Catskill Mercantile

Be sure to check "The Quarry" for perspective on environment, love for nature, green and fulfilled living and more.   Also, send us your feedback and opinions, as well as suggestions for future subjects!

September, 2011

August, 2011

Gone Fishin'

It’s really special to see and feel summer in full force, particularly via the people, who have fully migrated outdoors.

The great Adirondacks are buzzing: fishing poles, Black-Eyed Susan, kayaks, camp wood, fresh peaches, charcoal briquettes, cabins to let, fresh cut grass, mountain lakes, fireflies, outdoor concerts, cargo shorts, lemonade, carabiners, flip flops, trout, skateboards, ice cream cones, bikes, tents, cascading petunia baskets, helmets, watermelon, swim trunks, bass, sleeping bags, alfresco dining, Ray Bans, outdoor markets, tee shirts, canoes, blueberries, pike, fireworks…and outdoor Art Fairs. We’ll see you next at Woodstock/New Paltz, 9/3 through 9/5.  Maybe you’ll find YOUR catch of the day!

6/2011  Thank You - Keep 'em Coming!

With the current mini monsoon that's upon us in New York State, we're taking the brief downtime to thank all of you who continue to send us photos of our lighting designs in your home. It's such an incredible feeling to see Phil's designs in such gorgeous living rooms, dens and bedrooms around the States.  Yes around the country! 

One of my favorites is from "Emmy".    It's important to note that her beautiful home is completely designed with wonderful shades of purple...as are all her outfits and accesories.   When she comes to visit us at art events I still have to ask how her photo of the lamp (even) has a purple hue!?!

So thanks to all of you, and we'll see you at Arts in the Park in Inlet, NY in mid July! 

5/2011 Forget Me...Not

Last fall I stocked up on plenty of packets of Forget Me Nots for this year's pre planting indoors on the window sills (the flowers were gorgeous last year and was quite proud they were started from scratch). I started heirloom veg. varieties, cascading flowers and even some grasses from seed this winter. They're all thriving. But guess what I forgot to plant? Forget Me Nots!  Hope last years pop up outside anyway.

This year we've harvested a bumper crop of beautiful rock pieces for your viewing pleasure :).  You can catch the newest lighting designs this Memorial weekend at New Paltz. And we'll also be attending the Black Fly Affair fundraiser this Saturday, where one of our pieces will be on display for auction. See you soon!

4/2011 Play Ball

My brother tells me that the late, great Detroit Tiger voice Ernie Harwell would  begin the first spring training broadcast of each season with a reading from Song of Solomon 2:11-12: "For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land."

How fitting for just about everything we do come Spring. So as all season openers occur, and we make final preps of "our" opening season, we'll see you next week at Adirondack Buyer Days, in Saratoga Springs, and Adirondack Living show, in Queensbury.

1/2011 Frozen Tundra

Does the photo to your left need any further explanation?!  Enough snow and ice here to match Green Bay and their Packers.  Well, at least a couple chickens are laying an egg a day. And Phil continues to brave the elements and prep for 2011 shows outdoors. We'll see you in the Spring!

11/2010 Inspired Earth

I was on the property finding rocks for lighting design.  When doing so, I tend to look at the terrain and ask myself questions about the origin of things.   How far did the water travel in the stream to roll past me?  Will the water always be clean enough for my pets to drink from?  What new precious stones has the earth pushed to the surface?  Or stones traveled, inch by inch to end up in my hand?

I further think, what have I done today to preserve the earth and conserve its bounty? Did I install another energy saver bulb…can I build a small solar unit to power the light and drinking water deicer in the chicken coop?  How low can our thermostat be turned at night to save energy?

Am I overreacting, surely there are leaders out there that challenge the notion of our planet’s limited energy resources?   And there are a lot out there, to be sure.   But how long do things last…is there a boundless supply of goodness from the earth? I don’t think anybody really knows. It’s time to get inspired by the earth itself for answers.

Conservation can be daunting as well as creative. When I ask if I’ve done enough, and worry I haven’t, I try to pull back and think about the progress of inches.  Small steps forward lead to larger accomplishments.  If you’ve seen the movie, “On Any Given Sunday,” you probably remember the inspiring speech of the football coach, played by Al Pacino:  “Life’s a game of inches guys. We live for that inch. We claw with our fingernails for that inch. Because in the end, when you add up all those inches, it’s going to make the difference between living and dying.”   Brilliant.

We hope that a lighting piece you purchase from us inspires you to ask yourself, what can I do for the earth today. Go outside and look around.  Get inspired.

 9/30/2010 - Fifty Years….it CAN’T be!

We interrupt our traditional “Quarry” to touch on something important popping up on the Google home page today:  the 50^th anniversary of “The Flintstones .” 

One can’t recall the memorable names and places of Bedrock without cracking a smile:

Fred, Barney, Wilma, Betty, Pebbles, Bam Bam, Mr. Slate, Joe Rockhead, weekly guest apperances by Ann Margrock, Stony Curtis, ROCK Hudson. Then there were the Lodge Brothers, Grand Poobahs, Rock Vegas, Pterodactyl sandwiches and, my favorite, cactus juice.

Best of all, who can forget the Episode where Fred bought Wilma a stone "Club Lamp”, with all FOUR shades—Stonecraft, Northbrook, Arts & Crafts and Lakeside - he couldn’t make up his mind.   Of course, then he ran back and bought more!?!   Episode #186 it was?? :)

Happy Anniversary to the Flintstones.   And, Yabba Dabba DO check back often!

