Tag Archives: Burke

SAPAHN & JHaus

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I was recently visiting my family in Burke, South Dakota and discovered that there was going to be a “trunk show” at Stella’s the diner/bar/gathering place.  I was thrilled to get to do a little Christmas shopping in Burke while I was home (actually I did quite a lot of Christmas shopping and bought myself a bag as well).  Both SAPAHN and JHaus are interesting companies.  They are very different in mission, but one thing is true about both—they are about empowering women and selling really cool goods. It was a pleasure to finally meet both Brooke and Jen.  I had heard a lot about these women over the years and I couldn’t believe my good fortune.  Brooke is the daughter of a friend/classmate and my niece, Kate did an internship with Jen in LA last summer.

stellas trunk show sapahn brooke mullen

SAPAHN (Brooke Mullen)

Can beautiful things do something beautiful?

Sapahn, the Thai word for bridge, is the perfect word for what we are about. We set out to connect places, ideas, traditions, artisans, and people like you with the goal of creating sustainable, economic opportunities.

http://sapahn.com/about/

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JHaus Jeans (Jen Hausmann)

Boyd County, Nebraska, the origin of a dream nurtured in the midst of corn fields and cattle drives. The family farm: full of heritage, old, rusty, and dusty things, the root of JHaus.

http://jhausbrand.com/

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Thank you Grandpa Lillibridge for the enormous influence you’ve had on my life.

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Lowell Louis Lillilbridge, Burke High School Graduation photo taken 1927. He was a young man way ahead of his time coming from a small town in South Dakota.  I don’t think this was the graduation photograph that his father and stepmother particularly liked-it was perhaps even a bit scandalous in the day. Lowell (known as Louis) was graduating a year early and heading off to The University of Chicago to begin his studies. He had a remarkably keen intellect and was the most generous man I’ve ever known, both with his resources and spirit.

Lately, Grandpa has been visiting me in both my dreams and my waking life.  I often ask him what to do when I have challenges in my life.  I promise I am not going to get too (new age-y) here, I’ve just been thinking a lot lately about how much our ancestral knowledge plays a huge role in who we are and how we navigate the world.  Grandpa died July 24th, 1986. I was 19 years old then and my sorrow when he died was felt into my bone marrow.  Now as a 48 year old woman my access to him is much better understood.  He’s a part of me physically (deep set Lillibridge eyes and a decent inseam) and in my spirit.  In my dream last night he told me to “keep going and push harder”.  I can interpret this a lot of ways right now in my life and I am going to pay attention.  Thank you Grandpa for all that you’ve instilled in me.  I am eternally grateful and I am listening.

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A portrait of my Grandfather done by Linda Frasch in the late 1970s I would guess. My Mom just sent me this painting for my birthday.  I have always loved it because of the style.  It very much reminds me of the New Yorker artist Maira Kalman whom I adore.MK_Chapter2-4._V196582876_

Maira Kalman illustration from her 2012 book:  And the Pursuit of Happiness