When choosing a recipient for this year's holiday campaign, we knew right away what we wanted to do. Over the years, we have given to several different programs within Children's Wisconsin. Children's has been a part of our lives in many different ways - with our own children, to my best friend's son and many other close friends of ours and their kiddos, to all of the families we do and do not know.
This year, our inspiration comes from a very strong little friend of ours who has been braving cancer treatments and all that comes with it. Throughout her treatments and hospital stays over the last several months, she has worked with child life specialists at Children's Wisconsin's Milwaukee Hospital. Working with these specialists has brought a smile to her face and made things a bit easier to tackle. Because of the comfort these specialists have brought to our buddy and to countless other kiddos and their families, our 2023 Holiday Giving Campaign will directly benefit the child life specialists specifically within the MACC Fund Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.
We will donate 20% of all online sales placed on November 28th to the Child Life Specialists within the MACC Fund Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.
Child Life Specialists at Children's Wisconsin
Child life specialists deliver kid-centered care. A hospital visit or stay can be traumatic for a child, especially when they are in pain or if the treatments they need are invasive and uncomfortable. Child life specialists are an incredible source of comfort and compassion. They are specially trained to support children in a developmentally appropriate manner through play, preparation, education, guided imagery and self-expression activities. They ensure care and services are delivered in the most kid-friendly ways — contributing to comfort, healing and stronger health outcomes.
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It is that nostalgic feeling you get when a song, a place, a memory - sends you right back in time. It is the simple things. It is carrying on traditions and making new ones. It is dancing like no one is watching (or like everyone is watching). It is hanging out with old friends and getting to know new friends. It is family. It is a 5 o'clock somewhere, let the good times roll kind of vibe. It's your favorite dive bar, favorite supper club, or just an awesome party... where everybody knows your name.
Behind the design: We chose 1977 as the establishment year of Central Time Social Club because that is the year Adam, our founder, was born. We didn't initially tell him that we chose to include 1977 in the design. It wasn't until he printed the first sample, that he noticed.
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Our hangtags are:
🌍 100% recyclable and compostable
🌎 made from FSC-certified, recycled card stock
🌏 printed with soy-based inks
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It might sound cheesy (🧀 so Wisconsin ). It might sound lofty. We just call it the Midwest Mindset.
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When your whiteowlastrology order arrives, you can jump for joy twice! Once because your awesome new apparel has arrived and again because…
* our new mailers are 100% recycled, reusable (there is second adhesive strip to use as you wish), and recyclable
* our new branding stickers are printed with compostable, soy-based ink, made with non-toxic adhesive and acid free paper, and are both compostable and recyclable
* our branded tape is made from rice paper and non-toxic adhesive, printed with soy based inks, and is both compostable and recyclable ]]>
We will donate 5% of our sales from May 25th - June 25th to the Shine Through Program at Children's Wisconsin. Shine Through works to create solutions for mental and behavioral health. Disappointingly, Wisconsin ranks 42nd in the nation in providing kids access to mental health care and our youth suicide rate is the second highest in the country. Fifty percent of individuals who experience mental illness during their lifetime show symptoms before age 14. Shine Through addresses these statistics through their three central goals: to increase early detection and prevention, increase access to pediatric mental and behavioral health care, and reduce stigma.
Our donation will provide direct support to one or more of the following initiatives:
- Expand screening for depression and anxiety
- Create a hub to coordinate the work of specialists and programs for children five and under
- Expand school-based therapy and programs to reach kids at school
- Offer mental and behavioral health services in primary care pediatricians' offices
- Offer a pediatric psychiatric assessment team and space in the Children’s Emergency Department and Trauma Center
For more details on these initiatives as well as a more comprehensive look at the work of Shine Through, please visit: Shine Through: Creating solutions for mental and behavioral health.
As always, thank you for shopping with us. We especially appreciate your support during our Giving Back Campaigns. #communityinspired
*data provided by Children's Wisconsin
One, my dad suffered from a very severe and rare heart issue in February. We are beyond blessed as my dad defied many odds and is now back to his old self. We thank our lucky stars each and every day. The second miracle, brings us to our first Giving Campaign of 2021.
Nearly a year ago to the date and after several years of dealing with fertility obstacles, my beautiful, strong, incredible sister and her amazing husband attempted yet another round of IVF. In August we welcomed our precious and healthy nephew who constantly makes us smile and reminds us of the good. We are so in love with him and he just couldn't be sweeter - or cuter!
