FOUND FREE & FLEA / A VERY MODEST COTTAGE

the Anthropologie book shelf....

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000-06:00

ITALY, MOROCCO.... (elkhorn?) - some TRAVEL & LEISURE love...

2012-01-26T07:00:00.010-06:00

Take a Nostalgia-Laden Trip to Camp Wandawega

Sleeping in a tree is a childhood fantasy, but the tree house at Wisconsin’s Camp Wandawega doesn’t lack for grown-up appeal. Built around the trunk of an old elm, the airy, three-level structure is stocked with sheepskin pillows and vintage Pendleton blankets and crowned with a chandelier of fallen antlers. (Note to bibliophiles: the private library contains many 19th-century tomes, including a bird-watching guide from 1890 and a well-thumbed copy of Moulton’s Library of Literary Criticism.) The tree house is just the latest addition to the retro-styled Wandawega, a 1920’s resort located 90 minutes from Chicago and reimagined by a creative young couple. The mood is appealingly quaint; instead of TV’s, there are puzzles and an antique pool table. At day’s end, retreat to the sleeping loft, where three glass walls look out on pike-filled Lake Wandawega and the purple martins and mourning doves that swoop overhead. (wandawegarentals.com; tree house from $200 a night, two-night minimum) —Kathryn O’Shea-Evans

When to Book: The tree house fills up year-round with weddings and other events; reserve at least a month in advance.

Read This: Delve into the fascinating intricacies of The Private Lives of Birds (Walker & Company; $25).

On the Agenda: Nostalgia-laden activities await at every turn, from archery and canoeing to fishing with antique rods and minnow buckets.

correction, folks: we dont rent the treehouse. (tyyyyppoooo). a cabin next to it? yes.

"Choose your romantic getaway for two, from an intimate, affordable nook up in the trees to a wilderness camp at the very end of the earth."

here are some of the other destinations they featured alongside the treehouse...

this designer blows my mind

2012-01-25T07:00:00.001-06:00

the work of simon walker.

beyond ambitious.

2012-01-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

'branding 10,000 lakes' nicole meyer is designing one logo per day for minnesota lakes.

check it out

takin' it camp style...

2012-01-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

our friend MATTHEW HRANEK just shot the november issue of GQ 'urban outsiders'.

(shot at his house in upstate NY)

some outtakes...

check it out here: matthewhranek.com

long live the WISCONSIN SUPPER CLUB!

2012-01-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

a kickstarter film long-overdue is in progress:

"OLD FASHIONED- The Story Of The Wisconsin Supper Club'

check it out here

a LOVELY camp themed wedding!

2012-01-21T07:28:00.000-06:00

check it out here

Wandawega design projects featured for GLADE

2012-01-18T07:00:00.004-06:00

this was a fun little project--

SCJohnson's home scent brand GLADE is launching a new home fragrance line,

and needed contributors to an online home design magazine-

they featured my 'Winter wonderland' soiree (we build an icerink at camp every winter)-

and also a series on collections. (a how-to guide of tips and tricks)

THE ART OF ARRANGING

from designing color backgrounds for your collections, to simple no-fail tips for arranging, here are some easy ideas to accentuate the mood of a room.

and for a sneak peek of some of the shots / projects featured:

WINTER WONDERLAND SOIREE

Mixing themes and trends is a great way to make your party memorable. Try these simple tips to throw a one-of-a-kind party. (a sneak preview of the Wandawega Winter wonderland Soiree we threw)

why camp counselors make the best dads. WILL + WILL adopt...

2012-01-17T07:00:00.005-06:00

WILLIAM is a great cook.

WILL is a great decorator.

WILLIAM is an avid photographer

WILL is an eternal cheerleader.

WILLIAM & WILL are both fantastic friends & even better Camp Counselors!

When you get to the stage in the adoption process where your application goes live, its called 'being pregnant'. our friends Will & William are pregnant! (here are some clips from their adoption book, which is official). Some lucky kid-to-be is going to have the best two dads ever.

thanks much for sharing this with anyone you may know in a position to help these guys make their parenting dreams come true.

check out their entire online adoption book HERE

and their adoption blog HERE

and their online official Cradle adoption profile HERE

Wes Anderson SUMMERCAMP movie.

2012-01-16T07:00:00.004-06:00

we can't can't, can't wait!

CAMP IVANHOE!
completely retro.
all star cast.
the tents with plaid walls.
the vintage-pinned boyscout uniforms.
so freaking inspiring.
i am going to start carving a new camp sign tonight...

check out the trailer for MOONLIGHT KINGDOM
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/moonrise-kingdom-trailer-wes-anderson-bill-murray-281403

FUTURECASTER: Summer Camp is Hot (for Adults)

2012-01-15T07:00:00.000-06:00

an interesting write up that popped up on futurecaster:
(apparently, folks all over are into summercamp for adults)

Human Sense: “In recent years, the number of specialized camp opportunities for adults has grown significantly,” says Peg L. Smith, chief executive officer of The American Camp Association (ACA).

An increasing amount of Adults are going back to “Camp” to escape and de-stress, tap into childhood pleasures and for personal growth. Today, there are Adult Camp Experiences that cover the gamut of learning and fun from Rock & Roll to Wine and even Gladiator training. The number of Adult Camp Experiences will continue to grow over the next 5 years.

(Inkling) The Glamptons: The summer of 2011 in the Hamptons epitomized Adults going back to Camp. The hottest new place to hang this past summer came from the crew behind Surflodge called Ruschmeyer’s in Montauk (www.kingandgrove.com). This upscale resort with a casual vibe on an old camp ground had Hamptonites and Hipsters alike flocking all summer long to hear live music, enjoy food from the folks behind the Fat Radish in NYC and play ping pong in the Magic Garden before heading off to the cabins.

At the end of the summer, the same crowd took over Southampton to attend the Escape to NY Festival for 3 days of art, music and interactive performances. Patti Smith, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and food by the hippest NYC food trucks kept the crowd happy on site, while just down the road people “Glamped Out” overnight in lavish tee-pees and tents.

(Inkling) Catwalk Campers: Lots of Adult Campers are popping up on the SS 2012 Runways from the likes of such labels as Rag & Bone, Lela Rose and DSquared2.

