Chattanooga Getaway

Last weekend, we decided to get away for a little rest and relaxation, so we drove up to Chattanooga, Tennessee for the weekend. Saturday was pretty hot and maybe just a touch miserable, but we had a lot of fun. If anyone is considering going, here is our breakdown:

Chattanooga Aquarium- Definitely go. It may be a touch smaller than the Atlanta Aquarium, but we find it to be much more enjoyable, even when crowded.

Bluff View Art District- Lovely place to hang out. Be sure to check out River Gallery.

Rembrandt's Coffee House- Awesome place for coffee, desert, and atmosphere, but we'd avoid the sandwiches.

Hunter Museum of American Art- We loved the Hunter Museum, partly for the exhibit that happened to be there, but mainly for the little drawing stations they provide for visitors. There is even a magnetic poetry board in one area where you can compose your own poem and leave it for others to read.

Big River Brewery and Restaurant- Decent food. Decent Prices. Nothing fabulous, but service was very good.

Acropolis- Fantastic Greek Food. The owner is a wonderful gentleman who sits in his reserved booth and regularly makes his rounds to check on his guests and make sure they love their meal, and it would be impossible not to. We love this place so much, we've been known to drive all the way to Chattanooga JUST to eat here.

Courtyard Marriott Hotel- It's a room. Honestly, for the money I would have expected a lot more, but it was downtown, clean, and quiet. Parking is in the neighboring parking deck, so be prepared to carry luggage.

So overall I'd say it was a really nice trip. We need more of these. :) Don't forget that you only have a few more days (through Sept 1st) to mail in your caps for the Bottle Cap Challenge! Find out more here.

How's it Feel to Have Your Art in a Museum?

It's pretty awesome my friends, pretty awesome. Don't worry, we won't forget the little people, whoever you are… I know by now you're looking for the punch line, so... ok, ok. So maybe we don't have anything of ours hanging in the exhibition hall, but hey- we're not complaining. Anyone can feel like a Rembrandt at the Hunter Museum of Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The best part about the place in my opinion is that they don't just encourage viewing art, they encourage experiencing it and creating it. In several areas of the museum there are pencils and paper provided and guests are invited to create some art of their own. You can take your masterpiece with you, or leave it at the museum, where they will put it on display in one of the little lounge areas for others to enjoy. So while we were there this weekend, we left a little something behind. The big teeth in blue up there is named Chomper. I wish the picture was better, but hey- not too bad for a camera phone in so-so lighting. *Sigh* We only hope the museum will appreciate our generous contribution :)
Tomorrow I'll post about the entire trip, so stay tuned!

Don't forget that you only have until Sept 1st to mail in your caps for the Bottle Cap Challenge! Find out more here.

Bird Of Paradise?- An Ink Blot

This is a little blot we drew a while back. I've always thought it would be nice on a t-shirt. It's also a great example of where our logo came from. If you look toward the bottom you'll see a flower like image. That flower or some variation of its design tends to resurface often in our drawings, so it made sense to use it (cleaned up quite a bit) to represent us. Other reoccurring elements include eyes (or other facial features), scales, wings, and swirls. Although we do name each piece, we like for other people to decide what they see. What can you find?

Don't forget that you only have until Sept 1st to mail in your caps for the Bottle Cap Challenge! Find out more here.

Custom Bottle Cap Bracelet

Last week we received a custom local order from one of our favorite baristas. He couldn't wait for the end of our friendly competition, so he ordered one instead. It's our first request for all beer caps, which is amusing because we just got a request for all soda caps (which are much harder to find). I love the "g" in that center cap. Typography- what a wonderful thing. Don't forget that you could receive one of these for FREE by participating in our Bottle Cap Challenge. Find out more here.

