August 27, 2014

An awesome blogger meetup with fellow BC gal Rachael McDonald


Earlier this summer, a couple weeks apart from each other, I was contacted by two different fellow vintage loving gals from the Lower Mainland (the term for the cities and towns surrounding and including Vancouver). Both were headed up this way for short holidays and were curious if they and I could get together.

Unfortunately my health wasn't up to snuff for a meetup with the first lovely lady, but a bit later in the month, when the second - Rachael McDonald from the wonderful sewing blog Seven Buttons Designs - visited Penticton, were able to get together late in the afternoon one day out at Three Mile beach near Naramata and we had a fabulous time together!

This is only the second opportunity I've ever met a fellow vintage blogger in person (and the first time with one from my own province; last year's meetup with my dear friend Laurie from Edmonton, as you may recall from this post), so I was extremely excited to say the least!

It's was nearly 40C/104F in the glistening, glaring Okanagan sun when we got together, so at first we took things nice and easy by relaxing in the shade on a blanket Rachael had brought and getting to know one another better. We hit it off instantly and before we knew it, the light had mellowed enough for Rachael and I to step in front of Tony's lens for a joint photo shoot (that was also only the second time I'd done so for the blog with another person) and we had a blast – scorchingly hot as it was that day - smiling and posing in different spots on and near the beach.

The images that follow are some of my favourite from that day. You gals and gents see my mug all the time, so most of the photos here focus on the thoroughly beautiful Rachael and her darling (handmade) lobster print skirt instead of yours truly.

















































My outfit details

Yellow snood: eBay seller tina.g-2008
Red plastic rose stud earrings: Claire's
Vintage red plastic necklace: Gift with purchase years ago
C. 1980s does 1940s/50s floral print dress: eBay
Purple skinny belt: eBay
1930s/40s mint green gloves: Unknown (possibly eBay)
Yellow plastic rose stretch bracelet: Thrifted (Value Village)
Nude seamed nude stockings: eBay
Red faux patent leather pumps: Payless
Vintage Saks Fifth Avenue black patent purse: MK Retro
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red


Photography by Tony Cangiano


♥ ♥ ♥



Before the daylight disappeared entirely, Rachael and I decided to shot a 100% impromptu "interview" video. This was, at the time, only the third video I'd made so far and is the first in which I'd ever interviewed another person, so I certainly won't claim to have given Barbara Walters a run for her money! :D


If you're following me on YouTube (and you totally should be!), you may have seen this fun, short little video already, but in case you're not and/or haven't, here it is.





I sincerely appreciate that Rachael got in touch when she was headed up my way and that she was totally game for both a photo shoot and an on-the-fly video interview. Talk about an awesome lady! We really clicked in person (we'd previously known each other primarily from Instagram) and both agreed that we'd definitely let the other person know if we were in their neck of the woods again.

Being the only (that I know) vintage blogger and/or full-time mid-century wearer in the Okanagan, I certainly find myself longing for some fellow old school adoring folks to hang out with sometimes. That might not be possible, but at least I now have a new friend in the Lower Mainland to connect with when I'm down that way and that alone sincerely makes B.C. feel like less of a vintage (community) ghost town.

Thank you very, very much, sweet Rachael for the wonderful get-together invitation, fabulous conversation, and absolutely beautiful memories of that sizzling mid-summer day. I can hardly wait until the next time we connect in person, wherever in the province it may be!

27 comments:

  1. What beauties! And the quality of the photography is amazing. Glad you were able to meet Rachael and share your passion for vintage.

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    1. Thank you very much, Ally. The credit goes entirely to Tony, who photographed and edited all of these fabulously sun kissed images, so I will certainly pass your high praise onto him.

      Have a great day!
      ♥ Jessica

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  2. Lovely! Jessica if I am ever in your area, I will most def. contact you for a meet up! Erin xx

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    1. That would be marvelous, dear Erin! Likewise if (and I really, really do I hope I finally am one of these days) I'm up your lovely Edmonton way, I will be sure to let you know. I've always felt we shared a Canadian vintage loving, celiac fighting kinship and would be so honoured to meet you.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  3. It looks like you had a really great time, I love how the photos came out! Actually I'm super jealous - I tried to organise a bit of a meet-up myself this summer but uni got completely in the way. I will try again some other time though because it's easy to feel a bit isolate (at least in terms of other vintage-lovers) when living in a place with little or no vintage wearing population.

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet dear, we really did have a stellar time together. Aww, many thanks - all the credit goes to Tony for these snaps entirely, as he both shot and edited them.

      I know precisely what you mean, as I'm in the same ship. It can get very lonely being the sole vintage loving gal (or gent, as the case may be) in your area. I really hope you're able to meet up with one of more kindred spirits soon, honey. If I am ever in your corner of the world, I will let you know immediately - a shared photo shoot would be a must! :)

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

      ♥ Jessica

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  4. Ooooh, how lovely that you've met a fellow blogger on your home turf! September has to be one of my favourite months to visit Naramata...your photo shoot has tugged at my heart strings! Now! Off to to visit Rachael!!! Thanks for the intro to a fellow lower mainland sewer.

