Articles by Kayla Ivan | Smokingpipes Daily Reader

A Look Behind-the-Scenes at Cornell & Diehl's Machinery

October 24, 2025 by Kayla Ivan

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Every tin that goes out into the world from Cornell & Diehl is backed by the hard-working efforts of the entire team, from blending to production and everything in between. Recently, I had the pleasure of chatting with Jeremy Reeves, Director and Head Blender of C&D, and Bretton "B" Otto, Cornell & Diehl's Industrial Mechanic, about the unsung heroes of the blending house's production process: Antique, custom-made machinery. While C&D has always maintained a hand-blended ... Read More

Celebration Cigars

October 16, 2025 by Kayla Ivan

There is no such thing as too many celebrations; we all enjoy indulging in the moment and basking in the best that life has to offer. Celebrations are some of our most anticipated moments in life, proving to be exciting and full of joy in every sense of the word. What better way to celebrate ... Read More

Into the Past: Pipes as a Status Symbol in Europe

October 10, 2025 by Kayla Ivan

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It's always interesting to take a look at the trends of a certain era. Whether we're looking to the 1960s for hippie-inspired attire, or to the Y2K fashion of the early 2000s, different time periods have varying ideas of what is in vogue. But it's not just clothes; smoking pipes ... Read More

Tobacco Selections: The Haunting Cake

October 8, 2025 by Kayla Ivan

Jeremy Reeves, Head Blender of Cornell & Diehl, discussed the return of The Haunting Cake. After three long years, it's coming back for the Halloween season. Made in collaboration with Kyle Gellis of Warped Cigars, this favorite autumn smoke ... Read More

Top Pipe Tobacco Blends For Autumn

October 1, 2025 by Kayla Ivan

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Autumn has arrived. This cozy time of the year is a favorite among many for an array of reasons: the beginning of the holidays, the return of tasty seasonal treats like pumpkin spice lattes and hot apple cider, and cool breezes. For the pipe smoker, autumn is a favorite, for it is the start of the unwritten smoking season, with the cold perfectly complementing the warmth of your bowl as you smoke tobaccos for 2024. ... Read More

Pipe-Smoking Desktop Backgrounds: October 2025

October 1, 2025 by Kayla Ivan

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We have eight new images available for download in two high-resolution formats for your desktop and mobile backgrounds, fresh for the month of October. As always, be sure to check back here next month for another round of photos to enjoy ... Read More

The Dawn of Autumn

September 24, 2025 by Kayla Ivan

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The beginning of the autumn season marks the end of the harvest of summer, and the transition to winter as nature goes from vibrant life to inevitable decay. Despite how morbid that might sound, we humans have found a way to romanticize and delight in the changing of the seasons, with holidays to look forward to and traditions to fulfill. Personally, I love fall. It's the dawn ... Read More

Pipe-Smoking First Lady: Rachel Jackson

September 20, 2025 by Kayla Ivan

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Rachel Jackson was a lady of the frontier who became the seventh First Lady of the United States, yet never actually lived in the White House. Despite her husband, Andrew Jackson's changing status as he rose through the ranks of political candidates, Rachel held true to her meek and unwavering spirit, even with a colorful history that followed her all throughout her life. ... Read More

A Deep Dive Into Charles Peterson's Latvian Roots

September 12, 2025 by Kayla Ivan

The world's oldest continuously operating briar pipe manufacturer has a rich history spanning 160 years that has been told in various websites, blogs, and books. However, Charles Peterson's early life has yet to be discussed in depth here on the Daily Reader. In honor of Kapp & Peterson's anniversary this year, today I will be diving into Charles Peterson's origin story, from Latvian roots to Irish acclaim. ... Read More

What Makes A Great Beginner Pipe?

September 5, 2025 by Kayla Ivan

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When you're just beginning your pipe-smoking journey, it's easy to become overwhelmed by the myriad brands, sizes, shapes, and styles of pipes available. Do you start with a straight or bent pipe? Briar or meer? And which stem material? While selecting your first pipe ... Read More

Kayla Ivan