Pineapple West Co.

✨OPEN NOW! ✨ Find my Renew Collection coasters - and so many other amazing MD makers' goods- at Shop Made in Maryland!! I'm thrilled to be part of this store and collection and so excited that it's finally open!! Visit
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AND say the code ISUPPORTMDMAKERS at the register to get 10% off when you shop in the store!
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I'm about to drop off the MOST inventory I've ever given a shop - this isn't even all of it! 🤯
I'm THRILLED to be joining shopmadeinmd_ at their new store in College Park. It's opening on December 1 - just in time for the holidays! I hope you'll swing by and shop. 🛍

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How many layers is recommended for today's Small Business Saturday outdoor event with !? A lot!! But we're here and we're ready to go! We will be here until 4pm with over 100 small businesses - come shop with us!

Fun holiday coasters are coming with me to for the event today!
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Hi friends, I'm still here, I promise. Thanks for hanging in here with me even while I've been absent. I've been busy finishing a big custom order, getting sets into stores, beginning a new process for making coasters, and gearing up for the holidays (how is it already mid-November?!).
With Thanksgiving is right around the corner, what markets are you most excited to shop at this year?
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.taken will be at the Design Market with many Pineapple West coasters this weekend! Find the Renew Collection, featured here, and the Cyanotype Collection this Saturday and Sunday at the Howard County Fairgrounds. See you there!

RESCHEDULED TO SEPTEMBER 17! There are storms in the forecast for tomorrow so the Catonsville Arts & Crafts Festival has been rescheduled to next Sunday. Stay dry tomorrow and see you there next week!

Put it on your calendar! The 50th Annual Catonsville Arts & Crafts Festival is going to be special. We have so much to look forward to and food, food, food! Go to: https://www.catonsville.org/arts-crafts-festival/ for more information

Excited for this weekend! We'll be there with coasters and trivets!

Put it on your calendar! The 50th Annual Catonsville Arts & Crafts Festival is going to be special. We have so much to look forward to and food, food, food! Go to: https://www.catonsville.org/arts-crafts-festival/ for more information

Excited to be at the Hereford Farmer's Market today! Stop by and say hello between 9am - 12pm!
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Very excited to kick off my summer markets at Olney Farmers & Artists Market tomorrow morning! Hoping for decent weather - I'll be there so long as it isn't down-pouring.
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First batch in my Cyanotype Collection is here! These prints were made with our yarrow plants' leaves and each coaster set is unique. It's a small first batch but I loved how these turned out and I'm gearing up for more soon!

These are just in time for the Olney Farmers & Artists Market on Sunday (fingers crossed it won't be raining heavily!). Visit the market and grab on there! These are also available on the website. Check the link my profile!

Hitting up the farmers markets this summer! Catch me at Olney, , and very soon!
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If you've followed me for a while or have met me at markets, you know that the designs I use are not my own - I use all kinds of paper to make my coasters and trivets. And while I do love finding a killer pattern and repurposing paper, my ultimate goal is to have all designs created by me.
This year is a little bit about experimentation with that goal in mind. I'm trying new techniques and styles, aiming to create more cohesive collections of products that I design and develop. I've been dabbling with procreate, I've made new paper from paper scraps, and now I'm playing with cyanotypes!
Cyanotypes have been on my mind for a while now. I did them way back in high school as part of my photography classes and have seen them pop up on designs over the last few years. There is something so lovely about that deep blue background and the white, organic shapes. When I did them on a work trip last year, I was reminded how simple of a process it is and it inspired me to try them again myself.
So, I spent Saturday, sitting in our clover and grass, with the honey bees flying around, making cyanotypes from plants I collected around from our yard. Kind of a perfect day. 😆 Here's a sneak peak!

