Fleur de Lys Measuring cup

We always love contests in the shop so how could we resist playing the Super Bowl Square?

But wouldn’t you know it? The person who won both the 1st quarter and the overall game was Ashley – who doesn’t even follow football and was certainly not to be found in front of the game on Sunday!

I spent the hours, leading up to the game, in the kitchen whipping up the prizes. That, I must say, was probably as much fun as watching the game – and the ads!

Here were the prizes…I think the theme is obvious!

1st quarter winner – Chocolate Brownies with Guinness

2nd quarter winner – Beer Cheese Soup

3rd quarter winner – German-style Fried Potatoes with Lager

Overall winner – Drunken Sausages and Peppers in Pale Ale

Our house is for sale so we aren’t allowed anything out on our kitchen counters (except for our canisters) so I was glad for an excuse to pull out our Pewter Measuring Cups and Spoons. It just doesn’t seem right keeping them hidden but, once we get a buyer, I will have them right back out.

I have the Fleur de Lys Measuring Cups and Spoons and – since we make them – an extra set of Measuring Spoons in the Bird pattern. As you can see here…

Bird Teaspoon - rescued from the disposal

our Bird teaspoon took a tumble into the disposal a bit ago. I need to get it replaced. If this happens to you, we can either hammer out the dents and sand the edges a bit….or we can give you a recycling credit on it towards the purchase of a new one. But, I hope you are more careful than we are!

Next posting….the recipes, of course!

I hope everyone enjoyed the Super Bowl or, if not, a quiet Sunday afternoon while everyone else was watching!

This week we welcomed two wonderful new people to our team – Suz and Kelly! Even though they will be in the office I thought they might enjoy getting a taste for how our products are made.

And did they ever! In fact, they were really impressed with the expertise of our production guys – who put them through their paces – doing some casting, sanding, and welding. I was in the office “holding down the fort” so I was only able to dash out and get a few pix -but I heard all about it.

Dan the teacher!

Pewter melts at 450 degrees - notice Dan's thick gloves!

Dan taking out the mold

Suz's first casting!

Suz was able to fill the mold and come out with 2 fish hooks and 2 crab hooks – so cool!

Kelly's first casting!

Kelly looks pretty excited with her first pour – fish measuring spoons and celtic measuring spoons!

Dan explains the finer points of casting!

But then Dan had to tell Kelly that he has pretty high standards for casting quality. Oh, dear, Kelly’s spoons got dropped back into the melting pot! Although she had filled the mold – way to go, Kelly! – the finish on them wasn’t what Dan was looking for.

At first, I think the guys were a little confused as to why Suz and Kelly needed to put on their jeans and t-shirts and join them in their production area.

But, later on, they could see why it made sense. First of all, Suz and Kelly really got an appreciation for the fine work that Dan and Adam and Derrik do. And secondly, their enthusiasm for working with pewter was contagious. Suz and Kelly really enjoyed their tutorial Best of all, when you call in to place an order, Suz and Kelly will know just what you want AND they will be able tell you how it all comes together here at Crosby & Taylor where our products are proudly made in America.

Welcome Suz and Kelly! We are so glad to have you!

We got to talking about Julia Childs the other day here at work and Nancy, my manager of 11+ years, reminded me that she had had the good fortune to actually meet Julia Childs once. It was back in 2000 at a 4th of July party at the Downtown Club in Boston – an exclusive restaurant at the top of the State Street bank for Club members only. Since Nancy’s godmother was the manager of this Club, she was able to get Nancy in.

Julia Childs would have been almost 88 at that time and Nancy recalls her voice being more lower in tone and quieter than her TV personality voice. Needless to say, she made quite an impression on Nancy – who is thrilled to have been able to get this picture with her!

What I’m realizing as I write this, is that this was just 6 months before Nancy answered an ad at the local community college about an office assistant. Maybe it was being in the presence of Julia Childs that made Nancy realize she might want to come work for a company that made Pewter Measuring Spoons and Cups – ha! I wish I had met Julia Childs. I would surely have gifted her with our Spoons and Cups!

An encounter with Julia Childs - 2000

We were at dinner the other night with Craig Wiebe, one of our oldest and dearest friends, and he had a little story to tell…he asked if I remembered that he had given our Measuring Cups and Spoons to one of his best childhood buddies over 20 years ago. And, of course I did! We were still relatively new in business back then and I had probably personally delivered those pieces to Craig.

This buddy recently moved and the very first thing that he put up in his new kitchen were his Cups and Spoons. He was so excited that he immediately sent a photo to Craig – who then shared it with us, of course.

Here is what I love about this photo:

-his Measuring Cups and Spoons were the FIRST thing to go up in his kitchen (notice there is nothing in those cupboards or on that counter NOR has he finished painting – witness the stripped window trim)

-he found a way to fit them in a narrow space

-he has FISH spoons and CELTIC cups – things don’t always need to be “matchy-matchy”

-he obviously enjoys the warm patina that they have developed over the years (since he has opted to NOT polish them or send them back to us for our “spa treatment”)

Also please note: Back then, the Cup bowls were much thinner with a copper core!

Vintage Spoons and Cups

Needless to say, it makes me really proud to see that these Cups and Spoons are still being loved and used 20+ years later.

WOW! I really don’t know what else to say. This gallery is truly spectacular and I am honored that they have been carrying our products for many years now.

At the end of June, I took a road trip through the Southeast. In Knoxville, I was thrilled to stop in at Bennett Galleries. My time there was limited – which was truly a shame. I could have spent hours there. This gallery is really worth a detour if you are within driving distance. I was truly in awe of the incredible mix of artisan-made goods and furniture that can be found there.