(Inkling) Band Camp: There are now 85 different Adult Music Camps around the U.S. for people to choose from. “It’s just like this one time at Band Camp” has a whole new meaning.

(Inkling) Tokyo’s Yama Girls: Stylish girls who prefer hiking and “power spots” to Harajuku have made the hiking skirt the “it” fashion statement and hiking a national trend in Tokyo. From Festivals to weekend adventure trips, Yama Girls and Camp Chic is all the rage in Japan.

Business Sense: Tapping into the need for Adults to emotionally go back to Camp will create new business opportunities in the years to come. Creating unique, one-of-a-kind Escapist, Educational or Personal Growth experiences will be the keys for success.

NEW YEAR, NEW ROOM

2012-01-14T07:00:00.015-06:00

clarkson potter (Random House) included our dear little wanda book in their book round up alongside some great interior design books,

including Domino Magazine's Book, the Apartment Therapy Small spaces book, & the DwellStudio founder.

YAY!

check it :)

L.L. Bean's Century of Oufitting America.

2012-01-13T07:00:00.001-06:00

just ordered. can't wait.

(thanks, Michael for the head's up the NYT article!)

“Guaranteed to Last: L.L. Bean’s Century of Outfitting America” (Melcher Media, $29.95) celebrates the centennial of that company founded by the intrepid outdoorsman Leon Leonwood Bean and the footwear that started it all: the Maine Hunting Shoe. After combining a rubber galosh with the top of a leather hunting boot (a “You got your chocolate in my peanut butter” moment), L.L. hit upon a flexible, lightweight boot for hunters that quickly found an audience beyond the back woods. L.L. Bean was a pioneer of direct marketing, and his first typewritten testimonials quickly evolved into illustrated catalogs as the range of merchandise grew. Many tote bags, chamois shirts, field coats and Wicked Good Slippers later, pilgrimages to the original Freeport, Me., factory store continue to be a rite of passage for “Beaniacs” everywhere.

buy it here

THE WANDAWEGA (svpply) LIST. things you can't live without.

2012-01-12T07:00:00.005-06:00

categories:

APPAREL

ACCESSORIES

SHOES

TECH

MEDIA

HOME

ART

check it out the new (and first) WANDAWEGA GALLERY HERE:

http://svpply.com/Wandawega

next up: the needs + the haves.

meet hillary & michael.

2012-01-11T07:00:00.020-06:00

a pair of crazy talented creatives in chicago. ( hillary / michael)

who's style i covet beyond words.

they (almost) got married in our backyard :)

we are so happy that they shared some pretty amazing photos with us of their summercamp wedding.

i heart every freaking details from the feathers on their invitations to the propping of the tables.

congrats, kids. well done!!

here is their lovely booklet invitation...

a fantastic spread by their photographer steven michael can be found here

(they rock so much that its getting its own post, but here's a sneak peek)

ANTHROPOLOGY carrying Found Free & Flea :)

2012-01-10T15:40:00.001-06:00

I am obsessed with Anthropology. i love it so much i want to move in. The folks at Random House just gave us the word- that they've ordered Found Free & Flea to be carried in all their stores! I am crying with happiness, greatfulness and utter disbelief.

post 27store, harry weese, and discoveries that make us :)

2012-01-10T07:00:00.003-06:00

this morning i logged onto my friend angela's (of post27 store) blog and found this great post:

a beautiful building cantelevered out over a cliff--

be still my heart.

here are some other designs by WEESE:

the flap copy from the new book on his works: THE ARCHITECTURE OF HARRY WEESE

This study tells the story of one of America’s most gifted architects of the postwar years.
During a career that spanned half a century from the 1930s to the 1980s, Weese produced a large number of significant designs ranging from small but highly inventive houses to large urban scale commissions like the Washington, D.C., Metro system. Although influenced to some degree by the rational, and often austere, work of European modernists like Mies van der Rohe, in most of his own oeuvre Weese instead followed the example of Nordic architects like Gunnar Asplund and Alvar Aalto in favoring natural materials, human scale, and comfort; his work was characterized by a deep respect for older buildings and existing urban patterns and a fondness for unexpected, often idiosyncratic design decisions.
This book takes its place within a fast-growing revival of interest in the work of Weese and a number of his friends and contemporaries with shared assumptions and sensibilities, notably Eero Saarinen, Edward Larrabee Barnes, I. M. Pei, Ralph Rapson, and Paul Rudolph. As important as Weese’s buildings were, though, they were only one part of what almost all his contemporaries recognized as his seemingly inexhaustible creativity. Because Weese believed that design was essentially problem-solving, he was willing to apply his skills to everything from a piece of furniture to an entire city. The city on which he lavished the most attention was his own city, Chicago, where he seemed to be everywhere at once, praising, criticizing, cheerleading, and pouring out ideas for creating a humane and livable place for citizens of all walks of life.

our love for this architect has been renewed since we discovered that he was the one that designed the little building we moved onto camp last week...

a wandawega wedding invitation

2012-01-09T07:00:00.001-06:00

our new friends lindsay and bobby are getting hitched.

in our backyard.

literally.

they've made this awesome save the date.(+ website and blog)

heres an excerpt from their invite blog that descrives the venue...

Wandawega. Camp Wandawega. Learn it, live it, love it.

Prior to even getting engaged, the number one, most important, super critical, non-negotiable aspect of our future wedding was that it be held someplace that could function on every level. As lodging (for at least a hefty chunk of guests), as ceremony and reception sites, as a place for people to just lounge about and catch up and simply take advantage of being in the same place at the same time.

Well. Finding such a place is harder than one would imagine. All the blogs and google searches and wedding industry employment history in the world were of no help. Oh sure, there were a few options. But nothing that was the whole enchilada.

Hmmm, enchiladas.....

That was the case until, by the grace of the internet, Lindsay stumbled upon Camp Wandawega. On that day, rainbows shot out of the computer screen and puppies sang. Seriously. It was glorious.

Maybe you just had to be there.

ANYway. Lindsay found Wandawega and did cartwheels. She shared it with Bobby, who agreed that it was indeed rather dope. More cartwheels. Emails were exchanged and dotted lines were signed and happy dances were done. And now here we are, sharing the magic with you fine people.

