And the winner is....

GypsyFox!

Congratulations! You are now the owner of a handmade hat. Just write me your address at solanahraquel@gmail.com.

And to everyone else, thank you so much for participating and promoting on your own blogs, there will be many more giveaways to be sure! So stay tuned!

xoxo

Cheese, sand, a lost paradise and a lighthouse.

About two hours away from Portland is the magical land of Tillamook, where enchanting cheese is made. So my nephew, vegan brother and I traveled there today and got to see the process in the tourist ridden Tillamook cheese factory. It's pretty neat, plus they carry all the neat cheeses they make and all the ice cream, so you can eat food factory fresh.

Not far away there was a lighthouse on a cliff. It was really interesting because we actually got to go up where the light is, up these steep little stairs, and onto a narrow walkway around the lens. It had been there since the late 1800s, amazing!

While driving my brother spotted this sign, and recognized the name "City of Bay Ocean". So we drove on a rocky dusty road out made between the bay and the ocean until we arrived at what looked like a hiking trail. As it turns out it used to be a little town turned resort in the summer nearly 100 years ago until the land and it's buildings fell into the ocean through the 20s, 30s, and 40s. It would have been amazing if there was something left to see, but it's all gone now, like so many interesting things. You can read more about it and see photos here.
On our way home we stopped at Oceanside beach, the weather was beautiful and it seemed like a nice walk. Upon walking out to the ocean gusts of wind carrying little grains of sand attacked our ankles, those little devils hurt! So our visit was short lived, but at least I can say I went to the beach!

By the way, the hat giveaway is officially closed! A winner will be chosen later today, are you super excited? I am :)

Summer Picnic!

This afternoon was our annual family picnic at a park just outside of town. It was a perfect day for it, except there were so many bees! I was running around the entire time because they just like to buzz for no reason, right in my hair or try and tangle in my petticoat. They weren't honey bees or bumble bees, those are cute and fuzzy, but yellow jackets which really just exist to strike fear into me and my cousin Ruth (The one holding the beautiful pie, she made from scratch herself!).
There was a three legged pillow sack race, egg on a spoon race, and a pinata that would not burst.
After a while we went down to the rocky water to explore, I just love those smooth river rocks. Last year we went and waded into the water, at which time Sam didn't remove his cellphone from his pocket and needless to say it drowned. We stayed out of the water this time ;)

More photobooth photos...

Tonight Sam surprised me by taking me out to dinner at Henrys our favorite restaurant. If you ever go get the beer cheese soup, it's like....well I don't even know, it's just wonderful.
Afterwards we went to Powells and browsed around. There were some neat books, but kind of expensive.
I insisted we stop at the photobooth, and since Sam didn't want to he decided to make the same face in every picture. He was laughing between shots, but somehow managed a blank look in each one. Silly goose. When we got the pictures my fabulous hat was not in them so I took them again, I wish it was not dark out so I could take a photo with my camera! Its a 1930s topper all covered in black and red feathers. You'll love it I'm sure ;)

Lions and tigers and llamas oh my!

Today after work I went with a few friends to the county fair, a place I haven't been to for years since I entered knitting into 4H. It was the same as always, but this time around new animals, new quilts, new people that for some reason like to spit in my footpath. I finally just looked some kid in the eye and said "ew gross!" and he looked quite shocked that I was unimpressed with with his mass of saliva. Yeah....gotta love gentlemen.

I did get to meet a llama named Daisy who wanted to kiss me, and a fat bunny that wanted some love. I almost stole it, it was too cute. Among the regular farm animals there was an exhibit that held a lion and her cubs, a tiger, baby bob cats, and even a porcupine! No bears in sight though.

And I tested out a treadle sewing machine and so want one. Although I did have trouble controlling the speed, that would take some getting used to.

Dress: Handmade by me from a 1930s pattern

Hat: I have no idea

Ooops I almost forgot:

Places that like me :)

A Mad Men Storque article featuring a sweater in my shop.

My 75 cent dress story on Rock 'n Roll Bride.

Some hat advice on Queens of Vintage

Exciting!

The one that got away.

When my mother and I went to the antique show last month, one of the very first booths we came to had this set sitting on a chair.
Now, at the last antique show, I found a swimsuit within the first two minutes and shelled out $65 for it. I have yet to wear it.
So I decided to be very cautious and not go crazy as soon as I walk in. Well, I regret that caution.
You see I picked this up, slipped on the collar, snuggled into the hat, and gathered my hands in the silk lined muff. They were made of real leopard. They were in excellent condition. They were from the 30s or 40s. They all matched!
My mother snapped a quick photo and I thought it would be wise to not look in the mirror just in case I loved it. I took them all off to resist the temptation of spending all my money before I even got 50 feet into the show. By the way, it was $125, a total steal.
We wandered the show, and I got some pretty wonderful things, but only spent half the money my mother gave me, thanks to my caution, and that with everything I considered nothing could quite top the jazzy leopard set.
At the end of the show we went by the booth that was selling the stylish accessories, with high hopes that no one had noticed it's stunning presence. I asked the seller if the set was still there and she told me it sold right after I left the booth. Ok, well it's a loss, but no big deal.
Then my mother showed me this photo, and I realized why the other person was smart enough to snatch up the set right after I tried it on. It's absolutely stunning, and surely a once in a lifetime find. A real leopard muff, collar, and hat set, literally at my fingertips, and I decide to pace myself. What a dummy.

So there you have my little story, and I hope that if you ever come across such a wonderful gem you are smarter than I.

Flamingo

Here is a hat I got this week. It's amazing, completely covered in pink feathers. I didn't do much today other than go to the post office and clean out the basement closet. I did however get a call from our local Discovery shop thrift store letting me know they had some vintage items if I wanted to take a look. They are so sweet holding things for me, and until I asked them if they could they were just donating all the vintage clothing to The Salvation Army. I would walk into the shop wearing a 40s rayon dress, and a volunteer would say "Oh we just gave away a whole bag of dresses just like that." And I would want to cry.
Since most of the volunteers there are over the age of 70, they think of vintage clothing as just "old stuff", and assume no one would ever want it. So the shop is filled with things from the 90s on, and since a lot of donations come from elderly women I just knew so much would go to waste unless I let them know I actually do want the old stuff.
Today I got some really pretty things including two 50s coats (One I am keeping, hehe) a few 60s and 70s dresses, and the most beautiful Eleanor Green 50s dress in red. It's really amazing and I can't wait to list it next week. There were also some gloves and a pretty hat, but those are now in my wardrobe as well ;)