Wandawega Blog Archive

The one TedxTalk I re watch every year,(And why every creative looking to stay motivated should)Weve been hosting the creative team at @Threadless for over a decade, welcoming them back again in a couple weeks. @skaw is the founder, our camp neighbor & endless fountain of creative inspiration. If youre like me, looking for an infusion of new ways of creating and thinking- you gotta check out his @tedxboulder talk NEVER STOP MAKING THINGSHe talks about SO much :the universal need to make things.stepping out of your comfort zone.making unintended consequences.making things with friends & collaborators.This last one is the one weve been leaning in on the most in the last (and coming) year We have some exciting things in the cooker now that well be rolling out next year with some inspiring collaborators.I watch Jakes talk again at least once a year. Its 12 years old And still fresh every time. Its the best battery- recharging 10 minutes youll spendThe rabbit hole worth falling down:Jake started Threadless when he was a sophomore in college, born from the need to express creativity by making things. His story is so freaking inspiring- they basically exist to help artists succeed. Almost 25 years ago, they started out making T-shirts in Chicago. Since then, theyve partnered with hundreds of thousands of artists, promoting their independent art to millions across the world. Through the relentless pursuit of helping folks get their art discovered, theyre now essentially a global community of diverse artists (& those who support them) One of the Jakes ideas that is our closest to our hearts is Threadless Causes – it helps folks make an impact by buying designs that directly support causes. (Both Threadless and the artists donate a portion of proceeds from the sale of every product). shining a spotlight on creative expression that drives cultural change, and the love of art.And were here for it.(Photos here by @cshimala, shot at one of the camp Threadless retreats)

September 7, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Coming in hot, Chicago.(Or as fast as we get get our mascot to go- which topped out at about 58mph on the highway)Anyway, Tonight we ride !Thanks for the VIP (handicap) parking space for this old girl. Looking forward to launching in style tonight @thetiebar THANK YOU @solemnoathbeer @hiddenhandbeer @lulacafe @poolhallband @OldTownWatercraft@rightwaysigns

September 5, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Picking me a bouquet of dogwood flowers Missing this crew: @cabinlove @ethanabitz @strawburry17 @lady_bro @francessimonephotog @tarynhyland @Amanda.arends @willandbear @roamwithdrake @alexanderknorr @lozyjane @willandbear

August 31, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Scout is not as invisible as she thinks she is.She was a volunteer assistant on our shoot for our collab with Two Hearted IPA (if anybody enjoys your soap to be shaped like a trout, delivered to you on a rope, head over to our camp store for another fun little project we created with them).You can find these on the @bellsbrewery site, at their store – and around camp this fall. We are so ready for pumpkin patches, Apple picking, and the autumn color drives.DEETS:Meet our 4-Piece Campfire Set your mallow & weiner roasting camp companion. This canvas roll-up kit includes a durable canvas pouch and four stainless steel forks with adjustable wooden handles. (This is BYOS – Smore fixins not included.)

August 30, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Out of our league. Gonna try to put our imposter syndrome in the drawer for the morning (learning how to take a compliment and show more gratitude).No idea how we ended up on this list, but happy to be in the company of some of our creative friends who inspire us on the daily : @partymomchi @brendanfernandes & @evantsheehan – these folks bring so much beauty, art and love in all colors everywhere. – and Congrats @cschicagosocial on your 30th year & @JPAnders Its refreshing to see that a magazine with the word luxury on the masthead can be inclusive of folks who have one foot in the city and one in the woodsand can recognize that the word can be defined in different ways. (It doesnt always have to be about the pedigree of brand we drive & carry)Luxury for us is getting to do this Wandawega labor of love – even when were collecting garbage across the grounds in a heatwave like this Monday at 6am.Nobody asked, but since were over-sharers:Davids wearing a vintage thrifted hunters vest, Im wearing the most luxurious find from the Delevan, Wisco Goodwill Store – a 1970s Pendleton wool mens button down. (With only one visible moth hole)@modernluxury @cschicagosocial #modernluxury #chicagosocial

August 29, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Our camp couples are some of the most fun folks we met New talent crush : the bride ( Anna ) works for Activists Artists in Nashville (and manages bands like the Lumineers)So many congrats to the couple of ove for life, @annakolander & @homeofthegoodberger …photographer @kinseywilder Fun Wrangler and jill of all trades Danielle @rosewoodwed

August 28, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Thanks Detroit News For the shout out!*and a little good news update:Many of the pieces in the new bedding collection are back in stock now at several retailers- (the next production run of pillows are due to restock shelves first week of October- theyre so labor intensive to craft – that the lead times are much longer)We appreciate the overwhelming interest and support in the line more than we can put into words- excited to be able to offer these again soon ! Photos : @bobcoscarelli @erikengstromphoto @nathanbobey

August 27, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

ITS COMING!So excited to see our little DepartmentOfObjects.com featured in center spread of the new @accidentallywesanderson book- Wes himself had a hand in this new tomb of inspiration, approving the photos and writing the forward. Today, our friends at AWA did a feature post on camp, and were needing out heres their post and words: During prohibition, a group of Chicago bigwigs created a space where they could make their own rules. Camp Wandawega was originally built as a center for illicit recreation: liquor, prostitution, and gambling. Trapdoors, multiple points of egress, and hidden hatches served as security, and the whole operation proved successful until a federal raid led to a padlock on its doors. Wandawegas history has been populated both by both neer-do-wells and do-gooders who frequented the site well before it evolved into the idyllic quirky resort it is today…Full Story on Pages 56-59 of Accidentally Wes Anderson: Adventures with phenomenal photos from the amazing @lyndielou, @nathanbobey and @nathanmichael200 brand new, mind-bendingly beautiful bucket list locations and the unexpected stories behind each one.Happy Monday, Adventurers!#awa #accidentallywesanderson #awaadventures #campwandawega #elkhorn #wisconsinlife

August 26, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

DOORS are OPEN Camp Wandawega Comes to Chicago!Weve just hung our shingle. an outpost at @thetiebar flagship on Armitage.Swing by to shop the ( just launched ) Long Weekend collab line (& also a bunch of our other camp products that are otherwise only available online or at our shop at camp in Wisco).We even made some custom merch for our new little Department of Tourism outpost.This afternoon were headed back to Home Depot for more lights, hooks, extension cordsall the things to finish it off ( cause our DIY is always a work in progress) but were super excited to have our first little footprint in Chicago with our friends at The Tie Bar to showcase our favorite collaboration to date and more…Scroll a few iPhone snaps of our work-in-progress-labor-of-love..A little PS shoutout to:- our dear friend @chesperry who hand gold-leafed our little shingle sign of our dreams and @rightwaysigns for wrapping the whole facade of @thetiebar with some of the collection artwork- the official Deputy Creative at the Department of Creative Endeavors @nathanbobey – Ellie, Joe, Riley, camp crew & Michelle, Emily, Dave

August 24, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram