The states between Kansas and Virginia are so durned packed with pink and white hat bargains, that I had to be really picky about what I was buying or there wouldn't have been space in the car. There are BILLIONS of floral hat deals in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana.
By the time I stopped in Missouri at an antique mall along I70, I was plain old burnt out and not even looking at hats any more.
At one little shop in Akron, I found boxes full of corsages. They were marked more per piece than I sell flowers for myself. So, I politely asked the store owner what her best price on a dozen would be and I was flabbergasted when she quoted me a little over a dollar each. I picked out some of the prettiest pink and white roses, some that still have the original tags on them.
While my husband worked a bit in each state we visited, I killed time at nearby antique malls, unless we were already checked into a hotel. If so, I sat in the room and glittered my Dorothy tags.
I also got in a lot of high quality nap time, plus got to visit my buddy, Heather while in the Pittsburgh area.
Since I had a few days to shop, I had to be really cheap to make my $150 last all week. And that part of the country seems to be THE place for stretching a dollar, I found some lovely things beyond the hats too.
For me, there is no better vacation than one where I get to visit people I care about, score deals on beautiful things, take naps, eat gourmet foods, PLUS get a load of work done. Ideal! Of course, I didn't get to turn on the TV at all this week and am wondering what happened on Top Chef and Runway, but hey, life was pretty close to perfect, so I am not complaining.
The highlight of the trip was our romantic dinner on Lake Eerie at the Shoreby Club. This Victorian stone mansion has been renovated and is now a dinner club with a spectacular view of the lake at sunset.
While sipping our wine and watching the sun sink into the lake, we misquoted Gordon Lightfoot and sang the Edmund Fitzgerald song. We didn't realize until afterward that the song was about Lake Superior, not Eerie.
We also discussed how much we missed Sugarwings. That is one of the reasons why we cut our trip short a day. No matter how great time away is, its still time away from Sugarwings too.
So, bright and early on Sunday morning we scooped her up, and had a boating picnic on the lake.
There's no place like home….
Work was a secondary reason for getting back. Romantic Gothic Ghosts starts at midnight Sunday! I wanted to tweak some things and make it just right for you.
The first lesson is for 2 collages of my banner. The finish on this lady's portrait is one of the tips I'll be giving out on Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday will be finishing the banner, and then Beth does one of her projects later in the week.
She and I are planning some extras too. A few giveaways of vintage supplies, some videos, etc.
We'll be working on some unique Halloween decor ideas, and ways to display some of the art you'll be making in our class.
The classes are $25 and will be left up as long as I have a Typepad blog. And I don't see an end to blogging anytime soon…
And don't forget- you can still enter the August Giveaway for one of my completed Romantic Ghost projects.
Wow that pile of gorgeous flowered hats. I hardly ever find any at a decent price. Bet you are glad to be home.
-Danielle
I never find hats at a decent price! Of course, I’m not exactly in hat country.
What wonderful flowers you found!! Did you click your heels to get you home?
You are so lucky, Oklahoma is hat POOR!!! I look everywhere but only come up with bare, flowerless hats. Guess I need to travel North. Sounds like your trip was wonderful, sounds like the perfect vacation to me but I know it is always great to be home.
Oh what a trip! I totally agree with you that there is no place like home, in fact I always think that is the best part of every holiday, coming home again! Ah Sugarwings is such a cutie and a real beauty! Btw do you have a new photo on your sidebar? I love that one and I was wondering if you changed hair color again, to more blonde again? I think this color suits you better than the darker tone, to be honest. I tell you this not to upset you or to be rude, but because I’m always in doubt what is the best color for me, I wish that somebody (of course someone with superior taste ;-), would tell me! Have a great week, welcome home again!
Karla,
You were right in my neck of the woods!! In fact, I am about an hour from Akron and Lake Erie. My niece lives in Akron and I am there about once a week!!
Sugarwings is soooo precious!
Welcome Home Karla….I am glad you are home safe and sound!
When you were in DC, I was only an hour and a half from you! I am over on the Eastern Shore of Maryland (for now until our house sells).
