I think these limited-edition state bird prints by Dutch Door Press are great and I love the color palette in this one, I only wish they had a print for North Carolina or Virginia.

Today, 100% of proceeds on sales in their etsy shop go to support The American Red Cross for Haiti.

One of the things I hear a lot is that there is a void when it comes to guy stuff at craft shows like the Rock & Shop Market. We try our best to create a shopping environment that both guys and girls will appreciate, but to be fair most of the vendors that apply are women. That said, I’ve rounded up some of my top male-centric gift picks that will be at the Rock & Shop Market on December 19th. And guys, if you are reading and have a great product, do apply to a future event, there is a niche to be filled.

From left to right: T-shirt by Flytrap Studios (Carrboro), Wooden Planter by Erde Designs (Cary), Note Card by Bigwig & Silver (Durham), Belt Buckle by Buncombe Buckles (Asheville), Bearded Guys Magnets by Jordan Grace Owens (Greensboro), Merge Records Companion Book from Merge Records (Durham), Squid Bowl by Designs by Takemoto (Virginia Beach, VA)

In addition to these great products, there will be hand crafted guitars made from cigar boxes, art posters & prints, and of course beer from Aviator Brewing Company.

My food philosophy is to eat mostly veggies and those that are in season, and for me, Fall is my favorite food season of all. I love the spices in combination with pumpkins and squash: ginger, cinnamon, cloves. Last night while drinking mulled cider and making this dish with friends, one of them asked for seasonal cold weather recipe suggestions.

Below is a quick list of delicious-sounding meals that I found online, all of them using something or a few things that are in season here in North Carolina now: cabbage, apples, kale, sweet potatoes, pecans. While this is not a comprehensive list (the possibilities are endless!), this will give you an idea of the types of ingredients to use in your cooking that are readily available this month at your local Farmer’s Market.

Cabbage & Apple Slaw
Stacked Chicken Enchiladas
Asian Vegetable Soup with Noodles
Asian Shortribs
Red and Napa Cabbage Salad with Braeburn Apples & Spiced Pecans
Pecan Crusted Trout with Orange Rosemary Butter Sauce
Pork Pot Stickers
Pork and Noodle Soup with Shiitake and Snow Cabbage
Curried Carrot, Sweet Potato & Ginger Soup
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Sweet Potato and Pecan Flapjacks
Sweet Potato Stuffing with Bacon & Thyme
Sauteed Greens with Cannellini Beans & Garlic

Images by SassyRadish

Check out this video promo for this Saturday’s Rock & Shop Vintage Market and Fashion Show in Durham created by our friend Charles at Bifocal Media.

My friend Regan and I are creating indieNC displays and curating artist installations in empty storefronts here in North Carolina. Here is our first window at 230 Fayetteville Street in Raleigh. What a fun project! I grew up in a small town in Virginia where I walked to work and lived in the downtown, and loved that. I would dream of ways to revitalize the downtown that was filled with mostly antique stores and lawyers offices. I had festivals, shops and restaurants fully planned out in my mind (still do). I miss the close-knit community and Sunday night Bluemont Concert Series every summer, and am proud to be bringing a small part of my community-mindedness to Raleigh.

Participating designers in this month’s window: Captive Collective, Dana LeBlanc, Element Clay Studios, iro handbags, Modern Radar, Revamp, Sew Bliss Sew, ShopLuella,  and sara p. All products will be available for purchase in the indieNC shop.

I first encountered Celia Gray as the best man at a friends wedding. And though we didn’t talk much then, I was immediately struck by the artsy-cool vibe she exuded. Since then, I have had the opportunity to work with Celia at the Rock & Shop Market and have seen how cool (and talented) she really is.

She teaches at Penland School of the Arts and has a background in metalsmithing and fine art. She sells her hand-forged buckles on the side and creates her encaustic paintings full-time. You can find a retailer that sells her buckles on her site. And, in North Carolina you can find a few of her paintings at Rebus Works.

What music are you listening to these days?

I have been listening to the Shang Ri Las, Brian McGee and the Hollow Speed, the Two Dollar Pistols and The Dutchess and the Duke which is new to me.  It’s been hard to listen to anything but the Shang Ri Las though.

Read any good books lately?

I finished The Unbearable Lightness of Being and now I’m reading My Name is Asher Lev.  Both are good, a little heavy but good books.

Have a yummy recipe to share?

Puttanesca Sauce

1. Sautee onion and garlic in a sauce pan.
2. Add one can of tomatoes.
3. Add chopped kalamata olives, capers, olive oil
4. Season to your preference
5. Cook for 15 minutes

We usually eat it over whole grain pasta.  It is briney and delicious.

What is inspiring you at the moment?

I just got a book of origami folding patterns that are pretty wild with complex patterns.  I also recently discovered the artist, Peter Doig who paints really beautiful landscapes.  I’ve been trying to look at the North Carolina landscape in different ways, see something new.

What projects are you currently working on?

I’m working on a series of big encaustic paintings.  I usually work pretty small so I’m doing a lot of problem solving for the differences.

Last week on the indieNC blog I interviewed the affable owner of Bake It Pretty, Amanda Krueger. Read the interview here to find out more about her vintage-inspired baking supplies business.

And check out her blog for fun tutorials like this one on how to make button-shaped candies. Also, be sure to check out the picture gallery on her website showing the clever creations customers have made using her cupcake toppers.

In 2004 I started a little event called The Rock & Shop Market to bring attention to local designers like myself and highlight the talented musicians in the area. At the time there wasn’t anything like it in the Triangle. Now, the area is ripe for designers selling their wares, similar events have popped up to much success and The Rock & Shop is as flourishing as ever. I’m proud to be hosting the eighth! one this Saturday the 13th and I hope to see you there. It will be indoors at the Tir Na Nog (across from Moore Square) in downtown Raleigh from 1-5pm. Admission is $3.

The event promises to be a great one with live music by local bands The Whistlestop & The Tender Fruit plus a hand-picked selection of over 30 emerging North Carolina designers selling their goods. You can check out all the designers as well as hear preview mp3’s of the bands that are playing at the website.

I hope you’ll come out to grab a beer, shop local, and support fellow North Carolinians who are making a living by doing what they love.

I just posted the first in a series of Holiday Gift Guides featuring North Carolina designers at the indieNC blog. Check it out.