Favorite Store

Within the last 24 months an Anthropologie moved into a brand new store on El Paseo in Palm Desert. The store decor is fantastic and each display just captures my imagination. The store is not as impressive as the MASSIVE Anthropologie on Market Street in San Francisco
but, the smaller size does make it more manageable.

The prices are the normal Anthropologie ridiculous but, it's a great source for trend spotting and mixing fabrics, colors, and patterns. Somehow Anthropologie really elevates dressing to an art form...

One of the best features of this Anthropologie is the sale room. It is tidy and well stocked-this picture is the middle of a Sunday afternoon! All the garments in my dressing room plus what I'm wearing is from the sale room with an additional 25% off... SOLD!!

Cloche Encounter

I love this image captured by photographer Edward Steichen in 1928. Women from this era always look so effortlessly chic and a big part was their great cloche hats. Cloche actually is French for bell and bell accurately describes the shape of the hat. The cloche became very popular in the 1920s even though the first cloche had been created in 1908.
I believe I've mentioned that I love hats and love wearing them. I was obviously born a generation too late.

And I was so excited to see the hat I had just purchased from Anthropologie featured in their catalogue that I could not resist trying to replicate the look and demeanor of the model.

Considering I shot the pic using a cheap camera, a tripod and a timer it was worth a laugh.

I know the hat shape is not a classic cloche but, when I actually pull the hat down on my head it fits and looks very cloche like.

A Timeless Truth

Aloha Adventures

On my latest trip to Hawaii I visited some fantastic fabric stores. Nothing on the islands is very shiny and new but, once you walk through the doors it's always a surprise.

Up in the ranch land town of Waimea is a little shop called Topstitch.

Topstitch has been in business 28 years but, the current owner has only had it for one year. It is very much a quilt store and if you have any interest in Hawaiian style quilting this is the place to shop.

The owner Liz is super nice and there are lots of kits to buy but, I need a new project like a hole in my head!

On the Kuhio Highway in Kapaa Hawaii there is an inconspicuous storefront that says Vicky's Fabrics. Inside is a wonderland of fabulous fabrics.

This store has such a great vibe and it's probably because it is family owned and run for the past 29 years. You can really feel the love for fabrics and creating with fabrics.

I couldn't resist the Oriental theme redwork on the sale rack for $3 a yard and the batik fabric is designed in Hawaii by Trans Pacific Textiles although it is printed in Indonesia.

Vicky's is an island treasure and an excellent reason to go back to Hawaii :)