Showing posts with label Montana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Montana. Show all posts
May 30, 2011
Apr 23, 2011
Buckles, buckles, everywhere!
Sorry I haven't put up a new post recently. Buckles and Belts 101 will continue sporadically, and definitely let me know if you have any particular belt or buckles questions!
Even though class hasn't been in session lately here online, I've been having Buckles 600 at home and all the surfaces around are filling up with buckles. Big Sky is hosting a high profile international conference in May and I'm betting some of those visitors are going to need a buckle or two. After all, buckles are a quintessential western accessory. And that means making sure all my fabulous retailers are well stocked.
So...
buckles by books...
buckles on the ironing board...
buckles on the living room chair...
and buckles in the light box...
Well, so much for spring cleaning. Good thing I love buckles more than brooms!
Are you spring cleaning or stockpiling something more fun?
Even though class hasn't been in session lately here online, I've been having Buckles 600 at home and all the surfaces around are filling up with buckles. Big Sky is hosting a high profile international conference in May and I'm betting some of those visitors are going to need a buckle or two. After all, buckles are a quintessential western accessory. And that means making sure all my fabulous retailers are well stocked.
So...
buckles by books...
buckles on the mantel...
buckles on the ironing board...
buckles on the living room chair...
and buckles in the light box...
Well, so much for spring cleaning. Good thing I love buckles more than brooms!
Are you spring cleaning or stockpiling something more fun?
Mar 14, 2011
Guest post at elle.mnop!
The fantastic Elle over at elle.mnop is featuring a guest post by me today! Thanks so much to Elle for keeping up with my blog and asking me to contribute to hers. I love her sense of style, the great DIY projects she posts, and the fun things she finds around her neighborhood and online.
Since things have been crazy at the Moon house, I decided I better write a post to remind me (and maybe you) to take a deep breadth and relax once in awhile. With, of course, a few suggestions...
So, head on over there to read my guest post and check out Elle's two-thumbs-up blog!
Since things have been crazy at the Moon house, I decided I better write a post to remind me (and maybe you) to take a deep breadth and relax once in awhile. With, of course, a few suggestions...
So, head on over there to read my guest post and check out Elle's two-thumbs-up blog!
Feb 26, 2011
Thanks for the dance!
Clearly all of you had a great time getting your groove on for a snow dance, because it worked. Thank you!
I just got back from our backcountry yurt trip over in the Tobacco Root mountains - 4 days of great snow, fantastic company, and some good ol' time in the wilderness. Thanks to the Montana Backcountry Adventures folks for keeping this yurt up and running! Here's the tour...
First off, home base yurt. Of course, it wouldn't be a trip to the backcountry yurt without some wood chopping. And a dog to gnaw on all the wood chips....
You already know of my love for wood stoves, so I can't help but show off this beauty that lives at the yurt. She's even got the side car that you can fill up with snow to make warm water for dish washing. I imagine that if you were a real pioneer woman, this handy contraption would be a high priority on your pioneer husband's to do list.
The real point of the yurt ski trip, though, is the ski part, so there was lots of that too. Hard work going up...
pays off with lots of fantastic turns, almost captured on film!
And along to keep us entertained, was our trusty powder hound. Here he is scouting his fresh line. I can tell you that he does a lot of straight-lining and is always getting face shots. He's a real snow junky like that.
What an adventure!
Also, since this blog of course includes belt buckle talk, I'd just like to warn you. When you return to the truck after a long ski out from a yurt, and the temperature last night was well below zero, and the current temperature is probably not too far above zero, and you are pulling your change of clothes out of the truck and putting them on, you should probably tuck in your shirt. Because that belt buckle is cold!
The belt buckle to match this snowy trip? Or course, ...
Now, back to work!
I just got back from our backcountry yurt trip over in the Tobacco Root mountains - 4 days of great snow, fantastic company, and some good ol' time in the wilderness. Thanks to the Montana Backcountry Adventures folks for keeping this yurt up and running! Here's the tour...
First off, home base yurt. Of course, it wouldn't be a trip to the backcountry yurt without some wood chopping. And a dog to gnaw on all the wood chips....
You already know of my love for wood stoves, so I can't help but show off this beauty that lives at the yurt. She's even got the side car that you can fill up with snow to make warm water for dish washing. I imagine that if you were a real pioneer woman, this handy contraption would be a high priority on your pioneer husband's to do list.
The real point of the yurt ski trip, though, is the ski part, so there was lots of that too. Hard work going up...
pays off with lots of fantastic turns, almost captured on film!