My sister and her husband received the Family Building Grant early on in their fertility journey from an organization called, The Coalition for Family Building (formerly called The Life Foundation). The Coalition for Family Building works to promote health and alleviate the mental and physical distress of individuals and couples going through infertility treatment, adoption, or third party reproduction. This organization assists residents of Wisconsin and other Midwest states. Through this grant my sister and brother-in-law were paired with an exceptional doctor who guided them through a long road of ups and downs that ultimately led to the birth of our little Finn.
As we say goodbye to 2020 and hello to 2021, we want to give back to the good that came out of last year. We will donate 5% of our online sales from January 7th - February 7th to the Coalition for Family Building. To learn more about their mission and other recipients' stories, please visit their website. We are forever grateful.
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The MACC Fund Center
Several months ago we became aware of a story in our community of a family whose lives were completely altered by pediatric cancer. Their story has touched our hearts tremendously; parent to parent, human to human. Through their journey, they have stated that supporting the MACC Fund is one way people can help other families going through similar situations. Pediatric cancer research is devastatingly underfunded with less than 5% of cancer research federal funds being allocated for pediatric cancers. With your help, our donation would assist in research, patient care, family support, and more. For more information, visit the MACC Fund and the MACC Fund Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Wisconsin. Together, we can hopefully take a small step toward healing a big problem.
Our donation will be made in memory of Isla Gentry.
Valued at €300 and featuring 9 small businesses, this giveaway is insane!
The Deets
The giveaway begins on Small Business Saturday (11.28) with two winners announced on Giving Tuesday (12.01).
To enter, you need to (1) follow each of the featured local businesses and (2) tag someone you are grateful for. We have all had quite a year and have been affected in unique ways. Let's show some gratitude to those who have helped us through it all in one way or another. You will both be entered in the giveaway.
Each winner will receive:
- a "Show Your Guts" coloring book Artery Ink
- an 8oz frosted glass jar Sweater Weather candle from Big White Yeti
- a fair trade scarf from Campo Alpaca
- a pair of leather wrapped earrings from the Earth and All Stars
- two handmade soaps from Fern & Nettle
- a Wisco Dockside beanie and Native tote from whiteowlastrology Apparel
- a DIY Ornament Kit and a “Hello” lasercut wall art piece from Makery Maven Co.
- the Serenity Trio Holiday Gift Set (sleep, stress relief, and bliss roller blends) from Nourish Natural Products
- a Wisconsin themed print and stickers by Jim Kennelly
Thank you for shopping small this season and beyond! You're support goes a long way for small business owners and your community. You also end up with fabulously unique gifts for your loved ones.
Happy Shopping and Good Luck!
]]>We are so excited to announce our Holiday Guide to Shopping Small and our Shop Small Giveaway! The goal is to promote and highlight local makers and encourage others to shop small this holiday season. PLUS, we want to reward you with an absolutely amazing giveaway. I know we keep hearing it, but it is true - now more than ever, it is so important to support local businesses for the holidays. When you shop small you are not only supporting your community and small business owners (which is fantastic in itself), but you are also finding amazingly unique gifts that tend to be ethically made and sourced. A total win-win.
To throw around some of that small business love, we sat down and thought about what we want to find under the tree this year, what we recommend to others wanting to support local, and what unique and fabulous gifts we want to give our friends and family. The result: a fabulous list of local makers. When asked to join, they each so generously contributed to our giveaway. We have collaborated with eight other local businesses to bring you a jaw-dropping, happy dance worthy Shop Small Giveaway! Valued at €300, this giveaway is insane.
Meet the crew - because you NEED to know them.
Artery Ink
Mara & Gloria are the creators and artists behind Artery Ink. They have forged a bond between art and wellness by spreading body positivity and education through their artwork. Artery Ink offers greeting cards and other paper products, apparel, and stickers ~ all of which encourage self-care, healthy lifestyles, and happiness. Their products are made to inspire you to learn more about the body you live in, with the mission of taking better care of yourself to live a happy and healthy life. In addition, they have been avid supporters and advocates for our frontline healthcare workers throughout the pandemic.
Big White Yeti
Katie produces soy candles made from 100% soy wax, pure fragrance oils and undiluted essential oils, and cotton wicks. In the last few years, she has gone from making small batch candles in her kitchen to a roomier pouring process in her studio in Bay View. Her candles are clean, pure, and long lasting. She believes in simple, unfussy scents that smell really, really good. Katie's creative process begins by thinking about things she likes and scents she wants her own home to small like. Earthy, natural, and happy are typically the notes she throws around when creating a new Yeti.
