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366 Bow Ties: Day 143

For some reason I allowed Ellie to persuade me to do a 2-day juice fast again with her, and this represents break-fast day. More on that later.

It was also a curiously sunny, rainy day. What do you wear on days like that? Who knows. But I wore standard Bill's Khakis M3s and a thrifted pink oxford button-down, sleeves hiked. And a reversible patch madras // brown chambray diamond-point bow tie.

We broke fast with our community group, who served up Top Shelf PB & J. Gooooood stuff. No tummy ache, either, like last juice fast. Probably because it was a shorter fast and it was not quite so bad a way to break fast as a martini and a BBQ sandwich.

Deacon contributed 2 recipes. I think it would be awesome to publish a for-kids-by-kids Top Shelf PB & J Recipe Book. What do you think? Include their hand-written recipes with all the [SIC] one could desire. We'd make a killing!

The patchwork madras is an old favorite from the TCC archives, perhaps from Summer 2010? The brown chambray is new. It's basically ... brown ... and chambray. The Church Belles have been going to town on the reversible stuff, as you can tell. I think it's a good thing. I think you'll agree. I think you'll agree enough to slap down $29 for this one-of-a-kind bow tie, all $29 of which will go to our project to help bring hope to children in Haiti.

Cordially,

Andy

366 Bow Ties: Day 142

Monday at the Farmer's Market. A chance to start the new week with real foods, and in most cases, local foods. I was impressed by the colors, and so far, things taste pretty darn good, and quite fresh. I'm thankful for farmers.

This little guy seems pretty delighted with the market, too.

Against the backdrop of reds and purples and greens and yellows, I'm pretty subdued in my Bill's Khakis M3s, my topsiders, my seersucker button-down, and this double-gray reversible chambray in classic cut. But I like it. You get the visual effect of two tones without sacrificing the simplicity and versatility (the goes-with-anything quality) of the solid grays. This is a winner, I reckon. Go grab it here, and support our efforts to brighten the days and expand the horizons of children in Haiti through MTW.

Cordially,

Andy

366 Bow Ties: Day 128

"What about short sleeve shirts and bow ties?" Good question.

Benefits:

1. Display tattoo(s).

2. Stay cool in especially hot weather.

3. Be more casual but still wear a bow tie.

Drawbacks:

1. Look pretty dorky.

You decide. In any event, I double-dipped, inadvertently. Another classic blue seersucker. Coming at you at a special price. Enjoy.

Cordially,

Andy

366 Bow Ties: Day 119

Sometimes my booklust gets the best of me, and I have to head to my Alma Mater bookstore and buy up their discounts. And if I haven't burnt the day away doing that, I head into the library to do sermon research. Got a little bit of a chance to do that a couple weeks ago. And a chance to wear this throwback Cordial Churchman number. I think this yellow/blue seersucker check (rendered here in classic cut) was in our first batch of bow tie offerings back in the summer of 2009.

Of course I didn't have an umbrella with me, or my Wellies on. And of course it rained. Oh well.

I stopped by Caribou--the very Caribou where I spent hours and hours and hours writing papers, studying Greek flash cards, and cramming for New Testament exams. And if my memory serves me, I went from here to pick up a juicer from someone off Craigslist.

Note: if you're going to do a juice fast, remember to ease back into solid foods. Ouch, my tummy.

In any event, run over to the store and grab this vintage TCC bow tie.

Cordially,

Andy

366 Bow Ties, Day 129: Of bow ties and juice fasting

So I did this crazy thing. I have taken into my body nothing but air, a couple cups of coffee, and fresh pressed vegetable and fruit juice. For the last 6 days. Whoa.

The second day is the worst, so I brightened things up a bit with this snappy madras, made out of scraps from a men's shirt. And with watermelon juice. Yum.

The usual rule is that you mix complementary colors and varied scales. Technically, this university stripe oxford shirt has its scale represented in this bow tie, but I don't believe it ends up being too busy, since the small stripe pattern on the bow tie is actually a sub-pattern of the much larger-scaled plaid. Makes perfect sense, right? Just sound like you know what you're talking about, and wear it with confidence, and everyone thinks you're a genius. A fly genius.

Until they see that you're juice fasting. Then they think you're crazy and stupid. I kind of think they're right. Either way, it's over tomorrow evening. Can't wait to chew again.

In the mean time, chew on this: I'll give you this great, one-of-a-kind bow tie for a whole dollar off the usual price. Buy it here.

Cordially,

Andy

366 Bow Ties: Day 105

Spring is a big deal for Rock Hill, our beloved town. A big part of that big deal is the Come See Me festival, which begins with a parade. We set up shop with a whole slew of potters, artists, and crafters in conjunction with the parade festivities.

