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Posts from the “Writeups” Category

The Standard Relay: Birth Control case from Draught Dry Goods, Makr video, Steve Powers, and Matermathu

Posted on October 4, 2011

 

Makr Box Printing:

A cool short video showing the process Makr goes through to stamp their boxes. Using a letterpress to do this has always been an addition of cool points for me. Found via FREE/MAN.

Birth Control Case from Draught Dry Goods:

Well, I couldn’t believe it either but frankly that’s not the point. Draught Dry Goods has now put out a black leather birth control case for your purchasing and quirky-using pleasure, as pictured below. They’ve also got a cool fall/winter collection out right now featuring some leather bicycle grips that are worth a look.

 

Steve Powers' Beer Cozis:

Had to run this one because the guy’s from Philly. Steve Powers, of Philadelphia Love Letter Project fame, has released some beer cozis and they’re pretty clever. Found via Curated Magazine.

a Curated Magazine.

 

Tellason Interviews:

Cool little piece about Telason Denim. Again, found via FREE/MAN.

 

Matermathu Teaser video:

I don’t like to mix work and…well, work especially when it has to do with something I’m financially or creatively involved in which is why this is the last post of this edition of The Standard Relay. I play in a blues-rock band called Matermathu (may-ter-muh-thoo) based out of Philadelphia and we have a record coming out soon titled “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City”. Here’s a teaser video to promote the song “Cold Love”. Let me know what you think.

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Categories: Photos, The Standard Relay, Writeups

Notes from the Field: 3 Potato 4

Posted on September 25, 2011

I took a low key trip on Sunday with my friend Mark to check out a shop I’d heard about for a while in Manayunk, PA called 3 Potato 4. They specialize in vintage furnishings and random objects and have made quite a name for themselves in the process. Having been around since 2007, they’ve had plenty of time and done a good job of keeping the collection rolling. Most of the stuff they had, while amazing, was seriously out of our budget but I managed to pick up a commemorative pennant from the first lunar landing in 1969. The pennant is by no means rare, you can even find it for cheaper online but for a spur of the moment purchase in an unexpected location I was quite pleased. They open their doors to the public two days a month for their “Barn Sales” and are worth a look if you’re in Philadelphia. It’s an easy train ride to Manayunk if you’re just visiting but they also have most of their stock online. Happy hunting.

Next Barn Sale: Oct. 29th & 30th, 2011 10am-5pm

Location: 3 Potato 4. 376 Shurs Lane Bldg. A. Philadelphia, PA 19128 (267) 335-3633

Categories: History, Photos, Writeups

Notes from the Field: Firecracker Press in St. Louis, MO.

Posted on September 14, 2011

St. Louis has a nice tradition of bringing several art shows to town around the end of summer, usually on the same or consecutive weekends in September taking place in different parts of town. Having grown up in the area, I went to the main Art Fair in Clayton every year but had avoided most others by my parent’s decision. This year I decided to head over to the Schlafly Art Outside event at their brewery in Maplewood, MO. which is mainly for local artists. Firecracker Press was by far my favorite of the event, showcasing many hand carved letterpress items which had me drooling. I swung by their shop to take some photos (with the iPhone as my DSLR is in transit back to Philadelphia) and spoke with Eric Woods, the proprietor, along with his shop manager, Matty. Click below to read the article and see the entire photo collection.

Categories: Writeups

Best Made Co. Hudson Bay Axe

Posted on September 10, 2011

Well we’re all familiar with Best Made Co. by now, at least you should be had you been paying attention to anything design related in the past few years. The brand’s been churning out some sharp looking axes, no pun intended, for some time as well as venturing into other projects like selling various camp gear and the possibility of future trips into the wilderness (ripped straight from their website so there’s no insider knowledge here). To be completely frank, their axes don’t come cheap and while they are very well designed and certainly made to last a lifetime, your average joe isn’t going to use an axe more than once a year at most. They’ve now introduced a smaller model that clearly isn’t meant for the same heavy duty line of work as their heftier models but has the same generally handsome appearance (minus the color wrap) and still cuts things like a boss. It’s called the Hudson Bay Axe and it’s available for purchase now for a cool $135 from their website. Click below to see more photos of the Hudson Bay Axe.

Categories: Writeups

Inquiries & Responses vol. 05: Portland General Store

Posted on August 17, 2011

This is the fifth in a series of interviews with people who have a keen interest in menswear, style, design, or generally cool stuff. Most of these people are doing something of great note that you should absolutely take a look at.

If my memory serves me correctly, the first time I saw Portland General Store‘s wares was in late 2010 at Michael Williams’ (of A Continuous Lean) Pop-Up Flea in New York City. I believe they were featured at the Hickoree’s Hard Goods table along with several other brands that Hickoree’s was carrying at the time. I got my hands on some of their products initially just a few weeks ago at Steven Alan’s Anex on Abbott Kinney in Venice Beach and liked the oddness of the scents they were using. Their image has certainly changed since I first saw them last year but they carry the same great products with the addition of a few new lines. I spoke with Lisa Brodar, the public face of PGS, via e-mail over the past few weeks and we wound up with a nice, brief conversation to publish. Click below to read the interview and see more photos of their brand new labels.

Categories: Inquiries & Responses, Interviews, Writeups