beach wave (goodbye)

Today we leave for a trip back home.

Although Oregon is my NEW home in every sense of the word,

I will always be a California girl at heart.

It's impossible not to refer to it as home after living there 99% 

of my 33 years on earth ;)

I am grateful for the contrast living in Oregon is--

for the new opportunities and challenges it has presented.

At times, living here has seemed very  hard, 

and alternately there have been times it's felt so easy.

Life is like that, huh? Our hearts can be in multiple places

and want to sometimes be other than where we are...

while still loving your new life completely.

I won't be blogging for the week or so we are gone,

so I thought I'd share some beachy pics 

 until we return.

“The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”

--Jacques Cousteau

“Don't grow up too quickly, lest you forget how much you love the beach.”
-- Michelle Held

"To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me." --Isaac Newton

“The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea.”

--Isak Dinesen

“One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach; one can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few.”

--Anne Morrow Lindbergh

"In every outthrust headland, in every curving beach, in every grain of sand there is the story of the earth."--Rachel Carson

“My life is like a stroll on the beach...as near to the edge as I can go.”

--Thoreau

“Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone.”

--Anonymous

"At the beach, life is different. Time doesn't move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides and follow the sun." -Unknown

Overdue thrift haul...Oregon style.

I have felt an itch to thrift lately...well, when don't I, I suppose? :) But I have found some fun things lately, and it seemed time to do a legitimate "thrift haul" post. I have to admit, I was initially worried that there wouldn't be enough sources for "cool stuff" here in Oregon (yes, hoarders like me with a vintage addiction think that way.) Luckily, I have been pleasantly surprised--and this has been only with hitting garage/estate sales and the same three thrift stores. There are still so many places to explore! I especially want to look at some of the antique stores in this area soon. Anyway, here are some of the items that just had to make it into my hands as of late...

I'll start with some pretty pastel things.

I've wanted a vintage Ball mason jar in blue for so long.

I found two, and some little blue dishes as seen below, at the same sale.

This Louis Sherry chocolates tin was found at the one thrift store

in my tiny new town.

Again, surprising me by the things I've been able to find!

I think it is so pretty.

My heart did a little pitter-pat when I saw this mug.

'Cause I am a total bibliophile, even if limited by time most days :)

Honestly, some of my favorite childhood memories

are of reading, books, and the library.

Oh, and bookstores ;)

Speaking of books, I have found so many fun 

vintage children's books.

I loved how this one had paper dolls inside.

Isn't the cover on this one sweet?

And darling pictures inside, too.

The illustrations inside the books are too cute

to pass up sometimes.

I've acquired a lot of school readers now.

One of my favorite themes is all things circus.

This cup is a CA find, but one of the things to first spark

my interest in circus motifs!

This book once had some kind of "magic action"

feature that, sadly, didn't make it through the years.

But the cover alone is darling.

Love the bright colors on these.

And love too when a name has been placed inside

in child's scrawl :)

Same goes for these coloring books, 

the covers anyway--

I liked the kitsch factor they had, plus the fact that 

the illustrations were so cute,

and none colored in at all.

I really like vintage games

 and vintage teaching/learning games.

I've had great luck finding vintage coffee mugs

and little cup-and-saucer sets as of late.

I love these vintage restaurant mugs...

they're just so classically coffee shop, you know?

Now for a random mishmash of items...

vintage desk supplies.

Some really cute fabrics,

in case I ever learn to sew :)

I want to try and make a dress for Addie someday.

picnicking children...awwwwwww.

By the way, this is my dream try-to-mimic dress for someday!

I found it on a great blog called Girl Inspired.

Isn't it adorable?!

Sigh.

Like I said. Someday. 

A very stylish-beachy fabric in one.

Cute cute.

I found some vintage cookbooks bundled up together

for a good price.

 I'd taken a quick peek inside and wanted these

primarily for this volume...

It was only later that I took a closer look

at the writing on the cover.

cho. Roll--what, what? 

Chocolate Roll?

Sure enough, there it was on page 187.

Kismet.

I enjoy practically free, cute little things

that I can certainly live without, but

just make me happy. 

Like this reproduction vintage Santa Claus book--

 --and this old "fancy lady" pincushion.

The necklace is another recent buy.

Ah yes, vintage religious themed items.

Another interest of mine.

 This letter a was a must, because of Addie :)

And the crewel art was just something I bought for the oval frame,

but the more I look at it, the more I like it.

I bought two, the other one is similar to it, but I am trying

to give that one a different look with some paint and other touches.

We'll see if it works!

I passed by this wooden bobby a few times before

I thought, "Ok, I must have him."

Sure he's armless, but, the thing is...

He already had a companion waiting for him at his new home.

Glass containers. 

A cute and tiny baby photo album.

And my happiest find in the past few weeks,

this 1950's baby blanket.

My kids are barely exiting the babydom stage...

it's still so natural to see something like this

and just drool.

The fabric its made of is part of that venerable category 

of cuteness that I coin "beyond adorable!"

It is now in my shop.

Thanks for joining me in a stroll down
vintage-hoarder lane! ;)
But most of it is for my shop, that's right...

Are you passionate about vintage finds, like me?
Then please check out all the goodies others have found at the lovely Sophie's blog,
Her Library Adventures.