Campo Alpaca
Katie spent time traveling in Peru and fell in love with the people, the country, and the alpaca fiber. She loved how soft, warm, yet light the products were as well as the vibrant Incan patterns of the products. Years later she created Campo, a company dedicated to creating exciting products made from fine alpaca fiber while benefitting the people and communities with whom they work. Campo partners with Chaska, an NGO that supports girls in poverty through financial, emotional, and educational support. Campo empowers the people who make their products and ensure fair, sustainable working conditions. Sweaters, scarves, hats, socks, and blankets are among the Campo lineup.
The Earth & All Stars
Stacey creates uniquely bold, geometric leather jewelry and accessories. When the friend of a friend passed along a bag of discarded leather scraps, the colors, textures, and smells were too lovely to go to waste. And with that, she started to cut. Her leather jewelry is lightweight and extremely comfortable to wear. New designs emerge through the continual process of sketching, patternmaking, and trial and error. Each piece is hand-cut using custom patterns, a sharp scissors, and Xacto blades. Finally, a piece is built by pairing colors and shapes with complimentary hardware and findings.
Fern & Nettle
The company started with handmade goat milk soaps after Jenny fell in love with the craft in 2012. A Montessori school teacher at the time, she was initially intrigued by the soap-making process while on a field trip with her students to Old World Wisconsin. She saw a historic demonstration of soap making, and thought, "I should do that!" And then she did. Her focus is on natural, chemical-free living. Better ingredients for better living, handmade, and all-natural. Fern & Nettle offers soaps, lotion bars, masks, lip balm, and more.
Makery Maven
Established by Ellen in 2011, Makery Maven Co. specializes in all things custom and handmade; from lasercut wall art, to home goods, personalized gifts, and more! Her interest in creating with her hands to make functional and unique things for her own home shines through in all her work. Ellen and the MM team (a group of incredibly talented women) believe in repurposing and recycling whatever supplies they can and truly love the creative process that comes with one-of-a-kind designs.
Nourish Natural Products
Jamie has made it her mission to help others live well and spread kindness by encouraging each of us to take care of ourselves. She explains, "Because when we are kind to ourselves and fill our own "love tanks," we can't help but spill our abundance out onto others." Nourish Natural Products offers roller blends promoting physical and emotional wellness, products for the face, body, and hair, room sprays, and so much more. They even offer products for the kiddos like Monster Spray and Boo Boo Balm and specialty items for pets. Nourish Natural Products are prepared by hand in small batches using organic, high-quality, safe, and good-for-you ingredients.
Jim Kennelly
Jim is a designer, artist, and entrepreneur living and working in Milwaukee, WI. Although he grew up in the Chicagoland area, obsessing over Michael Jordan, eating deep-dish pizza and Chicago dogs, something called him to Milwaukee. After studying graphic design, he moved to The Good Land and fell in love. While his taste in food and beer has changed, his passion for great design has stayed consistent. Jim’s love for where he lives and refined design skills are illustrated in his recognizable prints and stickers as well as in his curated Instagram feed.
The giveaway begins on Small Business Saturday (11.28) with two winners announced on Giving Tuesday (12.01). Follow us and the giveaway crew on Instagram for all the details and a sneak peek of what you can win!
There are roughly a kabillion more small businesses that we absolutely love! Watch our Instagram stories for more local love throughout the holiday season.
]]>Black Friday Deals 11.27 - 11.30
Small Business Saturday OUR BIGGEST GIVEAWAY EVER!!! We have collaborated with some of our favorite small businesses and put together two incredible gift baskets! 11.28 - 12.01
Giving Tuesday Shop Small Saturday winners will be announced and we will kick off our Season of Giving Campaign! 12.01 - 12.25
Don't miss out and be sure to follow us on social media to catch all that we're throwing your way!
]]>Personally, we believe our sunglasses are the very best because of what they do to support community and the environment. whiteowlastrology sunglasses are handmade by a small Midwest company with a mission to treat people and the environment well, aligning with our expectations to source socially and environmentally conscious products.
Our sunglasses come in a variety of hand-selected styles that combine fashion, comfort, and function. These shades are offered in different colors, lenses, and shapes to meet all your moods. We most often hear that our customers love these glasses because they fit well. Simply put, they look fabulous on and are comfortable and functional.
