In 1562, Diego Gutierrez and Hieronymus Cock created a map of the Spanish Empire for King Phillip II. Gutierrez was a cartographer and cosmographer for the Casa de Contración (a government agency tasked with trying to control Spanish exploration and settlement); Cock … Continue reading →
Tis the season of self-help books. If you have wandered down the aisles of your local bookseller (at least the purveyors of new books, sheets, tires, and assorted other household items), you have probably noticed that they carry three types … Continue reading →
It was a dark cabinet in the far corner. An enoumous cabinet that would creak and groan with age and weight. As a wee elf, I was terrified of my great grandmother’s cabinet of curiosity. It was filled with the … Continue reading →
If you have stopped in the Cambria Toy Station, you already know that we are a very small store (although we do manage to pack a lot in to the available space). When we started the shop, we wanted to … Continue reading →
It’s that time of year…September 3, 4, and 5th For twenty years, we published The Scale Cabinetmaker. Publishing a quarterly journal, or any journal, is a lesson in Sisyphus rolling the same rock up the same hill every three months. Most … Continue reading →
This week’s newsletter centers, it seems, on a central theme–Be Nice! Every four years I watch two series of events: the Olympics (as a Montana native, I tend to be fonder of the winter version rather than the summer…but that … Continue reading →
July’s Writers Challenge : Have some fun and win a free book. This month, something slightly different. Your contest entry must contain the following words or terms: nail polish a VHS tape a book of spells Have fun! Each month, we … Continue reading →
Cozy Mysteries. Wander through the mystery section of a bookstore, new or used, and you’ll notice a burgeoning section of what is affectionately referred to as cozy mysteries, those mysteries that provide a fun read after a long day. Great … Continue reading →
You Have a Body in a Hot Tub! A not-so-serious monthly contest for readers, writers, quasi-writers, and occasional writers. At the beginning of each month, we will publish a “prompt”–a story idea, a character suggestion, a first line, or some other random … Continue reading →
If you are a long term customer at the depot, you have, more than likely, ended up in a conversation about cooking, gardening, or both as you were checking out. Food, both the growing and the cooking, is a favorite topic, … Continue reading →