And along to keep us entertained, was our trusty powder hound. Here he is scouting his fresh line. I can tell you that he does a lot of straight-lining and is always getting face shots. He's a real snow junky like that.
What an adventure!
Also, since this blog of course includes belt buckle talk, I'd just like to warn you. When you return to the truck after a long ski out from a yurt, and the temperature last night was well below zero, and the current temperature is probably not too far above zero, and you are pulling your change of clothes out of the truck and putting them on, you should probably tuck in your shirt. Because that belt buckle is cold!
The belt buckle to match this snowy trip? Or course, ...
Now, back to work!
Feb 8, 2011
Ode to the Wood Stove!
I know this is not particularly "on topic", but I just can't help myself. Sometimes some things require shouting from the mountain tops, whatever odd topic it is.
Weather really rules the day here in Big Sky. Summer means great hikes in the morning and finding shelter for the afternoon thunder and lightning storm. Fall and spring mean mud, mud, and mud. Did I mention mud? And winter is all about snow. Once we have snow on the ground, it's here to stay. Winter is really more than 6 months long. If you're like me and love to ski in all forms, winter is a thumbs up season. Not to mention that all that darkness at night is good for productive craftiness. Unfortunately, snow requires freezing temps, and I'm a cold-blooded woman (not emotionally, but ice-cube-toes-and-fingers wise :) ). Thankfully, there is one invention that keeps the winter cold outside and makes the inside feel permanently warm and cozy...
The wood stove!!
Mr. Moon and I moved to Big Sky in 2008 and first-thing-first (well, after painting the walls something besides primer white) was ripping out the lame, no-heat-producing stove insert we had (how satisfying!) and installing a winning wood stove. And let me tell you, this was 100% the best decision we could have made. First off, we figured out it would pay for itself in 2 years, thanks to our expensive electric heat. 2 years?! Wow! Wait, wait, I just realized that means we already did it. That just cannot be beat. Second, we get to have a fire everyday. Translation: heat, warmth, heat, warmth, t-shirts in the house!
It's true that the fire doesn't make itself and you have to cut kindling and cut wood and build the fire and keep it going. Admittedly, I was a little scared of this before we took the leap. But the truth? With the right tools (and a wood-cutting husband), it is not hard. If it was "wood stove + build fire" versus "electric heat + no work" in the ring together - wood stove + build fire wins every time.
And the payoff? A happy family of warm furry animals and somewhere for me to bask to keep my blood warm. Every day!
If I was Pee Wee Herman, I would marry the wood stove instead of the fruit salad. Just saying...
Weather really rules the day here in Big Sky. Summer means great hikes in the morning and finding shelter for the afternoon thunder and lightning storm. Fall and spring mean mud, mud, and mud. Did I mention mud? And winter is all about snow. Once we have snow on the ground, it's here to stay. Winter is really more than 6 months long. If you're like me and love to ski in all forms, winter is a thumbs up season. Not to mention that all that darkness at night is good for productive craftiness. Unfortunately, snow requires freezing temps, and I'm a cold-blooded woman (not emotionally, but ice-cube-toes-and-fingers wise :) ). Thankfully, there is one invention that keeps the winter cold outside and makes the inside feel permanently warm and cozy...
The wood stove!!
Mr. Moon and I moved to Big Sky in 2008 and first-thing-first (well, after painting the walls something besides primer white) was ripping out the lame, no-heat-producing stove insert we had (how satisfying!) and installing a winning wood stove. And let me tell you, this was 100% the best decision we could have made. First off, we figured out it would pay for itself in 2 years, thanks to our expensive electric heat. 2 years?! Wow! Wait, wait, I just realized that means we already did it. That just cannot be beat. Second, we get to have a fire everyday. Translation: heat, warmth, heat, warmth, t-shirts in the house!
 |
| 16 outside? That's like the tropics! Fortunately, it still does its job at -20 :) |
It's true that the fire doesn't make itself and you have to cut kindling and cut wood and build the fire and keep it going. Admittedly, I was a little scared of this before we took the leap. But the truth? With the right tools (and a wood-cutting husband), it is not hard. If it was "wood stove + build fire" versus "electric heat + no work" in the ring together - wood stove + build fire wins every time.
 |
| Required for successful wood stove heating. |
And the payoff? A happy family of warm furry animals and somewhere for me to bask to keep my blood warm. Every day!
If I was Pee Wee Herman, I would marry the wood stove instead of the fruit salad. Just saying...