I'll be hanging out at the Catonsville Farmer's Market tomorrow morning! Come say hi and then head over to the Arbutus Arts & Crafts Festival - another fabulous Erin will be there - 😆🙌🏻

Thank you for featuring me as part of the Hidden Gems series last week! It was so fun to reflect on how I started, how it's going, and lessons learned, especially as I'm coming up on my 5 year business anniversary this spring!
https://voyagebaltimore.com/interview/hidden-gems-meet-erin-kephart-of-pineapple-west-co/

Final steps!
Once the sheets were ironed, I cut them and started making coasters! I love the subtly of these and I can't wait to experiment more. What do you think?
These sets were made with recycled tiles from a bathroom remodel. And, again, inspiration struck! My goal with all of the recycled paper sets is to continue to use or buy second-hand tiles for these, bringing new life to often discarded pieces.
These are not yet available on my website. And that's where I need your help! What should I call this series???
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Paper-making continued!
Once the paper dries, I ironed them to flatten and voila! I had these awesome sheets of paper recycled paper!
I'm OBSESSED. I love the different variations I can get and the speckled look - or funfetti as has called it. There are wrinkles and imperfections. And the options feel endless. I'm inspired to try all sorts of things with this! 😃 But first...coasters!
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Let me [continue] to tell you about my paper making experience!
This was the most relaxing part of the process in my opinion! I added the pulp to a bin of water until it was the right consistency (queue thanks for their paper-making courses that gave me ideas of what to look for!).
I used cheap screen printing frames for my first few batches, though I ended up buying a proper mold and deckle for future use. You dip the frame in, let the water drain, then flip onto a cotton sheet, carefully press the water out and hang to dry!
It seems so simple but there was quite a bit of trial and error which you can see in the inconsistency of the paper edges. Regardless, this is so fun! And if someone was recording me, they would have heard my excitement each time I made a new sheet. 😆
Stay tuned for the end results!
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Let me tell you about my paper making experience!
First things first, I was not strategic in storing my paper scraps 😂 so I first wanted to separate them by color before shredding into smaller pieces. (Disregard the duck toy in the mix 🐶.)
After shredding, I blended the scraps with water
which breaks it down and makes what's called pulp. (Shout out to my local for the blender!) Depending on how long you blend it, you can see more or less of the original paper's features and colors which was super fun to experiment with!
Stay tuned for more!
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It is not too late to get the perfect hostess gift! These hexagon, winter themed coasters will be great long before the holidays are over. Head over to .taken for these beauts - but be quick! These are only available at Taken and you wouldn't want someone else to grab them, would you?!
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The holidays are coming! Did you decorate already?? Do you need a set of coasters to match your holiday decor? Head over to .taken to find these and other awesome decor and gift items!
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Don't forget about this weekend! Find me at on Saturday with between 10am-2pm to shop Pineapple West Co.! This was a great event last year and I'm so looking forward to it again this year!

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There's just something about winter plaid 😍
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These are available only at .taken. Be sure to grab them while they are available!

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Thanks to everyone who has purchased a set of b**b coasters! I've sold 23 sets this year (and sold out of them this weekend!) and, thanks to those sales, I'm donating $115 to for Giving Tuesday. And, today, is TRIPLE MATCHING donations so the impact of this donation is even bigger!
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You have one last opportunity to shop with me directly, in-person this holiday season! Join me at a shopping experience at .
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These holiday babes are now available! I don't usually make the same pattern in multiple shapes - nevertheless all three shapes but I couldn't resist!
Purchase these online or visit me TODAY for Small Business Saturday event at The Avenue in White Marsh from 12pm-5pm.
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I have trivets in this pattern too 😍
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Shop "big" brand names today, but shop SMALL BUSINESSES this weekend. Find me and so many other awesome makers at Small Business Saturday with !
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What is one thing you are grateful for this year?
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I'll name three!
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* I'm grateful for every person who comes to my booth, regardless of whether they buy something or not. I always appreciate someone stepping in, saying hello, and browsing! ❤
* I'm grateful for my community of makers. I started this business without knowing many people and it's a lot more fun and inspiring to do it alongside - and to cheer on! - other makers. ❤
* I'm grateful to my husband who has helped me at nearly every event and even did an entire event without me! I couldn't do this without him. ❤
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I hope everyone has a safe and filling Thanksgiving tomorrow!
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