Trailers in the Trees

As a vintage trailer enthusiast who doesn't actually have a trailer (yet) I jump at the chance to get close to them - you know, to help me figure out what kind I want. Ha! For reals though, if I can get an opportunity to admire even the exterior of a cool retro trailer my day is made. So, thanks times a million to Facebook for alerting me to this year's Trailers in the Trees rally, an annual vintage trailer show in the beautiful redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It was a couple Saturdays ago and was so much fun!


This was my first year attending and I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but hot damn, was it a great experience! The trailers, ranging in age from the 1930's to the 70's, were parked in rows and opened up and decked out in their Sunday best. Some of them were decorated with items from their exact time period while others worked with themes. Almost all of them had their door (some of the luxury models had two doors!) propped open with invitations to go inside and check 'em out. The owners were usually nearby to answer questions, share any interesting info about the trailer's history or unique features, and accept praise and general "oohs and ahhs."



Another great thing about this event - everyone was so genuinely nice. And seriously, how generous of them to open up their tiny little homes to strangers, even just for the afternoon? That's something I've discovered among clubs and groups of like-minded people. Similarly, I've never met anyone at a MINI club event that I didn't like and I imagine trailer clubs are the same. So many of them said "they're addicting" and I can imagine why. One lady told us how she and her husband attended the big rally in Pismo Beach one year, went home, found a classified ad for a trailer in the newspaper the next day and bought it!



If you're into trailers, too, check around for local clubs and events in your area. Also, follow the Vintage Camper Trailers page on Facebook for photos and news about up-coming rallies.

P.S. I've been having trouble loading comments here, but I'm working on a fix. Please standby! :)

Spend the night in a vintage trailer!

Summer may be coming to a close but there's still time for one last road trip! If you're anywhere near Bisbee, Arizona you should consider stopping for a night at The Shady Dell where you can stay in one of their fully-restored vintage trailers. So cool! Here's an excerpt from their website:

Our sleek collection of vintage travel trailers are all perfectly restored to combine mid-century Americana kitsch with the comforts of home in a way that only the 1950s were capable of.  Each trailer, such as the 1949 Airstream, or the 1950 Spartan Manor, are available for an overnight stay. For once, experience the 1950s in full Technicolor.

True story: I was about 11 when my dad brought home a vintage silver trailer much like the ones above. I thought it was the coolest thing ever! They parked it at my grandma's house, and while we never took any road trips with it, I did convince my little sister to spend the night in it with me a couple times, even though we never hooked it up to any electricity. Hahaha! My parents sold the trailer to a friend a couple months later, and it's still one of those things that they (and I) regret. I wish I had that trailer today! 

If you're, like me, lamenting the trailers of your past, or just want to try out something fun and different for a weekend away, The Shady Dell is the perfect spot! Peruse their website and choose the trailer (or bus or yacht!) you'd like to stay in. There are great pictures of each of the trailer's interiors, all complete with period-appropriate decor and accessories! So good! And seriously, how cute are the owners?

I was digging around the web and discovered a couple bloggers from my everyday reading list have stayed at the Shady Dell. Read about How About Orange and Oh So Lovely Vintage's experiences staying the night in these cool trailers - it looks like so much fun!

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend, wether or not you're camping out in your grandma's driveway!

All photos via The Shady Dell.

My trip to London

I mentioned my trip a bit here on the blog but never posted photos. With all the UK buzz going on this week with the birth of the royal baby I thought it would be a perfect time to share some of my pics! This is just a random sampling.

Evidence that I was actually there! That's me on the Millenium Bridge. It was a little breezy.

My first Calder with a Delaunay in the background. Two of my favorite artists together!

Warm, rainy afternoon.

Big B.

I got pretty good at navigating the Tube.

Beautiful afternoon in Oxford.

Ahh, it sure does! At the Lady Di Memorial Playground at Kensington Palace.

Fat pigeon at Kensington Palace.

Beautiful view from Buckingham Palace.

New stamps in the shop!

Happy Friday! I've been busy working on restocking the Etsy shop over the past couple weeks. I've been sold out of many of my popular items, like the Union Jack Coasters, so I've been working hard ordering supplies and getting products restocked. If you follow me on Instagram you would have seen some of my process shots for printing what felt like hundreds of coasters. In addition to working on some of the old favorites, I've also got some brand new stamps for sale that I'm really excited about:


Classic Mini Cooper Thanks stamp! I've had this design drawn since the very beginning of my shop (2008). I even drew it digitally in Illustrator way back when, but could never find the right application for it, so there it sat until the right situation came along... I'm glad I remembered it because it's absolutely perfect on a stamp! Use it to stamp up thank you notes, cards, heck, even your rent check envelope. Coming soon in a new MINI style as well.


