Cabin in the City

Books, cats and midwestern charm.

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Stay Home and Sew [Lots and Lots of Masks]

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I’m not sure what sheltering in place looks like for everyone else, but for me it’s a lot of reading, putting together puzzles, FaceTiming with my mom and sending friends too many Tiger King memes.

All these things are good since they’re keeping me inside and keeping me grounded. They aren’t, however, particularly helpful to anyone. Surely with all this extra time, I could be doing something more useful.

And that’s when it clicked: I should make masks.

I’m a pretty good seamstress, I’ve got a decent fabric supply and my friends are all looking for reusable fabric masks right now—including some in the medical field.

So I started making as many masks as I could (I made 16 yesterday alone) and offering them to people who need them. This is the best way I can help right now, and I’m happy to keep making them as long as people are asking for them.

Seamstresses and sewists out there, I encourage you to dive into your fabric hoards and start stitching. These masks are easy to make and people are very relieved and grateful to have them right now.

If you need a pattern, I recommend this one that’s approved by Milwaukee’s Froedtert Hospital. (You can make it easy on yourself and use bias tape instead of making your own ties.)

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Small Businesses to Support from the Couch

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via @anthology230

What I wouldn’t give for a good cold brew and a chocolate croissant right about now! Staying home is for the best, but it’s hard when you’re craving creature comforts. It’s harder still when you see your favorite businesses in a lurch.

But just because you’re staying in (if you’re not, you should be!), doesn’t mean you have to stop supporting your favorite places. A lot of my favorite destinations are amping up online storefronts that make it easier to support them while we’re all stuck inside.

Here are my favorite local (and local-adjacent) small businesses to check out now.

Stone Creek Coffee // Milwaukee, Wisconsin

via @stonecreekcoffee

Stone Creek Coffee is one of my favorite stops. Their cold brew is the best. Their cafes are a joy to be in. And their business ethics are top-notch. Proof: their workers are getting paid their normal wage while they’ve shut down cafe operations.

You can continue to support Stone Creek by buying their beans online. The shipping is free! While you’re at it, tip your barista.

Plume // Milwaukee, Wisconsin

via @plume_mke

Everyone needs a good vintage shop like Plume. Their pieces are wonderfully curated, unpretentious and come in a good array of sizes (anyone else tired of vintage shops stocking everything with 25″ waists?).

While the shop is closed, their Instagram stories are poppin’. They post great finds, inspiration and updates regularly. I just snagged a red floral skort. Here’s hoping it looks as awesome as I hope it will!

Studio Ric-Rak // Wauwautosa, Wisconsin

via @studio_ric_rak

This is truly my favorite shop. Studio Ric-Rak is the sweetest vintage shop filled with all the goodies I love.

The owner is a doll and she makes handmade decorations from vintage ephemera for each holiday (and I’ve got so many wonderful Christmas goodies from her). She’s got a handful of Easter trinkets available and ready to ship. If you need a pick-me-up for the holiday, snag one now!

And be sure to check out Instagram for more finds. The owner is posting new stuff periodically and I’m doing my best not to want it all.

Anthology // Madison, Wisconsin

via Anthology

Anthology is a shop I stumbled upon years ago (back when I was in college). The second I stepped inside their State Street store, I was in love. So many cute things by small brands and local makers. It’s just the perfect shop.

And while their store is closed now, they are still going strong online selling small care packages stuffed full of fun stickers and small goodies. Right now these tiny treasures are the perfect pick-me-up for a friend (or yourself —I really want most of these).

Zip-Dang // Madison, Wisconsin

via Zip-Dang

This is a must-stop destination whenever I’m in Madison—either at their Monroe Street shop or their stand at the Dane County Farmers Market.

Zip-Dang just sells some really awesome stuff. I got a Baba Yaga print from them ages ago and it’s one of my prized possessions. They also have a great original art series based on Wisconsin folklore. I’ve also snagged some amazing vintage clothing finds, too. There’s just a lot to love about this place.

If that’s not reason enough to shop, they’re offering free shipping right now, so snag those prints or an adorable animal pillow. Waiting on the cat to be restocked!

Urban General Store // Chicago, Illinois

via Urban General Store

I am a puzzle fanatic normally. Staying at home has made me want to do even more puzzles.

