creative, located in Taylor, TX, opened this past weekend, and I just couldn't wait to share with you what I found.  As you probably know already, Cherry Tree Creative is one of my very favorite shops here in all of Central Texas (you can read about that HERE), so I was beyond ecstatic when Cherry Tree's owner, Curie Humphreys, announced about a month ago that she was opening The Nest Box in the empty space right next to Cherry Tree.  Curie does a beautiful job of bringing local artisans together at Cherry Tree so that every item you find there is locally made by the artisans in her community.  The Nest Box is a collection of all the favorites and finds that Curie gathers that will compliment those locally made goods at Cherry Tree.  And, as you would only expect from Curie, she amazes you with her beautifully curated collection.

Filled with all the little things that could feather your nest, you can easily find a vast selection of unique vintage home goods, antique furniture pieces, apothecary-style candles, linens, throws, and all the little touches that make a home warm and cozy.

Curie has a keen eye for gathering all of these lovely goods and puts her beautiful touch on bringing it all together in a way that draws you in and tugs at you until you must take something home.  Several of the visitors that attended the Grand Opening of the Nest Box this past weekend stated "I could just live here!".

Your experience at The Nest Box is most definitely a warm welcome and invitation to linger.  And, if you do decide to linger, you can pick up a little treat to fuel your shopping.  The Nest Box is also featuring scrumptious baked goods - cookies, cupcakes, breads, mini pies, and such - that are made locally at Fourth Street Bakery.  

The Nest Box is of course a treat in and of itself, and I am so happy for Curie's success in bringing her beautiful vision to life, and so happy for Taylor Texas to have such a destination for all of us Central Texas shoppers!  I am going to leave you with a few photos from The Nest Box to enjoy, but please be sure to make The Nest Box and Cherry Tree Creative a must-stop when you are in the area - you will be delighted beyond expectation!

 

Enjoy & Explore more of The Nest Box:

Store Hours: Thurs. 10-7pm; Fri. & Sat. 10-5pm

Follow: Facebook.com/TheNestBox

The Owl Wine Bar & Home Goods

About 30 minutes east of Austin, sits Elgin, TX.  A small town, known mostly for it's sausage making, is home to a historic downtown area that is slowly filling in with local merchants eager to bring this town's historic district back to life.  One of the pioneers of Elgin's revitalization is the duo behind the Owl - Molly Alexander and Gary Luedecke.  They opened the Owl - a wine bar and home goods shop - two years ago and have done a beautiful job of bringing together a unique "one-stop-shop".

The Owl, located in a fabulously renovated historic building, offers vintage home goods, a wine bar with a good selection of wines, beer, and simple appetizers, and live music every Friday & Saturday night.  So you can shop, sip, and relax all in one beautiful spot!

Although the wine selection is good, most of my attention when I go to the Owl is on the fabulous mix of home goods.  They do such a great job of mixing vintage finds with antiques and estate sale finds to create an eclectic mix of home goods that speaks to any style.

The upholstered furniture you find throughout the shop is mostly estate sale pieces that are only the very best of the estate sale.  The hand-selected pieces that are brought into the Owl are thoroughly inspected and only the pieces that are in the most pristine condition find their way to their showroom.  If you didn't know that, you would think they were newer pieces or re-furbished pieces at best.

And, of course you can always find a lovely selection of owl merchandise - vases, pitchers, matchboxes, and even salt & pepper shakers.  

 

The Owl is most definitely one of the best places I have seen that beautifully displays an eclectic mix of home goods.  Whatever your style or preference, I am sure there is something they have that would please your palette.  And, for some reason, while my husband and I were visiting the Owl to collect pictures for this post, we got a little carried away with our cameras and therefore have a few extra photos for you to peruse.  So, I hope you will enjoy our mini photo tour of the shop, and if you happen to be in or around Elgin, TX, be sure to stop in and see the Owl for yourself and have a glass of wine too!  Enjoy!!

Enjoy & Explore more of The Owl:

Visit their Website or Facebook page for Store Hours and Live Music Schedule

ElginOwl.com

Facebook.com/ElginOwl

Market Finds: October 2014

I started a feature last month where I highlight artisan products that I come across in my explorations - my Market Finds.  With the month of October wrapping up and including Fall Festivals, Halloween Parties, and Harvest Parties, I thought these items might inspire you as you wrap up your last of the month festivities and plans.  Read below for more details on these finds and be sure to click the links to discover more about the artisans behind these great products and to see more of their wonderful goods.  Enjoy & Happy Fall Festivities!!

Tuffy Kickshaw's Sweet Covered Corn: Pumpkin Five Spice

This gourmet caramel corn is not like any caramel corn you ever tasted.  Small batches of handmade caramel corn is tossed with other gourmet ingredients to offer a vast array of seasonally inspired flavors.  The Pumpkin 5 Spice flavor is the traditional buttery caramel corn combined with real pumpkin & Chinese Five Spice - a must have at any of your upcoming weekend gatherings, to just have on hand as a go-to munchy, or to take as a hostess gift.  Tuffy Kickshaw is lovingly made in small batches by hand in Colorado.