For each pair of sunglasses you purchase, two trees are planted in Sub-Saharan Africa which contributes to a reduction in global warming, provides income and education, and even saves lives.
Trees absorb and remove greenhouse gases in our atmosphere and also provide much needed food and shelter for our ecosystem. Planting trees helps to slow down global warming and create fresh oxygen that we depend on.
In addition, planting trees supports communities. Trees create educational opportunities for children, empower women, increase income for farmers by revitalizing soil quality, and helps families feed themselves.
Check out our selection of sunglasses to help make a difference.
We are doing a serious happy dance over here! We are so excited to be back at the Tosa Makers Market this weekend! Oh how we missed you, Tosa!
We have been working on a plan to keep our customers and family safe while finally being able to say "yes" to a market.
You will notice a few changes when you visit us on Saturday. First, the Makers Market will be set up on Underwood Avenue between State and Harmonee in the Tosa Village. In addition, all Tosa Farmers Market rules are in place at the Makers Market as well. Masks are encouraged and booths are spaced out for social distancing. For more information on those rules, please visit their website.
In order to make your morning at the market fun, efficient, and just the best time ever, here is a guide to shopping whiteowlastrology this weekend:
- We will have BRAND NEW apparel with us! Be the first to get your hands on these exciting new products! We have something for the kiddos and adults alike! Don't miss out!
- Our booth will be set up differently to ensure a safer shopping experience. We will have a checkout table at the front of our tent and products will be displayed behind that table. Guests are asked to socially distance in line and once at the checkout table, customers can choose the items they would like to purchase.
- We encourage electronic payment (we accept Venmo, PayPal, and all major credit cards).
- We will have a limited selection of our line with us at the market. If there is something specific you are looking for, please send us an email: [email protected] prior to the market to make sure we will have what you are looking for.
- Preorders may be placed online to be picked up at the market. Use code: TFM to receive market discounts and free shipping. These orders must be placed by Friday at 8am to ensure we will have them packed up and ready for you the morning of the market.
- In order to keep our customers safe, we ask that guests do not try on our products at the market. Size charts can be found on our website for reference and we will also guide you at the market to help you find the perfect fit. If for some reason you need to make an exchange, we offer local contact-free exchanges for unworn, unwashed apparel within 14 days of purchase. Exchanges can be initiated through our website contact form.
We can't wait for Saturday, Tosa! You know we will be smiling from ear to ear under our masks! See you there!
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We are beyond excited to join the crew of fabulous makers and small businesses who comprise Come Together MKE. CTMKE was created in order to support local makers, small businesses, and our community as a whole.
Part of what makes this group particularly special, is that all makers are asked to donate a percentage of their sales to a local organization or relief fund of his or her choice. We have chosen to donate 25% of our sales this weekend to the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin COVID-19 Response Fund.
Why Children's?
We know that COVID-19 is affecting all of us right now and the list of organizations we would like to donate to is endless. We decided that for this specific campaign, we wanted to focus on children. We researched several ways to assist children in our community and landed on this relief fund.
The Children's Hospital of Wisconsin COVID-19 Response Fund provides funding for services and resources such as:
- meals for the families of healthcare heroes
- preventing transmission of COVID-19 to protect their most vulnerable patients (children with cancer, heart patients, and others with compromised immune systems) by procuring PPE and expanding telemedicine
- responding to the needs of families with financial hardships around housing and food scarcity through the work of school nurses and community outreach
- vital PPE needed to maintain Child Advocacy Centers that serve children suspected of facing abuse and trauma
Children's does have a special place in our hearts because they have cared for our own children as well as many of our friends' children. One of my very best friend's son was delivered at 29 weeks. The nurses and doctors at CHW took exceptional care of him and supported our dear friends as they navigated some really rough and uncertain days. Almost 4 years old now, their little boy is such a fighter and an absolute blessing. We love him so very much and are extremely grateful to the staff at Children's. In addition, it is in our backyard (almost literally). Many of our neighbors and friends work there and/ or have children who have been patients there. It is part of the fabric that makes our community so great. We feel very lucky to have such a fantastic facility so close to home.
We hope you choose to shop with us this weekend. You can feel extra good about your purchase as you support local, give back, and get all cozied up!
