sires eyewear

Sires Eyewear from Los Angeles, California is the maker and producer wood framed eyewear, whose goods were on display at the Renegade Craft Festival, the traveling fair that moves across the country. Their fantastic mid century designs are mirrored with their light weight wood that sits comfortably on your face. At Renegade they had all the styles laid out and accessible to try on. Each one more interesting and easy to wear as the last. Frame pricing does include state of the art lens, though can be pricey, but for those looking to have a new and funky woodsy pair of glasses these are the ones. 

happy labor day

In 1882 a machinist, Matthew Maguire, proposed a holiday for the Central Labor Union of New York. The same year another Maguire; Peter, proposed the same holiday in May for the American Federation of Labor, after observing the annual labour festival held in Toronto, Canada. Regardless of whom first proposed the idea, Oregon was the first state to make it a holiday on Feb. 21, 1887. By 1894 it was a federal holiday with thirty states observing. It was rushed into being a national holiday by congress, due to the Pullman strike of 1894. The Pullman strike was a bloodied massacre that occurred on the south side of Chicago, involving the American Railway Union, led by Eugene Debs, that was originally a peaceful protest where the workers refused to pull Pullman railcars, in exchange for lower rent worker housing, which George Pullman refused. The standoff became unruly and Debs ultimately lost control of the 125,000 workers who began to set fire to buildings, overturning a locomotive and spurring demonstrators across the US to block the flow of goods through the Midwest by blocking railways and job walk offs. President Grover Cleveland with US Attorney General Richard Olney originally obtained an injunction against the striking work force and its leaders from protesting, causing more boycotting, resulting in a total of 30 deaths and 57 wounded when a military attempt to control the situation failed, the total collateral damage amounted to over 80 million dollars. After Pullman's company's practices were considered "un-American," by the Illinois Supreme Court, Pullman was forced to give up the rights to his land and it ultimately became public housing ran by the US government. While labor forces were still a hot button topic, Cleveland and the US congress pushed through Labor Day as national holiday to quell the tensions between unions. Resulting in having every first Monday of September as a paid day of rest from the work force in America. Labor Day also unfortunately marks the official last day of Summer before the Fall season rolls around. So soak up what sun and fun you can get today; jump in a lake, bar-b-q outdoors, go for a hike, play a game of bocce, but just enjoy the last throughs of the season while you can! 

Happy Labor Day!

son of a sailor

Ahoy there, from Son of a Sailor, a cool hipster upstart from Austin, Texas. The aesthetic is relaxed boho meets urban woodsman, a familiar sight here in Chicago's, Wicker Park. The duo William Knopp and Jessica Tata mix playful colors on leathers, beads and straps. They focus on delicate and light jewelry that has a brilliant pops of color that give character to each piece. Along side their bobbles they create fantastically curated leather and wood goods, in the form of woodsman pocket knives and mens shaving kits. This week they are at (capsule) in Las Vegas showing their wares but can be found normally on their website, and if your lucky a shop near you. Follow them on their really well curated blog. 

coffee

Delicious, roasted, deep, robust, carmel, rich, aromatic, mild, creamy, acidic, bright, bold! How can one beverage have so many descriptors? Coffee, that sweet nectar of the gods, is the sound, taste and smell of many of the worlds population second only to tea (recently as broken down by coffee and tea consumption) as a morning routine. Coffee's history extends to the 15th century where is was brewed in monasteries in Yemen. This is where we now traditionally associate Arabica beans to come from. As history progressed the process of brewing coffee under hot water and through cheesecloth spread to northern Africa where beans were smuggled to India by a Sufi monk Baba Budan in 1670. And as european merchants began expanding trade routes to Northern Africa by boat the coffee boom expanded into Italy. Where coffeehouses began to open and the Italian roasted blends began catching popularity and the trade route expanded to a larger scale by the Dutch East India Company, the same traders that transported beer, in the form of IPA. Coffee's popularity boomed through the rest of Europe, as a result needed the crop to be grown on plantations, like that of Java and Ceylon islands. It wasn't until it 1727 where it became planted and popularized in Brazil as an Export. Coffee has also represented oppression as it was avoided being drank in the revolt of the Boston Tea Party in the US. Today, coffee is a social activity, where many coffee houses encourage the exchange of ideas, and allow for people to have a creative respite while working on projects and other media. It has also become a complex tradition in the types of brewing that brings out the flavors of the roasted beans differently, where there is the french press, having a slow drip pour over, and lastly espresso and its partner the latte. How ever it is drank, hot or cold, quickly, or slowly on a Sunday morning while reading the news, it is a staple in most American's households and lives. If you are looking for the perfect cup, start here: Chemex, Bodum, Intellegentsia, Metropolis, Breville.

surfing

There has always been a great love in humans to conquer nature and the world around them. In surfing you not only feel like you get to own your own piece of the world, but you become one with the wave, the water, and the board. Surfing was first observed in Tahiti as early as 1767 by a British Royal Navy vessel aptly named Dolphin. Her crew and those that later observed the islanders sport were amazed by the way men could ride on planks of wood and master themselves ashore on wave power alone. It was later James King who wrote about the art of surfing on his voyage to Hawaii under the command of Captain James Cook of the HMS Endeavour. Lieutenant King returned years later to the islands and wrote and extensive account of his travel, this quote is from his log book of the HMS Discovery, 1778:

