Men’s Pendleton ½ Off Sale is On!

Posted on by
Reply

Pendleton Red Board Shirt

We rarely do back flips, but had to make an exception when Made In Oregon chiefs announced a HALF-OFF SALE on Pendleton Men’s Apparel.

A timeless classic from Oregon, Pendleton sweaters and outerwear give warmth, comfort and style like none other. Inspired by Native American and Tartan plaid designs, our selection of woolen shirts, sweaters, vests, cabbie caps, and coats are wonderful to give and to receive.

Our shirts come in a medium weight 100% Umatilla Wool, from Umatilla County, the home of the original Pendleton, Oregon mill, and where local ranchers supply raw wool. And, in Pendleton’s signature ultra-light-weight worsted wool blend, known as Sir Pendleton, which is wrinkle resistant. Pendleton shirts come in fitted and classic fits, as well as regular and long sizes. Look for the sizing charts on our website.

Any time is the best time to save on classic Pendleton apparel. Every occasion is the best reminder to buy now, stash it away, and save big on his birthday, anniversary, holiday or graduation gift.

Shop the Men’s Pendleton Sale at our five mall stores and online at madeinoregon.com. This sale is not available at our airport stores.

Only while supplies last. Sorry, hunky male model not included.

 

Hip Dad, New Dad, Dear Old Dad: Gifts Just For Him

Posted on by
Reply

Dad likes to barbeque. Pops likes his hops. Hubby could use a man bag. The old guy needs a trendy T-shirt. We know shopping for dear old dad can be challenging. But we’ve taken the guesswork out of gifting him this Father’s Day.

Father’s Eyes Pendleton blanket

Made In Oregon has Father’s Day Gifts from the extraordinary to the budget friendly. Consider buying him a gift he would never expect. Something beyond his usual expectations. The kind of gift that says “hands off” to the rest of the family.

The Father’s Eyes wool blanket from Pendleton Woolen Mills is a collectible print that pays tribute to the men who watch over and guide us as we journey through this earth.  Black Star Bags of the Portland Made Local Goods Collective has designed a 100% waterproof  messenger bag made for commuters, bikers, artists, anyone. They are designed to be worn high on the back to comfortably redistribute your load. Orox Leather handcrafts sumptuous travel totes, sandals, wallets, belts, waste pouches and other men’s accessories, all made from vegetable-tanned leather. Oaks Bottom Forge makes stunning hunting knives using freehand forging and 01 high-carbon machine steel. The reclaimed wood handles are made of Rosewood or Cherry. 

Black Star Messenger Bag

 

 

Going easy on the wallet this year? Select from dozens of great gifts for under $30 including micro-roasted coffee, award-winning craft beer, men’s body essentials and bath soap, beer-bicycling-music-Portlandia-cool-guy T-shirts, grill-master gifts, and more.

Our Father’s Day Gift Baskets are now 10% off too. Choose from Hops for Pops Gift basket, Dad’s Day Off Gift basket, the Epicurus Surf & Turf basket, Keep Oregon Beered gift set, Big Bite gift set, Cedar Plank Grilling set, and others.

All this and more for fathers everywhere at madeinoregon.com and at our nine stores.

 

Pepper Jelly: Where Sweet Meets Heat

Posted on by
Reply

Pepper jelly has about as many uses as flavors. Use it on meats. Scoop it on ice cream. Mix it with dairy for a dip. Spread it on bread. Create a sauce or marinade with it.

Rose City Pepperheads of Portland is Made In Oregon’s June Vendor of the Month. They can tell you just about everything there is to know about pairing the right foods to the heat and sweet of pepper jelly. Pepperheads has developed 19 flavors in three heat levels from zingy, brace-yourself habanero pepper to tangy, I-can-actually-taste-my-food, jalapeno.

Rose City Pepperheads are die-hard pepper fans who are serious about spreading their art of the sweet burn throughout the Northwest. They began experimenting with flavors and fruits and pepper varieties in hot steaming pots in 1998, and never looked back. Their pepper jellies have received Scovie Awards for best fiery condiment in recent years.

In case you didn’t know, there is a measurement known as the Scoville scale which gauges the heat level in a pepper. The award-winning Double Dare flavor which combines habanero and manzana peppers, sizzles the Scovie scale at 300,000 units, and is one of the hottest pepper jellies you can buy. Pepperheads cautions: “Whimps beware. It’s a slow raging, extreme heat with enough flavor to warm your soul.” It’s best used as a glaze or dip.

On the opposite end, the Hoppin’ Jalapeno jelly ranks at just 4,500 Scoville units. This classic pepper jelly is mild enough to top a hot dog or baked potato. It’s the raspberry in Rockin’ Rasberry Chipotle that tames the smoked red jalapeno. This flavor is mild to medium and is a barbeque lover’s dream.

