Who could resist such a greeting?
As you could probably gather from my last post or two, autumn makes me nostalgic. I crave mulled cider, leaf piles, bonfires, and my memere's molasses cookies. I devour long novels on chilly nights, and my crafting supplies start taking over every available horizontal space in the house. I lose nearly all self control in Michael's craft stores, and what little ability I had to say no to a rubber stamp or a pretty box of stationery flies out the window when I enter an indie paper store. I have several favorites, but one of the best I've found is Rock Paper Scissors in Wiscasset, Maine.
Todd and I spent a couple of hours in Wiscasset earlier this week, most of it in Rock Paper Scissors and its sister housewares store, Smitten. We found Christmas and baby gifts, plus a few treats for ourselves. I had to drag him away from the pens (yes, we have a slight fountain pen addiction in our house) or we would have been there all afternoon.
One of my favorite finds was a spool of red and white twine just like the kind bakers use to tie up boxes of pastries. My favorite Italian bakery, Mike's Pastry in Boston's North End, uses blue and white twine, and I always love that reassuring tug on my fingers as I slip them under the knot and carry a box of Florentine cannoli down Hanover Street. Talk about nostalgia! And, yes, for me nostalgia involves food nine times out of ten.
Another great find was this box of paper drinking straws. I've written before about my favorite childhood treat: coffee ice cream from Hallett's Drugstore on Front Street in my hometown. Sometimes we'd go to Hallett's just for a soda, and I loved lifting the lid of the tall glass dispenser to slide out one of these pretty paper straws.
So, yes, I wax nostalgic when the weather grows chilly. I tend to light more candles as days grow shorter, pull on my wool socks, and make pot after pot of tea. Too bad I can't drink hot tea with a paper straw! Actually, I think I'm going to use the straws for a crafting project. (That's a hint for you, Miss Marlowe. Maybe you should bring a few crafting supplies when you come to visit this weekend!)
Thinking of all you sweet blogging friends tonight! Hope you are well. xo
Gigi,
ReplyDeleteThis post just left me all warm and toasty inside! I completely understand about the chilly weather equating to all the comforts in life!
Now...those molasses cookies sound divine! And mulled cider, mmmmmm good! Obviously, you and I are not too far apart when it comes to finding simple pleasures in food and drink.
Here's to warm and happy dreams...
~Melissa
Wonderful finds & nostalgia Gigi,
ReplyDeleteI can picture the red and white twine to wrap a simple gift box- using parchment paper & a simple evergreen as an ornament!
xo*
This post just warmed my heart...your words hit the spot tonight! Thank you, lovely Gigi! :)
ReplyDeleteI have seen these two exact items in my quest for holiday items for the shoot I'm working on. I love them both. As do I love fall, warm sweaters, cider, fires, etc...
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated to you!
I think this post of yours epitomizes your Laura Ingalls Wilder quotation. And I'd forgotten those lovely straws of my youth - all the ones for sale here now are plastic and neon, which is no good.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, Gigi,I love the name of the shop...very clever. and, I too remember the paper straws that were in the glass jar with he lid. Isn't it funny how those little reminders of chilhood can be so powerful? Food and drink is often the trigger of these chilhood memories ...smell is a powerful sense. Enjoy your Autumn,Gigi and enjoy the comforting food and drink that comes with the Autumn season. XXXX
ReplyDeleteGosh, Gigi...getting fairly teary-eyed here over this post... I feel so homesick! Those shops & you Todd have found are treasures--literally housing treasures! Red & white string, paper straws... And the comforts o autumn now are abundance and we enjoy & rejoice in them. Wishing the coziest, happiest days, my friend :o) ((HUGS))
ReplyDeleteGigi-what wonderful finds, I would have bought that twine in a heartbeat. I agree, the nesting takes over this time of year. I make soups, have apple everything and love pulling on a pair of fuzzy socks in the evening.