{photo credit: Tuffy Kickshaw}

Where to Find Tuffy Kickshaw:

Purchase from Artisan @ TuffyKickshaw.com

Find Locally @ TuffyKickshaw.com/Retailers

Follow @ Facebook.com/Tuffy Kickshaw

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Waxing Kara: Cinnamon Honey Lollipops

An artist who became a beekeeper to harvest wax for her paintings (read her story HERE), Waxing Kara started harvesting the honey to create wonderful natural products.  One of her creative genius products is something I have never seen before - Honey Lollipops.  Her Cinnamon Honey Lollipops are seasonal in so many ways and are especially good for soothing a scratchy throat or to stir into a cup of hot tea.  Made by hand on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

{photo credit: Waxing Kara}

Where to Find Waxing Kara:

Purchase from Artisan @ WaxingKara.com

Find Locally @ Waxing Kara.com/Retailers

Follow @ Facebook.com/EasternShoreHoney

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Amanda Catherine Designs: Fall Pencils

I love pens, pencils, and paper, and so of course, these pencils with fun Fall sayings caught my eye.  I think how sweet it would be to write a note and look down at my pencil to see "Hayrides & Apple Cider" reminding me of the season at hand - so inspiring!  Amanda combines whimsical sayings with fun designs to create all sorts of inspiring pencil sets, prints, and market totes too.  Made by hand in Savannah, Georgia.

{photo credit: Amanda Catherine Designs}

Where to Find Amanda Catherine Designs:
Purchase from Artisan @ Etsy.com/ACDShop
Learn More @ AmandaCatherineDesigns.com
Follow @ Facebook.com/AmandaCatherineDesigns

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Knot and Bow: Chalkboard Style Kraft Paper

As I mentioned above I love paper and this chalkboard style Kraft paper from Knot and Bow most definitely captured my attention!  Made from recycled paper, this black paper can be used to wrap a package, as a table runner, or for wine or cheese pairing events.  Find a white marker and add your words and it becomes a paper chalkboard!  This paper comes in a 15ft x 2ft roll and is made in Brooklyn, NY.

{photo credit: Knot and Bow}

Where to Find Knot and Bow:

Purchase from Artisan @ Etsy.com/KnotandBow

Find Locally @ KnotandBow.com/Retailers

Follow @ Facebook.com/KnotandBow

Celebrating Growth

I had planned for today's post to be about my October Market Finds - a feature that I started last month highlighting artisan products that I come across in my explorations.  But, I felt led to talk about something different today and save that post for next week.

Within the last week and a half I have found out about 3 strong businesses here in the Central Texas area that have announced the growth or expansion of their business.  Their stories have inspired me ever since I first discovered each of them and to now see their opportunity to grow and serve the communities in an even bigger way gives me great joy and I just want to celebrate with them.  So today's post is a celebration of their news, their vision, and their love and commitment to their communities.  Celebrate them with me today and stay tuned for future posts about each of them here on the Olive Basket!

I launched the Olive Basket with my feature post about one of my most favorite shops that I have come across in all of my explorations - Cherry Tree Creative.  Curie Humphreys is the creative owner behind this business and if you didn't get a chance to read about her and her shop Cherry Tree Creative, just click HERE.  

Curie announced just a little over a week ago her plans to open The Nest Box, and I am super excited about her news and about seeing her new shop.  There was an empty space right next door to Cherry Tree, and it was just a perfect space for her to take a hold of and to provide a shop not only accessible from Cherry Tree (she's opening a space in the wall between!), but complimentary to Cherry Tree as well.  

{photo credit: The Nest Box}

The Next Box will be a curated collection of home goods to feather your nest and will offer favorites and finds that compliment Cherry Tree.  Her grand opening is scheduled for Thursday, November 6, which happens to also coincide with her event at Cherry Tree, "Christmas on Main Street Open House".  If you happen to be in Taylor, Texas, that weekend be sure to stop in and see The Nest Box as well as all the new Christmas goodies that Cherry Tree will have.  I am super excited about this opportunity for Curie and love that she is extending her offerings right in her own community!  

About a year ago, I stumbled across someone who was at the time writing a blog, decorating houses, and hosting an Open House to tour her newly renovated farmhouse.  Her story and her style captured my attention and I have been a fan ever since.  Since then, her story and style have captured a good portion of the country's attention too as her and her husband's home building and renovating business - Magnolia Homes - hit America's living rooms in a new HGTV show called Fixer Upper.  What a hit that show has been!  And, it's amazing to see how much people love their show and love them.  Since Fixer Upper launched at the beginning of this year, Joanna Gaines has since opened her shop Magnolia Market.  She owned her own shop years ago and had vision of doing it again, but her and her husband Chip Gaines' business was taking center stage.  However, it seemed like a great time to open her new shop, Magnolia Market in Waco, TX, this past spring.  Her shop is adorable of course, and very reflective of her style and of Fixer Upper.  