Just when I thought we had stolen the show, the Shriners came by doing their crazy stunts in their go carts. Forgot about them. They always steal the show.

I think our display is pretty snazzy if you ask me. Valet for hanging bow ties. Bunting. Hand-painted sign by Stephen. Our model Winthrop sporting our wares. Photo of our adorable kiddos sporting bow ties. And lots of bow ties.

I reached for a standard blue seersucker in classic cut. Hard to believe I haven't already worn this. But I guess Easter was just a month ago. Still.

Get hold of this Cordial Churchman classic. The tie that really got us all started.

Enjoy,

Andy

366 Bow Ties: Day 131

The Old Town Market has become one of our favorite events in our beloved city. Our neighbor-farmers set up tables full of their delicious produce and meats. Our neighbor-artisans set up tables full of their fine craftsmanship. And we get to hop up on a stage a few times each summer as The Perfect Melancholies (which, coincidentally, is the same line-up as the Hill City Church band) and provide entertainment.

About the time our neighbor-farmers were picking fresh produce for the market from the earth, our Belles picked a red silk necktie with pretty blue flowers (sorry for the lack of specificity; I'm no gardener) from the box full of would-be bow ties and made this classic bow tie for our market performance.

We'd be delighted to come and play at your neighborhood farmer's market---or better yet, in a quaint old theater on your Main St. Just let us know. In a couple weeks we are providing entertainment for a Chester County church's community BBQ. That sounds about right.

We'd also be delighted if you took this gorgeous bow tie off our hands, and put the cash into our project to bring beauty and delight to children in Haiti. Grab it here.

Cordially,

Andy

366 Bow Ties: Day 130

This shouldn't happen. Gingham. And then more gingham, in a different scale. On the same bow tie. On a gingham shirt, with yet a different scale. And a gingham pocket square too? All blue? With blue jeans? And a blue blazer?

Ah, but the blues are rescued by the green boots. Still, what's the deal?

I don't know. Something about having a beautiful wife makes me not care about having 4 pieces of gingham on at the same time.

Happy birthday, Ellie! You are gorgeous.

If you look closely, you'll see that the larger gingham ('buffalo check', my man Mr. Goodwill Hunting calls it) is on a smaller paddle than the smaller gingham on the back side. So it's got all this 'depth perspective' or whatever Dominique the abstract artist and Churchbelle who made it might want to call it. Add the smaller check on the shirt, and it's like you're wearing 3D goggles.

But still, Ellie's pretty, so I'm good, right? Go ahead. Make fun of me. It's her birthday (yesterday), and she's pretty. Boom.

We close this blog post with a public service announcement that's sure to keep your children in line when playing with light sabers. Just use logic with them. It cures everything.

Cordially, if a little bizarrely,

Andy

366 Bow Ties: Day 103

In my mind, there's nothing more classic and, well, just plain awesome, than a striped tie. It says "look, no need to reinvent the wheel here." In this instance, I kind of went for blue overkill: jeans, belt, shirt, bow tie.

Like that there nautical flag belt? Me too. I've never sailed, so I've definitely never hoisted such a flag. The New England elite would think it scandalous that I'm wearing this belt. So be it. (I'm not really being a punk, even though it sounds like it.)

The bow tie is a linen/cotton blend: Waite by name. A gorgeous bow tie. Rendered here in diamond point, this one can be had at a small discount.

So, to recap: lots of blue is a good look if you ask me. Stripes are awesome. Wear things that aren't indigenous to your people group. Buy this bow tie.

Cordially,

Andy

Jumping Ahead. 366 Bow Ties: Day 127

Okay, so my new strategy: post every day. Post a tie in the backlog and the actual day's tie. Deal? Deal!

I promised Owen (4) a doughnut if he behaved during church. He only behaved for half of church, so we took him out for half a doughnut. I got 1.5 doughnuts. It felt cruel, but just, to make him watch me eat his other half right in front of his eyes. Grown-ups love sprinkles too.

My spring Sunday uniform has been Bills M3 khakis and Oak Street Bootmakers loafers. Throw in the BillyKirk hand-sewn, American leather card case, and you've got a pretty darn American photo (taken on an iPhone which, the back of it says, was 'designed in California.' So, almost an American photo.

Blue blazer from the thrift store. Summer weight. Blue instead of brass buttons. Mustache looking good, no? ;-)

And then the tie. Gray chambray on one side; floral pattern in yellows, peaches, and greens on the other side. This is a sharp tie. The floral pattern is leftover from a wedding set we did for an upcoming wedding that will be covered by Martha Stewart Weddings.

Grab this one-0f-a-kind diamond point bow tie now, or it's gone. If you do, you're helping us make the lives of a handful of children in Haiti a little more 'floral'. Beauty from ashes. You can get behind that sort of thing, right?

Cordially,

Andy