All of Rose City Pepperheads products are free of additives, preservatives and food coloring.

So what’s next for the Pepperheads? According to the company, “More flavors and an unrelenting quest to make the best pepper jelly money can buy.”

Visit madeinoregon.com or any Made In Oregon store and you’ll find most varieties Rose City Pepperheads has to offer.

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose Festival

Posted on by
Reply

Portland’s 2013 Rose Festival, aka: The Portland Party, is off and running and lasts throughout June. The celebration is now more than “one hundred summers” old, and in 2010, it was proclaimed Portland’s Official Festival. Made In Oregon always has supported the Rose Festival, and we’re proud to say that once again we’re an event sponsor.

The festival is one aspect of a city that’s all about roses. Portland hosts the oldest, continuously-operated International Rose Test Garden in the United States. We play at the Rose Quarter, officially The Rose Garden Arena, the primary sports and concert venue in this town. We have a City of Roses song, a Race for the Roses half marathon, a City of Roses RV park, even a rose city mustard and beer.

Our Portland area stores in downtown Pioneer Place and Lloyd Center, our three Portland International Airport stores, and madeinoregon.com are in the Rose Festival spirit this month. Whether you’re attending the festival from out of town or lovin’ it locally, we have excellent rose-themed gifts and foods made or hand crafted here in Oregon that you’ll want to take home, including:

Moonstruck’s City of Roses truffle collection, exclusive to Made In Oregon. Sixteen gourmet chocolates shaped like roses in eight different flavors.

We carry a sweet, floral scented black tea called Rose Petal Black. It’s a blend of the popular Chinese black tea Keemun and fragrant red rose petals.

Oregon Rain Soap produces Portland Rose bath products like soy candles, lotions and bath salts. Handpicked rose petals are ground and blended in the scented bar soap, and made with real Oregon rain water. Camamu Soaps makes a 100% natural Unrepentant Rose Soap Bar of base oils and essential oils that nourish the skin.

Artifacts Design Studio makes copper Rose Coasters, a copper Portland Rose Sun Catcher, and an exquisite Rosewood box with Portland Rose copper inset on top and velvet lining inside. All pieces are made of hand-cut copper, given a rich patina, and sealed in glass for years of use.

Don’t forget the beer. Rogue Ales produces MoM’s Rose Petal Hefeweizen Blonde Ale crafted in the true Belgian style and infused with real Eugene, Oregon rose petals.

Look for more rosy ideas at madeinoregon.com and at our nine stores.

 

Sam, The Wine Guy Says…

Posted on by
1

More than 150 wineries and tasting rooms around the Willamette Valley will buzz with activity this Memorial Day Weekend for the 23rd Annual Wine Country Tour. It’s a popular event to sample new vintages, sip a few favorites, and enjoy the lush scenery.

Artist Paul A. Lanquist framed poster

We asked Sam Welch, Made In Oregon’s wine steward, his top tips for wine enthusiasts who want to maximize the tasting experience this weekend. He was happy to oblige with a few dos and don’ts, like:

Don’t wear perfume or scented lotions. It will confuse your taste buds, as well as upset others in the tasting room who want only the full vino experience.

Spit often. Use the dump buckets put out for wine tasters. “If you’re not spitting your wine, you’re wasting it. When you’re inebriated, you can’t taste your wine. It’s that simple.” says Sam.

Get off the beaten path. “The good thing about a wine weekend is the valley will be caked with traffic, which gives you an opportunity to get to smaller wineries that aren’t always open, and talk with wine makers who aren’t always available.”

If you can’t get to the wine tour, you can always consult Made In Oregon which has the most comprehensive collection of wines in the state. We carry labels from roughly half of the 500 wineries now operating – both large and small.

Sam also shared his best bets for collectors or anyone not familiar with Oregon Pinot wines.

Best starter wine: JK Carriere Provocateur Willamette Valley Pinot Noir – a great classic introduction to Pinots that won’t break the bank.

Best surprise value: Oak Knoll Rose Festival Pinot Noir, a premiere 2008 vintage which was originally destined for their reserve. A great wine for under $15.

Best upmarket wine: The one to impress your boss of course is the 2009 Domaine Drouhin Laurene Vineyard Pinot Noir from Dundee Hills,Oregon, or the 2008 Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve. A notable exception is the 2010 Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Noir. “I keep coming back to this label. They were the first producer of Pinot in Oregon. Their Pinot Noir is a very good expression of elegance and not overly made up, which most Oregon wineries strive for.”

Sam is a wine professional certified by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. You can always contact him at swelch@madeinoregon.com if you have questions about our wine selections at madeinoregon.com or at our stores.

Cheers!