Local Favorites: Marietta Diner

Now that I have your attention… :)

It's been said that if you try to do everything, you'll do nothing very well. With nearly 500 delicious items on the menu- all served 24 hours a day, Marietta Diner just might be the exception to that rule. Want a hamburger? Ok. Pancakes? No problem. Chicken cordon bleu? Spaghetti? Waffles? Paella? Pot Roast? Crab Cakes? Roast Turkey? Broiled baby lamb chops? Chicken teriyaki? They've got you covered. Oh, and then there is the Greek. The restaurant happens to be Greek owned, which means if you're in the mood for souvlaki, moussaka, gyro, or spanikopita, you're in for a special treat. We've been going for years, and decided to give them a visit this weekend. Even at 11 o'clock at night, the parking lot is overflowing and yet the wait is only about 3 minutes. If you happen to be in the Atlanta area and are in the mood for just about anything (anything extra special that is :), you must give them a try. Check out their feature on Food Network's Diners, Drive In's and Dives here.

In other news- Don't forget to enter The Bottle Cap Challenge to get a complimentary print and the chance to receive a free bottle cap bracelet or store credit!!! Entries are being accepted through Sept. 1st, so get movin'! (See the post below for more details)

Bottle Cap Challenge! Get a Free Bracelet!

We're always looking for interesting caps to use in our bottle cap bracelets, and to be honest, it's tough. We have several local restaurants who have saved caps for us, but typically you end up with the same old stuff that everyone carries. So we're turning to all of you for help in our quest and offering the chance to get a little something in return. Here's how you could receive a Free Bottle Cap Bracelet and more:

Be on the hunt for the coolest, most awesome, most unique bottle caps you can find. You can send as many different caps as you'd like, and each one will be judged on the following:
1. Color
2. Design
3. Rarity (Very important. We're looking for things we can't find easily.)

Best Bottle Cap: The individual who submits the most awesome cap will receive a free custom bottle cap bracelet with their choice of caps from our inventory (up to 14 caps depending on desired size).

Second and Third Best Caps: The individuals who submit the second and third best caps will receive $20 credit toward any item in our shop or any custom order.

EVERYONE: In exchange for the caps you send us, each individual who participates will receive one free 5 inch x 7 inch print of Whole Hearted Half Tone, one of our favorite ink blot illustrations as our thank you. See it here.

We'll collect caps between now and September 1st. Then, we'll look through them all and choose the three most spectacular caps which will be announced on September 10th. Edit- We are extending the contest for late entries! Anything that makes it here by Sept. 19th is accepted and the winners will be announced Sept 20th. We keep all of your caps for use in our projects, and you get a print and the chance to receive one of the above items. Please understand, only one print will be sent to each individual who participates no matter how many caps you send. If you are interested in participating, please send the caps to:

Michael Ayers
600 Embassy Row, Suite 450
Atlanta, GA 30328

Be sure to include:
1. your caps
2. a written list of the brand of each cap you include (ex: Silver Barq's Root Beer cap)
3. your name
4. email address (we will ONLY contact you if your cap is in the top 3)
5. your return mailing address (this is where we will send your free gift)

While we will faithfully send out all of your free gifts to the addresses provided, we will not be held responsible for lost packages. Thanks for your time and help. You can help us spread the word by putting this handy dandy badge on your blog (if you'd like).

Badge Embed Code:
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-Lani and Michael

Robot With a Heart by Jenn Hayes

Sigh.... I bought this charming linoleum block print almost a year ago from Jenn Hayes, a very talented artist currently pursuing illustration. I've seen several very nice block prints, but this guy just stole my heart. (no pun intended :) He hangs proudly in our living room on an olive green wall which really makes the red in the heart stand out. Surprisingly, we found a fantastic frame for him a Michael's craft store. He's kind of an odd size, but they had a vertical frame meant for three photos that he felt right at home in. A custom framing job couldn't have been better. Please visit Jenn's shop to see some of her other awesome work here.

Reusable Produce Bags: Part 2

Yeah, I know we've already covered reusable produce bags, but have you seen these??? While we love the first set we bought a while back, 3 bags soon proved to be too few. Since the seller we bought our first set from was pretty backed up in bag orders, we eventually started browsing around. That's when we happened across Lisa Also. Not only are her bags well priced, but they are large, super sturdy, easy to open and close, and are adorned with incredibly cute salvaged fabric leaves. There has never been a more stylish reason to buy produce. I've gotten several compliments, and you can too :)