boundary waters

Separating the United States and Canada there is a beautiful vista known as The Boundary Waters. Nestled between Ontario and Minnesota and just west of Lake Superior the heavily forested area becomes respite for people who are looking to take a secluded holiday from  the bustle of the city life.  The area used to be famous for its fur trade route in the 1800's and as that died away the landing points have become small harbors or ports along the beach. The pristine landscape harbors relatively little civilization mixed into the bogs and vast network of waterways. Some notable areas are the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness where you can take a day adventure and paddle to the calm waters, and the Voyageurs National Park where the hills pine laden landscape crawls on. The tourist site is located here, for your planning convenience. 

j. crew

Camp accessories. The latest season at j. Crew is just that, brightly colored accessories that hail from yesteryear. The hues in their accessories are earthy with pops of vibrant oranges and blues, colors that stem from native american tribes. They have great picks on what duffle to pack, to the additional nautical adornments. Some of the more rustic picks are above though if you are looking for preppy style check further through the site as they have a wide variety to choose from. 

dan matutina

The graphic design work of Dan Matutina is strikingly rich, poignant, and textural. His work has a beautiful roughness that comes out in the form of a work that has had the luxury of aging while the colors and the sharpness bleeds contemporary. Each image has its own story to tell and becomes richer/grittier the more you stare at its simplicity. In some instances the work looks as if it has been etched away from the black matting of a drafting board to reveal the image below. He has done work for the National Resources Defense Council (his work here), Havaianas (his work here), and ESPN. If you are interested in his work he also sells them through a few online shops.

carousel

Hailing from Los Angeles by way of Boston the band Carousel has Summer sounds written all over their music. The bands pop sound boarders on alternative and even shoe gazing with rhythmic pacing and day dreamy and introverted lyrics. The band can stay uptempo though most of their work is rather chill and cocktail hour fell. Check out more on their website where they constantly update travel dates and preview new music: carouselmusicpage.com. 

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. 

west vintage trading co

The Etsy Shop is known to have incredibly fascinating upcycled products that literally light up the night. West Vintage Trading Company is known for its illuminaries. The items range from custom letters, signs, and light fixtures. The fixtures are a from vintage or repurposed materials that make the wonderfully crafted designs. You can add some stimulating imagery with another industrial design; the Edison bulb. 

will leather goods

Will Leather Goods is based out of Eugene, Or with their first flagship retail store in Venice, Ca. The brand focuses on leather and canvas goods are of quality issue. The style reflects a fun, youthful approach that keeps rugged and american. They create totes, backpacks, keyfobs, and belts for men and women of all ages. Check them out on their website Will Leather Goods. 

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. 

apotheke

Apotheke Co. is a candle and soap distillery created from 100% pure soy wax, essential oils and fragrance. The essential oils are derived from coconut, olive and palm oil. Based in Brooklyn the company has been creating organic based incendiaries and soap that smell wonderfully and clean fresh. The candles are made with bees wax and do not create black smoke or soot. They can be found on a few distributors websites; Apotheke, Brooklyn Dry Goods, West Elm, and Room Service.