 

Surf the Streets

Posted on by
Reply

Land paddle boards are carving up the streets in a big way. They look like a skate board, only larger, but aren’t meant for a skate park. They’re designed like a surfboard, only smaller, but roll on asphalt not water. They require a land paddle to navigate and to stop. It’s the perfect surf-style board for the landlocked and wanna-be street surfers.

Norgeboard, a family-owned business out of Bend,Oregon, builds these long boards and paddles. Owner Steve Bangsund, a surf and skate enthusiast, noticed a growing interest in stand-up water paddling during a trip a few years back to Huntington Beach, California, to watch the U.S. Open Surfing Championships. He noticed something stirring the salty sea air — more than a trend; more than crowd excitement. It was an avid enthusiasm for paddle boarding, which gave him the idea to develop a land-based long board that could match the experience of paddling on water.

Steve’s company makes sleek stand-up paddle boards designed for the street, and they are considered an excellent core exercise without getting wet. “Use this as an optional cross training exercise workout…[it’s] great for the abs, shoulders, upper body and even legs for balance. Most fun you can have while getting a great workout,” says Steve.

Norgeboards are crafted of 100% sustainably-harvested solid bamboo and non-toxic materials and soy-based wheels, and then coated with three sticky layers of exterior water-based finish. You won’t even need your shoes on to stick to these bad boys. They’re lightweight, flexible and incredibly strong. Anyone from beginners to experts can enjoy a ride.

Sold separately, but just as necessary is the Norge Land Paddle, which is used to propel the paddle board, and is also made of 100% solid bamboo. The replacement ball at the end grips the pavement to help with control and stopping.

MadeInOregon.com now offers two paddle board styles: the Kalai Long Board, and the Kalawina Long Board, plus the Land Paddle. The custom board comes in small, medium and large sizes with decks measuring from five feet to a generous six feet long and almost a foot wide.

Catch an urban wave or just get a great workout on these long boards.

A Meal For Mom

Posted on by
Reply

Traditionally on May 12th grateful families will whisk mom out of the kitchen and straight to a Sunday brunch to celebrate Mother’s Day. But, before herding the family to the right restaurant at the right time, why not try another approach to saying thanks to mom.

We know of a Portland restauranteur who has made it her mission to transform mom’s traditional scratch cooking into a homemade classic, only better. Her name is Chef Lisa Schroeder.

“The best meals of a country aren’t in its restaurants. They’re found in its homes, made with love by mothers cooking for their families,” says Lisa, who is a connoisseur of comfort food. Lisa owns the award-winning restaurant, Mother’s Bistro and Bar, which has been featured in Bon Appetite, Town & Country, Food & Wine, Portland Home, Palate and other national magazines.

Back in 1992, Lisa realized there were no restaurants in town where you could get “mother food,” the kind of comfort food we used to get at home, and would cook if we knew how or had the time. So she put herself to learning the culinary arts and opened Mother’s Bistro. Then, added a unique ingredient – love. “There’s nothing like a home cooked meal made with love.”

Lisa has added author to her list of professional titles by publishing her first cookbook called, “Mother’s Best: Comfort Food That Takes You Home Again.” The book is packed with more than 150 uncomplicated, mouth-watering recipes of her most popular dishes, sumptuous photographs, insights and stories. Mother’s Best cookbook is the perfect gift for moms, of course, but also for any cook who wants to go the extra step of preparing a special meal on Mother’s Day. Cooking a traditional meal with a modern twist is one way we can show the love this year.

Another idea is to buy mom a gift she wouldn’t buy herself. Made In Oregon has assembled a Mother’s Day Gourmet Gift Basket and a Spa Gift Basket, both filled with items she would relish. Or, if she prefers sweets, a box of Moonstruck Mother’s Day Chocolate Truffles would say “thank you” nicely.

It’s all about Mom this Sunday.

May Vendor of the Month

Posted on by
1

Laurie Linn Designs

Painter Laurie Linn is addicted to color. Vivid, rich colors that in her words create sunshine. Laurie’s focus on color is intentional. She has lived in the Pacific Northwest most of her life, and while Oregon’s beauty is unsurpassed, the cool colors of rainy days and green forests didn’t fully express her vivid imagination. So, she developed her own palette of rich tones that make the viewer sit up and take notice.

Laurie is a self-taught artist who works primarily in acrylics, inks and watercolor, although occasionally dabbles in pencil and other media. She is an astute “upcycler” who specializes in useable art. She gives new life and function to reclaimed furniture and home décor: an old wooden chair, a treasure box, candlesticks, mirrors, a lazy Susan. She has worked on pieces as small as a pocket lighter to full-scale wall murals.

“Anything that is not moving has the potential to become art. I search a variety of sources for inspiration…thrift stores, garage sales, dumpsters…nothing is off limit,” says Linn.