I am signed up for Romantic Gothic Ghosts so I can’t wait!
LuLu♥
You are so lucky to run across hats like that. I rarely see a hat here in any of the antique stores in the Salt Lake Valley, and if I do they are ridiculously overpriced. And the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald – great song by a great artist – awwwh – who cares if it’s Erie or Superior? I bet you’ve got a wonderful memory! And yes, there’s no place like home (click your heels three times…) Hugs, Cathy
So great that you scored all those blooms! I have only found TWO hats in my entire junking career!
It’s nice to go away, but even nicer to be back with the ones you love sleeping in your own bed!
How wonderful….
Wow…so many beautiful hats…my sister Diane aka Saturday Finds scored a few too…how lovely!
oh how lovely you got to catch up with Heather! i miss you girls!!! oh that Sugarwings has grown so much. She is such a character, no wonder you miss her like crazy!
Wow, you really found some goodies~ I’d love finding the corsages, too! I think it’s so sweet you wanted to get home to Sugarwings…
I love the old hats and sweet baby is adorable and getting so big!
How perfect your getaway with hubby sounded Karla and that sunset at the lake looked very romantic. You have the best reason of all to hurry home – the perfect little fairy.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
Karla…Wow ! How do you do it ? Get so many lovely hats !
I can’t find a hat out here in Colorado to save my life !
We are hat poor out here too ! PHOOEY !
And if there are any in the Flea markets and Antique stores, they are 20, 30 dollars a piece ! OUCH !
Don’t blame you for not wanting to get home early.
I would want to come back to that precious, little grand daughter, too !
Can’t hardly wait until you get the tags sent out ! Im SO anxious, for you to see mine, and to get mine in the mail… Bye
Deborah
Wow that was a great post Karla.
So nice to hear about your trip and what you did.
Ooh those hat flowers bits and bobs, I would die for those – never see anything remotely like that in NZ where I live!!!
You’d think no one EVER wore hats here as I’ve looked everywhere.
Maybe those shop owners from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana came over here and bought them all up. LOL!!!
Your darling sugarwings and I bet she missed you two as well.
I sure miss my two darling granddaughters who live in France.
I’ve just received some new photos of their holiday in the south and the oldest one has lost a tooth – OMG and no one told me. She will wonder what happened to the New Zealand tooth fairy!@!
I’m taking two classes at the mo, Mary’s “Collage Coterie” and a book class, but I will take yours in a month or so!
Take care
what a wonderful time you had away Karla and best of all going home to that sweet little girl! Rachaelxo
Well, Boy HoWDY! Lookee at what you found?!! Sounds like a wonderful trip. Loved that pic from the restaurant on Lake Erie. Love Gordon Lightfoot, too!! “The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down to the great lake they call Gitche Gumee.” I’ll bet your little Sugarwings missed you too!
Have a great week.
Kathy
Sounds like a wonderful trip, Karla! Even without tv, it sounds just about perfect! I’m sure Sugarwings missed you just as much as you missed her. What about the puppy? She probably had a wonderful time with her brother, but was happy to see you and Sugarwings again too.
Your class sounds like great fun, but I’m so overloaded right now I don’t dare tackle anything else.
Jane-Jacksonville
not . even. fair.
BUt I am so glad those hats have a great home with you~
So happy you got to see heather too! I just got to visit andrea, it was awesome!
Hope all is well with you, I wish we were seeing each other soon…..
xoxox, Tiffany
Karla,
That is a major hat score..and in my favorite color, too! Send them on 😉 I can’t believe there is anywhere left in the country that has flower hat bargains! I love those business trips! I get so much done in my hotel room and do just what you do…roam the antique malls! I am sure they were happy when they found some traces of glitter on the floor 😉
Good luck with your class. I will be with you on the next one. Poor me. I am off to Croatia.