So that's the story on how we came to be planning a wedding at a former speakeasy slash Latvian church retreat slash current private friends and family getaway. A private getaway which the now owners have put an unbelievable amount of time, sweat and elbow grease into lovingly restoring. We're very, very excited for you to experience this wonderful place. In the meantime, go take a gander at Wandawega's website (wandawega.com) for a little peek at the awesomeness to come.

SCOUT'S HONOR. (major shop + blogcrush!!)

2012-01-08T15:20:00.001-06:00

loving these camp-themed custom made products-

and the posts on her blog. super fun.

check it out here

t harrison hillman- rocks it.

2012-01-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

i am enormously proud of our friend T.Harrison Hillman, he just launched his new photography site- and featured wandawega in its own portfolio. (check it out HERE)tharrisonhillman.com

camp-brooklyn.com

2012-01-05T07:00:00.000-06:00

i cant wait to visit here!

Designtripper in the house!

2012-01-04T07:00:00.000-06:00

check out the most recent posting here

their story:

"Tereasa from Wandawega emailed me a few months back after reading the post about the Red Welly in Wales, saying that she was “so getting a teepee.” And true to her wildly ambitious, girl-who-never-sleeps form (see her treehouse for proof), she had the thing ordered, erected and decorated in a month’s time. It’s officially the coolest designtripper-inspired spawn of the year.

Tucked away in the woods, just past the Boy Scout tents, the Craigslist-snagged teepee is kitted out with seagrass flooring, a futon, and vintage cooler, antique hurricane lantern and Navajo rug from her regular hit-list circuit of flea, yard and barn sales. The whole production is pretty much a knockout, and I can’t wait to stay next summer. I’d like to think I’m tough enough to brave a winter weekend, because, technically, it’s an all-weather teepee with a fire pit, but I think I’ll be really honest with myself and save the experience for the snow-free months. Happy New Year! See you next week."

and... one of my favorite DESIGNTRIPPER posts, on a fantastic spot in Montauk, New York "Ruschmeyer's" (a summercamp themed resort)

check her post out here

THE OWL SCOUTS SERIES. freaking amazing.

2012-01-03T07:00:00.002-06:00

his BLOG on the series

check out his photography website here

VIDEO: how to move a cabin... (err... crapper )

2012-01-02T07:00:00.006-06:00

it teeters precariously on a very unstable perch.

it takes out trees,

nearly blows off the trailer on the highway,

almost squashes somebody-

and gives us a serious case of anxiety.

(check it out)

THE STATS:

Dimensions: 8x8 (@12ft tall)

Weight: heavy enough to kill you if it fell on you.

Birthdate: 1956

Birthplace: Camp Juniper Knoll (outside Elkhorn, Wisconsin)

Job description: A four-seater outhouse

Materials: tin roof, pine floors, wood siding

Time it took to relocate: 4 hours

Number of people it took: 4 men, a dog and one anxious female.

Parents: Could this be the only known outhouse designed by a midcentury modern master??

whiskey.

2012-01-01T07:00:00.000-06:00

well, the time of bootlegging, anyway.

more from the amazingly talented sean williams.

(of this years custom holiday gift, Camp Wandawega small-batch maple syrup).

...and- one of my favorite series of Sean's work:

'lightminers'. insanely beautiful!

check out his work here

Wallstreet Journal Interview

2011-12-31T07:00:00.002-06:00

....in today's WSJ-

They wanted to know what it feels like when your neighbors tell you that they hate your home...

and, how to build a house on a thrift budget.

some pull qoutes:

"owning an unusual house requires a thick skin. Neighbors and bloggers can lash out at houses that look very different."

"Fits in wonderfully with the downtown parking garages" (one blogger's comment-- which is actually pretty damned funny)

needless to say, since building our house, we've acquired (the very necessary) skin of steel.

here's an excerpt from today's story:

For architect Jeanne Gang, a 2011 MacArthur Fellow, connecting to the surroundings in Chicago means using lots of concrete, iron and steel. "Chicago has a rough climate. You need resilience to the outside," says Ms. Gang. One of her goals is to take those heavy materials and make them feel lighter by bending them and creating delicate-looking surfaces.

The Brick Weave House she designed for ad executives Tereasa Surratt and David Hernandez started out as an old horse stable and ended up as a two-bedroom, 3,700-square-foot house that cost about $450,000 to renovate. It is surrounded by a two-story masonry screen made of iron with bricks woven in, with an open space every other brick.

The house looks like a sculpture and is completely unlike any house anywhere around it, which is a problem for some critics. "Cool design, but not here," says one online commenter. "Fits in wonderfully with the downtown parking garages," writes another. Ms. Surratt says she understands some of the concerns, but she loves the house. "We knew she would take industrial materials and make them beautiful," she says.

check out the whole story here.

I am digging the accompanying videos the WSJ is making with their stories.

(below- some shots of some of the featured homes)

for the love of camp...

2011-12-29T07:00:00.002-06:00

it. is. live. yay!

2011-12-28T07:00:00.013-06:00

CAMPstyle.

just went live.

WHAT IT IS: a tumbler site ala campSTYLE.

WHAT IT HAS: the motherload moodboard of home, attire, places, people and things.

WHAT I LOVE: and continually evolving collective of camp inspiration

for the love of all things: camp, country, cottage, cabin, chic!

dig it HERE

TRAVEL & LEISURE design awards entry...

2011-12-27T07:00:00.000-06:00

Travel & Leisure asked us for some submission photos of Camp for their annual design awards-

(we know that we have a chance in H*LL of actually winning, but were so happy to be asked so we could pretend regardless!)

and so when i googled the awards, i found this amazing promo design for it- lovely!

so whilst googling what this i found this amazing designed invitation- love it!

INStyle is coming

2011-12-26T07:00:00.001-06:00

watch for the MARCH issue for an inclusion on FOUND FREE & FLEA.

yay!
:)

custom batches - A DIY HOLIDAY project

2011-12-25T07:00:00.003-06:00

PARTS N' PIECES:

THE BOX: handmade by an organization who employ adults with disabilities. (designed to be replicas of the pine shipping crates used during prohibition
PACKING: wood shavings
LABEL: (beneath the bottle) describes the sources for syrup. the story behind the newspapers, the syrup, the source)
BOTTLE: it took forever to find these, (Grosch-style flip-top dark amber bottle)
TWINE: vintage leather twine (until i ran out, used natural cord)
HANG TAG: printed by accucolor on heavy craft board stock.(designed by eric ellis)
BOOKLET: offset printed, saddlestitched, one color, (also accucolor)

holy christmas--- look what we FOUND!!!!!!!