Each piece begins as a blank slate, a solid color. Base colors are applied, a color palette is built. Then magic begins. Layer upon layer of paint is added to create images. Inspirational words embellish the piece. “Rarely do I know what a piece will look like when I begin. I like to work in the moment and trust my instincts.”

The result is a “Dare to be Fabulous” mirror plaque, or a “Savor the Moment” lazy Susan, or an “Imagine” ornament – original art gifts that inspire and cheer up a space.

Laurie Linn Designs will be the featured vendor at a trunk show in May presented by Made In Oregon. Stop by our Washington Square store Saturday May, 11th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Meet the artist, and pick up a timeless treasure.

High Art, Low Art, and the Utterly Useful

Posted on by
Reply

The nation’s largest ceramics show and pottery sale is upon us. The Oregon Potters Association takes over the convention center in east Portland for its three-day Ceramic Showcase 2013. It’s a massive array of original hand crafted pottery, sculpture, garden art, home accessories, and other creative works in clay by mostly Oregon artisans, many whose works Made In Oregon has curated and made available on our Web site and in our stores.

Kristy Lombard Pottery

We love the fun and functional pottery coming from Kristy Lombard Pottery. Kristy’s aesthetic is whimsical and bold, and you can see this in the collection of kitchen accessories we carry. She’s crafted the perfect butter dish with a sweet songbird atop the lid. Hand painted clay with a corn flower yellow base, a French blue lid and highly glazed all over. We also carry her unique glazed salt and pepper shakers, salt cellars, and serving plates all made of red clay, gold clay, and turquoise clay.

 

 

Lindsoe Clayworks of Welches, Oregon, creates an outstanding line of functional stoneware and unique hand crafted sculptures. New to madeinoregon.com is artist Dulcie Lindsoe-Johansen’s sculpted People Pots. The Office Guy Pot, Woodsman Pot (left), Tourist Pot, Backpacker Pot, and Beach Babe Pot all stand eight inches tall, and are great conversation starters. Each vase is hand crafted, hand painted, and finished with lead-free glaze.

 

Nick Molatore Pottery

 

 

Nick Molatore Pottery produces an original line of serving platters, bowls, mugs, and other kitchenware that is a popular staple at Made In Oregon. Nick is a veteran artist who makes both wheel thrown and slab style stoneware. He also formulates and makes all of his own glazes. You’ll recognize his signature spearmint green and royal blue clay pottery when you see it.

Find works from these and other clay artists at madeinoregon.com if you can’t stop by Ceramic Showcase 2013, which runs April 26 to 28 at the Oregon Convention Center. Admission is free.

Local Acts of Green

Posted on by
Reply

April 22nd marks the 33rd anniversary of Earth Day and the founding of the environmental movement. It began as a national dialogue to raise awareness about issues like air and water pollution. But, Earth Day today embraces a worldwide attitude for green living, clean energy, sustainable design and practices, balanced ecosystems, and more.

Made In Oregon would like you to know about three of our vendors whose business practices demonstrate their commitment to a healthy planet, and to A Billion Acts of Green® the Earth Day Network’s campaign to protect our planet and support a sustainable future.

 

Hopworks Urban Brewing (HUB) is Portland’s first eco brewery. It is 100% renewably powered and cradle-to-gate carbon neutral. Hopworks handcrafts world-class organic beer using local ingredients and sustainable practices for its brewery like clean wind energy. Look for some of their best organic beers on our website, including DOA Deluxe Organic Ale, Organic Hopworks IPA, Organic Rise Up Red Ale, and Organic Secession Cascadian Dark Ale.

Pendleton Woolen Mills produces an Eco-Wise Wool Blanket, which also has been cradle-to-cradle certified. Pendleton’s goal is to manufacture wool in a way that leaves the smallest possible footprint on the earth. The ingredients and manufacturing process used in making Eco-Wise Wool blankets meet or exceed the sustainability criteria for this certification. Wool in and of itself is an environmentally friendly and naturally renewable fiber. The 100% virgin eco wool fabrics can be recycled or composted as a healthy additive to the soil. Plus, these lush blankets are machine washable.

 

Soter Vineyards of the Willamette Valley produces Planet Oregon, a Pinot Noir wine that is the winery’s most visible sign of its consistent commitment to environmentally sound wine making. Planet Oregon grapes are sourced only from certified sustainable vineyards.

It’s a first-rate wine that offers intense red fruit notes, cherry and berry all carried on a silky frame. For every bottle of Planet Oregon sold in Oregon, Sotor Vineyards pledges $1 to the Oregon Environmental Council, which safeguards the health of Oregonians by working for clean air, clean water and healthy food from local farmers.

Commemorate Earth Day 2013 with green gifts from these and other Oregon vendors. Shop madeinoregon.com or visit any of our nine stores.