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My Tweets of the Week; a round up of the cool, interesting, inspiring or just plain entertaining things I discovered through Twitter this week.

There is a considerable amount of animosity on twitter sometimes. People trying to have an argument about the existence of God, or the appropriateness of gay marriage, or the latest policies of someone standing for election (yeah, I’m guilty of that one I’m sure!). And frankly it’s hard to make a cogent argument in 140 characters and I wonder why people try sometimes. And then there are the ones who spend their time bashing everything a particular celebrity says. There is an unfollow button, you know. Just hit that if you don’t like what they are saying.

So this week I’m looking at the kinder, gentler twitter. Those whose posts don’t offend, or provoke, but are just, well, nice.

First, one of my favorites on twitter @mygrandadsaid A friend of mine in the UK has the diaries of her Grandad Lee and every day she condenses his activities for that same date 50 years ago down to 140 and posts them on twitter (either that or he wrote very brief accounts of his daily life with lots of abbreviations). He lived up north or in the midlands or somewhere where the weather is a significant factor in day to day living, and he washes cars, and visits people, and it’s all very serene and nice and British; 50 years ago British. I love reading them. Just takes you back to a simpler time; though some of those snow storms are quite something to deal with and the boiler seems to need a lot of attention.

They often remind me of a blog I heard about on the radio once where someone was posting transcripts of letters his grandfather wrote home during WW1. And he posts them exactly 90 years after they were written, so sometimes there are long breaks between posts and you don’t know if the grandfather is OK or not, or if the letters got lost; just like if you were his family waiting to hear from him in the trenches. Grandad Lee’s story is a little less dramatic, but who knows what is around the corner? Car washing can be a tricky business.

Another daily tweet I look forward to is from @maryannbragg who takes her dog for a walk every morning in Provincetown and finds something to photograph and puts the image on twitter. The pictures are generally from an unusual angle or vantage point, often part of a building or something dropped in the street or some overhead wires, but always an interesting look at her Cape Cod surroundings. I think she goes very early in the morning and the images do have a quiet, early bird peacefulness about them. These are a couple she posted recently that I really like.

About taking the pictures she wrote,

“Each morning we go to the dog park and then we drive around the neighborhood until something catches my eye. I may be thinking about it from the day before. I stop the truck. The hound stands in the passenger seat while I get out and take photos. It’s early. The truck is running. The heat is on. She waits while I turn the camera this way and that. This reminds me. I used to do this with my father. He would drive the back roads. I would be looking for something to catch my eye. We would stop. I would take photographs. The truck was running. He would wait until I finished. Then we would drive on.”

How lovely is that?

And my last favorite daily (often 3 or 4 times a day) read on twitter is a must follow for anyone who was an avid fan of The West Wing in particular, or Aaron Sorkin in general. @sorkinese posts snippets of Sorkin dialogue, mostly from The West Wing but also his movies and his other TV shows. Whoever it is has an unbelievable memory for Sorkin scripts as well as an uncanny knack for posting a bit of Sorkinese that is totally appropriate for that day. Some examples?

–And a “perfect game” is good? –Listen, I know there’s a lot of jargon, but some of these are pretty self-explanatory. Posted on April 21st, the day Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox became only the 21st major league baseball player to pitch a perfect game.

Indiana’s voting for Ritchie. If there was someone less competent than Ritchie on the ballot, that’s who Indiana’d be voting for. Posted on May 8th the day Senator Richard Lugar was defeated in the Indiana Primary by a candidate whose campaign focused on the fact that Lugar worked with members of congress from both parties, to get things accomplished. And apparently that is a bad thing. (OK that one isn’t so ‘nice’ really, but it sure is appropriate.)

And on May 9th, the day Obama declared his support for same sex marriage, Let Bartlet be Bartlet. Classic. Perfect. Made my day. Well, it added to the fact that Obama had just made my day.

Do you have kinder, gentler people that are worth following on twitter? If so, let me know. I could use more of these in my daily twitter stream.

Spam, Spam, Spam, Spamity Spam…

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Sian Robertson

spam image

I’m a big fan of Monty Python, and the Spam sketch is, of course, a classic. It’s the kind of spam I enjoy; unlike the food, which frankly is gross. But that sketch was first performed in 1970, long before the spam that we have grown to hate in this internet age. However, I have to admit that I find some online spam quite enjoyable. I’m not referring to endless emails touting products to make things bigger, or ones from that long lost relative in a far off country who has suddenly seen fit to give me more money than I could earn in a decade or three. No, the kind of spam I’m willing to read is to be found in the comments section of anyone who writes a blog. Those are pure gems of butchered English; quirky syntax, rampant typos and a complete lack of coherence. What’s not to love? Most bloggers (well I don’t know about most but myself for sure) don’t allow comments to post until they have been approved because of this issue of spam, so when a comment is left on one of my posts it lands in my email inbox first awaiting my approval. Generally I read, chuckle and delete but I thought I’d share a few of the best ones:

I’m often to blogging and i in actual fact respect your content material. The piece has truly peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your content material and preserve checking for brand new details

Which I think you can tell is a very valid comment about my post on baby gift sets.

Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot approximately this, like you wrote the guide in it or something. I feel that you simply could do with a few p.c. to force the message house a little bit, but instead of that, this is excellent blog. A great read. I will definitely be back.

Right!

It is appropriate time to make some plans for the long run and it’s time to be happy. I have learn this post and if I may I desire to recommend you some interesting things or advice. Perhaps you could write next articles regarding this article. I want to read more things about it!

Someone necessarily help to make severely posts I might state. This is the very first time I frequented your website page and to this point? I surprised with the research you made to create this particular put up amazing. Excellent job!

Which is exactly what I think when I read about our trips to trade shows. Thanks for your valuable feedback whoever you are.

And my personal favorite?

Great goods from you, man. I’ve take into accout your stuff prior to and you’re just too excellent. I really like what you have obtained here, really like what you are stating and the way through which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you continue to care for to stay it wise. I can’t wait to read much more from you. This is really a tremendous web site.

You can’t beat it when someone says ” You make it enjoyable and you continue to care for to stay it wise.” I mean that really just makes your day.

You can make my day by leaving an actual comment on this or any of the posts on this blog. If you make it something completely unintelligible I’ll get a laugh out of it too. Though probably not as big of a one as the first time I saw that classic Python sketch. ‘Spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spamitty, spaaaaaaam, spamitty spam, spam, spam, spam.’

Update – I just had to add this one taht came in a couple of days after I wrote this post:

I liked as much as you’ll receive performed right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an edginess over that you would like be turning in the following. unwell undoubtedly come more beforehand again as exactly the same nearly a lot often within case you protect this hike.

Ha. Fantastic.

I’ll stop now, I promise.

Celebrate the Summer with Outdoor Decor

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Sian Robertson

Light weight Planters

We have a nice display area in front of our store in Provincetown and over the last few years we have been searching for cool, modern, colorful stuff for outdoors. Cool we could find, modern, somewhat, but colorful? Not so much. And really we are all about the color at i d. It seems that the kind of outdoor decor that we like is hard to find.

But between last year and this we have really found some really great items. The planters above are new this year. Light weight, weather resistant and available in lots of fabulous colors from black and gray to a burnt orange and several shades of green.

Also new this year are bird baths available in two sizes and in either a verdigris or copper finish.

And talking of copper, I love, love, love these beautifully hand crafted copper yard stakes. They are very striking and sort of elegantly whimsical, if that is even possible. This is the double bird but we also have a single bird, a bird in a nest and some dragonflies, as well as hanging birds and bats. Yup, bats.

Handmade copper yard stakes

And a little shorter but great as stakes in the yard or in indoor planters are these fused glass flowers and birds handmade in the Pacific Northwest. A lovely way to brighten up any patch of green, and they come in lots of different colors.

Hand made glass plant stakes

One of my favorite new items this year are these indoor/outdoor table top firepits that burn a non-toxic gel fuel. They create a great ambiance on a patio table or balcony, and the colorful ceramic ones are also stunning in a line down a pathway.

Tabletop firepits

The most popular new item last year were the fish made from old license plates and street signs and this year they are back, and they have brought a whole lot of their friends.

Fish made from old license plate and road signs

We now have about 15 different sea creatures to choose from including this 3D hanging shark that comes complete with the wall mount. He is fantastic and would make a ferocious statement indoors or out.

Birdhouses are back too. Made from recycled plastic they come flat packed and take about 10 mins to snap together. We had several customers last year let us know that they had birds nesting in the ones they had purchased earlier in the season. How cool is that?

And of course it wouldn’t be summer at i d without the climbing men and wall divers. Sometimes I can’t believe there is anyone left who hasn’t bought a climbing man, and yet we still sell hundreds every year.

So if you need a little outdoor decor to brighten up a garden or patio or balcony then come on down. Everything here is available at our Provincetown location, i d. But if you can’t make it here this summer give us a call (508-487-4300); we can ship.

We are really happy with how the front looks this year. Lots of cool, modern items; and lots and lots of color.

Shellfishing in Provincetown Harbor

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Sian Robertson

Shellfishing-in-Provincetown-Harbor

I try and run on the beach close to my house in Truro as often as possible; which realistically ends up being 3-5 times a week if it’s not too windy/rainy, if the tide isn’t too high, and if I can be bothered to drag myself out of bed. It’s been much, much harder to find the impetus to go over the last year, ever since Jack just got too old to run with me. But I did go this morning and it was gorgeous down there at 7am – no wind, lots of sunshine and a spectacular view of Provincetown across the harbor. Cape Cod at it’s best for sure.