2011-12-25T07:00:00.001-06:00

for YEARS we have been looking for antique photographs of Wandawega Lake Resort.

ran ads in papers.

posted flyers.

handed out postcards asking for leads.

interviewed old folks.

researched historical societies.

libraries.

old newspapers.

nada.

and then one day (5 minutes ago)

one drops in our laps.

ala ebay.

if anybody reading this ever sees vintage anything with the name 'wandawega'

i will give you a finger.

or at least case of beer if you prefer.

this photo shows the old hotel, back when we had a beach.

and a boardwalk (yay!)

based on the size of the cedars, this shot has to be at least 80 years old.

the only other thing that has changed is that it still had a chimney (the cardroom still has the old

I cant wait to get it in the mail to read the backside (it was an old postcard, so it may lend some clues as to the date, who the guest was, etc.)

the is the best christmas present :)

Behind the scenes

2011-12-24T07:00:00.003-06:00

currently obsessed with the MSP ('maple syrup project')...

- so we staged a prohibition era photoshoot to place the bottles in context of what they would have looked like back in Wandawega Lake Resort's bootlegging days.

MODEL: tyler peterson

PHOTOGRAPHER: sean williams

LOCATION: his studio is west town (perfect period building)

**shot this with my blackberry behind the scenes (and aged it for the vintage prohibition feel)

here are some more out takes:

(top: eric ellis- who designed the hangtag)

a summercamp wedding- well done!

2011-12-23T07:00:00.005-06:00

not sure what i love more... a bridesmaid swigging straight from the bottle, or hauling the whole mess of em' in the back of an elcamino. amazing.

equal love for the bad-ass author of the blog theloveliestday (nobody else could rock pistol tattoos on the collarbone along with a strapless wedding gown.) *first photo- 'melissa'*

a qoute from the bride:

"Chill out and don't do leave anything to be done the day before. If you're getting married on Saturday then, Thursday is the last day that you should do anything wedding-wise. I did not do this and that's my one regret. I felt like I was in a dead sprint until the very end. Friday, should be for taking it all in and spending the extra time with friends and family. If you still have stuff to do then, you'll be like me, a distracted mess! Slow it down and enjoy. Oh yea, and make sure to grab some dessert before it gets devoured! That way, when you're looking back at pictures, you're not salivating and imagining just how good those s'mores cupcakes must have tasted! It doesn't matter how many you order, people go crazy with bite sized desserts."

Photographer: Boro Creative Visions

i found these amazing photos on the blog: THELOVELIESTDAY.COM

CS Brides features Camp Wandawega wedding

2011-12-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

American Dream

2011-12-21T07:00:00.004-06:00

As we are fully emmersed in the holiday season, it makes me think of whats important.

(yes, cliche, but totally true) family. friends. babies. dogs. having a place to call home.

So while it is 100% gratuitous, i have to put out there what i am greatful for this year:

1. friends (william golden here, charlie girl's god daddy) holding charlieface.

2. frankie. the worlds greatest dog, rescued from a high kill shelter in alabama(on the pier, where he sat for a looong time, which is unusual for him)

3. kids (our one specifically)

4. very tolerant spouses.

Sandro shot these for the current American Family Insurance campaign--

and all of these shots are up at union station right now.

so while its sorta weird seeing your family that big,

it's also a huge, unavoidable reminder that we are all very lucky this holiday season to have what matters most.

health. happiness. and two weeks paid vacation.

cheers!

its LIVE. finally. foundfancy.com

2011-12-20T07:00:00.003-06:00

a work on progress that will always be in progress.

a philosophy, archival site, a home for all projects (new and old)

FOUND FANCY.
Beautiful is everywhere.
It doesn’t live exclusively
in department stores or private showrooms.
It’s not just for interior designers.
Found Fancy is a new approach to beautifying your space.
It takes courage and imagination. It doesn’t take a lot of money.
Creativity is your currency.
Spend every cent of yours.
Do not fear flea markets. They are your secret weapon.
Yardsales, thrift shops and alleys are your friend.
Fearlessly foreage for treasures the rest of the world has overlooked.
Beautiful is everywhere.
Found Fancy is here to help you
find it.

check it out at foundfancy.com

have you EVER seen anything like this??

2011-12-19T07:00:00.000-06:00

john + bobby's heads.

$18 for the pair.

antique store (yes, cheated---- but it was a black friday sale, so its justified. sorta.)

they are clearly handmade.

i cant imagine how long it must have taken to cut each layer (nearly 40 per head)...

the paste them all together.

why didnt i find this sooner?

2011-12-18T14:00:00.000-06:00

"UTILITY"

my new favorite british store, and some of the amazingly simple stuff you can score there....

CHECK THEM OUT HERE!

"No-nonsense household goods made by us and other independent manufacturers. We are called Utility after the WW2 scheme that produced everyday necessities under rationing. Raw materials and labour were in short supply, so the range of goods was by definition simple, but hardwearing. If we only bought one of everything like we did then, knowing it would last and we wouldn't go off it, we wouldn't be in the fix we're in now. The scheme started in 1941 and began with clothing but expanded into furniture and other household things. You collected coupons to buy from this government-controlled range, and you can still find original Utility goods (with their distinctive stamp "CC41" - civilian clothing 1941) from time to time. But don't worry, you don't have to pay with coupons - we accept money (and card payments). So that was the start point, but you'll find things from pretty much every decade at Utility, just as long as they are good looking, and they work well. It's OK to be a bit nostalgic, but you're kidding yourself if you think a washboard is better than a washing machine"

Hello Friends, my name is Matthew Gore...

2011-12-17T07:00:00.002-06:00

I'm a friend and coworker of Tereasa's and helped photograph part of her book Found Flea & Free. Tereasa and I share a great passion for travel and I was lucky to go on vacation last week to Berlin. It was a last minute decision, mostly driven by a need to use up some vacation days and a big chunk of my credit limit.

