New 2010 Smores Ornament

After talking Midwest of Cannon Falls into revealing the new 2010 Smore Ornaments line up, we finally received some information and a picture! Here is a sneak preview of what is to come and we hope our S'more Collectors are excited as we are.

This is the "Surprise" ornament and is one of approximately 16 new Smore's possibly hitting the shelves in 2010. Plans and designs could change and we'll keep you posted. Now that summer is winding down look for deals on our website and follow this blog as we'll be posting weekly.

Be sure to leave a comment and let's have S'more fun in 2009!

2009 Smores Ornaments

Recently we received the new 2009 Smore Ornaments. We have carried the Smores line from the beginning and have many loyal collectors who have been with us for years. Thank you everyone for your support! On the bottom of this post, you'll find a recipe for Smores on a stick!

Above is the 2009 Smore Boy Scout Ornament. Looking happy with a bundle of wood! Below is the Girl Scout Ornament.

Ingredients:

1 Wooden Popsicle Stick

2 Marshmallows

1/8th of a Cup of Hershey's Chocolate Chips

1 Crushed Graham Cracker

2 Walnuts or Pecans

Push the 2 marshmallows over the stick, keeping them as close together as possible & close to the top. Crush the graham crackers and walnuts very fine with a rolling pin. Melt the Hershey's chocolate chips in the microwave. Roll the marshmallows on the stick in the warm malted chocolate, roll in the crushed graham crackers and walnuts. Yummy ~ Now you can do a dozen of these for the kids. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes or over night. You're going to love them. Great Recipe for the kids.

Enjoy!

Fight Against Breast Cancer

Please help Jack's sister Jean reach her goal of raising $2500 for the fight against breast cancer. As incentive, if you donate and become part of the Fundraising Honor Roll (click on this link) with $25, you will receive a free Serenity Angel Lapel Pin. If you donate $50 or more, you will receive a free Serenity Angel Ornament. All you need to do is comment on this blog and mention your donation, we'll then send a free Serenity Angel gift valued up to $17! Please email us your mailing address and if you have questions. Pictured on the right is one of the Serenity Angel Ornaments. Ornaments or Lapel Pins will vary with sayings and available while supplies last.

Now Jean will explain the fundraiser...

"This year, I'll be participating in a very special event called the Breast Cancer 3-Day.I'll walk 60 miles over the course of three days with thousands of other women and men. The net proceeds will support breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment through Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.I've agreed to raise at least $2,300 in donations. I've set my personal goal at $2500. So I need your help. Would you please consider making a donation of [$amount]? Keep in mind how far I'm walking - and how hard I'll have to train. You can give online at http://www.the3day.org/. Just follow the link below to visit my personal fundraising webpage and make a donation. You can also call 800.996.3DAY to donate over the phone.I am now a 3 1/2 year cancer survivor and hope to be just a month shy of 4 years when I walk. I'm walking and walking, up to 21 miles last week and trying to add more each day and each week. As I turned 60 this year and the walk is 60 miles, this seemed like the perfect way to celebrate. I think.According to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, approximately 200,000 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and nearly 40,000 will die from the disease. That's why I'm walking so far. To do something bold about breast cancer. I hope that you'll share this incredible adventure with me - by supporting me in my fundraising efforts.Thank you in advance for your generosity!"

Love to all - Jean

"P.S. Ask your employer if they will double your donation through a matching gift program!"

38 Ponderosa Pinecone Bronze

"Here’s an image of the 38 large ponderosa cone finials just before we packed them up to ship them off to the Ritz-Carlton Highlands project at Lake Tahoe today. Pretty neat! They are going on an outside balcony railing."

- Myron Kirkpatrick

Thank you Myron for sending this picture of (click on this link to view a complete listing of bronze cones) bronze pine cone hardware.

We hope to see more orders like this in 2009!

New Office

This is where I've been hiding for the last month! Our newly remodeled office. This used to be our storage room and we optimized our house and turned this into our office/sewing room (for my wife, Kristen). We decided to go with yellow walls and white trim. The yellow is for inspiration and also to create a positive work environment.

We turned the old office into a play area for our son Eli. He is happy to have the extra space to run and explore. Shown below, Eli is let loose in his new play area.

Now that I'm done remodeling, my focus will be more on Flying Cloud Gifts, the product lines we carry, and most importantly my family. Here is to 2009 and good things to follow!

Forest Impressions by Timber Bronze

We're pleased to announce Flying Cloud Gifts and Timber Bronze of Joseph, Oregon are teaming their resources together. Timber Bronze is locally owned and operated by husband and wife, Myron and Kendra Kirkpatrick (shown in the picture to the left). They are also family friends of Jack and Judy Burgoyne.

They produce "Forest Impressions" of solid bronze fixtures that compliment every home, including log cabin or rustic home themes. People in city settings who like the outdoors, find Timber Bronze products give them a feel for the woods and the mountains.

Shown below is a picture is a solid bronze towel ring, an impression of the lodgepole pine cone and bark from rural Eastern Oregon. Much of their inspiration comes from the nearby Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Eagle Cap Wilderness, and Wallowa Lake. Their work is cast locally by one of the local bronze foundries of Joseph and Wallowa County.

Timber Bronze carries many bronze products to compliment various parts of a custom built home, cabin, remodel, or new addition. You will find a wide selection of solid bronze cabinet knobs, Pulls, and handles. They are in many shapes and forms of pine cones, bark, acorns, and branches. Other products include bookends, candle holders, door bell buttons, door knockers, drapery accessories, house numbers, stair rods, towel bars, and more.

While talking about their success, Myron said, “Timber Bronze products have also been used on projects such as the lodge at Crater Lake National Park, the sets of CBS Studios in New York and the new Ritz-Carlton Highlands at Lake Tahoe.”

Shown here, Myron is detailing a piece of bronze in his shop, being very meticulous!

Thank you Myron and Kendra for letting us write about your family business. We wish you success in 2009 and look forward to working with you!

Wonderful Wacky Women by Suzy Toronto

We're proud to announce the new addition of free spirited, "Wonderful Wacky Women" figurines created by Suzy Toronto. Each figurine offers a different saying and is unique to itself. Suzy Toronto was inspired by the theme of no faces from a conversation with her youngest adopted boy named Chase. When Chase was young, he asked Suzy what his mom looked like. Suzy then responded by drawing a picture of herself with a blank face, so he could imagine what she looked like. Chase seemed satisfied and went back to playing!

The above figurine reads "She Who is My Granddaughter." One of many figurines we carry. To learn more about Suzy Toronto, you can visit her website.

Thank you Suzy!

Flying Cloud Family

From left to right, (me) Rocky, (my dad) Jack, (mom) Judy, and my (brother) Jeremy. This picture was taken at the original Flying Cloud Gift Shoppe and Tree Farm in Astoria Oregon (circa 2003). In the background was the horse stalls my parents converted into a gift shop. During the Christmas season they would open daily, giving away hot apple cider while the locals came to shop in our store. This was a local tradition, to come and find their Christmas Wreath and tree. Flying Cloud has been a family tradition, run by Jack and Judy from the beginning for almost 20 years.

As we go into 2009, we look forward to carrying the tradition of quality and personal service!