Picking the right Table Top Finish

As we put our boats away, close up the pools, box up our bathing suits, and feel the warmth of the sun fade into a cool breeze we can know that the seasons are changing here in Northern Michigan. With brightly colored leaves and the abundant harvests of Pure Michigan apples, it is clear to see fall is here to stay. 

With fall and the season of harvest in front of us, it makes us all think of Thanksgiving and time spent around the dining room table together. Although 2020 has been one of the strangest years; from our politics to developing new ways of going to the grocery store, family gatherings and relationships are still what we can cling to for comfort. So, as you are preparing for your large or small gatherings this fall season there are a few things you might be considering;

The Table:

The table is the place that you eat, play, and converse so why not have it custom-made to suit your space and style. At Great Lakes Reclaimed were offering a custom cottage pine round (60" in diameter) table with a pedestal base for your holiday gatherings. If this style table isn't the right fit for your home gatherings, email us with your personal design wishlist and we can help customize something for you!   

The Decor:

Now that you have your gathering place planned out, you may want to add your custom flare.  What better way to do so than with an arrangement of Plush Pumpkins! The beauty in these pumpkins is more than just the huge color selection, they also add texture and softness to round out your table style. The Plush Pumpkins can be used for making your space unique up until the Christmas tree goes up without any rotting! 

The Food:

Your gathering place is custom to your space and your style, but now what do you serve? 

With it being apple and pumpkin season, how about making either a delicious pumpkin pie or this beautiful apple crisp to fill the bellies and souls of your guests.  

Below is a delicious pumpkin pie recipe from epiccurious.com

https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/pumpkin-pie-102601

As the longer brighter days of Spring are upon us, set aside some time to dream of a few projects you would like to get done this summer. Don't overwhelm yourself with a never-ending To-Do List.

All the barns we reclaim have a story.  They have a personality.  Many times they are just plain worn out and are inviting us to take them down.  To give them some peace and rest from the wind and weather.   Its as if the wood is ready to come inside and start its new life as a table, cabinet or wall covering...

This small grey barn was a little different.  It was in good shape and had maintained itself thru many a Michigan winter.  When i got inside it the sun popped out and created some unique patterns with the wood and light.  I just stood inside and enjoyed the picture show. The patterns and colors were like being on the inside of a black and white kaleidoscope.  A memory i will never forget.   This barn gave me more than wood for a table.

Jim   

The Reclaimed Wood Napa Valley Wine Stave Fly Fishing Rack is one of a kind.... We have not seen any other makers producing this.  Our Lead Craftsman, Jacob Giffin is a professional fly fisherman from Missoula, Montana (Grizz Country).  He had a lot of input in helping us come up with this design.  The fly fishing poles we used for the photo shoot are his.  Pretty pricey rod setup but they made for a great set of pictures..

We get our napa valley wine barrels shipped from California... We found out that the wine industry cycles out their barrels every 5 years.  There are plenty of barrels to be reclaimed and we have anywhere from 8 to 16 brought in every 6 months.   We make other products from the reclaimed wine barrels and we go thru them pretty fast.   One of the highlights of our deconstruction of the wine barrels is the wonderful smell of the wine that has soaked into the white oak staves.  Especially when we are sanding we get an amazing aroma in the shop.. Almost makes you want to stop and have a glass of wine!!!!  

You can hang these on horizontally on a wall, upright on a wall (need high ceilings) or you can put them on your ceiling.   You can link to our website here  and get the dimensions and more pictures of them action.  https://www.greatlakesreclaimed.com/collections/napa-valley-wine-barrel-products

Thanks for checking out our store... If you are in Petoskey feel free to stop in at our shop. If the lights are on we are working... Jim

Great Lakes Reclaimed began on Valentines Day February 14, 2013.  Our beer tote was the first product we ever made.  I remember Lisa showing me a drawing of what she wanted me to build.  I went out to our shop and created our first beer tote a few days before Valentines Day.  I listed it on Etsy and distinctly remember reading their disclaimer that it could take 4-6 months before your first sale...That's like being named Noah and going around telling people it is never going to rain... We had our first sale two days later and then a wedding party from California wanted 7 with laser engraved names on each beer

tote.   Great Lakes Reclaimed was off and running. We turned our dining room into a shipping department and had fedex pickups daily on our front porch.  We had great neighbors who never complained about the shop noise and the trucks going in and out of our driveway.... Never negate the day of small beginnings because when the holiday season arrives it can change fast....

Christmas orders for 2013 went thru the roof.  We had over 400 beer totes in the Que.  I enlisted my son Matt and my 3 nephews to help us build.  It was a great introduction to the maker movement and how not to be ready for the holiday season...

We moved back to Michigan in the summer of 2014 and opened our shop here in Petoskey.  We now make wine racks, furniture and home decor items.  We learned a lot these past four years and greatly appreciate all of you who have ordered from us and entrusted us with making you a high quality product.  Jim