I don’t see a lot of people down there, even in the height of the summer. There are a few regulars with their dogs and in July and August the occasional tourist on an early morning walk, and I hardly ever see anyone shellfishing. But today there was someone out on the edge of the very low tide, digging for something. I don’t think it was clams as clamming season runs November to March. Maybe mussels or quahogs. I don’t really know enough about all those things to know what he might have been looking for. I don’t even like to eat them. Nick does though, which is totally weird because he won’t eat any fish except cod, but give him a lobster or an oyster or a scallop and he’s as happy as… well as happy as a clam.

And to prove it here he is with a giant bowl of clams raked out of Provincetown Harbor by our friend Jodie.

Delish (according to him.)

Nick-with-bowl-of-clams

Have you ever been shellfishing in Provincetown Harbor? Was your catch good?

8 Great Cufflinks: Low Key Accessorizing

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Sian Robertson

Cufflinks are a great way to accessorize. They’re certainly not just for weddings and funerals any more. They are small and discreet enough that you can usually get away with something quite personal or modern in an otherwise traditional environment, but they can also add a little pizazz where a simple button would just be too plain. It’s surprising to me how many people come into the store and say something about how no one wears cufflinks anymore, because at i d in Provincetown, and on swell247.com, we sell an awful lot of them; in fact several of our customers refer to us as ‘the cufflink store’ and come in to check out what is new whenever they are in town.

One of the great things about cufflinks is that it’s a way for men to wear jewelry without really wearing jewelry; so they are perfect for most men, not just the highly fashionable, on the edge of all the latest trends, Mad Men type of guys. And women wear them too. I have two French cuff shirts, one from Banana Republic which is totally a mainstream store, nothing specialized or fancy.

We sell them made from all kinds of things from maps and coins to broken china and baseball stadium seats. Here are 8 of our favorites:

1. Mechanical Watch Parts. Watches are all made with quartz movements these days which makes these cufflinks a great example of upcycling disused items. The tiny cogs and little parts are quite beautiful, so it’s no surprise that these are one of our best selling pairs.

2. and 3. Stadium Seats and Game Used Baseballs. If you have a baseball enthusiast in your life then either of these are a perfect gift. The solid colors of the wooden stadium seats (now replaced with plastic ones in most of the ballparks) are very subtle; only the wearer knows that it’s really a piece of Fenway Park, Wriggly Field or Yankee Stadium (or one of the many other ballparks we can get).

More obviously connected to baseball are the game used balls that you can choose from any major league baseball team; the Cardinals, the Cubs, the Red Sox – we can get pretty much any of the teams. They are authenticated by the MLB and come with a card explaining how to look up details of the ball’s use such as which team they were playing and where and when.

Both styles are engraved on the back with the name of the stadium or the name of the baseball team.

4. Boston Garden Parquet Floor. Sticking with the sports theme these are made from pieces of the parquet floor at the Boston Garden, where the Celtics won so many of their championships. I love how the wood has been cut and mounted into the setting in such a way that it resembles the distinctive pattern of the famous floor. Great attention to detail.

Broken Plate Cufflinks

5. Broken Plates. You might think that cufflinks made from smashed up china would only appeal to women, but you’d be wrong. The cool patterns and slightly mismatched pairings are popular with both sexes. And everyone loves to get things that are one of a kind.

Map cufflinks

6. Maps. You choose anywhere in the world and this artist will make a pair of cufflinks that feature that city, or village, or mountain range, or piece of coastline. A great way to commemorate maybe your honeymoon, or a special vacation, or where someone grew up. We carry ones with Provincetown and Cape Cod in the store, but we can get them for anywhere. Seriously, anywhere.

7. Vintage Transit Tokens. Another great way to celebrate the city where someone was born, or grew up, or worked for a while is with these cufflinks made from vintage tokens from subway and bus transit systems. New York, Boston, LA, San Francisco and Chicago are among those that are available.

Frank Lloyd Wright Cufflinks

8. Frank Lloyd Wright Designs. America’s most famous architect didn’t just design buildings, he often made the furniture and even tableware to go inside them, and the stained glass windows to decorate them. This series of cufflinks uses his designs, from brick patterns to stained glass to wrought iron gates, to create classic looks with a timeless appeal.

Do you have a favorite pair of cufflinks? Maybe you have an old box of them tucked away in the back of a drawer. It might be time to get them out and dust them off.

And if you fancy a new pair or two check out the cufflinks we have on our web site.