FOUND FREE & FLEA / A VERY MODEST COTTAGE

why i love my husband

2012-02-13T12:14:00.007-06:00

here are five little reasons:

i woke up to find that hed scoured the web to find 5 surprise gifts for me:

1. a lot of 75 new old stock boyscout archery arrows

2. an antique hand-made slingshot

3. a vintage first aid kit (fully stock)

4. a retro summercamp embroidered first aid patch

5. an old school jubilee camp patch

yay!

(love you, tater. you know all the junk i like :)

i love it so much it breaks my heart....

2012-02-12T07:00:00.009-06:00

THE WANDAWEGA PHOTOGRAPHER COLLABORATIVE... live.

2012-02-11T08:24:00.001-06:00

check it out!

we are blessed to be friends with so many photographers.

so to show off their work, weve assembled a photographer's journal.

for each new shooters that visits + archives camp, we'll add a chapter to show off some samples of their fine work.

thanks to our friends, the talented shooters who we adore!

aimee herring

bjorn wallander

bob coscarelli

chris strong

david robert elliot

doug fogelson

jacob hand

jane goodrich

julia stotz (and brian guido)

kathryn gamble

matt gore

paul strabbing

sam rosen

sandro

sarah claxton

t harrison hillman

vince cook

ps: for those friends who dont yet see their flag up, stay tuned, still adding... ;)

including the amazing work of brianguido.com and mitch gordon... thanks for your patience!

http://camp-wandawega.tereasa.com/

the ultimate salute to campers

2012-02-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

i just spent an entire afternoon by the fire sifting through stacks of antique boyscout manuals, boxes of girlscout gear--- and then surfing for every possible thing i can buy on ebay related to it. (thats how i found this collection of some of the most beautiful, simple and honest portrayals of boyscout life.) nobody did it better. (thanks, norman)

camp inspiration

2012-02-08T07:00:00.003-06:00

photos by: jessicavelarde.com

new store: equal parts lust + envy....

2012-02-07T07:00:00.002-06:00

IZOLA~!

Inspired by old world utilitarian objects that were built to last, IZOLA has carefully curated a whimsical collection of bathroom accessories that combines functional every day staples with antiquity. The result is a series of useful items which are made with great care and attention to detail.

The IZOLA collection is offered in five distinct themes: Scout; a campy salute to iconic boy scout imagery, Maritime; a nautical motif, Apothecary; a medicinal old world doctor and barbershop aesthetic, Sport; a throwback to the collegiate varsity trophy room and Powder Room; a retro feminine sensibility.

some of my favorite products:

some Chicago Home & Garden magazine love...

2012-02-06T07:00:00.009-06:00

back page of this month's issue-
features the CAMP WANDAWEGA 'Hearth (pheasant) Chair'....

check out the story here

a new camp fan: some love from GEAR PATROL

2012-02-05T07:00:00.000-06:00

Part childhood camp, part adult retreat, all neo-luddite, Camp Wandawega proves relaxation doesn’t have to involve iPads and DVRs. In lieu of technology, Wandawega’s camp counselors — oh yes, there are counselors — are happy to point you to activities like lake fishing, archery, various court sports, or one of the many other non-internet-connected activities across Wandawega’s sprawling 25 acre property. If you’re still feeling restless from not checking Gmail, you can always grab an old Schwinn and ride it up the street to pick up provisions at the gourmet grocer, tuck into a book (your Kindle, if you must), or shoot pool on an antique billiards table. If you prefer the water, you’re welcome to take a rowboat out, cast a line into one of Wisconsin’s cleaest lakes, take a turn on the uncomfortably long rope swing, or just while away the afternoon on a battered old pier thinking about how far the office seems.

For accommodations, Camp Wandawega, which is located 90 miles from Chicago in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, offers guest rooms, cabins and even a boy scout canvas-tent campsite. Our recommendation though is Tom’s Treehouse. For $200 a night, the three-level treehouse is stocked with vintage books and games, Pendleton blankets, and even a deer antler chandelier. And like any good treehouse, it also offers a towering view of the surroundings and loads of nostalgia. But don’t worry city slickers, Camp Wandawega does boast one luxury. Hot water.

thanks for the nice story! (check it out here)

favorite new shop.

2012-02-04T07:00:00.001-06:00

Petaluma Supply Co. is an online retail shop based in Petaluma, California,
-- where old farming community traditions and the rustic wine country intersect with creative fashion forward transplants from the greater bay area. The lifestyle they promote caters to just that demographic.

Petaluma Supply Co. carries new products and one-of-a-kind vintage pieces for the modern gentleman. Setting the tone for this lifestye, we've sourced vintage items and antiques from old warehouses, barns, farms, and everywhere in between. They've searched high and low to bring you the best of today's haberdasheries.

MY WANDA TOP 10 PICKS:

Camp Wandawega makes the most romantic getaway list....

2012-02-03T07:00:00.000-06:00

check it out here

i wish id been invited to this party....

2012-02-02T07:00:00.000-06:00

the wedding of lauren & shil!

dont know them.

wish i did.

they know how to party.

100layercake is an amazing blog. this was from their post...

Photography: Matt Miller at Our Labor of Love

library of congress photo library

2012-02-01T07:00:00.000-06:00

cabinporn.com

2012-01-31T07:00:00.001-06:00

the most inspiring collection ever.

warning: seriously addictive.

possibly the most magical place in the universe...

2012-01-30T07:00:00.000-06:00

beaverbrook.com--- a private house. built by friends, near yulan, NY. (the co owner also is the guy responsible for cabinporn.com). love it!

'summercamp' movie- music by the FLAMING LIPS

2012-01-29T07:00:00.001-06:00

Genre: Documentary

Director: Bradley Beesley and Sarah Price

Staring: Cameron Schmitt and Holly Stephenson

Synopsis: Documentary filmmakers Bradley Beesley and Sarah Price take viewers back to the sun-soaked days of summer as they follow campers ages 6 through 15 to a place where lifelong friendships are forged, and the struggle against homesickness yields a better understanding of the true value of independence. With music by the Flaming Lips and Noisola, Summercamp! is a warm tribute to an long-running institution that holds a special place in the hearts of countless Americans.

a little facelift never hurts, right?

2012-01-28T07:00:00.001-06:00

the (long overdue) 'new and improved' is live and kicking.

thanks to my incredibly patient and tolerant web developer, bryan.

brandstories & whatnot...

tereasa.com- 'dayjob'

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

check it out here

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.