Shop Review: Recarte Holt & Roe

There's a new shop in town: Recarte Holt & Roe just took over the corner spot on Main and Market Streets in thriving Old Wailuku town. It's like nothing I've seen here on Maui- they specialize in writing and art tools, as well as offering art classes to the community. 

Walking in, you feel like you've stepped back in time a bit, as you see easels, pens, ink and more.

There are a few rooms to mosey around, with new things to look at in every corner. 

Specialty ink, pencils and standard rulers.

Paintbrushes galore, composition books and even your basic crayons.

And great deals!

Easels, scissors, more pencils and a pencil sharpener.

Pick up a canvas for just $4.00

Don't forget the acrylic paint.

Pens are 50 cents each, or 30 cents an ounce!

Perfect so you can write in your $10 journal. 

Of course, Ivy wanted to pose with their oversize pencil. They have tons of cute products at the checkout station. 

They have a great reason for opening this store:

"In a world full of social media and electronic messaging, it's become more and more important to become creative to stand out amongst the crowd.  Nothing says that better than to take a moment and handwrite a note to someone to let them know how special that they are to you.  At Recarte Holt & Roe, we cater to your every need when it comes to fine writing... we founded Recarte Holt & Roe after the knowledge handed down to us by our Grandfathers and Mothers... a carefully crafted card of thanks or letter of recognition goes alot farther today than it did in decades past." 

(quote taken from their website)

Recarte Holt & Roe

1999 Main Street, Suite 1A

Wailuku, HI 96793

​

​Tel: (808) 419-6602

Fax: (808) 495-0158

http://www.rhrpenshop.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhrpenshop

Twitter: https://twitter.com/holtstevan

Hours:

Mon-Fri: 10:00am-5:30pm

Sat: 10:00am-4:00pm

Sun: 10:00am-2:00pm

Art Classes (mainly for kids) held Tuesday through Saturday.

Go check them out! The staff is incredibly nice and helpful and you're bound to find something special. 

Aloha, Rebecca

NOTE: This is not a sponsored or requested post. I believe in supporting local businesses and helping to spread the word so that they can become successful in our community. 

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Instagram Friday 4

Here's my faves to follow on Instagram this week on the #Friday4: 

@lesliekeating

@lilalotta

@luckywelivehawaii

@roamhawaii

Check 'em out!

Aloha, 

Rebecca

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How To Cut Open A Pomegranate

I feel like pomegranates are fairly new on the scene (as in, the last 5 years). To prove this fact, I had to ask my friend, Jenna, how to eat one (ie: "do you eat the husk? is there a husk?"). She gave me really good step by step instructions, but then I forgot them, so I had to do a little research on my own. So, if you're like me and are (were) clueless about this fascinating super-fruit, here's your lesson:

Choose a fruit that's on the heavier side. 

Color actually doesn't matter, but seriously, who doesn't want a nice ruby red pomegranate?

Step 1:

You will need a bowl full of cool water, a cutting board and a sharp knife. 

I also threw on an apron because I heard the juice is pretty red and would stain my clothes!

Step 2:

Cut off the top 1/2 inch or so.

(See the juice?!)

Step 3:

Cut 5-6 evenly spaced shallow slits in the the peel.

Step 4:

Place the pomegranate in water and gently unpeel it while separating the seeds from the rest of the fruit.

Step 5:

Remove the large chunks of peel, and anything else that is not a seed. Some of the pith will float to the top, but some won't. Either way, you don't want to eat it, so get it out of there with your fingers or a spoon.

Step 6:

Rinse in cool water. 

And that's it! You're ready to eat it. 

My friend, Jenna, likes to crunch on the seeds. 

I DO NOT. I just swallow them whole. 

Ivy, on the other hand sucks them, then spits out the seeds. Typical 4 year old. 

Below you can see the pomegranates in the tupperware on the far right...

This is how Ivy likes to eat breakfast. In a jazz table top.

Here's to a few more years of popularity for the pomegranate. 

Aloha, Rebecca

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Instagram Friday 4

It's time for the IG Friday 4.

Follow them on Instagram and find them on their Blog or Facebook.

You won't regret it!

@gypsyjacket - Blog

@barriovintage - Facebook

@kovey_ - Facebook

@ampersanddancecompany - Facebook

Aloha, Rebecca

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Hau'oli Maka Hiki Hou! Happy New Year!

Hau'oli maka hiki hou!

Happy New Year!

Aloha, Rebecca

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Happy New Year! Top 10 Ivy & Co. posts from 2013

It's the end of the year. In general, I like to reflect. Let's take a look at Ivy & Co.'s top 10 blog posts of 2013. Starting with #10!

#10 -  11 Things To Do With Your Little Girl

#9 - Card Catalog Is Pretty Much Done

#8 - Ululani's Hawaiian Shave Ice

 #7 - Vintage Vanity - Before & After

 #6 - DIY American Apparel Jersey T-Dress

#5 - Are You Still Using Cool Whip?

#4 - Raspberry Oatmeal Smoothie

#3 - Vintage Industrial Chair - Before & After

#2 - Magic Eraser Toilet Bowl Pinterest Fail

And the top post of 2013 was.... 

#1 - Conquer Your Closet

I guess you guys like to be organized! 

 Thank you to all my readers in 2013!

As we say in Hawaii, "Hau'oli maka hiki hou!"

(Happy New Year!)

Aloha, Rebecca

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Before & After: Herringbone Chair and a Vintage Sewing Table

Did anyone else do a dump-run post-Christmas? I mean, with all the junk, not all the new gifts you just received. Well, we CLEANED HOUSE. Also, while we were in Oklahoma and Arkansas, a few rats decided to move in to our laundry area and car tent. So it was a necessity. My husband was clearing out EVERYTHING, and in order for me to keep my beloved trash vintage furniture that I planned on working on, I had to get my butt in gear and look like I was working on it! So here's 2 projects that transpired out of the urgency of Kit's dump run:

 Aren't they fun? 

This kids herringbone chair was lots of fun to do.

You can see it in the foreground of this photo, in all it's wooden glory. Ivy was helping me that day.

After spraying it with a little Kilz, I painted the seat yellow, then taped out a herringbone pattern.

Then I painted the whole thing in a charcoal grey satin, and distressed the whole thing.

I just want to live in the picture below, with that driftwood and Coco the monkey:

For Sale on Etsy for $25.

Now, on to the Vintage Sewing Table that was in horrendous shape, which is how I scored it for $5 at a garage sale. 

That's aluminum foiled stuck on the inside of the table, in the upper right photo.

 After wondering the best way to salvage this piece, I decided it just couldn't be a sewing machine table anymore. I removed the entire inside sewing machine piece, and just screwed the top on. Also, the wood was just in such poor shape that I couldn't preserve it as a wood piece. Look at all that water damage!

I still wanted some wood to show through, so I went for an ultra distressed look with the following layers:

1. charcoal grey on the whole thing

2. tomato red dry brushed on the top and sides

3. "shiloh" grey/beige color on top and sides

4. distress with a medium grit sanding block

5. Miss Mustard Seed antiquing wax

6. Miss Mustard Seed furniture wax

7. Sand the original hardware

That rug is from The Nest here on Maui. My mom got it for me for Christmas. I love it. So does Godiva, because she keeps sneaking in my room to sleep on it and I have to shoo her off of it.

That bunting is up for sale in the Etsy shop. Click here to see it.

That's my DIY votive I made last year. Click here to see that post.

One last look:

I just love a good 'before & after.'

-Becca

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