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.
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!
