American Quilters | Vintage Textiles

All I needed to see were the words “American” & “Vintage” in the same sentence and my attention was drawn. Never mind that I was not just the only man in the room, but the only non-retirement aged person in the room as well. Yeah, well, vintage textiles and a mutual admiration for masterful craftsmanship have a way of pulling birds of a feather together (textile geeks).

Primus | A Thoroughly Creative Experience

When you’ve got it, you’ve got it. And Primus definitely has it. They’ve been around since the mid 1980s and remain consistently solid musically and as heavily experimental and progressive as ever.  I typically enjoy three solid meals a day of all-things-music (with extra helpings of rock) and consider myself reasonably well-versed but I wasn’t expecting to be so thoroughly impressed as I was at a recent Primus concert at Roseland Ballroom in New York City.  I had always been aware of them, but never paid close enough attention to their style and technical mastery. Absolutely amazing is the best way to describe their performance.

Thank you Steve Jobs. We wish you well.

Think Different. Just the words give me a lump in my throat. Not just for the concern over the health of Mr. Jobs, but rather for the inspiration that his company has given me for so many years. I’m not talking about the more recent innovations and products, such as the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. I’m speaking of the Macintosh computer. During the lean years, when the rest of the world was touting Windows as the only choice a “sane” person would make, the rest of us had the Mac. And it served us well.

Weezer’s Android

Reaching For The Stars | Space Shuttle Atlantis

Please excuse the mammoth size of the above stamps. I didn’t want anyone to miss the beautiful detail of the art or to miss the impact of this special day.  I was born after man first propelled himself beyond the gravitational pull of Earth, into orbit, and finally landing and walking on the moon. Nonetheless, the excitement I have watching NASA send rockets and shuttles roaring into space has never ceased.

Introductions | Setting Course

We’re all familiar with our parent’s phrase “You Will…” Always said when they are trying to bestow a piece of wisdom on us that we are not yet old enough to understand. Yet, as good parents do, they persevere. Parent’s greatest gifts to their children are often passed down as introductions to these little nuggets- life’s wonders. Sooner or later, said children will grow to appreciate them or at the very least be better off for knowing of them. These “wonders” come in many forms- chili sauce, watermelon rind pickles, Guinness Stout, etc…

Hatch Show Print | A Working Letterpress Museum

I knew about Hatch Show Print before I actually knew about them. I had seen their posters in shop windows and restaurants and even wine labels they had created, but never knew who was behind the beautiful letterpress print work.

Pete Townshend | Birthday Boy

I know, the cliché’d line from My Generation is forever pointed out with Pete Townshend continuing to not die before he gets old.  Well, happy birthday to Mr. Townshend, anyway- and we wish him many more years of escaping his wish that he made way back in 1965. A true post-war baby boomer, Pete was born at the conclusion of World War II on May 19, 1945.

Rock, Paper, Scissors | The Debate

Happy Mother’s Day

Family holidays, like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, are much more to me than a time to thank our parents for raising us and making us who we have become. They are great opportunities to take a long look at the personalities and lives of the people that make up our heritage. The women in the above photo are, from right- my mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great great grandmother.

Next Page »