Hugs,
Suz
Wowza… what a hat bonanza! It sounds like a wonderful trip. I’m putting the finishing touches on my “Dorothy Tag” swap tags and have had great fun putting them together. Your “Gothic Ghosts” class sounds chillingly fantastic. Unfortunately I had already signed up for Artsy Mama’s Sweet n’ Sinister swap & blog, and I can’t squeeze in both (time wise and budget wise). I wish you and Beth great success. I know you’ll put on a great class. – Amy Bauer
The tags in the previous post look wonderful, Karla! One day I’ll feel comfortably creative enough to join in on such a swap. We just welcomed a little granddaughter this July and I can only imagine that we will feel the same way as she gets bigger, as you do about your Sugarwings!
Wow!
I cant believe all the hats you found! I can’t blame you for wanting to be with cute Sugarwings she is a doll!
hugs!karen….
Hi Karla,
My goodness, how wild, If I find one old hat flower here, I`m overwhelmed,—You had luck, dear.
And a wonderfull tour, I see, also the day with Sugarwings,—I`m so looking forward seing my grandchildren this week-end–they are so far away, ….
Loved the first day of your wonderfull workshop.Thankyou.
Hugs, Dorthe
Sounds and looks like you had a wonderful time. But you’re right, the best times are spent with our loved ones. Would you mind sharing in PA you got your bargains?
Fingers crossed to win one of your Goth creations!
2 tags down:)
Leann
You’re killing me with those hats Karla! Sounds like a super fun trip…yet being away always makes me appreciate home all the more too. Looks like a fab day on the lake with Sugarwings!
Okay, your just too much with the hats! It’s like a ghostly power, some super natural thing going on where you just sense where the little hats are hiding, then you put a trance on the sellers to price them at $3. each. That’s it. Corsages for a little over $1. Sheesh.
The trip sounds like a dream. Hotel, shopping, romantic dinner. I know what you mean tho. Every romantic dinner we try ends up being a discussion on how cute & funny our kids are. Sugarwings is precious in her life jacket. Now I can’t write anymore, I have to go make a spooky banner! Lisa
That romantic dinner looked divine. And your talent for sniffing out hats blows me away. I posted some cute photos of you & Beth today. I’m still trying to get Les Sirenes done. DARN nursing takes a lot of time. I know Sugar Wings is glad you are home. And Agnes Rose. HUGS! Charlene
What beautiful treasures!! What parts of PA were you in? We’re in that area frequently, but probably as far west as you were. I’d love to fill my car with some!
I am glad your home. I really want to take your class, even though my daughter says I should be giving classes also.
Please go to my blog and leave me a good cheer message….things have been very gross in my house and I am feeling terrible. Just me and my beloved dogs fighting the invasion.
Laraine
Loving all of your hats….you sure strike gold!! I am excited about all of the Halloween projects!
That does sound like a perfect trip! Roses, good food, and Heather! Thanks so much for the oh, so sweet words you left for me…Rene’
Karla ~
Oh my goodness !
The hats are amazing ! I look and
look for them here and can never find any ~
It looks like your trip was wonderful ~
xoxo
Lori
good gracious Karla! You hit the flower jackpot! Those are my stomping grounds too, but I’ve never found so many! Just beautiful!!
Welcome back and I agree “there is no place like home”.
Especially with your little Sugarwings waiting for you. Hug her and enjoy as time flies.
Hugs
FredaB
Oh gosh that pile of hat goodies is awesome. Can you imagine that I have never ever seen any of those kind of hats in real life. Nope, none. You are a lucky lady to be able to get your hands on so many of them.
Good luck with the class! Wish I could join you but I just don’t have the time right now.
Hi!
Your trip sounds wonderful, but my comment has more to do with your return pictures. I saw you have an awesome Sugarwings travel mug/cup. Where did you get it? I want one! No offense to Sugarwings, but I’d have Matthew’s pics in it instead. That way, everywhere I go, I can show off my awesome adorable little hero.
Suzie Q
That trip sounds like my idea of heaven, too. But I agree — the older we get, the less we enjoy being away from home and the little ones (which in my case are dogs and a 13 year old, not so little anymore!)