And guess what: Everyone else wants to do more puzzles than ever, too. That means the typical destinations are all sold out (looking at you, Target). Lucky for me, I found Urban General Store.

This place has so many cute puzzles. I snagged three right off the bat and got a very sweet note from the owner. Truth be told: I could have bought many, many more.

If you’re looking for a puzzle (or honestly a lot of other fun things), check this place out. I’m so happy I found them!

• • •

I hope this list inspires you to check out some of my favorite shops but also look into your favorite local haunts and see if you can support them right now.

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What to Do When You Want to Get Out (But Are Social Distancing)

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via @celestamke

The first few days of social distancing went fine, right? I feel like most of us can handle a few days laying low. But I know some folks are starting to go stir crazy and want to get out. Here’s what you can do instead:

DON’T DO IT.

I mean this. Don’t do it! Unless your pantry is bare, you should just stay home. Don’t go see a friend. Don’t snag some food just to get out or because your favorite spot is still doing curbside pickup. Just stay home. Please for the love all good things.

And I know how much it totally blows to be cooped up when all you want to do is get a good coffee and a scone or visit your mom (that’s me). But there are some things you can do in the meantime that’ll help you combat cabin fever and get you through this social distancing phase.

  • Go for a walk: I’ve been doing this daily, and it’s just what I need. Spending 45 minutes walking through the neighborhood makes me feel less cooped up. Plus, I get to see some cool homes, listen to a podcast and wave to people from a safe distance. This is the number one thing I can recommend to prevent stir-crazy feelings.
  • Support a local business (from the couch): It’s a huge bummer to see all your favorite spots shuttered and hurting for business. To keep yourself looking forward to better days and business in good shape, keep buying from them! Snag a gift card now that you can use later. Shop their Instagram sales, DM them about a product you love, pay them now and grab it later.
  • Treat yourself to all the digital goods: Being grounded sucks. Buoy yourself with some new goodies from the internet. Upgrade to Spotify Premium so you can have a commercial-free soundtrack to your workday. Try Luminary for some great podcasts (I recommend Frontier Tween and Spooked). Buy some new audio or ebooks and get serious about a new story or series. BookBub sends out daily emails with great deals on both. Better yet, try Kobo—you’ll get the digital books you want while supporting small businesses.
  • Reach out: Everyone is craving connection right now. It’s a great time to pick up the phone and call someone. I’ve been setting up virtual happy hours and crafterhours with friends and it’s good to see some faces and shoot the breeze. Maintaining human connections is important right now, even for us introverts. And no one cares what you look like on the video chat.
  • Move around in your house: Sitting on the couch all day to work and then relaxing on the couch all night feels indulgent at first, but spending all day in one spot starts to make me feel crazy. Change your location throughout the day. It’ll make you feel less tethered and can help you differentiate work time from hobby time from relaxing time. It’s small but this helps me immensely.
  • Open a window: This is so simple, but it also does wonders. Part of feeling cooped up is literally sealing yourself in. Open a window for a bit, let the fresh air in. It’ll boost your mood, freshen up the house and might even relieve some of those indoor allergies.

I know it’s rough right now. I know it’s going to be tough for a while, but please, stay home. We’ll all be better for it.

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How I’m Practicing Social Distancing (and Staying Sane)

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Like many of you, I’m hunkered down at home for the next while due to the COVID-19 outbreak. I’m honestly so relieved that I can do my job from home. It’s a major blessing and a big weight off my shoulders (I’ve got a lot of loved ones I need to protect).

But as relieved as I am, I know that facing a week or more of unstructured time in a small space isn’t as easy as it sounds. That’s why I’ve put together an outline of how I’m going to manage. You might benefit from these ideas, too.