As a variation on my Classic Mini and Trailer print, I have a new "Let's go camping!" set of stamps. It features a Classic Mini, a teardrop trailer, and a pine tree. I had so much fun stamping up little scenes with this trio. This set coordinates with my trailer fabric print. You can find and purchase these and the rest of my Mini Cooper stamps in my Etsy shop.

Have a wonderful weekend.

A day at Heath

When my friend from college said she was coming to San Francisco and wanted to spend the day with me, it wasn't difficult to decide on an activity for us: the Heath Ceramics factory tour in Sausalito!


A few years ago, I worked at a firm within walking distance to the factory which has been home base for Heath's ceramic production since 1959. I never made it out for a visit when I lived and worked so close-by, but I thought this would be perfect opportunity to make a day of it with my friend. If you haven't heard of Heath before, click here for some more information. The factory didn't disappoint! It was so inspiring to see the machinery, learn about the history of the company, and, of course, ogle the finished products! I took lots of photos...


One of my favorite parts of the visit was the trip through the shop. I came home with a gorgeous green bud vase and beautifully-simple coffee mug. It took so much restraint to keep from coming home with one of everything!


If you ever find yourself in beautiful Sausalito, I highly recommend a visit. It's a must for any mid-century design, ceramics, or art enthusiast. Check out the Heath Ceramics website for more information. And while you're in there, I highly recommend Arawan Thai on Caledonia for Lunch, and Sausalito Bakery and Cafe on Bridgeway for coffee and bakalava. Don't forget to check out Sausalito's famous houseboats!

*All photos by Casey | Vitamini Handmade

What's in my carry-on.

I LOVE traveling. Flying...eh, not so much. But a well-packed carry-on bag makes a world of difference by making me feel a little more at ease as I'm boarding the plane. So when I prepared for my 10 hour flight to London (eek - 2 months ago!), I made sure to pack all of the necessities and a few creature comforts that would help me chillax. Here's what I packed, in 5 categories: Comfort, Toiletries, Snacks, Technology, and Activities.



Comfort: Long flights can get cold, so I brought a large scarf to wrap myself up in. Since feet tend to feel fat on flights, I usually like to take my shoes off, and knee-high socks are great to have to keep your feet and legs warm. Nothing worse than cold ankles! Sunglasses are good for when the sun comes up when you don't want it to. Dramamine is unfortunately a must for me, so I always pack it when I'm flying. Pain killer for those jet lag headaches. Earplugs to block out engine noise and crying babies.



Toiletries: If you're like me, a long flight can leave you feeling a little haggard. Here are my necessities to keep me feeling and looking alive and refreshed when the plane lands: moisturizer, lip balm, makeup removing face wipes, deodorant, dry shampoo, hand wipes, mini toothbrushes, hairbrush, and pressed powder foundation.



Snacks: I hate depending on those random meal times on the plane, so I pack a few things to help tide me over if I feel like I'm starving. Kind Bars. Have you tried these? So good. I always pack a variety of mints and gum. And an empty water bottle to fill up when you get past security.



Tech: Nothing like having some tech stuff to keep you distracted. I brought my Kindle Fire HD - Great for watching movies. I borrowed my Mom's Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones, and I think they saved my life. The airplane engines were practically silent inside these bad boys. Great for listening to movies and music, too. I also brought my camera (not pictured, cause it was taking these photos!) camera batery charger, iphone charger, and a UK Power Adapter. It would be a huge pain if my cell was out of charge and I couldn't plug in when I arrived in London. I also had my cell phone with me. I wrapped my camera and lenses in Domke Wraps. No need for bulky camera bags with these. They worked well and kept my equipment safe and easy to access during my entire trip.



Activities: A guidebook to the place where you're going! Distract yourself with a little hint of the sights you'll see when you get there. My favorites are the DK Eyewitness Guides. If you're feeling ambitious, bring a little scrapbook and some pens to do a some journaling if you're tired of reading or watching movies. Definitely not in the activity section, but don't forget your passport and other travel documents!!



All of this fit nicely in my standard-sized backpack. I also carried a purse with my wallet, phone, etc. Those are my necessities. Do you have anything you can't fly without?