Anchor & Rope Glasses

We just picked up a set of nautical drinking glasses from Fishs Eddy. My heart skips along merrily whenever I peruse their website, which is filled with the best glassware, flatware, and tableware that I've ever seen in one place. There are vintage-inspired pieces nestled amongst fancifully themed sets (think Alice in Wonderland, yesteryear's circus illustrations, hand-drawn scenes of Brooklyn architecture, and the like). I particularly like their use of simple patterns reminiscent of old timey memo pads. And they have wonderful sales, too! If only we had more room in our kitchen cabinets...

Etsy Treasury Feature

'Tis the Captain's birthday this week and, therefore, some mighty good fortune has been washing ashore.

Firstly, one of Hearts & Anchors' cards is featured in an Etsy Treasury chosen by percivalroad amongst other nautical gems. Alas, like the good behavior of a sea gull when you throw him a crumb, treasuries don't last forever. Be sure to check it out soon!

Secondly, I made a sale to a sailor! I am honored to announce that a Rigging Foreman, who has of late been sailing the lovely 1877 barque Elissa, contacted me to say hello and pick up a postcard. I am most flattered indeed!

The Paperdoll: Bellingham, WA

I can't thank Shultzie Fay at The Paperdoll enough for reaching through fog and clouds to find me. Her dedication to discovering new crafters and indie designers for her boutique in Bellingham, Washington has successfully created an enchanting harborage for hand-made treasures. The Paperdoll is filled with delectable paper goods, accessories, apparel and gifts that were designed with care and sustainably created. I am tickled to announce that my cards are currently being sold in such a lovely establishment.

The Paperdoll is located at 312 West Champion Street in downtown Bellingham, WA.

Fierce & Nerdy

Huzzah! Hearts & Anchors' Thankful Elephant card is featured in the bi-weekly style column, Chic Geek, (of the blogozine Fierce and Nerdy). It's in the Thank You Gifts section that will run today so feel free to have a looksie and check out all the other wonderful cards featured as well...

http://fierceandnerdy.com/?p=4794#more-4794

Ode to Polk-a-Dot

Oh dear, I stopped by one of my favorite shops of all time today to buy a handful of little Japanese Paper Bunnies for a project, alas not only were the bunnies gone, but Polka-a-Dot was missing. Left behind were a vintage poster of Martin Luther King Jr, a handcrafted fabric topiary, an apothecary bottle housing a miniature rubber chicken playing dead and the above farewell notes. My heart is so sad that the economic times could not sustain a business as lovely and wonderful as theirs. I truly loved this store. Everything about it including the cats that wandered fuzzily down the aisles or could usually be found soaking up the sunshine in the window sills. The shop was so inspiring on so many levels (amazing vintage goods from all over the world, handmade wares galore, local crafters' creations, Michelle's artstic displays were unbeatable...sigh). Since I first stepped inside their door at the old location near the Jug Shop in 2005, it had been a dream of mine to sell Hearts & Anchors cards at Polk-a-Dot. Needless to say, I will truly miss the shop. And so I dedicate the this haiku (albeit short and not very good):

through a window pane
once-loved hardwood floors lie still
goodbye Polk-a-Dot

Needles & Pens

Hearts & Anchors has cards being sold at Needles & Pens in the Mission (they're on 16th near Guerrero)! Breezy, the owner, found me at the last Bazaar Bizarre fair and she is super great to work with. Anywho, the store has tons of great zines, local hand-made goods galore, and a wonderful selection of screenprints/wall art. Feel free to pay them a visit soon!

Recipe for Hard Tack

'Tis widely known o'er land and sea alike that hardtack has the gold medal for knocking out the most teeth whilst somehow remaining totally bland and unassuming. Kind of like a hippopotamus.

For anyone unaware as to the story of hardtack: It's a biscuit/cracker that was widely used by sailors, soldiers and gold diggers for sustenance during the 1800's. The biscuits were so dry and hard that they remained edible (if you can call it that) for the duration of lengthy sea voyages and the entire Civil War. Imagine an impenetrable Saltine. It's quite likely that if you miraculously stumbled across a bit of ancient hardtack today, it would taste just the same as it did in 1865! Yum. But, it's more likely that these sea biscuits simply outlasted the lingering memories of sweethearts left behind. Thus, they held a very special place in both a sailor's heart AND stomach.

Synonyms include, but are certainly not limited to: ship's biscuits, water crackers, tooth dullers, molar breakers, pilot bread, sea bread and, my personal favorite, worm castles. Seeing as hardtack was often improperly stored for years and even decades, I'll let you use your imagination as to the origin of this last one.

HARDTACK

• 2 cups of flour
• ¾ cup water
• 5 pinches of salt
  

1. Preheat oven to 400°F
2. Mix all ingredients to create a dough
3. Roll or press out dough onto a baking/cookie sheet (thickness should be ½ inch)
4. Using a fork, poke neat little rows of holes into dough
   
5. Bake in oven 1 hour, then remove from oven
6. Cut dough into 3-inch square crackers (or use a cookie cutter to make round ones), flip them over on the baking sheet, and repeat the the poking of holes
   
7. Bake in oven for another ½ hour
8. If you're feeling like you'll want these to last for a really long time, feel free to bake them for an additional hour at 250°

If you've baked your hardtack correctly, it should be pretty darn uncomfortable to take a bite. So dunk it in coffee, brine, whisky, or anything else that's handy to soften it up.

Store away from buggies for a few months or a few years.