DECEMBER 8, 2014 NEW HOSPITAL This is the beautiful new black top road that leads to the new hospital in Gonaives. We had the honor of touring the the newly opened facility last week. IT is amazing. I love the way so much construction is done in the Carribean, open air. The hallways are walkways every room has fresh air circulating through except the temp controlled surgery units. We were walking through the facility with the director of Health. THis man is a friend, a fellow believer and a pe...
AUGUST 31, 2014 BOTTLE BOTTOMS ilove these pieces. they are not particularly great selling ornaments. They are not particularly easy to make. We rarely get orders for them. but i like them, i do. they speak 2nd story. I like the way the smoothed glass feels in my hand, i like the way the simple sand casted aluminum fits snugly in there withthe clay bead hand -formed from real haitian dirt.. i like it all. Maybe it is the large amount of time spent walking through garbage. Some of you don...
MAY 20, 2014 LI PA OKIPE LI “he doesn’t concern himself” with his children. that is what she said when i asked her, “Where is their father?” her response, echoes in way too many. ” Li pa okipe li.” i have know this young woman 4 years now. She is beautiful and quiet. Her daughters look just like her, small precious faces. She sat me down on the side of the bridge yesterday and asked if i could help find an orphanage for her two youngest. ( my heart cracked and plunged ) As she explaine...
JULY 20, 2011THEY SCRAPE US CLEAN In Haiti, out in Jubilee, there is mud. When it rains. And even when it doesn’t rain, we are blessed to be near the sea and on the way out to the sea we inevitably get in mud. Sometimes it is our feet, sometimes up to our knees, sometimes ( not mentioning any names ) we get the truck stuck in the mud. And when that happens , our feet and knees and shoulders will also experience mud in the pushing out process. More than once it has been shared at the end of a particul...
SEPTEMBER 16, 2013 I FORGET. One of the great things about my beautiful mind is that I have the ability to watch the same movies. hear the same jokes, read the same books and study the same chapters of scripture over and over again, and it is always fresh. (my children will tell you, I forget stuff ) So this morning I am cruising through 2 chronicles 26, so encouraged by this teenage king Uzziah who follows in the footsteps of his faithful dad king. Then I read, “ as long as he sought the Lord, God gave h...
AUGUST 6, 2011 DIE WELL IT OCCURS TO ME THAT THERE IS A CALL TO DIE THAT IS GOOD . and a call to die that is bad. and that it is really time for me to know the difference. The beloved tension of “I have been crucified with Christ” and ” I have come that you might have Life and it more Abundantly“ so which is it? die or live big? Early in my walk i learned the beauty of “to die”. The above verse my life verse …”I have been crucified with Christ, I no longer live…” From my early years as a follo...
JUNE 1, 2011 T R A N S – I – T I O NTRANSITION : A PROCESS OR PERIOD IN WHICH SOMETHING UNDERGOES A CHANGE AND PASSES FROM ONE State … Stage … Form … or Activity … to another. Musically: a passage connecting two sections of a musical composition. Picture us strumming away to reach the right chords to bring us into the next part of the song. That is a lovely description of a messy procedure that I think of as “packing for the rest of your life” Rebecca and I leave this Sunday for Haiti, when we return...
Celebrating More Original Goods!It has been 10 years of 2nd Story Goods and we have already shared five of our classic products so now we have five more goods that have been with us from the start! Bottle Bottom Ornament I love these pieces. They are not particularly great selling ornaments. They are not particularly easy to make. We rarely get orders for them. but I like them, i do. They speak “2nd Story”. I like the way the smoothed glass feels in my hand, I like the way the simple sand-casted aluminum fits snugly in...
10 Years of 2nd Story Goods: Our Classic ProductsIt has officially been 10 years of making beautiful handcrafted goods and getting to share their magnificent stories. We want to give some love and attention to the classic products that have been there from the beginning and are still a part of 2nd Story Goods. 1. The Leather Journal 10 years ago he approached me on the salt flats in Jubilee. By this time, word was getting around that there was a Blan (white person) in the area looking for people with creative ideas. He approached me res...
Go Back to School or the Office with ConfidenceAre you going back to school or heading back to the office? If you are getting ready for in-person school or work (for what is maybe the first time since the pandemic) we want to help you walk into this next season confident and prepared! Plus, the fact that all of these products are ethically handmade in Haiti for a living wage means you can use them with pride! 1. Raw Large Leather Tote or Simon Backpack Our leather totes and backpacks let you carry your supplies in style. Whether yo...
Summer Cookout EssentialsIt is always our hope that our tablewares- from handwoven placemats to wooden salad servers- set a beautiful table around which even more beautiful conversations can take place. We love that in the summer, those table settings get to move outdoors! Here are our recommendations for any backyard cookout or dinner party you are having this summer. Firstly, we designed our new Harvest Apron with this kind of thing in mind. Wear it while preparing everything for the gathering. Available in cream o...
Father's Day Gift GuideOftentimes, Dad feels like the most worthy person of celebration, but the most difficult to shop for. This Father's Day, we have pulled together our tried and true favorite Dad gifts so that you can make sure he feels valued, celebrated, and loved! 1. The absolute perfect wallet for every dad is our Minimalist Wallet. It holds a ton while avoiding bulk and maintaining its integrity. Featuring an ID window and tons of slots for cards and cash, we love this non-folding wallet for practical...
