Sale Sale Sale

I'm going to California for a week on Tuesday for some sunshine since it doesn't seem to want to shine in Portland these days.  I thought it seemed like a good time for my very first storewide sale on Etsy.  This weekend all items in my shop are 10% off when you enter the coupon code VACATION upon checkout.  This offer will expire on Tuesday morning.  Happy shopping!

Love To Love You at Circus Angel

Circus Angel, a gorgeous new boutique in Whitefish, MT is now carrying Love To Love You skirts!

They have fishscale skirts in plum and turquoise....

...as well as the ruffled styles in a variety of prints and colors. 

Sauvie Island

 One of our favorite places to go when the weather is nice, is to Sauvie Island.  It is an island in the Columbia River that is full of farms and wildlife preserves.  We heard that the strawberries had ripened so we went to see for ourselves.

Dewey and Harper slaving away in the field

This is before my 3 hour long sneezing fit from allergies

Harper showing off our harvest- 7 pounds of berries!

After berry picking we drove around the island for a while.  Dewey found this ancient grocery store, completely surrounded by trees.

I spotted this giant birds nest.   

When I got up close this little guy peeked over the edge to get a good look at me, 
then started calling for his mom.

All in all, a lovely day.

Dear Dad

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

I love you!!

Brautigan's Muses

One day, when I was in college, my friend handed me a thick stack of xeroxed papers.  He told me I had to read it- and I did.

I read...

"....Our lives we have carefully constructed from watermelon sugar and then travelled to the length of our dreams, along roads lined with pines and stones.  I have a bed, a chair, a table and a large chest that I keep my things in.  I have a lantern that burns watermelontrout oil at night.  That is something else.  I'll tell you about it later.  I have a gentle life."

I wasn't really sure what it all meant, but I was entralled.  I had never read anything quite like it.

The xeroxed pages were the entire book, In Watermelon Sugar, by Richard Brautigan.  They were given to my friend from another friend, who wouldn't part with his own copy of the book.  Years later, while living in Portland I have purchased my own copy of In Watermelon Sugar, and anything else I could find by him.  These books are the treasures of my bookshelf, and not just because of the words, but the covers.  The ladies on the cover of the books were his muses, some of them girlfriends and wives.  They all have such a great, bohemian charm to them.

Take a look....

Richard Brautigan and Hilda Hoffman

This one is my favorite.
Richard Brautigan and his muse, Michaela Le Grand
taken in Washington Square Park in San Francisco

Marcia Pacaud, one of his girlfriends
The book was dedicated to her.

Sherry Vetter, who was one of his girlfriend...
 and a cake

Beverly Allen, a model in Golden Gate Park

Richard Brautigan and Victoria Domalgoski, a singer
Taken in front of the Presidio branch of the San Francisco Public Library

Richard Brautigan and Shiina Takako, the owner of a bar Brautigan frequented in Tokyo

Want to know more?  Pick up a copy of one of his books, and check out this website, which has more information than you can possibly absorb about the author.

Shopping spree

I just scored some great vintage fabrics from The Knitt'n Kitten, my favorite fabric store in town.  I thought I would share my finds with you.  Let me know if anything catches your eye- I'd be happy to make something just for you.  You can email me at allanamaria@yahoo.com or send me a convo through Etsy.

This one is a little silky with a bit of sheen to it.
 I was thinking maybe a fancy sundress with a layer of black lace underneath?
Or a high waisted circle skirt?

Amaaaaazing corduroy!  Perfect for a ruffle front skirt with matching, green ruffles.

A very mod wool in a large check, perfect for an Aussie girl in fall and winter.  The squares are about 1".
Great for a ruffle front skirt with black ruffles and large black buttons.

This is a gorgeous, light weight wool with a subtle floral pattern woven in.  So pretty and elegant.