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Our #withthesehands campaign celebrates the analog in a digital world, reminding us to honor the handmade.

Our newest sales director Rebecca Schick has a passion for sewing. What else could be more hands-on then creating with thread, needles, fabric, and pins? We sat down with her recently to discuss the merits of the handmade.

Why is it important for us to use our hands?

I feel that our hands are one of the most understated, profound, & integral catalysts for human connection. We are soothed, we are nourished, we are provided for, we communicate, we learn and in kind are taught by our collective hands. Our hands carry us through our lives and worlds, in countless ways and forms. Our hands literally touch, whether directly or indirectly almost every aspect of many different modalities of existence in some way and the impact is immeasurable, insurmountable, often overlooked, and extends a reach that surpasses what we know of time itself. Hands are directly related to our evolution, from the very beginnings of our civilization to current. Our hands are a story. I look at mine knowing that I’ve rarely squandered their utility. They are muscular, and slightly chubby, covered in wrinkles, already with scratches and scars. I keep my mind aware of the distance they have carried me. Especially now, I am reminded with reverence of the power in our hands.

What is the role your hands play in sewing?

It would prove very difficult to sew without hands, although I'm sure it's possible. Whether I am measuring, cutting, pinning, placing, threading, stitching - even in the conceptual phase when drafting a pattern, or sketching - the hands are involved. I’ve even started to practice writing and tasking in the non-dominant hand in hopes that I can extend the life of my work.

What kind of sewing do you love and are you working on anything new?

I really loved the hand sewing I did while working for Heidi Johnson, "The Wedding DeTailor." We were involved with a varied and constant flow of high-end bridal gown alterations, which were costly & delicate. It was a tremendous responsibility to take such great care & skill towards something so special and although it was cautious, it felt like very peaceful meditative work. The pandemic put an end to the wedding season, so I was afforded plenty of time to work on personal pursuits. I began to make face masks inspired by one created by a very talented friend and artist Dominique Ellermeier, and the desire to help protect my friends and family. I thought I could take my couture skills and apply the functionality of face masks to create something lighthearted to brighten up the mood during these times. Ever since, I have been crafting bizarre and eccentric pieces of PPE couture for the brave souls who wear them.

What is your life’s philosophy?

Laugh as much as you can. Dance like no one is watching and every chance you get. Love deeply. Eat well. Have fun. Show up for your people. Let go. Take every chance to be kinder. Be what you want to see in the world. Follow your bliss. Stop doing things you don't want to do. Be honest. Realize your faults. Learn-change. Help each other. Listen to music. Stop and smell the roses. Give a good hug. Be patient. 

What is your favorite Sergio Lub bracelet?

Connection. It feels weightless, and I think the design is very beautiful. It reminds me of the invisible connective strings between us.

In the photos above, Rebecca wears the following SLJ bracelets: Harvest Dance, Copper Creek, and Copper Band.

For a glimpse at Rebecca’s DIY couture and fashion PPE, visit her Instagram page: @hausofschickofficial

Carly, Sally & Molly

Many small, family-run businesses are feeling the burn of coronavirus but Saleigh Mountain Company, like many others deemed essential, has remained open. Daughter Molly fixes shoes and mom Sally provides leatherwork. The ladies, known for their uniquely inviting and earthy charm have weathered fluctuations before. 

"My mom first opened shop in 1973 in Berkley California,” says Molly. “Mom and Dad operated the shop in Hermann from about '84-'88. They closed down for a lot of years so that mom could homeschool us four kids. Dad went back to school to finish up an engineering degree. Mom and I reopened the shop July 26th, 2011. We've been at it ever since!"

Alongside rugged American goods like Thorogood work boots, the ladies sell a full line of quality leather goods made right in house by mom: purses, wallets, checkbook covers, belts, and more. They fully appreciate the aesthetic of the handmade, whether being able to create beautiful accessories or bring a person’s favorite pair of shoes back to life. Molly refers to her faith when she quotes Thessalonians and says, “Lead a quiet life and work with your hands.”

For the past three years, we’ve been honored to have our bracelets share counter space with the likes of their handiwork. 

There is a new hashtag roaming the social media circuits these days called #staywithsmall. It arose in response to the current pandemic as businesses across the nation found themselves shuttering their doors to shelter in place, or local artists and creators were forced to utilize new ways to spread the word about their products, creations, and art online. In support of #staywithsmall we are temporarily turning our blog into a place to share profiles of small businesses we adore. If you’d like to be featured, contact us at yes@sergiolub.com.

As a small business made up of family members, and extended family members comprised of artists and artisans who create beautiful things with their hands, we empathize with many others like us who are currently trying to keep afloat during these trying times of the coronavirus. It’s important in this age to support each other in any way we can, which is why we enjoy sharing the fruits of those dear to us in this space here. 

Today, we are celebrating the release of The Soulfire Project’s latest album No Borders. The Soulfire Project includes members of the Morgan family who have been neighbors and lifelong friends of ours here in Napa.

The band is a multi-cultural, nomadic music experience that fuses reggae and cumbia with folk, Afro-Latin, and Caribbean elements, weaving a tapestry of world music that embraces the resilience of the human spirit. With one fist raised in solidarity and the other hand inviting us to join the movement, the group’s powerful blend of world beats and infectious harmonies stand out as a passionate call for coherence between consciousness and action.

Touring the Americas since 2009 in their home/studio, a converted 1979 school bus that runs on used vegetable oil and solar power, The SoulFire Project has grown from the street, to the stage, to world music festivals in Central America, Europe and the US.

