I found Hat Heaven (and the giveaway winner)

Our trip to NC was just perfect. 

A highlight  was a shopping day with my sis-in-law.

Actually, we had TWO fun afternoons of junking.  Our first was at the Vintage Village, and I was captivated the minute we got out of the car.

And the best part of it all was Susanna's Antiques, where I went to meet my blog friend, Jenny.

She and her mom have a cute as a bug shop together- filled with too much to fit in my suitcase...

(yep, my eyes are closed in this photo, of course)

Another friend, Becca, took a break from work, and came by to visit too.

The mall was just wonderful. If I needed a light fixture, I'd be looking there for it. They had the best selection of old chandies at good prices that I have seen in a long, long time.

And the atmosphere of the whole area was just plain fun.  I loved all the little cottages and piles of junk out doors amid the plants and flowers. The best part was a fresh fruit stand where we bought ripe Carolina peaches and washed them in a garden hose to eat while we walked around.

I had some great food while on our trip, but those peaches were hard to beat.

Then, I saw the hats.  Hats, hats, hats everywhere!!!!!!!!!

Hat Heaven.

If you need floral hats, head to see Jenny. But wait a bit, I cleaned her out for now. 

Don't worry, she has plenty of other pretty things to buy.

I don't know why I didn't buy this print. 

But I did snag this story book for my grand fairies.

Jenny had some of her work there for sale too, she makes these vintage brooch bouquets for brides.

And how sweet is this?  This bracelet was a gift from her. 

The next day, my sis-in-law, Sandy, and I went to the flea. There is one every weekend at the fair grounds, and it was a good one.  I bought a ton more flowers and hats, as well as bags full of broken rhinestoney jewelry. 

I bought so many hats, that I had to pull all the flowers off to make them fit into my suitcase. Sandy was horrified, she collects old hats and thought I was too ruthless.  But she ended up helping, and we sat on the balcony of her son's home drinking wine, plucking hats and playing with her little Yorkies.

 

Now that we are home, Sandy, Dixie, and Daisy have come to stay with us for a while.  They'll be good for Twinkle, she misses her Agnes Rosebud.

That is, if she doesn't try to rip their cute, fuzzy heads off. She doesn't like many dogs.

After a few days with family in Raleigh, we drove to the Outer Banks.  This was a work trip for my husband, I was just tagging along, which is a nice way to travel. For me at least, my poor husband had to work all day while I goofed off on the beach.

He was able to be done working in time for romantic walks on the beach, and watching the sunset on the sound. Then, stuffing ourselves with locally caught seafood.

We stayed in Duck, NC and it was a very peaceful, quiet beach.  I wonder why there weren't more people there? It was beautiful.

Oh, I forgot to announce the winner of my giveaway!!  This collage goes to:

Linda Owen Postma

Comments

[Jojo Caramel]

The little gardeners book is very lovely!
I wish I could visit Susannas's Antiques...
Your collage is beautiful! Congratulations to the winner!

Belle Journée :)

[Sue K]

Oh, envy you that trip - I love the peaceful NC beaches! I lived north of Raleigh for eight years - there are so many wonderful antique shops in the area - and great auctions, too!

[Linda P.]

Karla!! I am tickled the most lovely tint of shabby chic pink that I will be gifted with this beautiful collage!! I feel blessed, and I thank you so very, very much. I will treasure it! Already contemplating which of my walls it will grace . . . : )

Oh, the Vintage Village looks like so much fun! Is that upside down garden edging used as trim on the front of SuzAnna's? How cute and clever. The Little Gardeners book looks like it will be so sweet. Love the illustration on the cover!

Before my comments get too long here (ahem!), I think I'd better just sum up in a quick list the other beautiful things I loved in this post: Yorkies, the beach, the bridal bouquet. . . . Honestly, there was nothing NOT beautiful in this post. As usual. : )

[lisa]

Karla,
Wow what a great sale! My palms got sweaty just reading the post:) Your a lucky girl getting to vaca while Rich works, I would kill for a romantic walk down a beach. The closest we've gotten lately is the produce isle at Tom Thumb, that was pretty romantic!
Lisa

[Becky]

Congrats to Linda!! But oh darn for me!! :o)

So glad you got to have some fun on your trip! Everything looks amazing {especially the vintage village and the beach} and a photo on the beach with your eyes open!!
Fabulous, and such fun!

And what cute poochy photos!!

So what are you going to do with all of your hats??
Have a delightful day, Karla!
Hugs,
Becky

[jeanie]

My kind of vacation -- oh, dear! I'd go nuts! You look radiant in that last pic! Hope Twinks dating goes well!

[maggie raguse]

What a glorious get-away you had! Jenny's shop looks wonderful, and that book you got is so darling : i just love the illustration, and especially the font used for the title. Just darling.

Looks like owning Yorkies runs in your family! Cuteness!

-maggie

[Sandy]

Karla,

I will never master your hat whispering skills, the ones I usually find are outrageously priced BUT I did stumble on one lone hat is a tiny podunk town in the back middle of nowhere last weekend and it was only $3.00 with the biggest velvet pansies in sepia tones all over it! I was a little squeamish about plucking the blossoms off. I thought to myself, who in their right mind was going to plunk that thing on their head and go out in public? No on in their right mind, that's who, so now I have a beautiful bowl full of soft velvet blooms to craft with.

Thanks for taking us on such a lovely trip!

[Gypsy Rose]

Congrats to Linda! Don't we all wish we had shops like Suzanna's near us?! I'm in love with the dresser in your pic with Jenny(?). A fun post full of eye candy and lots of links...you are going to keep me busy for awhile.

[Karla Nathan]

Wow, sandy, sepia velvet for three bucks? You hit the mother lode!

Sent from my iPhone

[Kimberleysfrontporch.blogspot.com]

Oh my gosh, her dogs are so cute! I would love to walk through those shops. You never know what you might find.

[Laurie]

OH the beach, the shopping, the seafood! I am pea green!!

[Jenny]

Miss Karla!
You are so sweet! It was wonderful to meet you and I am glad you guys had fun on the rest of your trip! I will try and replenish my hats before you come back next time!!
Jenny

[Rosemary]

Oh, the photos of Jenny's shop and the shopping village made my heart go pitter-patter.

Two of my favorite things are vintage-brooch bouquets and The Outer Banks (which is a place not a thing, of course.) If I were going to be a bride, I would want one of the brooch bouquets and a honeymoon at The Outer Banks. Too bad my bride day is LONG past.

[Sandi M]

Oh my gosh! It looks like a junk shopper's paradise. I wanna go! Looks like you had a great time.

[Karla Nathan]

Its a great mall! I wish it were closer, Id be a regular there.

Sent from my iPad

[Jenny's Heart]

Duck was more quiet because that is where the "locals" and Virginians like me go since it is less crowded and less of a tourist trap. Plus most anyone "local" will go before Memorial day or AFTER Labor day...lol
I LOVE it there and I am glad you did too.
Hmmmm I think it's time I plan another trip down there.