{photo credit: Magnolia Market}

I haven't written about Magnolia Market here on the Olive Basket yet, and had been waiting to do so for some reason.  And, now I will wait a bit longer as Joanna just announced Monday, that they will be moving their offices and expanding Magnolia Market to a new location.  This location is quite unique as it includes a grain barn and two silos, but her vision for it is super exciting.  She plans to increase the footprint of her shop and the offices for their business, but in addition she will utilize a 12,000 square foot space in the grain barn to host monthly Trade Days that will feature antique vendors and local food trucks.  

{photo credit: Magnolia Market | Magnolia Silos}

I love the vision and more importantly I love what this vision will bring to the town and community of Waco.  You have to read the story of how they decided to make this move and you can read it HERE on her blog.  Joanna and Chip inspire me in that they have taken every step of this new found success, exposure, and growth of their business with their faith at the front of it all.  If you don't already follow her blog, please do.  She has a lot of great ideas but she talks a lot about her everyday life and her faith journey as well.  MagnoliaHomes.net/Blog - It will inspire you!

I have plans to write a post about this last business in the upcoming weeks, and as I was visiting the Owl - a home goods shop over in Elgin, TX - I learned that they were also expanding their business.  Elgin is a small town just south of Taylor, TX, and about 25 miles east of Austin.  The owners of the Owl, Molly Alexander and parnter Gary Luedecke, invested in their town a couple of years ago when they opened this home goods shop and wine bar.  

{Logo photo credit: G&M Drygoods}

While visiting last week and snapping pictures for my upcoming blog post about the Owl, I learned that they were opening a second business in Elgin - G&M Drygoods.  Just a block down the street from the Owl, G&M Drygoods will offer gifts and small goods that compliment the goods they offer at the Owl.  They plan to open this upcoming weekend and you can be sure that I will feature G&M Drygoods here on the Olive Basket as well.  

The celebration of these businesses for me is not only to see each of them grow and prosper, but to celebrate the fact that they are doing it in their very own communities located in small town America.  Each of these businesses could have chosen to relocate or open their second location in a more populated area or a more retail thriving destination, but instead they decided to stay in their own communities because it's where they live, they love where they live, and they want to not only be a part of their own community but to give back to it in this way.  That's pretty amazing to me and I respect and admire each of these business owners and community members.  Thank you for loving where you live, for investing in where you live, celebrating where you live, and inviting the rest of us into your community.  Congratulations to each of you!

{SIDE NOTE:  In this post, all links to these businesses and/or to related posts are highlighted in Maroon - please click on them to go straight to their individual Website, Facebook page, or Blog. Thank you so much!}

Old Bryan Marketplace

A few weekends ago my husband and I were looking for something to do for the day and out of the blue we both decided that it would be kind of fun to drive over to Bryan, TX.  We had been through Bryan once before some time back but hadn't really stopped or seen much of this town.  So for whatever reason, it seemed like a good day to go back to Bryan and see what was going on over there.  Located just a few miles from Texas A&M, Bryan's historic downtown area is a nice mix of shops, restaurants, cafes and even a few art galleries, and it seems to be quite the destination for the local community as well as for those of us venturing over from the Austin area.  My most interesting find of the day however was a large brick building that caught my eye as we were driving along one of the main streets of this historic area.

We decided to stop and check out what could possibly be behind this warehouse-y looking facade, and as soon as we entered, I knew this was going to be a fabulous find!  The Old Bryan Marketplace occupies a 22,000 square foot historic building (built in 1908) that has been renovated and re-purposed into a beautiful modern-day marketplace where you can find lovely treasures of all kinds for your home, your pantry, and even your closet.

They have a beautiful mix of antiques and new furnishings, home decor, lighting, florals, bedding, books, teas and jams, kitchen supplies, and even women's and children's clothing.  Every corner of this rustic building invites you to discover the beautiful finds that lie within.

You could literally spend hours here discovering all the goodies they have to offer, and if you find yourself needing a little refreshment, you can always stop and enjoy a nice lunch or dessert at Madden's Restaurant located right inside this marketplace.

After talking a while with one of the friendly employees here, we did discover that a long-time resident of Bryan was the owner and innovator behind Old Bryan Marketplace.  Kay Conlee had vision for this building and her community when she decided back in 1996 to purchase this old historic building.  She renovated the building and brought back the life and charm of it's brick walls, old pine floors, and leaded windows, and then put her love and passion for antiques and home decor into a place where the local community could appreciate and enjoy.

In addition to Kay bringing her own beautiful offerings to this building, she set aside space in this historic gem for other businesses to occupy as well.  A restaurant, event venue, interior designer, and jewelry shop all call this building home too.

I don't have as many pictures as I would like to have of this great place, but I have to say this was such a fun find for me.  I am always inspired by people who love their community and are able to invest in their community in such a bold way as purchasing and renovating old buildings that become, not only a mainstay, but an initiator of revitalization in their town.  If every small town across the nation could be restored to it's heart and it's purpose, wouldn't that just be wonderful?!  Old Bryan Marketplace has done this for Bryan, TX, and it is well worth the visit if you are ever in the area.

Enjoy & Explore more of Old Bryan Marketplace

Store Hours:  Mon.-Sat. 10am-5pm

Website: Oldbryan.com

Facebook Page:  facebook.com/oldbryan