  • Create a routine: Routines and rituals help propel us forward in uncertain times. If you don’t have a work from home routine established, outline one now. For me, I set my alarm, take a shower, change clothes and make a cup of tea before getting on the computer. I take a lunch break, IM my coworkers—all the stuff I would do in the office. It helps keep the momentum of the day going.
  • Keep things clean: It’s a good time to reevaluate your cleaning protocol at home. Wipe down your phone, computer and surfaces. And throw in some extra laundry if you’re home all day. We just washed all our linens and throws and it feels good to have a fresh start.
  • Read: When I’m stressed, I need activities that force me to slow down. Reading is my go-to. Plus, sitting down with a book and a cup of tea for a whole Sunday morning feels like a treat.
  • All the hobbies: I’m a woman of many hobbies. Now’s the time to embrace them all! All my works in progress are coming out: latch hook, sewing, cross-stitch. Now’s the time to settle in with the projects you never have enough time for.
  • Get outside: Social distancing doesn’t mean staying indoors. I’ve started to take daily walks so I can get some fresh air, move around and not feel so cooped up.
  • Keep in touch: Since staying in, I’ve found that I’m calling my family a lot more. It’s a good way to feel connected. And sending my coworkers memes and gifs all day helps too.
  • Be mindful of the news I’m consuming: During this time, it’s definitely important to stay on top of virus updates, but it’s also easy to fall down a wormhole of information fast. To keep the balance, I limit how many articles I read a day, ensure that the information comes from a trusted source and stay updated with CDC recommendations.

Everyone, stay safe, stay home and stay well!

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Small Goals // March 2020

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February went by so quickly (thank goodness). Here’s what I managed to tackle (and not tackle).

  1. Host the first Crafterhours of 2020. Done. It was a really nice time.
  2. Make 25 new hoops. I’m a maniac. I made 41.
  3. Go to La Reve. We went, and it was really lovely.
  4. Take as much as possible to Goodwill. Check. Glad to see all that stuff out of the basement!
  5. Tidy up surfaces in our bedroom. In all honesty, I didn’t even try to do this.

4/5. I’m pretty happy with this even though it’s not 100%. I managed to take care of all the things that needed doing (and went above and beyond with stitching). Not to mention I also hit the gym regularly. I managed to make February really work.

But, if I’m being totally honest, February kicked my butt. That means for March, I want to make unwinding a real priority. I really could use it.

via GIPHY

  1. Do a puzzle. Just call me Winston. This is my treat to me after a stressful few weeks.
  2. Make my first wedding hoop of 2020. I know I said I wanted to relax, but I can handle this one commission.
  3. Read two books. Since a lot of my free time has been dedicated to crafting lately, I’ve fallen behind on reading. I’ve loaded up my Kindle with a few good reads and can’t wait to get into it.
  4. Go dry for a bit. I’m not a major drinker, but I do like a glass of wine after a stressful day. I’d like to go without for a while (maybe a few weeks) just to break the habit.
  5. Hit up the gym 10 times. Booooorrriiinnngggg. But it’ll feel good.

Boring goals, I know, but dang, after a hard month all the slow going stuff will feel amazing.

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The Best Way to Valentine’s Day (IMO)

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I’m going to out myself here as a Valentine’s Day fan. Attached or single, I’ve always been a Valentine’s person: I love wearing all the pink, red and purple I can find, I’m all about candy and I like showing people that I love them with silly cards and gifts.

I am not a fan, however, of traditional Valentine’s Day dates. Going out to dinner on February 14 is just about the last thing I’d want to do. That’s why Michael and I circumvent the whole thing.

Instead, we do Valentine’s Day breakfast. There aren’t a lot of people, it’s slow-paced, it’s charming and it’s low pressure. We’re geniuses, I know.

But Valentine’s Day breakfast is a great idea if you can swing it and you have somewhere special to go. For Michael and me it’s La Reve, a charming little French cafe, in Wauwatosa.

We get there early, order good coffee, all the breakfast things we want—yes, that means a regular breakfast and a chocolate croissant. We relax, enjoy the atmosphere, people watch and—before we leave—order more desserts to take home.

Sure, our major celebrations are done before noon, but that’s fine by me. That’s more time to spend unwinding and enjoying small gifts. And at night we still open a bottle of champagne.

Also, I had to show off the gift I made Michael this year. This hilarious and sweet Baby Yoda hoop. You can get the pattern from Made by Caitlin Shop on Etsy.

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Small Goals // February 2020

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It’s always hard getting back on the horse in January with goals, but I think I managed pretty well. Check it out!

  1. Hit the gym eight times. I did it!
  2. Finish a book. Done. I actually finished two.
  3. Get everything returned. Done. This is actually such a huge relief.
  4. New curtains? New bedding? Done. I got some plain white curtains. I’m kind of a maximalist, but I have to admit going basic here looks really clean and soothing. Also giving myself a pat on the back because I touched up the paint around our windows, too, which also makes things look nicer.
  5. Spend a day not going anywhere. I did this twice. Snowy days are good for something. I watched the entire second season of You, put together a puzzle and generally was lazy. These days felt great.