“But a diversion the most common is upon the water, where there is a very great sea, and surf breaking on the shore. The men sometimes 20 or 30 go without the swell of the surf, & lay themselves flat upon an oval piece of plank about their size and breadth, they keep their legs close on top of it, & their arms are us’d to guide the plank, they wait the time of the greatest swell that sets on shore, & altogether push forward with their arms to keep on it’s top, it sends them in with a most astonishing velocity, & the great art is to guide the plank so as always to keep it in a proper direction on the top of the swell…”

As modernity came to surfing the genre has only slightly changed in the form of the board, e.g. surfboards, longboards, paddle boards, and more. Most are made from polyurethane foam and resin, while even newer models are being made from carbon fiber and flex composites that make it easier to  maneuver the board in the water. Though as materials have changed and there are now surfing competitions, the spirit of getting the perfect wave has little changed. For water lovers and hardcore surfers alike there are many locations the globe over to visit and begin your love for the sport. Check out CNN's top 50 spots to surf, if you are planning your next seaside adventure. 

boat house

The boat house, the quintessential thing most campers remember when they arrive at summer camp. The breeze through the trees and out into the lake. The canoes or row boats rocking gently in port at the dock, while the rustic boat house sits stately perched over the water. In the U.S. the boat house is more widely seen in the north east and on major lakes or rivers like the one in Central Park. Originally the boat house was a Scandinavian tradition of housing fishing boats, where it was a more simple construction of wood and stone while the bottom was a continuation of the beach. Eventually the structure became a symbol of the water and would have light houses or other structures attached. Now, in more populous areas the facility is known to house club houses, restaurants, or other leisure facilities. 

welcome back

We are back from the spring/summer hiatus! And it feels so good to be back at camp. I know I have missed it. The regular rustic camp updates and activities will be returning to their normal schedule. Time to throw on the flip flips, grab a towel and head down to the lake for some rustic updates. 

vintage cutting boards

Each kitchen should have its own form of flavor, color or feel. With vintage cutting boards the feel and texture of a charred and chipped wood board brings out the flavor of a kitchens past. The weathered appearance can do much more than just bring the illusionary texture of a kitchens past to life it can also bring subtle food flavoring variations to what you might put on it, like cheeses or meats. Cutting boards have been a culinary tradition to have in homes, dating to prehistory as a preparation place for cutting or chopping animal hide that would not cut easily, these were usually makeshift work surfaces from logs, tree stumps, or large stones. Modern times made them popularized in french cooking as decorative olive wood, oak or teak. Japanese culture developed marble, metal, or even bamboo as their base for cutting surfaces. Being older, most vintage wood cutting boards are recommended to be used solely as decoration, though with cleaning and using a sealant you will be able to continue using the item as you would a newer version. 

pure fiber

Pure Fiber is a eco-luxury company that focuses on creating a lush lifestyle with minimal design. The company maintains its pride in creating sustainability with its product. Fabric  used is 100% organic and premium cotton. The layers and textiles used for the material used are extremely soft and designed to be utilitarian in look and feel. Check out their product line at Pure Fiber. 

finge and fettle

Fringe and Fettle Ceramics is an Etsy Vendor based out of Minneapolis. The listings include mugs, bowls, serving wear and jugs. The pieces are almost vintage in look and feel. Some have a beautiful reactive glaze that adds character and texture. The aesthetic is mainly vintage rustic with a touch of modern accents. Most are microwave and dishwasher safe. All items are made by hand. Check out Fringe and Fettle on Etsy. 

loft essentials

Loft essentials, a vendor on Etsy has been creating bookshelves for homeowners since August of last year. The brand designs and builds wall mounted shelving units from industrial piping and rustic shelves. Located in Dawsonville, Ga they ship through out the US and have a 100% seller positivity rating. Check them out on their Etsy page loft essentials. 

luggage

Even the rustic camper likes to feel that he has seen the world from the outside of a tent. When traveling the globe one must have heavy duty luggage, and they just do not make it the same as they did in years past. A bag that one takes places is known as early as 1596 luggage, which literally means to drag. There are many types of carry-alls, the trunk that is a large wooden box with carpeting interior. The suitcase was later developed into a smaller under 60 pound carry around, and eventually became the tote which is smaller and can usually be carried comfortably in one hand and under a few pounds. One of my favorites is a find that the Luxist came across, and is a 1930's bespoke spirits travel case (seriously cool)! Tumblr is a great resource to find beautiful ideas on inspiration and types. 6th street design school has a wonderful post on inspiration. The key to traveling in style is to bring the things you need in style. 