 8/2010 "Empire"

We've been spending the last few weeks showcasing our work at Art fairs in "the ADK" (the Adirondacks), Saratoga region and along the Canadian Border.  These elite shows housed some serious crafters: wood carvers, iron forgers and rustic furniture makers.

One artist at the Rustic River show in Alex Bay, designed an oversized bed with simple twigs and limbs, which I refer to as the "Alice in Wonderland". If you saw it, you too would call it a wonder.  Out the door went home owners/nature enthusiasts with black bear carved from chain, carved walking sticks and, of course, stone lamps.   These shows attracted arguably the best craftsmen in the nation - we're proud to be in their company.  

Not only is working these shows an experience to cherish, but we're seeing beautiful country along the way, from mountain lakes, the Erie Canal, Lake Ontario, ADK mountain park, and the St. Lawrence area bridge to Canada.  Flanking the highways are farms aplenty and gorgeous wildflowers bursting and taking their last summer breath, before nature hunkers down for fall. 

And finally, I cannot stress enough, meeting talented people who sweat and toil making beautiful things for your home.

...Consider this a post card from "the Empire State."

6/29/2010 "A Thousand Points of Light"

"A thousand points of light" -- these words were used by former President George H.W. Bush as a metaphor for good intentions he had, to move America positively forward.

As I personally step out tonight on this warm and quiet evening, there are in fact  "a thousand points of light"  -- the fireflies are in top form.

There are places and things that we can't take our eyes off.....Fourth of July fireworks, Manhattan lights, a ballpark at night, and many more.  But, wow, these fireflies are special. Something so vibrant -- yet quiet, soothing and simple. 

Happy Fourth of July!   And, we hope to see you the weekend of July 17 at 'Arts in the Park', in Inlet, NY.   Till then...keep your stone light on!!

Tim

5/15/2010 - 'Tis the Season

Spring has arrived and we are actively working in the studio!

As we get prepped for a busy Summer season, we continue to make time to enjoy some of our (other) favorite Catskill past-times including hiking, photography, raising hens, gardening, cooking local fare, and more. 

Sharing the fruits of our labor - eggs and items from the garden - with neighbors and friends is incredibly rewarding   There's something quite "grand" to be part of a small community/mountain region - supporting and contributing to local commerce, activities and artists.

See everyone at the Woodstock/New Paltz event Memorial Day weekend!

3/30/10 - Once Forgotten

In two weeks our second round of chicks will arrive.  And, with their delivery comes the necessity to expand the current hen house.  This time, we’re using recycled wood to build the addition.  Sounds noble - but it has taken quite a bit of patience, creativity and, did I say, patience!?!

Finding something old, then refurbishing and re-purposing it, has truly been a rewarding experience.   In this case, the wood’s original structure had a history of its own .   But, caught up in time…it's been nearly forgotten.   With a human touch, these old pieces have been transformed into a comfortable and protective dwelling for our new flock of hens.   

(Now, what do we name them??)

2/13/10 - Cracks in the Ice

Here we are, deep-rooted in February; the thick of frozen winter.  Chilly temperatures carry on, as does the snow, to be sure.  We shovel—past the old piles that came before them. Stopping to take a break, we can’t help but look up to the tree tops for a glimpse of maybe, just maybe, a sign of life…or down below, a hint of earth’s soil. “Snow-mageddon” in the East and record-setting inclement conditions in the South—we all ask, “Spring….where are you?!” 

I tell myself, take heed. It’s coming soon --as sure as time delivers.   Immediately fast forward, with Spring comes many new projects…"better get busy...” or, truth be told, busier. The garden seeds that will soon find their way into peat pots…for inevitable introduction into their backyard homes. Step by step en route to, we strive for, something beautiful, as well as bountiful.

The necessary stepping-stones, pardon the pun, to a new season.

There is a crack in the ice.   It’s close…

-Past Entries-

 1/12/10  Countdown                                   

As I looked up last night, I was awed once again by the countless list of stars in the sky. While attempting to locate the North Star, Orion's Belt, Polaris and Cassiopeia, I was reminded of other lists--more like to-dos for the upcoming year: the hundreds of stones,  the applications for a busy art show season; the seed catalogs arriving in the mail for the garden; the number of chicks to raise in the Spring.   So many lists. We better stop counting and get rockin' - life is good!

1/5/10 Tough Birds                                            Beneath a huge rock cliff on our back property is housed our five chickens. There are various breeds, from Rhode Island Reds to Barred Plymouth Rocks. Chickens are really amazing. Here it is, below zero outside this morning. We humans wake up and scramble to get warm in the house. However, the chicken ladies are happy and just want a little water and feed. That's all they need to do their thing this morning: make us breakfast. Tough creatures these chickens!! Adela, Ruby, Bonnie, Lucy and Julia hope you'll check out our lamps. The rock cliff behind their house cuts down on harsh winds. The rocks here will provide you with a some light and joy...we hope!

12/19/09  "Craft in America" on PBS                  Recently I had some downtime to tune into PBS's "Craft in America". It was a three part series covering local artists from around the country--potters in North Carolina, tribal bead workers in New Mexico, glass blowers, iron workers, painters, and more. They are all gifted with incredible stories, and share common goals of taking something and making it beautiful...seeking out a "proper fit within its space."  Many of these artists have continued their creations as passed on from their forebears.  Here at Catskill Mercantile, we have a slightly different ancestor to help us get to where we are. They didn't pass on the secrets to weave it, forge it, melt it or shape and color it. Mother nature provided the building blocks and we worked with her to light up her gifts, born many millions of years ago.