Jan 31, 2011
Sunsets: Nature-made and Handmade
After sharing the stunningly beautiful morning we had last week, I can't help but share the orange/pink/salmon/corral/yellow/red evening that we had just a couple of days ago, too. This photo is totally unedited - exactly how it came out of my camera. Nature makes the most amazing art!
Sure is hard to match. But, since I like all things handmade too, I thought I should add the best competition I've sound so far...this "wowza, amazing!" quilt by quilt artist Grace Errea (of course, the image is from her website, too - please go visit).
Sure is hard to match. But, since I like all things handmade too, I thought I should add the best competition I've sound so far...this "wowza, amazing!" quilt by quilt artist Grace Errea (of course, the image is from her website, too - please go visit).
I think this one really speaks for itself, or at least it better because it just makes my mouth drop open in awe.
How's that for inspiration?!
Believe me, when I can put that sunset in a buckle, you all will be the first to know!
Jan 26, 2011
Big Sky, Blue Sky, Belt Buckles!
Living in Big Sky is often like living in a beautiful paradise. I have to pinch myself and remember that these gorgeous mountains and awe-inspiring landscapes really are my backyard! And, of course, during ski season town is abuzz with skiers and tourists who have come to enjoy our champagne powder and blue skies. Not to mention that there's never a line at the ski lift.
To celebrate Big Sky and ski season, I'm sharing a photo I took just the other day - while running an errand! Paradise...
Blue skies and perfect powder runs do tend to inspire a few buckles, too. Lately, I've been making a whole variety of ski map buckles and I also love this recent Snow buckle...
As always, if you see a buckle here that you'd like to get or something similar, just let me know and I can probably post it on Etsy for you.
And if you haven't ever been to Big Sky - or Montana - I would highly recommend a visit. Once we arrived, we were hooked!
All the best from Wild Bear Buckles in the great Big Sky!
To celebrate Big Sky and ski season, I'm sharing a photo I took just the other day - while running an errand! Paradise...
Blue skies and perfect powder runs do tend to inspire a few buckles, too. Lately, I've been making a whole variety of ski map buckles and I also love this recent Snow buckle...
As always, if you see a buckle here that you'd like to get or something similar, just let me know and I can probably post it on Etsy for you.
And if you haven't ever been to Big Sky - or Montana - I would highly recommend a visit. Once we arrived, we were hooked!
All the best from Wild Bear Buckles in the great Big Sky!
Jan 12, 2011
Montana made belts?
While I've just gotten in some genuine leather belts at Made in Big Sky...
I'd really like to find some local Montana made belts to sell with Wild Bear Buckles. With all the cattle around here and handy craft people making chaps, holsters, leather decorations, etc. you'd think there would be someone making some perfect leather belts.
Do you know anyone making (or interesting in making!) leather belts in Montana? If yes, please send me a heads up! I'd love to do business...
Thanks!
I'd really like to find some local Montana made belts to sell with Wild Bear Buckles. With all the cattle around here and handy craft people making chaps, holsters, leather decorations, etc. you'd think there would be someone making some perfect leather belts.
Do you know anyone making (or interesting in making!) leather belts in Montana? If yes, please send me a heads up! I'd love to do business...
Thanks!
Jan 10, 2011
Up on Etsy
Thanks to the encouragement of so many folks, Wild Bear Buckles is now on Etsy.com! You can visit the shop at wildbearbuckles.etsy.com.
For any of you who are also craft folks and considering Etsy - just do it! The shop was easy to setup and has lots of fun tools. For example, it only took a few clicks to create the EtsyMini that you see on the left bar of this blog page. Perfect!
Using PayPal for payment service also makes it easy to accept credit cards and get things rolling right away. While they do remove a small fee (just like Etsy) it is probably well worth it if you are a very small business, like I am.
So, check out Wild Bear Buckles on Etsy and feel free to ask me any questions if you are considering a move to Etsy yourself!
For any of you who are also craft folks and considering Etsy - just do it! The shop was easy to setup and has lots of fun tools. For example, it only took a few clicks to create the EtsyMini that you see on the left bar of this blog page. Perfect!
Using PayPal for payment service also makes it easy to accept credit cards and get things rolling right away. While they do remove a small fee (just like Etsy) it is probably well worth it if you are a very small business, like I am.
So, check out Wild Bear Buckles on Etsy and feel free to ask me any questions if you are considering a move to Etsy yourself!
Jan 2, 2011
New buckles for the New Year
Happy New Year!!
We better start the year out right...
Here's some of the buckles from the newest batch. I know you'll love them!
We better start the year out right...
Here's some of the buckles from the newest batch. I know you'll love them!
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