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  5. You both look so lovely! When you're part of a niche community, it's always great to run into people that have similar interests to you, especially if you don't encounter it often. That's one of the things that I really like about the internet - it helps with that sense of isolation that you can get when you're the oddball who's interested in something that the rest of your social circle doesn't understand. It's not something that I feel so much now that I'm in Chicago, but I know when I was in high school in California, the internet really felt like a lifeline.
    And can I just say, your husband is an excellent photographer. That first shot of Rachael, with the lake and the hills behind her and the golden sunlight, is incredibly striking.

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet gal! Tony's ears must be burning today with all of the wonderfully nice compliments that my lovely readers are paying him. His photo editing skills, especially when it comes to photos involving people, really do smoke mine (which is what you'll see usually in outfit snaps of me on my own) out of the water and I really appreciate that he took the time to weave his magic on these fantastic snaps of Rachael and I.

      It's wonderful that you don't feel so isolated now that you're in Chicago. I didn't have the internet when I was in high school (it existed, but my family didn't have it yet - yes, I'm that old :D) and wasn't even aware until I was about 16 that other folks out there (save for classic car enthusiasts) actually wore vintage in their daily lives. I don't remember exactly how I found out, come to think of it, but have a vague sense that the info came by way of the UK, which isn't surprising at all, given the large number of vintage fashion fans in that great nation.

      Thank you very much for your wonderful comment, dear gal!
      ♥ Jessica

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  6. pretty rachael!
    her selfmade skirt is just cute!
    i´m happy that you had a nice and fun day with a fellow vintage lover! i know how it feels to be the only one miles around.... have to head to her blog next.
    sadly i cant watch the video, my internet connection is very bad this days :-(
    chapeau for your discipline to wear gloves and stockings in that heat! i would melt! that dress you´r wearing is really fabulous!
    hugs&kisses

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    1. Thank you very much, lovely Beate. I won't lie, it was mighty hot that day and I was perspiring for sure. I wanted to really dress up, in so much as such mighty temps and where we were headed would allow, so I didn't mind feeling extra toasty for a few hours in the name of a fabulous blogger meet up.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  7. Very beautiful ladies indeed:). Ahhh youth:) She is beautiful and photographs so lovely. I love all the different plays on natural light. What a great time of the day to photograph! Tony is quite the pro:) It is so nice that you had a wonderful get together. I'm sure you'll be thinking of these nice moments by the lake when winter comes and we are shivering in our three layers of clothing:) Again, love the lighting on these photographs:)

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    1. Massively!!! Even now as summer gradually begins to scamper off, I'm yearning for those sweltering dog days again. I really, really don't want to see/feel the heat vanish this year, no matter how much I adore autumn. It will, of course though, no matter what, so certainly having beautiful photos from Tony like these to remember it by help cushion the blow of its departure.

      Thank you very much for the splendidly nice compliments - I will pass them along to Tony right this very moment.

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  8. What fun and what beautiful photos! It looks like you chose the most perfect spot to sit down and get to know each other! Rachael is SO stunning and her lobster skirt is adorable :D

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    1. Thank you very much, lovely Harlow. Rachael really did look cute as a whole jar full of buttons in her fabulous hand made skirt, I agree.

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  9. Looks like you two had a great time!
    http://balearaitzart.blogspot.com.au/

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  10. What absolutely stunning photographs. Your husband certainly has a way to truly capture someone on film - what a great talent to have. I would love to meet you one day, too Jessica. I wish we lived closer!

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Philippa. Tony really is a stellar photography and I sincerely appreciate that he took the time to apply his editing skills to this set. I normally edit all the photos of myself, but he's a bit more skilled on that front when it comes to snaps of people - not these beautiful images, or the model (Rachael) in them, needed much work - but still.

      I too wish we lived closer - or even on the same continent. I truly, massively do want to take a trip to England one day, so perhaps if that ever manages to happen, we can meet up on your home turf, as they say. :)

      Oodles of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  11. You both look lovely! One thing I love about your blog is all the other vintage ladies you introduce us to.

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    1. What a seriously lovely thing to say, dear gal, thank you very much. That's actually always been something that's rather important to me, as I think that we all benefit from getting to know as many of our vintage loving peers as possible, so it means all the more that you commented on this point.

      Big hugs!
      ♥ Jessica

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  12. You both look adorable, and as always, the photographs are stunning! I love that sunny, late summer glow. And you're also just so chipper and engaging in the interview. I'm glad you both had a great time and thanks for introducing us to a great new blogger! :)

    Cheers,
    Jenny

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  13. How lovely that you got to meet up, it must have been fun. What a beautiful setting and again, the photos are fantastic, that light is gorgeous.

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  14. Wwww, you two are so sweet in that video! What a beautiful set of photos too.

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  15. what a great meet up and you both look gorgeous

    retro rover

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  16. I am so envious now! I also want to meet you! :) Perhaps we will one day, one can never know. She is a beautiful lady. And a lobster skirt! How cool is that! :)

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    1. You're so magnificently sweet, dear Sanne. I really, really, really want to meet you one day, too. That would be incredibly cool! Be it in Canada, Denmark, somewhere in between - let's think positive and believe it will happen.

      Huge hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  17. I recall seeing your video a while back featuring a fellow vintage loving canuck. I was quite happy that you were able to meet an online friend and chat vintage. Looks like you both had a lot of fun!

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