On Sunday, I was invited by a new friend in Berlin to go on a tour of the Preussische Spirituosen Manufaktur. (http://www.psmberlin.de/) It stands for Prussian Spirits Manufacturing, an old-world style liquor/spirits/schnapps producer who works to create highly custom, artisanal liquors of their own and for select clients. On this particular day, the tour was a part of celebrating the launch of two custom liquors created for the Michael Berger Hotel (http://www.michelbergerhotel.com/#/en/hotel), the place I should have stayed and an impossibly hip and artistic place that you must check out if you happen to be east of the fallen wall in Berlin someday. It is run by a group of friends, very affordable and well designed.

Over the span of a year working with the PSM, they created two beautiful spirits, one that is inspired by the forest and one by crisp mountain air.

"One clear, fresh and bracing, like soaring through the mountain air and the other dark, mysterious, warming, and mellow, like padding through the rustling leaves of a forest. Think of something beautiful, drink it." - from their website. You can see the beautifully designed bottles (and website!) here: http://www.michelbergerbooze.com/

Below are a few pictures I took of the lab/production space where they concocted these amazing drinks using a process that is practiced by almost no one else around the world. I was in love with all the medicine jars filled with raw ingredients and distilled flavors, not to mention the big suitcase of pretzels that was waiting for us when we got there. They even let us big an enormous ladle into an enormous ceramic storage container to sample their 500€-a-bottle gin. A truly fascinating, delicious and boozy experience. And I knew that Tereasa would love that their entire creation process takes happens in turn-of-the-century hardware and vintage glassware. Also adding to the charm was that it was run by an ex-chemistry professor named Dr. Ulf Stahl who personally oversees the creation of their unique and special liquors.

(they even have a substantial inventory of vintage liqour bottles that date back to the 1930's--- used to compare tastes & how they age)

belly up. (the final product)

2011-12-16T07:00:00.023-06:00

and... here are the final bottles.

yay!

tucking a hand written note card into each bottle wrapping.

(without the card)

each bottle is wrapped in a different newspaper day / headline, all on the topic of prohibition.

this one has a story of Jack Dempsey the heavyweight boxer...

...this one tells the story of a saloonkeeper breaking prohibition laws by offering bribes...

...it was easy to find articles about crime & politics during that era.

found some with stats on babe ruth (one headline reports that he'd lost 6 pounds.)

this year's holiday Wandawega holiday gift...

2011-12-15T07:00:00.004-06:00

we're making two versions of this.
one fancy.
one not-so-fancy.
(this is the latter, as it was easier to assemble)

this is the first of two... (check back for the 2nd)

here is the work in progress- next post will be the full-on "afters"

(my fingers are bleeding at the moment from assembling these things)

the gift:

a short-run batch of local maple syrup, served up prohibition style in a vintage italian style glass flask with a flip top wire cap. each bottle (1/60) is hand- lettered with its batch and bottle number, then wrapped in 1920s era newspapers. a leather-cord letterpress hang tag drapes the neck, accompanied by and offset book telling the story of "Little Orphan Annie's" bar. (which was the original saloon at Camp Wandwega during the bootlegging days)

shown here: the Wandawega locals bellied up to the bar.

logo design: eric ellis

the booklet features the story of the original proprietor at camp ("annie"-- also known as the local madame)

the book also includes a handful of recipes to make with the maple syrup.

accucolor press (on division in chicago) cut the notecards that we used for the custom rubber stamp...

(the hangtags are made of a super heavy board, letterpressed) and the booklets themselves are saddlestitched French paper in an antique white linen finish.

the lettering was done with enamel markers

each bottle was wrapped 'headline out'

check next post for the finished product...

sources:

letterpress printing: accucolor

design: eric ellis & I

bottles: inspired by the old school beer type. prohibition era design

newspaper: original 1925 wisconsin papers

hand tag tie: leather cord

syrup: locally made in teensy batches by the thelan family in elkhorn

(the only other place to get it is up the road from camp sold by non other than Grandpa Thelan himself)

what is your bizarre ritual?

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000-06:00

(morbid, but this is near where grace kelly, driving in her convertible on the French Riviera)

one of the question i had to answer from a recent interview with the TRAVEL site FATHOMAWAY.COM... her are my answers

Hometown: Given: Beardstown, Illinois.

Chosen: Chicago.

Occupation: Advertising creative director / proprietor, Camp Wandawega / author.

Favorite destinations: Ibiza, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, Prague, Camp Wandwega, and Surat, France (population: 498).

Dying to visit: Surat, France (again) and Morocco.

Bizarre travel rituals: Articles inside the book. Inside the magazine. Inside the folder. Inside the backrest. (Turducken style.)

In-flight relaxation regime: Sound-deadening earphones. One pump sugar-free latte...aaaand out.

Always in carry-on: iPad, earbuds, and enough magazines to give most men a hernia.

Concierge or DIY? DIY!

See it all or take it easy? See every possible seeable thing.

Drive or be driven? Drive. Except in Ireland. (Those hedgerows eat rearview mirrors.)

Travel hero: My dog Frankie. For his endless enthusiasm.

Weirdest thing seen on travels: At a dinner in Hong Kong, I was presented a fish eye by the locals. In Jamaica, a herd of grade-school kids chased our bus waving log-sized doobies.

Best hotel amenity: Kiehl's toiletries. A blow dryer that doesn't explode. The kind of robe that you want to live in. And the '60s-style quarter thangy that shakes the bed.

I dream about my meal at Olsen in Buenos Aires, Elckerijc outside Bruges, and in the car driving from Dijon to Champagne (bread, cheese, Dijon).

Everywhere I go, I check out the flea markets, thrift stores, and resale shops.

When I arrive in a new place, I learn the lay of the land by drawing the map in my travel journal, then mapping out every single road, lane, path I take, like a true OCD traveler.

I always bring home an antique trunk packed to the gills with my vintage finds (i.e. junk to get my flea hoarding fix).

If I never return to Hilton Head it'll be too soon because it is one. long. mind-numbing strip-mall.

I travel for the found, the free, and the flea.

The New York Times T Magazine says:
"To save the rest of us the trouble, Rosati started Fathom: guides, postcards and resources by journalists, tuned-in travelers and readers eager to share."

it took forever...