5/5. I’m happy to have checked off all my goals (yes, even though one of them was to do nothing). But now the dust has settled on the new year and I think it’s time to ramp up my goals for February.

This month, I’ll be selling at my first craft fair since Black Friday weekend. It’s time to get back into production mode. I’m not sure if this is the sort of workflow I want to have (though it’s worked in the past), so this month will be a good test. And it’s also a good month to stay busy (gotta stave off those seasonal affective feelings!).

  1. Host the first Crafterhours of 2020. I took a hiatus from this idea for the holidays (and the post-holiday slump). Time to make this happen again and try to get into a groove.
  2. Make 25 new hoops. The Walker’s Point Makers Market is coming up on February 29. Time to get working on some new ideas (and a few classics).
  3. Go to La Reve. Last year, Michael and I enjoyed breakfast at LaReve in Wauwatosa for the first time. It was such a relaxing Valentine’s Day treat. I’m hoping for a repeat. Also, Valentine’s Day breakfast > Valentine’s Day dinner.
  4. Take as much as possible to Goodwill. During the hustle and bustle of the holidays (and recouping in January) a lot of our donation-ready stuff just got pushed to boxes in the basement. Time to give all that stuff a new home.
  5. Tidy up surfaces in our bedroom. Our bedroom doesn’t have the chair (you know, where catchall stuff and semi-clean laundry lives). Instead, it has the dresser and the bookshelf. All our odds and ends wind up cluttering up these surfaces and obscuring all the actually nice stuff we try to display there. Will this be the month I get a handle on it?

Wish me luck! Locals, hope to see you at the fair!

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Coming Soon // Walker’s Point Makers Market

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I am so excited to announce that a Walker’s Point Makers Market is here!

As you may know, I’ve been selling at Madison Makers Markets for a few years. These events are super fun because they’re part craft fair and part bar crawl (genius!). I always wished for a Milwaukee one and my wish has come true! Big thanks to Sara at I Heart Indie Markets!

You can find me and Kaminski Handicraft at Great Lakes Distillery. I’m thrilled because they’ve got some great stuff and a really awesome tasting room (and the tour is a good time, too).

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Small Goals // January 2020

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Welcome to 2020, folks! I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions (I know I can’t keep them), so I’ll just be sticking to these small goals for the coming year. But before we get into January aspirations, let’s see how December went.

  1. Break out the plastic canvas. All I did was think about this craft while I was stitching up a storm this past November, but by the time December hit, I just wasn’t in the mood. I fell back in love with cross-stitch instead.
  2. Make my chocolate babka. Done. We ate one Christmas morning and I brought the other loaf to my aunt Pat.
  3. Have a cozy, seasonal day home with Michael. Done! We decorated our trees and watched a few episodes of Nailed It: Holiday.
  4. Don a fancy Christmasy getup. YES! I got a hot pink dress and silver glitter boots from J.Crew. I felt awesome wearing this getup on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
  5. Make my “Spirits of Christmas” hoops. Swing and a miss two years running. I feel like I really needed an embroidery break, so I’m OK with leaving this as a WIP.

3/5. December wasn’t a five-for-five month for goals, but that’s fine by me. I spent the month doing what made me happy and satisfied. And I managed to do it all without having one of my trademark holiday meltdowns. What a win!

As for January, I’m not going to go too hard with goals. The past few months have been super busy, so a month of taking it slow and getting into normal habits is what I need.

  1. Hit the gym eight times. Classic New Year’s-style goal here! But going to the gym does make me feel good, and it’s the sort of thing that I can manage when my schedule is a bit more open. Kind of looking forward to this one!
  2. Finish a book. Last January I read something like three or four books. I’m not sure if I can top that, but I’d like to work through at least one novel this month. I am participating in the Goodreads Challenge again this year (you can follow me here).
  3. Get everything returned. I bought a lot of extras around the holidays—spare sizes for gifts, sale-priced linens and other odds and ends. I need to get all those things out of the house (and get those purchases off my credit card statement).
  4. New curtains? New bedding? This is such a small thing, but our curtains and bedding are almost the same design and it drives my eyes nuts. Swapping one out is an easy fix, right?
  5. Spend a day not going anywhere. Typically I squeeze a day or two like this in over the holiday break, but I didn’t make that happen this year. So this month I’m hoping to just wake up and stay in for an entire day.

