Who doesn't love this?

Remember your first drawings? Maybe your parents still have them tacked on the fridge. Maybe you're scarred for life when someone criticized your green and purple fluffy clouds.

Some of our first experiences with art are with Crayola crayons. I love the look and aroma of a fresh box; the sharp crayons, their crisp paper wrappers not yet peeled back for more crayon goodness.

They are still made in the good ol' USA. They have craft and creative products for all ages although their focus is on kids. You could get some for the kids in your life but we know you want 'em.

Break open a fresh box and let's draw! Now that we're all grown up let's make the sky any color you want!

http://www.crayola.com/

Po Campo bags

As devotees to my blog are aware, I've blugged about the Wald basket on my "commuter mobile" http://madeinusareviews.blogspot.com/2010/06/rack-on-every-bike-for-chicken-in-every.html.  I'd been thinking of going to the other side. Not death, getting another Wald basket. They are super easy to install. K found that sweet spot; not so far forward that you kick it each turn of the pedals, not too far back. Just right. So we could just line it up.

Wald baskets are amazingly sturdy, handy, quiet when folded flat and install easily with few tools.

But maybe my next rack will not be a rack but a bag, a Po Campo bag. Made in Chicago these stylish bags are fun, functional and look great on and especially off the bike.

Stay tuned for reviews. Their new line for 2012 is released, the old ones are on sale. Hmmmm, price or the latest bike fashion? Which to get? We have bags to order and serious shopping to do. 

http://www.pocampo.com/

A great taste and tradition made here.

I don't can, my Mom and niece put up some wonderful stuff; jams, marmalades, preserves, apple butter. Each jar is a taste of summer, Mom's pineapple guava jelly is so beautiful it's hard to put in the pantry. And the jars they use both Kerr and Ball jars are made in USA.

You can join the cool kids who use Ball jars as the coffee cup in our fixed gear bikes. You can fill them with marbles or river smoothed rocks and use as candle holders for tea lights. Or use them to store nuts, flour, spice mixes, tea in your kitchen.

Cleaning up my list of good things made here.

Visiting my brother and sister in law I'd long enjoyed the beautiful and fragrant hand crafted soaps in their home. From time to time I'd get some as gifts.

Last week at her birthday BBQ bash I finally met "the soap lady" and heard how a hobby of making handmade soaps from local, Sonoma County seasonal ingredients turned into a small business.

Each bar of soap is beautifully colored and nicely shaped. They are so pretty you may want to put the bar in a soap dish and have it sit there looking beautiful. But don't, you'll be missing half the fun. All bars lather up nicely with pleasant, natural fragrances. No imitation sorta like flowers, "herbal essences" from polyhydrophiloxydendromixmia capsules. Just real ingredients, real soap.

I especially liked the flowers blend with sprigs of dried local lavender in a clear bar.

If you're in the neighborhood drop by or order online.

These soaps are made only twice a year so order early from

http://www.swanhavensoap.com/