2011-12-13T07:00:00.005-06:00

but ive finally got the wandawega pinterest board up!
for the love of all things CABIN, CAMP, COUNTRY, COTTAGE, LODGE.

check it out here.

and.... like all loyal social media junkie, also on:

facebook
twitter
flickr
webpage
youtube
linkedin
vimeo

we should all do this.

2011-12-12T07:00:00.002-06:00

what an amazing way to document our lives.

and how short they are!

dig out a photo of yourself as a child-

then replicate it.

some great examples: irinawerning.com

tons of folks are doing it.

so easy + obvious, im surprised its just not catching on.

love it!

Wears mask. Begs for Food. Visits nightly.

2011-12-11T07:00:00.001-06:00

written for the travel website: FATHOMAWAY.com

In her next installment of The Innkeeper's Tales, Tereasa Surratt, head counselor at Camp Wandawega, exhibits incredible grace when confronted by visitors who force themselves to be wanted.
WISCONSIN, USA – The baby raccoon greeted our guest and new friend Matthew with an excited hug. (Although Matthew recalls the encounter as more of a "mauling.") Matthew had two options: freeze (he'd read this in the Boy Scout preparedness manual in the chapter on bear confrontation) or try to tear its little razor mitts off his backside.
Matthew chose the latter. To his credit, it's hard to keep your wits about you when you have a rodent on your back.
This particular bundle of fur was a rescue that our neighbors had brought over for a visit. Apparently its mother had met with a delivery truck, leaving this one and its siblings to fend for themselves.
It's not unusual for wild animals to make frequent appearances at camp. We've had a family of foxes sunbathe in our open field daily for nearly an entire spring. Deer regularly feast on the sapling apple trees in the winter, the hostas in the summer, and the Halloween decorations on the patio in the fall. But what we seem to attract the most are masked bandits — the somewhat loveable but always destructive raccoon.
We eventually learned from the locals that raccoons had been featured house guests at Camp Wandawega as far back as Prohibition, the days of The Wandawega Hotel and Orphan Annie's Saloon. One particularly social furball would come to the door of the lodge restaurant on a regular basis. If he wasn't granted immediate access, he would impatiently scratch until a patron would come to the door. He would then proceed to make the rounds, table by table. Legend has it that he would first approach dining patrons, staring them down until they handed over a fair share of whatever special they might have on their plates.
(I've never been confronted with a begging raccoon at a restaurant, but if the occasion were to arise, I would likely feel compelled to hand over my dinner, given that raccoons aren't particularly small creatures and aren't known for being timid or for negotiating for what they want.)
This surly fellow made his visits a nightly ritual, always at rush hour. The proprietors at the time became so attached to him, they named him George. He was so beloved that his mug was featured on the cover of the camp's brochure.
Fast-forward to 2004. When we purchased the derelict camp, we inherited with it a fully-stuffed preserved raccoon. I have to admit, I was more than a bit freaked out. There is nothing more unattractive than antique taxidermy. It just doesn't age well.
But on the way to the trash corral, something made me stop and reconsider. Hadn't I seen this guy somewhere before? Why was he so familiar to me? I decided not to toss him and instead parked him back on the mantle in the main lodge. It would hit me later that I'd seen him on the cover of the brochure from the 1940s.
When people first encounter George, they typically have one of two reaction: extreme fear or extreme adoration.
One summer afternoon, a cabin renter came toting two miniature schnauzers. The smaller of the two, Oliver, approached the taxidermy rodent nearly twice his size slowly.
Sniff.
Bark.
Run away.
Return.
Repeat.
Oliver was clearly fascinated. Have I mentioned that George had been stuffed in the attack body position? Back arched. Eyes wide. Claws spread.
Oliver was beside himself, not knowing if he should run for his crate or defend his owners from the hairy beast.
Then came Oliver's brother, Simon. He approached in a similar way: cautiously, slowly.
But ultimately had a dramatically different reaction to George. Instead of heading for the hills, he decided to take control of the situation and mount George from behind. With a surprising degree vigor and stamina, I might add, given that the raccoon could not reciprocate his affections.
It took a good bit of effort to peel Simon off George. I will spare the details, as they involve flying fur and lots of growling.
Needless to say, we've since given George a higher post, out of canine reach. To this day, we can't say with any degree of certainty that our inherited mascot is the original. But we'd like to think that the original concierge is still standing guard at the head of the lodge, scaring away intruders in exchange for table scraps.

THE NATE BERKUS show-

2011-12-10T07:30:00.001-06:00

heres's the link :)

THE SHOW: (www.TheNateShow.com)

STATION FINDER: (http://www.TheNateShow.com/station-finder).

thanks to our beloved treehouse family!

- Bladon Conner, Shaun Owens-Agase, Tyler Peterson, Angela Finney-Hoffman and Steven Teichelman

every girl needs a hatchet...

2011-12-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

found this awesome Girl Scout equipment magazine from 1949.

you could order everything from a knife big enough to skin a bear to your own a hatchet.

girl scouts are bad asses.

forgotten bookmarks

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-06:00

be still my heart.

ive been obsessively collecting antique books for a lifetime.

and then the grand folks at random house sent me this link:

(where FOUND FREE & FLEA was featured alongside the DwellStudio & Domino mag's new books)

--and found this WONDERFUL book.

an antique book collector started saving the scraps he found in his books.... and amassed so much that he made a book.

love.

check it out here: http://www.forgottenbookmarks.com/

Used books and bookselling have been in Michael Popek's blood since he was a child. In Forgotten Bookmarks, he shares an unusual collection of the things he's discovered tucked inside the pages of books, "treasures within treasures... often untouched for decades." The ephemera includes personal photographs, baseball and greeting cards, poems, shopping lists, recipes, invitations, report cards, burial vault information, razor blades, marijuana leaves and handwritten letters (received or unsent).

Each bookmark specimen has been reproduced, as found, and displayed next to a picture of the original book where the discovery was made. In a scrapbook-like presentation, Popek takes the liberty of transcribing some illegible handwriting, but otherwise offers no commentary, preferring instead to let each relic and book exhibit speak for itself. This approach deepens reader fascination, heightening the intrigue of trying to determine the significance (if any) of the ephemera and book in combination. --Kathleen Gerard,

TRY THIS AT HOME (a free collection)

2011-12-07T07:00:00.017-06:00

MATCHBOOK RACK: $5 (junkstore)

A GROCERY SACK FULL OF MATCHBOOKS: FREE (thanks, will!)