How to Perfect the Art of the Charcuterie BoardDon’t let the word “art” or “charcuterie” scare you away from learning how to create your new go-to party contribution! While charcuterie boards are relatively new to the American foodie scene, they have actually withstood the test of time. Charcuterie, a French word meaning cooked flesh, describes the salted and smoked meats sold in French butcher shops and now defines easy, delicious, and timeless dining that anyone can accomplish. Whether you’re artsy, French, or none of the above, charcut...
Summer FavoritesIf you're anything like us, you're ready for a busy summer of traveling to warm places, sweet nights out with friends, and soaking up the sunshine. Keep reading to check out some of our favorite accessories and home goods that we'll be using all summer long. 1. If you’re planning to enjoy bike rides along the beach this summer, you need our best-selling Bike Basket! Handmade by our incredible artisans, our Bike Basket is durable enough to hold just about anything and looks so ador...
"You overpaid me."He who seeks to save his life will lose it, He who loses it for the sake of the kingdom of heaven finds it. This i know to be true. I may not know a lot. But this i know to be true. I remember an early event in Haiti. Probably in my 2nd year of living there. I had jumped on my moto and run down to the fabric stalls in the market. We needed more for the sewing group. I was in a hurry and somewhat distracted. ( like always?) Still learning the way of Haitian gourdes and Haitian Dollars. The k...
Not WastedIn the early days of 2nd Story Goods, it took time to build trust. We were all on new ground, trying to forge our way into creating things we’d never seen before, using materials that didn’t really make sense. We spent hours walking through the piles of discarded items out in the salt flats of Jubilee, knowing there were treasures to be found. We made earrings out of bottle caps, recycled glass and shells. We shaped angels from chipped plates and ceramic mugs sold for pennies in the street ma...
Celebrating More Original Goods!
It has been 10 years of 2nd Story Goods and we have already shared five of our classic products so now we have five more goods that have been with us from the start! Bottle Bottom Ornament I love these pieces. They are not particularly great selling ornaments. They are not particularly easy to make. We rarely get orders for them. but I like them, i do. They speak “2nd Story”. I like the way the smoothed glass feels in my hand, I like the way the simple sand-casted aluminum fits snugly in...
10 Years of 2nd Story Goods: Our Classic Products
It has officially been 10 years of making beautiful handcrafted goods and getting to share their magnificent stories. We want to give some love and attention to the classic products that have been there from the beginning and are still a part of 2nd Story Goods. 1. The Leather Journal 10 years ago he approached me on the salt flats in Jubilee. By this time, word was getting around that there was a Blan (white person) in the area looking for people with creative ideas. He approached me res...
Go Back to School or the Office with Confidence
Are you going back to school or heading back to the office? If you are getting ready for in-person school or work (for what is maybe the first time since the pandemic) we want to help you walk into this next season confident and prepared! Plus, the fact that all of these products are ethically handmade in Haiti for a living wage means you can use them with pride! 1. Raw Large Leather Tote or Simon Backpack Our leather totes and backpacks let you carry your supplies in style. Whether yo...
Summer Cookout Essentials
It is always our hope that our tablewares- from handwoven placemats to wooden salad servers- set a beautiful table around which even more beautiful conversations can take place. We love that in the summer, those table settings get to move outdoors! Here are our recommendations for any backyard cookout or dinner party you are having this summer. Firstly, we designed our new Harvest Apron with this kind of thing in mind. Wear it while preparing everything for the gathering. Available in cream o...
Father's Day Gift Guide
Oftentimes, Dad feels like the most worthy person of celebration, but the most difficult to shop for. This Father's Day, we have pulled together our tried and true favorite Dad gifts so that you can make sure he feels valued, celebrated, and loved! 1. The absolute perfect wallet for every dad is our Minimalist Wallet. It holds a ton while avoiding bulk and maintaining its integrity. Featuring an ID window and tons of slots for cards and cash, we love this non-folding wallet for practical...
How to Perfect the Art of the Charcuterie Board
Don’t let the word “art” or “charcuterie” scare you away from learning how to create your new go-to party contribution! While charcuterie boards are relatively new to the American foodie scene, they have actually withstood the test of time. Charcuterie, a French word meaning cooked flesh, describes the salted and smoked meats sold in French butcher shops and now defines easy, delicious, and timeless dining that anyone can accomplish. Whether you’re artsy, French, or none of the above, charcut...
Summer Favorites
If you're anything like us, you're ready for a busy summer of traveling to warm places, sweet nights out with friends, and soaking up the sunshine. Keep reading to check out some of our favorite accessories and home goods that we'll be using all summer long. 1. If you’re planning to enjoy bike rides along the beach this summer, you need our best-selling Bike Basket! Handmade by our incredible artisans, our Bike Basket is durable enough to hold just about anything and looks so ador...
"You overpaid me."
He who seeks to save his life will lose it, He who loses it for the sake of the kingdom of heaven finds it. This i know to be true. I may not know a lot. But this i know to be true. I remember an early event in Haiti. Probably in my 2nd year of living there. I had jumped on my moto and run down to the fabric stalls in the market. We needed more for the sewing group. I was in a hurry and somewhat distracted. ( like always?) Still learning the way of Haitian gourdes and Haitian Dollars. The k...
Not Wasted
In the early days of 2nd Story Goods, it took time to build trust. We were all on new ground, trying to forge our way into creating things we’d never seen before, using materials that didn’t really make sense. We spent hours walking through the piles of discarded items out in the salt flats of Jubilee, knowing there were treasures to be found. We made earrings out of bottle caps, recycled glass and shells. We shaped angels from chipped plates and ceramic mugs sold for pennies in the street ma...