These goals are a bit mellow (and boring), but I’m happy about that. A month of rest is exactly what I need.

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The Cherry on Top of 2019 // A Door County New Year’s Eve

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Typically, Michael and I celebrate a low-key New Year’s Eve. We put on our jammies, break out the board games, pop a bottle of bubbly and call it good. This year, though, we celebrated the end of a decade by traveling up to Door County, Wisconsin.

Door County is every Wisconsinite’s favorite summer destination, but I love it just as much in the winter. A lot of shops and restaurants are closed for the season, but I like seeking out all the stalwarts that stay open even in the cold.

Where to Stay in Door County in Winter (and All the Time)

This time, like every time Michael and I go to Door County, we stayed in Sturgeon Bay.

This is a great place to stay in the winter because, unlike the rest of the peninsula, most everything stays open during the off-season. Also, there are a lot of nice places to camp out.

For this quick getaway, we checked into the Holiday Music Hotel. We stayed here years ago and had a blast. The ’50s styling of the place is so fun and, honestly, the price is right for an impromptu trip. Not to mention the place has some great vibes. It’s owned and operated by musicians and there are a lot of artsy events going on in and around the hotel. Plus, a two-block walk has you right on the main drag for all the food, drinks and quirky shops you could ever need.

The location came in really handy on this trip, especially.

A Snowy Night in Sturgeon Bay

We spent most of our first evening right in Sturgeon Bay since it was pretty snowy. We hit up Within Things, a shop I’ve been following for some time on Instagram. It was wonderfully weird. We also snagged a mushroom book at Novel Bay Booksellers.

But the real fun didn’t start until after dinner. After a long drive back from Sister Bay, we decided to lay low and grab a drink nearby at Cedar Crossing. It was a beautiful snowy walk there from our hotel. The bar area was so relaxing and very swanky. We were just planning on a drink until the bartender recommended we check out another stop. We’re spontaneous people, so we took the short walk.

That’s how we ended up at my new favorite: Cherry Lanes.

This place was a blast! I snagged a hot toddy while Michael sipped on a Moscow Mule, then we decided to grab ourselves a lane. Michael and I had never bowled together before, so we had to rectify that.

For $15, we got shoes and an hour of bowling (a steal). We got in four games. Michael says he was practicing his spin the whole time. I’m not sure I believe him, so I’ll just brag here that I won three games out of four.

Other Wintry Musts in Door County

A lot of the upper peninsula shuts its doors in the winter, but there’s still plenty to do for a short stay.

Waking up after a night at Cherry Lanes, we had one order of business: Bea’s Ho-Made. This place is a must when you’re visiting Door County, no matter the season. This place sells some great jams and preserves. My favorites, though, are the hot garlic-dill pickles and the plum sauce. Oh my gosh, the plum sauce! It’s a must for Chinese takeout. Michael recommends the Hungarian relish. I know a jam shop doesn’t seem like a hip destination, but trust me, it’s worth the visit.

But Bea’s wasn’t our only stop. We also swung by Door County Bakery for some Corsica sticks. I’ve never seen this bread anywhere else. They’re essentially breadsticks covered in sesame seeds and drenched in olive oil. I can’t explain why these are soo good, but they are irresistible to me. I ordered four.

And no matter the weather, Peninsula State Park is always on my Door County list. While we weren’t able to check out Eagle Bluff Lighthouse in the snow, we still got to enjoy the sights and walk around a bit. Standing on the shores of Lake Michigan is always soothing to me, even in the cold and snow.

Ringing in 2020

On New Year’s Eve, we headed over to the Nightingale Supper Club in Sturgeon Bay for a nice dinner. I was positively thrilled that we could sneak in a reservation.

Michael and I put on our NYE best (mine being my glitter boots and flamingo pink dress) and sat down to a three-course dinner—something we do very rarely. We indulged with some stuffed mushrooms, homemade soup and prime rib (my go-to supper club order). I finished off the meal with a Grasshopper. I mean, you have to, right?

After a big night out at Cherry Lanes, we decided to opt out of the NYE conflama, so we just settled in for a night at the Holiday with our classic routine: games and pajamas (and a little time playing the instruments in the lobby).

If the rest of 2020 is this good, I’ll be the luckiest gal out there.