HAVING A BAZILLION VINTAGE DESIGNS ON A WALL TO ROTATE: pricelessss.

i cant imagine who on earth had the patience to collect these things, but they are very cool.

(and are great color therapy if you are OCD about making everything gradate in the color wheel.)

since pulling together this collection, i found out that there are actually folks out there that are really into this kinda thing: matchcovers.net

AND

found a great collection for sale on ebay here

buy your own frame for $60 at hobbymaster here

and some amazing matchbook art can be found if you are a serious collector

taking it old school...

2011-12-03T07:00:00.014-06:00

some behind the scenes shots of the little side project we're working on.
this amazing letterpress shop (just right around the corner on Division street)
is like a museum. and the owner (gary) couldnt be a nicer guy.

check out his shop accucolor.com

i love that our pcs are being printed on equipment that dates back to the prohibition era.

thanks, gary!

(check back for the project progress)

THE LIVES THEY LEFT BEHIND.

2011-12-03T07:00:00.013-06:00

i have always been obsessed with stuff like this.

my friend Angela & I nearly embarked on a similiar project....

its an insanely emotional journey to sift through the remnants

of someones life as told through what they've left behind.

(i think thats why i always drag david into abandoned houses, attics

and basements)

here is WONDERFUL example of a photographer documenting through photography--

the individual stories of asylum patients in NYC.

More than four hundred abandoned suitcases filled with patients’ belongings were found when Willard Psychiatric Center closed in 1995 after 125 years of operation. They are skillfully examined here and compared to the written record to create a moving—and devastating—group portrait of twentieth-century American psychiatric care.

an attic filled with forgotten trunks,

with the remnants of what these folks brought with them.

they would never leave the asylum, their trunks would never leave the attic.

until now.

check out his work here

and fund his project here

AND- the book written about it, and reviews:

“The haunting thing about the suitcase owners is that it’s so easy to identify with them.”—Newsweek

“In their poignant detail the items helped rescue these individuals from the dark sprawl of anonymity.”—The New York Times

“[The authors] spent 10 years piecing together . . . the lives these patients lived before they were nightmarishly stripped of their identities.”—Newsday

here are some possessions of some of those lost souls:

CHARLE'S CASE.

he came to the asylum in the 1930's....

RAYMOND H. (circa 1923... he had rolling papers. and rope.)

MAUDE K.

...was a crafter.

and attended the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 in chicago.

heartbreaking!

have a seat. take a stand.

2011-12-01T07:00:00.013-06:00

and... more party shots from this years silent auction, where the wandawega chair (hearth chair) was an entry.... check out the whole story here

nathaniel ross wrote up a great review on the party: (thanks, nathaniel! we loved your chair last year :)

"Before you throw away that wobbly old stool, or that faded easy chair with Aunt Maggie’s favorite pattern on it, consider giving it a second chance at life with a good sanding, some new screws, and dazzling new fabric! We recently visited Chicago Home + Garden‘s inspiring annual event, Chairs for Charity, where 15 top designers transformed the old into something breathtakingly new."

entry from the owner of jayson home and garden. dig it!

i bid on cody's chair- love love love it.

summer thornton's chair came from the pump room. sigh.

(my tall and handsome friend mattie in the glasses!)

(some of last years chairs)

this years participants:

Suzanne Cahill, Maison Suzanne

Annika Christensen, Midnight Sun, Ltd.

Frank Fontana, Frank Fontana Designs

Harrington College of Design, Bridgette Nyman

Jeff Harting and John Toniolo, FGH Architects

Cody Hudson, Struggle Inc.

Greg Jagmin, Greg Jagmin Associates

Karen Kalmek, Green Home Chicago

Design Center

Gary Lee, Gary Lee Partners

Matthew Lew, Matthew Lew Fine Art + Gallery

Raun Meyn, FoundRe Furnishings

Caroline Scheeler, Jayson Home

Morlen Sinoway, Morlen Sinoway Atelier

Tereasa Surratt, Author, Found, Free & Flea

Summer Thornton, Summer Thornton Design

guess who's coming to camp...

2011-11-30T07:00:00.001-06:00

watch the february issue of Travel & Leisure for some Camp love!
(its going to be included as a romantic getaway destination)
we heart T+L!!!!

I CANT BELIEVE HE FOUND THESE.

2011-11-29T07:00:00.001-06:00

david did, that is.
how often does your husband pick out a pair of shoes for you that you like?

there is a lady we know in elkhorn that always seems to find the most unusual stuff.

based on the heel nails, the leather, and the markings-
we are guessing they date back to somewhere between the late 1800's up to the possibly the teens.

victorian women had at least two pair of shoes- their dress heels (remember the high-ankle, button up, tight- fitting black leather - pointy -toed shoes that the wicked witch of the west wore?)

and
a daily pair of boots, also- lace- up high angle, and heeled (not nearly as much was paved back then).

they also had unusually small feet, (based on today's hoof size).
(ever notice that all the vintage shoes in store are rarely larger than a size 6?)

these are a typical daily work boot. the kind you would see paired with a long white linen ankle length dress.
the patina is what kills me. like the perfect LV antique suitcase. even the strings are original.

and the best thing is... THEY FIT!

there are no words...

2011-11-28T10:54:00.005-06:00

for how much i love this.

The new RRL Ralph Lauren Collection

Autumn / Winter.

BAD REVIEWS ON CAMP WANDAWEGA

2011-11-27T07:00:00.018-06:00

who doesnt appreciate a little honesty?

here is the list of some constructive critiques we've received:

"that rope swing was a hazard and should be taken down- its too high"

"the grounds could use some manicuring- some tulips would be nice"

"we only found 4 towel hooks in our cabin- we really expected more"

"the birds are too noisy in the morning- i think the walls in my room were too thin"

"the bluegills bit my nipple-- maybe weed them out and restock with bass"

"there are weeds in the lake... a pool would be a nice addition and alternative to swimming in the lake"

"we didnt realize that there would another family renting a cabin at the camp, we expected that the use of the beach would be just for us"

"it was too hot outside and our cabin wasnt air conditioned."

