Cranberries

One of the fun parts of building out my new workshop has been finding the things I'll need to fill all the space. I went and got my sewing machine a couple weeks ago, and this weekend I picked up some new storage for backstock. Though I don't move in for another couple weeks, my travels from Cape Cod back to the city brought me right by Hayden Mfg. Co. Inc. , a former supplier of the local bogs on the south coast of the state. 

We met Mr. David St. Jacques at the door of his old building as he let us in on a humid Saturday afternoon. He and his family run the company and also grow cranberries, mostly using the space we were visiting to refurbish old equipment and store the boxes they sell. Over the next couple hours, he happily showed us from room to room as he told us stories and showed us 100 year old pictures of the same space in it's original form- a cranberry packaging plant. He showed us machines that his grandfather had invented and patented, describing a patent race that reminded me of the west coast's denim pant situation in the 1800's. Cranberries aren't exactly the first thing most people think of when they come to Massachusetts- they're certainly not as well known as Maine Blueberries- but it's been a huge part of the south coast's way of life for generations. 

 

David is as nice of a guy as you could ever meet, and gave us free reign to look around and pick out the crates we wanted. He had just purchased a fresh 550+ crates from an attic- loading them one-by-one into the warehouse with less than a hand full of employees to help- so there were plenty to pick from. Some crates were well over 100 years old, others the size of a large coffee table, and some even completely deadstock with the labels laying in a stack waiting to be applied. I chose a few Eatmor crates from the 40's, clearing them of their 70 year old dried berries before bringing them home- they're graphically stunning, and a great way to reuse something while also bringing more New England history and inspiration into my workshop. You can see David's crates in stores around the state, and in many Williams-Sonoma stores around the country. I'd say check him out sooner than later, because there are fewer and fewer of these crates available every day. 

Cape Cod vacation~ish this week, up on the cape with family. Been sewing a few hours a day, spending the rest of the time waiting for great whites to attach the seals at dusk. 

The double bottom weekend tote in Nun Red cotton duck. Available Fall/Winter 2011 in this and a couple other colors. 

The Corter Leather Photo Contest (Win a Couple Cordovan Wallets)

Here's a chance to win either a black cordovan/natural interior wallet or full black cordovan (1 of 1) Brewster card case!

During the For Japan bracelet sale, customers sent in beautiful photographs of their bracelets from around the world. This was super inspiring (we saved all of them!) and fun, so we decided to hold an official contest. From July 31st to August 22nd 2011, the first Corter Leather Photo Contest will be taking place on our Facebook Page. We've decided on two categories, opened to anyone and featuring any Corter product:

Best/Most Uniquely Worn Item (Win A Cordovan Card Sleeve)
     In this category, the item is what wins. We'll be looking for the Corter product that's aged in the best and most unique way.  Please shoot clear, well lit photos with no artistic filters or adjustments (levels are ok!) so the color of the piece can be judged. 

Best/Most Unique Photo (Win A Cordovan/Natural Leather Wallet)
     The overall photo will be judged in this category. New or old, the age and patina of the product doesn't matter. We want to see how and where you use your Corter products every day. We'll be looking for unique locations, nice composition, good lighting, happy models, etc- just an overall great image.  

To enter, simply "Like" Corter Leather on Facebook (http://www.Facebook.com/CorterLeather) and upload your photos to the page before 5pm EST on August 22nd. You can submit as many photos as you like to either category, just don't flood us with similar images.  We'll take 2 or 3 days at the end to review the photos and pick winners! 

Legal stuff: By submitting images to Corter Leather, you give us the right to use them in any and all ways we see fit including (but not limited to) internet websites, blogs, image galleries, and printed publications. We're going to want to share these images with others, so we'll at least be assembling them into an online gallery. You will, of course, get image credit if we use your image.