Bennett Galleries

Rick, the owner, and Molly, a sales associate

Our Measuring Spoons and Cups are displayed right near the front entrance. It was great to finally meet Rick, the owner, and Molly, one of the lovely sales associates. She was really knowledgeable, outgoing, and very interested to learn all about the Crosby & Taylor history.

In this world of mass-produced everything, it is such a breath of fresh air to come across a place like Bennett Galleries. I must close with another – WOW!

You really never know where our products will end up!

A  number of years ago, we were contacted by Sheila at Conecuh Sausage in Evergreen, Alabama. She loved our products and wanted to know if we could make something custom for them – using their very original logo.

We said – of course!

And we soon came up with a number of products – like a spoon rest, a utensil crock, and a Christmas ornament. My guys always got a kick out of making these custom products because the logo is just so – um – different!

A couple of weeks ago I was driving from Mobile to Atlanta (how crazy is that?! I do live in Oregon, you know!) when I realized I would be passing right by Evergreen! I just knew that I would have to pull off the highway and pop into the headquarters of Conecuh Sausage.

I really was glad I did. It was a kick to see their logo on everything – from their front doormat to their delivery trucks.

AND I got to see their awesome display of our products.

I wasn’t able to buy any sausage – since I was traveling. However, when we first started working with them, they sent us a big sampler – and we all loved it.

If you are a fan of cured meats, you should definitely check this company out.

http://www.conecuhsausage.com/default.aspx

They ship all over the country.

If you are traveling in Oregon and looking for a great place to spend the evening….look no further!

King Estate Winery is about 45 minutes outside of Eugene but, when you get there, you feel like you have arrived in Italy.

King Estate Winery - spectacular!

There is an outside terrace where you can enjoy the spectacular view, try their wines and have some dinner.

We headed out there last night for my Dad’s 90th birthday. I only hope that someone will take ME to a place like that when I am his age. And I hope I will still be wanting to sample wine and try new dishes.

Birthday Boy

I had an incredible beet salad – which I immediately dove into. I quickly realized that I should have stopped to photograph it first! The waiter graciously took my camera back into the kitchen where the chef took multiple photos of the next beet salad that he assembled.  (Out of the dozens of pictures of this beet salad, I will just select one to share here!)

Beet Salad

My husband tried the charcuterie plate:

Charcuterie Plate

My Dad – always willing to try something new – had the Seafood Sampler: dungeness crab and scallop terrine, confit spot prawn, and smoked trout.

Seafood Sampler

A number of years ago, we made some custom wine coasters and key chains for King Estate. They must have sold out because I didn’t see any out there in their gift area.  I guess we better give them a call.

But, in the meantime, I hope you will stop in! You surely will be glad that you did!

4th of July Shortbread

I got up, went for a walk, and then headed right to the grocery store to get fresh fruit. Back to the kitchen I went and got started on my contribution for the party that we are invited to tonight.

Using my Fleur de Lys Measuring Cups – of course! – I scooped in and out of my Bisquick and sugar and….using my Fleur de Lys Measuring Spoons – of course! – I measured out my vanilla. And voila! my mini short cakes were done.

I know I know it looks like one big flag – but it’s actually made of individual little shortcakes!

Happy 4th of July!

Here at the shop, we mostly occupy ourselves with designing new products, making them, and getting them out the door. But, sometimes, we mix it up a bit. One of our local hotels placed an order for some of our new Oregon Spirit products – Go Ducks! – and needed some materials to put together a little display in their lobby. I wanted to offer up some pewter ingots – since that is how every product gets its start. But that would be a lot of money to just sit around in a display. So…I got the idea of making some miniature ingots. We brainstormed and decided that a Kit Kat bar was the closest thing we could think of to a miniature ingot.

So off I went to buy a LARGE Kit Kat bar (to allow for some munching throughout the project – of course!) and then gave the project to Dan to enjoy….

Kit Kat Bar - soon to become a miniature Pewter Ingot!

The first thing Dan did was to press one of the little bars into our sand mold…

Pressing the Kit Kat bar into the sand mold

He then removed the little bar and filled in the trench (that it had created) with molten pewter. I do not know why I didn’t photograph this step since pouring the molten pewter is the coolest part! But, to give you the idea, here is a ladle pouring pewter….(which melts at 450 degrees – yes! we wear thick leather gloves)…

Ladle of Molten Pewter

After casting the little ingot, Dan finished it with some shaping and sanding and VOILA!…the cutest little bar of Pewter!

Big and Little Ingots of Pewter

Nice job, Dan!

They say you can’t just a book by its cover. How true! Earlier this month Crosby & Taylor was the featured company at a trunk show at a really AWESOME gift shop just up the road in Salem, our state capitol.

But here is the crazy thing – this really special shop is inside an Ace Hardware Store – that’s right! You pull up front and you are sure you have the wrong address. But don’t judge this book by its cover!

Just head inside and here is what you will see…

Madrona Ace Hardware Gift Shop

This sweet place was selected Best Gift Shop last year by the Salem newspaper – and I can really see why!

Best of the Mid-Valley

Judy, buyer extraordinaire, myself, Denise - awesome sales rep

We are thrilled that our products will now be a part of their product mix and I was honored to be invited to participate in a trunk show.

If you are anywhere in Oregon you should definitely pull off I-5 (our only north-south freeway!) and head just slightly west to this Ace Hardware store.

If you enjoy shopping, you will thank me for sending  you there!

Crosby & Taylor beautifully displayed

You can find most anything on the internet these days but I hope you will remember to support YOUR INDEPENDENT RETAILER!