"the sunlight in the morning was too bright, you should install blackout blinds"

"the refriderator is from the 1950's, it was too small - a modern upright would work better'

"my sheets were cheap"

"i think there may have been an animal under our cabin. it was scratching all night and i couldnt sleep".

"the bathrooms dont seem to have been updated since the hoover administration"

"the wind blew into my tent, you can get new ones with zippers and mesh windows anywhere now"

"you need to install doggie bag dispenser posts throughout the grounds"

"i think you should ban dogs like most hotels do"

"I cant believe how thin our towels were. they literally were antique."

"i would have preferred a room without all the 'stuff' - the antiques just got in the way for me'

....thank you for your feedback.

we believe in full disclosure- and really do want to warn folks for what they are getting themselves into when they consider a visit.

take this easy quiz to determine if you are ready to shack up with us or if we should just be friends.

WANDAWEGA

pronunciation: 'won-dah-wee-gah'

definition: (Native American name for 'not for wussies')

RENTAL APPLICATION TEST.

TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE CUT OUT FOR A STAY AT CAMP WANDAWEGA

WHEN ACCOSTED BY TOADS AND SPIDERS IN THE CAMP SHOWERS YOU:

A) scream.
B) run.

C) suck it up and chalk it up to being at camp (& possibly close your eyes tight and shower super fast.)

WHEN YOUR TENT SPRINGS A LEAK, YOUR WINDOW DOESNT CLOSE ALL THE WAY, THE LIGHT OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW IS TOO BRIGHT YOU:

A) sob uncontrollably.

B) check into the penthouse suite at Hampton Inn up the road. (what do you mean there is no penthouse ??)

C) consider it an adventure and remember that there are folks camping on everest that consider these accomodations a luxury.

WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOU CANT LOCK YOUR ROOM, YOU:

A) create an elaborate alarm system to arm yourself against the racoons (who are notorious thieves)

B) freak & ask where exactly you are supposed to lock up your jewelry.
C) trust the other campers the way you would at a camp ground (& dont leave that wad of hundreds on your dresser this time)

WHEN YOU ARE CONFRONTED WITH THE REALITY THAT YOU HAVE NO AIR CONDITIONING & ONLY UNPREDICTABLE HEAT, YOU:

A) try in vain to find a conceirge to come help you.

B) call for backup

C) layer up in extra blankets & peruse the for around camp and spoon the nearest body.

WHEN YOU ARE FACED WITH SLEEPING ON LUMPY MATTRESS, 10 THREAD COUNT SHEETS AND A SQUEAKY BEDFRAME YOU:

A) sleep in the car.

B) call your mom.

C) remember that you are essentially camping indoors and count your blessings that you arent sleeping atop tree root outside in a tent.

WHEN YOU FIND COBWEBS, SMALL MAMMALS, LADYBUGS AND THE LIKE IN YOUR ROOM, YOU:

A) spaz out. this is not what you signed up for when you went to a camp.

B) write a letter to management inquiring about a dirt-free summer camp.

C) think of it as patina and character (from the days of this joint being a 20's speakeasy & house of ill repute)

WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER HAZARDOUS 90 YEAR OLD BROKEN SIDEWALKS, A BEAT UP ANTIQUE TENNIS COURT, ANCIENT FADED SHUFFLEBOARD COURTS, OLD QUILTS & OTHER UNSAVORIES THAT YOU ARE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO, YOU:

A) close your eyes and click your heels to get back to kansas.

B) text your therapist to call in your prescription. you are so not prepared for this.

C) soak up the ambience & pride yourself in being a true camper. you were made for this place!

if you answered A OR B to ANY of the above...

we respectfully decline your reservation request (it's for your own good, we promise)

We still love you, but its unlikely that you will love us back.

im sure we can meet for coffee sometime, but not sure were ready for an sleep over just yet.
we just weren't meant to be together.

We are humbly a quarter star on a 5-star scale. (that could be pushing it) but at LEAST an eighth of a star.

But it is a shiny, sparkly humble little fragment of a star that some people (when they get to know it) end up liking very much.

thanks for your feedback, folks.
when you are ready to truly embrace the outdoors and rough it camp style, we look forward to having you.

xoxox
your camp counselors,
Tereasa & David

some love from STYLUS

2011-11-26T07:00:00.001-06:00

check the whole story out here

INTERIOR STYLING

'The New collectors: The rise of the Curator Consumers'

Self-Expression and the Desire for Rarity

Curiosity cabinets and wall installations are the traditional modes of displaying personal treasures, but increasingly compact modes of urban living mean that contemporary collections are often spread out. The result is a shift away from static, formal collections to something more akin to ongoing interior conversations, relaying a greater sense of artistic aspiration throughout the space.

“Collecting is a means of expression for people who might not otherwise be artistically inclined,” says Surratt, whose own website bears the slogan: ‘Creativity is your currency’. “It gives them the opportunity to source unique objects of interest, arranging them as a conversation-starter in their homes.”

Surratt also believes that the appeal of modern collecting comes from the pursuit of rarity. “There is a certain degree of joy you derive from having something that cannot be purchased in the home decor section of a department store. It’s not just the thrill of the hunt, but the challenge of finding that very specific thing that I know I won’t see in my neighbour’s living room.”

OBSESSION- a new project.

2011-11-24T07:00:00.002-06:00

it's a secret.

all i can say is that its a fun little project
(emphasis on small- as in smaaaaall run)

that ive been obsessively researching label designs for.
and collaborating with my amazing talented friend ERIC ELLIS.

how amazing are these labels? i want to quit my job and go work at a distillery
designing packaging. here are some favs:

YOU NEED THIS.

2011-11-23T07:00:00.001-06:00

You never find these.
found it on the side of the road.
its such a steal its virtually free.
1978 401 V-8 Cherokee "S" 'LEVIS' Edition'

needs TLC, but a great project. check out the awesome native- american design trim detail.

You need to go buy one of those new Pendleton jackets and drive this thing to Wandawega.
...With a vintage thermos of hot cider next to you.
...Listening to old Merl Hagggard.
...Towing a vintage canoe on the hood.
...With the back seat lined with an antique Hudson bay blanket.
...With your springer spaniel "Reggie" sleeping on it.