sled

There is nothing quite like driving down a hill at full velocity while snow is kicking up behind you. Take that a step further and add a row of huskies to the front and be propelled across the fresh powder at high velocity. The sled, which is defined as a land vehicle with a set of separate smooth longitudinal runners that travel by sliding across a surface, most are used in travel across snow or ice. The sled has obviously been in use for as long as prehistory dates (Egyptians used them to move obelisks, Vikings used them to transport ships from land to sea), though, our most contemporary usage for the the vehicle is to transport ourselves in some winter fun across a valley that has been paved in glorious snow. Being that they come in all shapes and sizes today, the vintage 1950's style sled are the most iconic they harken back to the time where it snowed feet not inches each winter and the sleds were primarily made from steel and wood. Recently they have been able to have been found said models at Sled Warehouse and Cool Hunting.

barbershop

As the sign says, Remember to visit your local barber shop. As the Rustic Camp knows, the life of the adventurer sometimes doesn't allow for time to look nice, but sometimes it is absolutely needed. The concept of the barbershop has been around for ages, barber, which is latin for beard, was the center for mens grooming for ages. The barber was the person whom you would see not just for grooming needs, but ailments as well. The barber would need to be proficient in minor surgery, dentistry, and leaching, they would even be higher paid if they were skilled in many crafts. Due to their expertise in many facets this made them invaluable to British navel fleets, that would insure that there was a barber on most of their boats, and two or more on their flagships. Today, you obviously would not go to the barber for these problems, as they are skilled mainly in cosmetology. Now, the ability to have a similar experience at a barbershop can be in your home. Many brands recently have upstarted the trend of the experience at home such as, The Art of Shaving and Classic Shaving. 

further

Wash your filthy hands! In my line of work outside of the rustic camp I spend lots of time working with my hands. Which causes me to wash them... A LOT. This can easily destroy my hands, causing cracking, drying, and pain. I recently have found Further, a sustainable brand that actually makes a rich hand soap and lotion that will leave your hands clean and moisturized without being greasy, which is ironic since the soap is made from the left over grease from restaurants and is the making of biofuel. The soaps and lotions have fragrance from bergamot, olive and exotic grasses which are masculine and clean.

kaufmann mercantile

Kaufmann Mercantile is a well crafted lifestyle brand, currently located only as an online store at the moment, though I am hoping that soon they will have a brick and mortar. The aesthetic is a return to the 1950's craftsman style, this clearly shows in the fabric choices or the types of the quality crafted items that they have choose to house. A few of my favorite are the nickel plated lunch box and wax canvas lunch box, a humble return to the take your lunch to work (or construction site). I also love the denim apron and the canvas tool bag, which are great gifts for person who loves building things. They have a great selection of quality groceries in the line of syrups, jams, and even lozenges. In theory they are a well crafted mart of quality modern goods that are not terribly priced. 

wenger, swiss army

Adventure needs a tool box. And what better what better way to bring one with you, when it is in the size of a nail file. The Wenger company has been producing the knife in 1893 when the Swiss Army planed to equip their soldiers with a regulation blade in 1886. This contract still holds true as a divided by orders fulfilled evenly between Wenger and Victorinox. Wenger touts overall stability and the everything you need in one place as shown by their knife, The Giant, it is literally any item that you could possibly need a key for at any given time. After U.S. troops were stationed in Switzerland during World War II, they purchased in large quantities, the Swiss Army knife at Post Exchange stores. Bringing the knife home in droves and orders quickly took off. Wenger specializes in three categories: Evolution, The next generation on the traditional model, that has a better grip and is their signature red color; Heritage made from wood and is truest to the original blade, it also tends to be the lightest; Ranger, this has the best grip, tends to be slightly heavier, and hosts more tools that are specified for cutting, camping, and rationed living. 

best made company

Best Made Company has a solid brand mission, to provide customers with the best made quality tools, that provide lasting experiences. Their workshop is in New York where you can visit and try out their product. They also have a retail store in Minnesota that also caters a axe expert and care assistant. The product range is from standard camping accessories that move into small housewares, truly their axe department is what needs to be checked out. For more information check out their website at Best Made Company.

the compass

Find your way. History tells a story of man simply wanting to find his way. No journey to arduous, no path undiscoverable, we shall find our way. The compass was originally invented during the Chinese Han dynasty as a form of divination and later was used in the Song dynasty as maritime navigation. As compasses developed they have changed into a few different types; the dry compass was nothing more than a box and a a wind rose, the bearing compass was magnetic that worked off the lubber line and projected the direction based off minor math and manual calculations, later the compass evolved into a liquid based and due to its fluidity the needle was able to minimize the wobble. One of the most famous compasses is from 1854, Lewis and Clark's that got them across the continent. 

tipi

What a better way to experience the great outdoors than in a tipi? Not to be confused with a Wigwam, which is a rounded structure and usually assembled into the ground, a tipi is portable and conical. The structure was usually assembled from tree poles that would have buffalo hides or cloth stretched across their boughs. The tents would have a smoke flaps at the top that would allow for heat to rise out of the tent when a fire was lit in the center. Surprisingly these early homes were incredibly dry during rainstorms and very warm in the winter months. Usually huts were unadorned though many plains tribes, chose to beadwork or paint the tipis in beautiful colors that were either reds, oranges, browns, and occasionally blue (when it was available). Today, there are many places that allow you to continue the great plaines adventures of the Native Americans; Arapaho Outdoors, Wagonhammer Campground, and Pine Near just to name a few.