Well, we are back (as of late last night)!
Things are as-yet unpacked, much sleeping has gone on, and I am moving kinda in slow-motion. But, we're back in action as far as the shop goes, and the laundry and such will be taken care of before the day is done.
We had a WONDERFUL time on our trip.
Amy? Thank you! Powells? Thank you! Portland? Thank you!
Oddly, I didn't take one darn photo. I know, that's weird...and I was a photo major...but sometimes I just don't feel like it. So here we are, enjoying the city:
There should probably be a couple little rain-drops in there, but you get the idea.
And here are some highlights of the trip:
-Powells, Powells, Powells...we crossed off like half the things on our "To Do" list on Saturday alone, and this was our final shopping stop that day. I went crazy for the huge amount of vintage editions of fairy tale books...and 3 super-heavy big flat-rate Priority boxes were shipped from the downtown Portland Post Office on Monday full of my purchases. (Josiah did pretty well book-shopping, too).
-Sunday afternoon with Amy & Mariko (Amy took actual photos of our great cafe-food, which can be seen in her post here). 
We went to the very-newly-opened Sock Dreams store, and came away with lots of socks and arm-warmers. Even better than socks + gelato is getting to meet friends in "real-life" and feel like you already know each other...that is a great thing indeed.
-Crafty Shopping is what caused me to have to hike up to the Goodwill and purchase another suitcase with which to carry all of my new treasures home. Close Knit, Fabric Depot, and Uwajimaya, you did this to me. The clothes shopping didn't exactly help, either!
-Consistently excellent hot chocolate (I'm not really a coffee girl)
-Lovely cool weather
-The completely manageable layout of the city
-All of the moss and ferns and flowering trees
The only bad thing I observed about Portland is the very high percentage of unfortunate hats...which I suppose can be attributed to the rain. And that, to me, says something very good about that fair city that is now so far away.
Comments (25)
Welcome home Emily! So glad it was a successful trip and that you are like me when it comes to travel...always bringing home more than I can carry and needing to mail home fairy tales! I collect them too!
laura · April 10, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Welcome back Emily! Glad to hear you had a great time.
elmaelsiena · April 10, 2008 at 04:00 PM
I need an example of bad hats... as little old ladys in Ohio have some really bad hats. "Sunday Hats" I have been told they are called which also have something like plastic wrap around them as well.. very freeky.
Rebecca · April 10, 2008 at 04:02 PM
I'm glad you're back safe and sound..a friend and I are planning to plan a trip to Portland for Powell's..Right now, it's in the "we should go to Portland and go to Powell's"/"yeah, that sounds awesome, let's go" stage, but hopefully before the year is out we can make it happen..Glad to hear it was a great trip!
Betsy · April 10, 2008 at 04:04 PM
Your trip sounds like it was fun! Those places are all on my Portland list too.
rachel · April 10, 2008 at 04:11 PM
Oh, I love your illustrations even better than actual photos! Sound like so much fun! Welcome back!
michelle · April 10, 2008 at 04:12 PM
Sooo cute! I love the drawings! I wish I actually looked like that and had a cute coat like that! It was really great meeting the two of you, and dude, you got the real Portland weather (it's supposed to be 76 and sunny this weekend. I think my body is going to go into shock).
Mariko · April 10, 2008 at 04:18 PM
sounds like a wonderful trip! who needs photos when you're an artist- great little sketches. Can't wait to see the array of new knee socks and such!
hobocampcrafts · April 10, 2008 at 04:18 PM
I thought you might like it there... *B
SummersCamp · April 10, 2008 at 04:19 PM
Sounds like such an awesome trip. I love the link to the sock shop. I've restorted to having to make my own cute socks and knee highs, but it looks like I might have an order or two for them in the future! :) And the fabric and knit shop, I wish I had such great stores like that around here. My choices are sparse in the area.
AJ · April 10, 2008 at 04:46 PM
Does this mean you'll be packing up and moving away from the lovely South?
Stephanie Wheeler · April 10, 2008 at 04:47 PM
What a happy post! I'm glad you had a fun time... and I love the illustrations in place of actual photos :)
Rachel · April 10, 2008 at 04:54 PM
As a local I can tell you that summers will mean fewer unfortunate hats... it doesn't rain all the time here! Close Knit is my neighborhood store as well (or was, we're moving to the SW soon). I'm glad you enjoyed your trip but am amazed that you had any money left after Powells and Uwajimaya -- I can only go there infrequently or bad bad things happen to the budget!
Venecia · April 10, 2008 at 06:25 PM
I'm so glad the rain didn't get you down. I love it but most of my friends don't :) Dave and I have been longing for a Powell's trip soon but we try to only let our selves go when we have very specific things to get or we are taking in at least a few books to sell. We are way to easily tempted in there. :)
The girls at sock dreams loved you. One of them said, "She was a cherry. I don't know how else to describe her. Just perfect like a cherry on a sundae" :) So glad you had fun!
trina · April 10, 2008 at 08:08 PM
love your drawings. =)
why do i find it so disappointing that you're not a coffee girl?! oh well, i still adore you. = )
~lovelyn · April 10, 2008 at 08:21 PM
Wow, I've never been to America but Portland is now on my list if I do make it there one day! Good to hear you had a lovely time - and the hats sound intriguing!! :D
Rebecca · April 10, 2008 at 09:46 PM
... Welcome Back!
Sounds like a lot fun was had in Portland.
I know just what you mean about the "picture taking thing".
So many trips to Disneyland and there were times when I just didn't feel like picture taking.
I know thats a weird place without taking pictures, but sometimes you just want to have a good time and not bother with it.
Looks like you ate some yummy treats~what fun!
Now you need a vacation from your vacation huh? *lol*
<3~ michelle
miss.michelle · April 10, 2008 at 10:18 PM
Glad your home...sounds like you had fun...did you make it to Monticello.....want to hear what you thought....hope you share some of your great finds with is...via photos..
Raejean · April 11, 2008 at 12:41 AM
I am very, very interested in the consistently excellent hot chocolate. I have yet to find one that matches the dream in my head, so I am forever searching and experimenting, trying to find it.
And bonus on the vintage fairy tales! (the fabric was a given, personally...:p )
muralimanohar · April 11, 2008 at 03:28 AM
Welcome back!
Sounds like you had a good time :) I love the drawing of you three :)
Tizzalicious · April 11, 2008 at 05:08 AM
Your drawings are adorable!!!~ I do that too~ sometimes when I am exploring a new place I just want to live in the moment rather that worrying abut capturing it on film for later~
I finally got around to watching you on Martha~ what a great segment! Your dolls were absolutely freek-out-AMAZING! ...oh and thanks for turning me on to Sock Dreams..its a good thing it's pay day :)
A Long Time Reader of Your Blog, Jenelle
www.sleepyhollowcraftcompany.blogspot.com
Jenelle · April 11, 2008 at 10:40 AM
I really should head north and do some exploring. I have only ever been as far as Ashland Oregon and I fell in love there as well.
Lauren · April 11, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Sounds like a great time! I'm going up soon (mid-May), and am very much looking forward to another trip to Powell's! Welcome back!
kelly · April 11, 2008 at 10:55 AM
oh it was so great meeting you "for reals"
and I am freaking over your drawings!! if I look even 10% that cute I will be forever happy. and that little camera!! ha!
so curious about the books you got. . .come back soon!!
amy k. · April 11, 2008 at 11:09 AM
those illustrations are simply adorable.
welcome home :-)
kat · April 11, 2008 at 11:15 AM