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Smiled with the risin' sun
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true
Saying', (this is my message to you)
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing' don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
That first event we ever did in 2016 was so overwhelmingly positive, that we became addicted. I am a talker (understatement) and Adam and I both love getting out and having a good time. So, being able to be out in the community and socialize with people was so fun for us. Plus, we got to watch our whiteowlastrology baby grow into something that really connected with the community.
We love being able to build relationships with other vendors, local businesses and organizations, and our customers. We label our products as hyperlocal. That is because we want our designs to authentically represent life in Wisconsin and the unique communities within. We want people to feel connected to our products.
The Sprague Family of Firefly Real Estate; Chili'n On The Ave; Wauwatosa, WI
Getting to know our customers has been one of the most rewarding elements of vending at these events. We have met such wonderful people, gotten to hear their stories, and made a lot of fabulous friends.
Summer Soulstice Music Festival; Milwaukee, WI
Another true gem of market season, is the maker community itself. Milwaukee and Wauwatosa both have such a supportive, collaborative, and welcoming village of small businesses. There are so many creative, talented, and simply inspiring people in our area. Beyond talent, the kindness, respect, and genuine nature of most makers we meet makes these experiences so enriching.
The Madison Night Market; Madison, WI
This year we are continuing to expand our list of events. As this list has grown, our amazing friends and family have been helping us out by working the whiteowlastrology booth! We are beyond thankful for them! You may see us or you may see our out there! Either way, you will be met with a smile and some seriously positive vibes!
Handmade for the Holidays; Oshkosh, WI
Check our event calendar on Facebook to find out where you can find us! We will update it as new markets come our way! We can't wait to see you!
Makers Market Sun Prairie; Sun Prairie, WI
]]>When you are in whiteowlastrology, you can feel good about it ~ the way it looks, feels, and that you are respecting Mother Earth and her people. The choices we make are made with our planet and its people in mind.
Here's a peek into our thought process:
- We work and collaborate with local companies and small businesses as often as we can.
- We partner with schools, non-profits, and other local organizations.
- We support and promote community and are involved in the communities around us.
- We work to keep our quality high and our pricing low.
- We take really good care of our customers.
- Our products are crafted using sustainable processes and materials to the best of our ability to source them.
- We choose to work with manufacturers who treat and pay their employees fairly and who work to make less waste and protect our natural resources.
- When sourcing new garments we want to know how they feel, how they fit, and how they were made. Some of our softest, coziest styles are composed of recycled post consumer water bottles or other recycled and organic materials. These fabrics are better on your skin and our environment.
As we begin 2020, we have already embarked on a few more of our goals:
- We are converting to greener printing processes including the cleaners and inks that we use.
- We will no longer provide single use plastic bags at our events.
- We are expanding our line of recycled and organic garments.
We promise to continue to incorporate and discover new ways to be mindful both environmentally and socially while staying in line with our core values.
Thank you for being on this journey with us!
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Then, without fail, comes the freezing cold (cue today), the dangerous roads (and crazy drivers), the muddy, slushy snow, and ice. Adam loves summer. He loves the heat and hates the cold. I mean, he really hates the cold. I love summer too - but I have a true appreciation for winter - even with things like an "arctic blast" or "polar vortex" (which I would truly prefer to do without).
Where do you stand on Wisconsin winters? People can live here their whole life and hate winter. We always know its coming. We know its long... and cold. But we stay. We love this state... for better or worse.
]]>We wanted to reintroduce ourselves as our whiteowlastrology community continues to grow and we thought the beginning of the year was the perfect time to do so!
We are Adam and Lisa Gilson of Wauwatosa, WI. Adam and I own whiteowlastrology Apparel. In addition, Adam works as the director of product design at a local company here in Tosa. I taught in Milwaukee Public Schools at an immersion school for just over a decade and now, although I miss my students and fantastic coworkers tremendously, I am fortunate enough to tackle a couple different roles as mommy and whiteowlastrology Owner. I also work in the education department at a local university. We have two little boys that we love and adore.
Adam and I spent many years living in and loving the great city of Milwaukee. We later moved to Wauwatosa, where we are now. Our love for both cities with their unique neighborhoods, restaurants, bars, the lake, all the natural and green spaces, and their strong sense of community, has always been a central part of who we are. This local pride would become the foundation of our company.