Interweaving musical genres and languages, with songs in English, Spanish and Portuguese, the new album features musicians from 13 countries, jumping all kinds of geographical borders as well.

LISTEN HERE NOW! ENJOY!

More information on Soulfire Project

There is a new hashtag roaming the social media circuits these days called #staywithsmall. It arose in response to the current pandemic as businesses across the nation found themselves shuttering their doors to shelter in place, or local artists and creators were forced to utilize new ways to spread the word about their products, creations, and art online. In support of #staywithsmall we are temporarily turning our blog into a place to share profiles of small businesses we adore. If you’d like to be featured, contact us at yes@sergiolub.com.

Jendala

There is a new hashtag roaming the social media circuits these days called #staywithsmall. It arose in response to the coronavirus pandemic as businesses across the nation found themselves shuttering their doors to shelter in place at home. Many of these businesses are our wholesalers, a segment of the industry that’s been seriously economically affected by our current reality. #staywithsmall has emerged to remind buyers that small businesses need our help right now and that shopping solely on big conglomerate sites such as Amazon doesn’t do much toward the greater good. In support of #staywithsmall we are temporarily turning our blog into a place to share profiles of small businesses we adore. If you’d like to be featured, contact us at yes@sergiolub.com.

Our first subject is a dear friend of ours, Jendala, a vivacious force to be reckoned with whose lifelong love of fire transmuted to an early career as a firefighter before forging her current role as a torch-bearing artisan. In her Healdsburg, California studio she creates beautiful up-cycled metal art gifts that touch the soul and offer positive motivation like her gratitude chimes that buyers can customize with words of their liking. The chimes, hung with bells, make awesome patio mobiles for the young at heart.

Speaking of the young, right now she’s offering special Kits for Kids, a perfect creative activity for children bored to death in quarantine. For $40, the kits come with supplies to make 4 chimes. Jendala likes the idea of making one for the self and then gifting the others to those special essential workers in our lives who keep things running smoothly at great risk to their lives: postmen, grocery clerks, and so on. Right now, she’s also granting 50% off at checkout with the coupon code HIGHVIBE.

Jendala’s love of kids goes further than simply selling them something fun to do. Her non-profit organization Heartizens is all about providing nurturing spaces for kids to build resilience through art, gratitude and community. The project-based creative learning program is grounded in empowerment, kindness, compassion, good deeds and clear communication. Stop by online (we all definitely have the time) and check it out.

It’s nice to know that there are people in the world who strive to make a living making other people happy. Especially in times like these when every little smile goes an extra long way.

The antimicrobial properties of copper have been touted for centuries ever since ancient peoples first wore the brilliant metal. Today, as we face heightened health concerns that run from chronic arthritis to circulating viruses, we’ve been asked to share a compendium of information on the topic.

1. 

“Copper and its alloys (brasses, bronzes, cupronickel, copper-nickel-zinc, and others) are natural antimicrobial materials. Ancient civilizations exploited the antimicrobial properties of copper long before the concept of microbes became understood in the nineteenth century.

The antimicrobial properties of copper are still under active investigation. Molecular mechanisms responsible for the antibacterial action of copper have been a subject of intensive research. Scientists are also actively demonstrating the intrinsic efficacy of copper alloy "touch surfaces" to destroy a wide range of microorganisms that threaten public health.”  Read more …

2.

Metallic Copper as an Antimicrobial Surface  

“Bacteria, yeasts, and viruses are rapidly killed on metallic copper surfaces, and the term “contact killing” has been coined for this process. While the phenomenon was already known in ancient times, it is currently receiving renewed attention. This is due to the potential use of copper as an antibacterial material in health care settings. Contact killing was observed to take place at a rate of at least 7 to 8 logs per hour, and no live microorganisms were generally recovered from copper surfaces after prolonged incubation. The antimicrobial activity of copper and copper alloys is now well established, and copper has recently been registered at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the first solid antimicrobial material.”  Read more …

3.

Rediscovering Copper Properties

Old records show that over 500 years ago, the Aztec civilization treated sore throats by gargling with a copper mixture. Earlier yet, in India, Persia, and Egypt, copper was used to treat lung diseases and skin conditions. In the 1800s, European physicians were using copper to treat arthritic patients. Research in the 1900s added the beneficial roles of copper compounds for mental and heart health.  Read more ...

4. 

Copper Destroys Viruses and Bacteria. Why Isn't It Everywhere?

"Today, we have insight into why a person handling copper day in and day out would have protection from a bacterial threat: Copper is antimicrobial. It kills bacteria and viruses, sometimes within minutes. In the 19th century, exposure to copper would have been an early version of constantly sanitizing one's hands.

Since then, studies have shown that copper is able to destroy the microbes that most threaten our lives. It has been shown to kill a long list of microbes including norovirus, MRSA, a staph bacteria that has become resistant to antibiotics, virulent strains of E. coli that cause food-borne illness, and coronaviruses—possibly including the novel strain currently causing the COVID-19 pandemic."  Read more ...

5. 

Copper Can Destroy Respiratory Viruses

“Hospital administrators should take a new look at copper, new research suggests, with evidence emerging that the metal can halt the spread of a wide array of diseases. Long before Pasteur invented the germ theory of disease, copper, and alloys such as brass, were touted as protectors against ill health. While many such pre-scientific remedies have failed rigorous testing, copper has been demonstrated to be a powerful antibiotic.  Read more …