Constructed from reclaimed 19th century wood and leather from WWII guns, these chalkboard tablets are the perfect place for all your listing and recipe-writing needs.
Prairie Underground Rain Blanket, $264
Rain, rain, you make us look so good.
Sam Culkins Heart Bridge Onesie, $26
Start their love of San Francisco young with this graphic from designer Sam Culkins. Also available in both men and women sizes!
Bridge & Burn Mossberg Jacket, $260 $178
Is it the pattern, deep pockets, or stylish cut that makes this Bridge & Burn jacket a favorite among the staff here (and did we mention it's also on sale)? Something about it makes us want to curl up next to a fireplace with a hot buttered rum and hearty book.
Avoiding moisture can extend the life of your jewelry.
Nothing’s worse than investing in a beautiful new piece of jewelry, only to have it tarnish beyond recognition. It’s natural to want your favorite pieces to last forever in all their shiny glory, but unfortunately, tarnish is only natural with almost every metal used by jewelers. Luckily for you, it’s also easy to prevent and to treat, as long as you’re willing to spend a little time to preserve your pieces.
Brass is also susceptible to tarnish.
As natural as the process may be, there are still some simple steps you can take to prevent tarnish from forming on your fine jewelry. Avoid sleeping in your jewelry, and avoid wearing them in the shower, swimming pool, or other places where they’re likely to get wet. Lotions and perfumes can also cause damage, so make sure you allow all lotions to properly absorb before you put on your jewelry, and avoid spraying any perfume directly on your jewelry. Proper storage can also help prevent tarnish from forming on your jewelry when you aren’t wearing it. The key is to keep it in a cool, dry place where no pesky moisture can cause damage. Storing your pieces in boxes or small ziplock bags keeps items safe, clean, and dry. You can also add silica gel packs to a jewelry box to eliminate any trace moisture, which is especially helpful if you live in a humid climate. Anti-tarnish strips can also be purchased from a jewelry supply store, and kept inside the bag or box. These are a great help during a move or if you intend to put your jewelry into storage.
Sterling silver is vulnerable to tarnish without proper cleaning.
If you do get tarnish on your jewelry, you can still remove it, although it's important to be careful when choosing which method to use. You don't want to cause even more damage than the tarnish did! A professional jewelry polishing cloth is a fantastic investment, since it's gentle enough to use on any metal, and it's easy to keep on hand. Because silver is a relatively soft metal, it can be easily scratched, so be sure that any cleaning cloth you use is intended for jewelry use. If you own a good deal of sterling silver, an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner may also be a worthwhile investment, to do annual cleanings of your full collection, but be aware: this method isn't idea for pieces possessing gemstones. If you want to keep it simple, a jewelry cleaning solution and a cleaning cloth should get the job done for most pieces, but always double-check that the solution is compatible with whichever metal you're cleaning.
In the end, a bit of prevention goes a long way, but if your pieces do begin to tarnish, know that hope is not lost! Using these simple tips should keep all your favorite pieces sparkling clean for years to come.
Every August Outside Lands rolls around yet again, and every year a new flock of festival-goers is caught unprepared to face the anomaly that is Summer in San Francisco. What’s that you say? It’s NOT shorts weather? I have to walk everywhere? Rather than curse yourself with a footsore weekend in a hastily purchased sweatshirt, take some time to study up and prepare so you can enjoy three amazing days of music, food, and fun.
Music festivals require a wardrobe all their own but Outside Lands is a far cry from Coachella, so you’d be remiss to follow Vanessa Hudgen’s lead and don your prettiest crochet pieces and your sassiest cutoffs. As much as we love the look, it’s bound to leave you shivering - Karl The Fog will make sure of that. The sun may be shining down in the Mission, and Dolores Park may be full of cool kids enjoying the sunshine, but San Francisco is blessed/cursed with very distinct micro-climates. Located out in the Sunset district with its brisk ocean breezes, Golden Gate Park is more likely than not to be blanketed in fog. In the daytime, you can expect temperatures in the mid-to-high 60's, and once evening sets in, temperatures usually drop into the mid 50’s. This is approximately when you start to regret your strappy sundress.
Lastly, a note on shoes: wear a comfortable pair! The festival covers a fairly large swath of Golden Gate Park, and with so many stages to choose from you’re sure to be traipsing back and forth to catch all your favorite acts. You don't want to be the party-pooper who misses Sir Paul McCartney because your cute new shoes are causing blisters. A cute pair of sneakers is a great way to go, but if you’re anti-sneaker some flats or boots are also good choices - as long as they're not pale, delicate suedes. You’ll be tromping in plenty of dirt and grass, so leave the pale shoes at home unless you want to spend hours scrubbing out stains. (I have done this. It isn’t a good time.)
Now that you’re prepared, you have no excuses for missing any of your favorite acts. Make sure you check our Facebook or Twitter during Outside Lands weekend for a chance to snag great discounts in the shop and on our website!
If you've been by the shop in the last several weeks, you may have noticed a new and delicious addition - Fox & Lion bread! Local baker Xan deVoss offers a weekly bread subscription service that can be picked up on Thursdays at three locations around the city, including our very own Merch. Xan crafts her tasty Fox & Lion loaves using local, organic grains following her belief that "the best ingredients make the best bread."
A primarily self-taught baker after a week-long class in Vermont, Xan has developed around 10 recipes, with a strong focus on various grains and natural leavening processes, as well as a nod to classic cultural breads. She also mills a percentage of grain fresh for each batch that she bakes, as it preserves the bread's natural enzymes. That's dedication!
"For me, what started out as an idea to switch my bartender hours to accommodate my family has become a true passion for the idea of bread as a life force for community and a fascination with the process of combining four ingredients to produce a hand crafted product that strengthens community," said Xan.
Sign up for a weekly Fox & Lion bread subscription - it's only $20 a month! Merch will also feature a "bread box" on upcoming Thursdays, where the curious or non-committal can enjoy bread tastings with Xan herself, and take home a loaf to try ($6 for the regular size, and $3 for the small) before signing up for a subscription. We'll also have a jar or two of delicious, local INNA jam to taste - it's an amazing accompaniment to Fox & Lion bread! We'll keep you posted on the date of the bread box's first official appearance on our Facebook page.