I remember early on when Adam and I started dating, we were out to dinner and Adam mentioned to me that he wanted to start his own t-shirt company. Me, with my glass of wine or beer or cocktail, smiled lovingly, but was thinking, "yea, ok dude - sure." Fast forward to me pregnant with our second child years later, and he comes to me again and says, "I want to teach myself how to screen print and make tshirts. I will need to buy x, y, and z." I sarcastically say, "Sure! I'll need to see a business plan though." So, as you can guess, Adam bought his first press. He reused and repurposed materials from around the house that he found in the basement and out in the garage. He put together quite the little print shop, watched a lot of videos, and ultimately learned how to screen print.
Adam with a heat gun learning how ink cures on some of his first prints. Of course, an upgrade happened shortly after.
Adam has always been picky about what he wears and I was coming off being pregnant, so comfortable style was important to both of us. We started choosing the softest, most lightweight tees we could find that were also made with environmental and social responsibility in mind.
Adam's designs revolved around our love for Milwaukee and Tosa. We looked at both cities through the lens of people with a lot of pride for where they lived, worked, and played.
People began asking about our shirts and so we thought we'd go out on a limb and try selling them to the public. At our first event in Tosa, we sold out of everything we had - and that's when we knew we were on to something that really connected with people and the community.
Over the last couple of years, we have expanded our line from just tees to a range of apparel and accessories for the littles and adults alike. Our designs highlight life in the Midwest, Wisconsin, and the unique places within. We continue to keep community, style, function, comfort, and conscious sourcing at the forefront of our brand.
We are so thankful to our family, friends, customers, and fellow small businesses who have shown so much love and support along the way! whiteowlastrology is truly a brand built on family and friends - old and new. We can't wait to show you what we have in store for 2020!
It looks like it is going to be snowy, but here are a few of the million fun things going on this weekend in Tosa & Milwaukee to help you relax, take time for yourself, hang with friends, and spend some QT as a family:
Tosa Yoga's 14th Anniversary ~ Offering FREE Classes
Milwaukee's Winter Farmers Market
Shop local makers at re: Craft & Relic: Winter Market
Drink beer and play some board games @Stock House Brewing Co.
Make soldered earrings with your gal pals @ Sparrow Collective
Story Time with Sue @ Ruckus & Glee
If we get snow, go sledding, make a snowman, make a snow fort
Curl up on the couch and read a book, watch a movie, maybe have a glass of wine or cocktail if it suits you... just make time to be present and chill.
Many people ask us what our Have A Happy apparel and accessories signify. It is simple...be positive, get out there and live it up. Smile, laugh, spread kindness and make memories. I can't take credit for this saying though... it has run through my family's roots well before my time.
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Many people ask us what our Have A Happy apparel and accessories signify. It is simple...be positive, get out there and live it up. Smile, laugh, spread kindness and make memories. I can't take credit for this saying though... it has run through my family's roots well before my time.
When brainstorming new designs for our line, we wanted to bring a vintage baseball vibe which prompted me to look back through my family history. I wanted to incorporate aspects from my Papa Finney's locally legendary tavern and ballpark. As we did some digging, we found the inspiration we needed.
Serafino Sam "Finney" Perry, my grandpa, opened Finney's West in the late 70's. He, along with other investors, developed a state of the art softball complex and opened the adjacent tavern, Finney's West, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Finney's became the "it" place. Always packed, it brought such a rich culture and sense of community to the area. Although the original Finney's West no longer exists, the memories of the tavern, and particularly the ballpark, remain strong in Kenosha's history. Stories are shared and I still see people wearing vintage Finney's apparel around town. Papa Finney was inducted to the Kenosha Softball Hall of Fame in 2013 as an exemplary sponsor and contributor to the sport. The crowd was amazing and I was taken back by how many people had such fantastic stories about my grandpa and how he touched their lives.
I came across my dad's old Finney's duffel bag and saw the photograph of an old Finney's billboard, both of which said, "Have A Happy." I asked my dad about it and he said that Papa Finney branded any jerseys, uniforms, and other apparel with this line. He greeted people as they walked into the bar or ballpark with these words. Just as I remember him, he was constantly spreading positivity and love. His words, "have a happy," can take on so many meanings while relaying the same positive message to get out there and live it up! Papa Finney always made everyone around him smile and have a good time. We miss you so much Papa Finney, but we know you are looking down on us and smiling. Have a happy, Papa! <3
photo credits: our family album, Auntie Nancee & From The Booth; Vagnoni, Paul
]]>On top of that, OnMilwaukee.com wrote an article on the 11 locally made items you can bring home from the Summerfest Store. Check out #5!!