ReplyDeleteSue
There is something very practical about collecting beautiful baker's string, and I LOVE Mike's Pastry- I have to admit your posts make me miss Boston/NE so much this time of year! I used to live near Inman square when I was working on my undergrad thesis, and it was always a treat to walk my dog down to 1369 Coffee Shop for a hot something-or-other. All the maples would be turning and there was always a tangible, collective feeling of purposefulness - and energizing industriousness - about FALL.
ReplyDeleteA desert friend of mine wrote a really excellent post about fall and parsimony that might appeal to your Yankee sensibilities: http://desertbackroadfiend.blogspot.com/2009/10/parsing-autumn-persimmon-parsimony.html
And look at your beautiful chapbook! Heavens! I must order one immediately! I'm so eager to read your poetry, my talented friend!
xo
Brown paper packages tied up in simple white and red string...this is indeed one of my favorite things...especially if there is baked goods inside:)
ReplyDeleteNow that my daughter lives in Cambridge I must get her to discover Mike's bakery...
Love the string & the straws! So simple yet very comforting =)
ReplyDeleteYou made me laugh about the craft spread out everywhere. That is so me. I finally picked everything out before more trip, and it's ready to make it's appearance again. Mulled cider, reminds me of when I worked for Williams-Sonoma a few years ago, we'd make that everyone who came in the store. Also, I ordered something from Cute-n-Boot on Etsy and it was tied with similar red and white twine. :)
ReplyDeleteAh yes, it's a shame we don't live closer to one another. So much we could share. I spent an hour in a local art store yesterday, buying paper I could not resist and planning Christmas cards. Ribbons....don't even get me started on ribbons.
ReplyDeleteI remember having a lovely lunch one fall afternoon in Wiscasset. Of course, the store with the dog in the window is perfection!! Every shop should have a dog.
Goodness I haven't seen paper drinking straws in probably 40 years!!! How wonderful to be reminded. I'm visiting referred by Sue (someone's Mom).
ReplyDeleteHey Gigi, what a lovely post. We wrap our bouquets in simple brown craft paper and tie with twine. I love how the flowers look nestled in the paper, so pretty. And yes, like Pamela, don't get me started on ribbons! I found the prettiest vintage spool/ribbon company a couple of years ago (whose name escapes me at the moment)and fell in love.I was besotted.
ReplyDeleteI have these very same straws!! My sister included them in a birthday package she sent to me. I actually do drink tea (warm) through them. Not ideal, as it turns out; unless you like your tea laced with the flavor of paper.... xoxo, gg
ReplyDeleteOh this post made me feel so good honey. I love real things, not plastic things. Does that even make sense, not sure :)
ReplyDeletexxx
So funny that you mentioned Michael's. I was just there last night. I have a big paper addiction but only bought their designer pack. Hubby left me alone while I shopped and then we met at Borders where I spent more time looking at Somerset Magazines. I was in heaven. We have an indie stamp store and scrapbook store in town so I try to support them. Love the straws....haven't seen paper ones in years. Can't wait to see what you come up with!
ReplyDeletexxx.........C
my twine is brown and white.
ReplyDeletei would absolutely, love that store. oh yeah, you and i are going to get on, just fine.
xoxo
It is getting toward the very best time of year for browsing in such stores, and I congratulate you on your finds. I had similar luck last week.
ReplyDeleteDon't you just love wiscasett, Rock paper scissors and her other store is so wonderfuly put together! did You go to TREATs!!
ReplyDeleteOh, Gigi. What can I say to this cozy, lovely post. I want to curl up on the couch, one of us on each end with a big dog between us. We can talk and laugh and reread A Wrinkle In Time. But, this time, out loud.
ReplyDeleteOf course, that's exactly what a visit to your blog feels like. I've missed you in the week I've been away.
Hello Gigi! Have come over all warm and fuzzy! Lovely post :0 I see this baker's twine (and butcher's in Ireland...oops not so romantic!) a lot these days, on Etsy etc...people are using for gift-wrapping which is a nice idea as it is so cheery!
ReplyDeleteI live in Wiscasset and I just LOVE Rock Paper Scissors. Smitten is great too but I'm more of a stationary geek :)
ReplyDelete