Me + CB2 = Vintage Trailer Chic

My new obsession is CB2. That's Crate & Barrel 2 for those of you who aren't into acronyms. I love CB2 but we don’t have a store in Santa Barbara. I admit, I have spent many a late evening after hubby and kids drift off to bed perusing the CB2 website for the fun and funky to jazz up my sweet old silver trailer. A couple of weeks ago I spent a few days with my homies in LA (Silver Lake.) Like any group of girls briefly untethered from their significant others and heady with the fever for finer things, we shopped. And shopped. And shopped.

While we were in the mecca of all things LA, I had to drag them to a CB2 store so I could actually finger the merchandise. My friends waited patiently outside while I studied every nook and cranny of the store. When I finally emerged, I had two adorable aluminum chick candleholders, some repro-retro pillows, a petite stainless cocktail shaker, a handful of clothespin chopsticks, a set if acrylic martini glasses, and (my favorite purchase) an orange folding butler tray. What fun, right?

Our next outing will be a turn-around to an LA area flea market so I can round out my purchases. I think I smell a complete interior re-do coming on.

Carefree California - Cliff May and the California Ranch House

Cliff May Homes advertisement

 A funny thing happened to my Airstream the other day.  She was invited to a museum opening.  And, not just any museum either.  The Art, Design and Architecture Museum at UC Santa Barbara (otherwise known as the ADA Museum.)

Now, you might be wondering 'why would an Airstream trailer be invited to an art museum opening?'  Here's why.  The ADA's grand opening exhibit is titled "Carefree California; Cliff May and the Romance of the Ranchhouse."  In case you are not familiar with Cliff May, he was a designer who is accredited with creating the iconic California casual ranch homes in the 1950's and 1960's.  His design style became the signature of living carefree in California after the war - and continues to this day.  His innovative ideas integrated houses and gardens, indoors with outdoors.  His designs often included floor to ceiling windows, expansive open floor plans and sprawling indoor/outdoor patios for entertaining or simply enjoying life.  His passion was designing homes that were in harmony with the way people wanted to live.

a Cliff May house

On February 24 - 26, 2012, our silver beauty will be beckoning guests to the opening of this exciting museum opening.  She'll be parked outside where visitors can meander in and out and be reminded of this graceful era.  The exibit will open to the public on Sunday, February 26, 2012 and continue through June 17, 2012.  In addition to the works of Cliff May, the museum will highlight their extensive collection of architectural drawings, models, sales pamphlets, photographs, film and television clips, publications, and building toys.  If California casual is your bag then don't miss this opportunity to glimpse back to the grassroots of this mid-century design craze.

And, on a personal note, I am especially honored to be asked to participate in this opening as my own father, Bruce McCurdy, was a professor emeritus in UCSB's Art Department.  He spent 30 years teaching art and showcasing the department's talented teachers and students in openings at this same venue.  I know he would be proud that our ol' silvergirl is going to be the 'spotlight' at the opening of the university's shiny new art museum!

Click here to learn more about the ADA Museum exhibit 'Carefree California: Cliff May and the Romance of the Ranch House.'

Learn more about Cliff May here.

Oh yeah, and by sheer coincidence, Palm Springs Modernism Week is on at the same time - February 16 - 26, 2012.  What a great opportunity to get your mod home design AND vintage trailer fix all at once!

Dream a litle silver



I need to camp.  I've been missing my silver bubble and made this Etsy Treasury to cheer me up.  It'll cheer you up too.



Lake City by Rachel Austin (on Etsy.com)

The Next Chapter

Oh, how these days are slipping through my fingers like sand.  It's exciting, but it's a bit depressing too.  I love the energy of time marching forward, of change, but I mourn the little things that slip past me unnoticed.  I have to remind myself to slowly breathe in each day so I don't miss a thing. 

Speaking of change, last week I launched the next chapter in my vintage trailer rental operations.  I've re-written my business plan to only rent for film production services like TV commercials and photo shoots.  I will miss all the hip, cool camping folks I met while setting them up in the old silver gal, but this change feels right. 

Check out my new and improved Santa Barbara Silver Safari website.  Hi ho silver, away!

Ch-ch-ch-changes

In 2007, my husband and I started offering our 1967 Airstream Safari for rent. The idea was for you pick the campsite and we would tow it and set it up for you. Initially, the rentals were a creative way to earn some extra bucks to renovate the trailer, but as time went on, it became a fun and interesting way to meet people and to scratch our creativity itch.

It’s been a fun ride, but after three busy years, we’ve decided to change things up a bit. We’ve re-written our business model and, from now on, we are redirecting our aluminum energies on production services and film projects of all types. TV commercials, photo shoots, and events are our bag now!

The decision to change things up was bittersweet. It was fun to be the only vintage Airstream rental outfit between the Bay area and Los Angeles, and the only business of this kind in Santa Barbara!   But, with several new Airstream rental outfits emerging in the territory, our timing seems to be good.

So, creative services, here we come. Santa Barbara Silver Safari website changes are in the works, so check back soon. With any luck, one day you’ll see us splashed on the glossy pages of your favorite magazine or buzzing across your late-night TV screen!

Silver Shenanigans

Shenanigan is such a weird word. I had to look it up to make sure it means what I think it does. The dictionary says a shenanigan is ‘a playful trick, mischievous prank, or other display of high spirits’ so I think I’ll run with it.

It’s mostly been all quiet in my silver hemisphere, except for our latest shenanigan, a silly Geico TV commercial. It just hit the airwaves last week, so keep your eye out for it when you're watching some obscure home improvement show at 2:30 in the morning. It’s hard to miss if you have aluminitus (the incurable turning of the head when the glint of silver catches your eye) or a thing for aliens. But just in case you don’t, here’s the YouTube video for your viewing pleasure.



And there's more. Yesterday my best friend, Karen, and I were up to more shenanigans. We visited the annual Trail Along to Pismo vintage trailer rally in Pismo Beach. Karen is not a vintage trailer owner, but she is a lover of all things outdoorsy so she felt right at home. We even bumped into a friend of Karen's at the rally. Robin was showing off her stunning coral-colored Shasta trailer and matching svelte convertible tow vehicle. We stopped to chat, drool, and take a few pictures. Ironically, I unknowingly featured a photo of Robin’s trailer in my blog about the 2010 Trail Along to Pismo rally last year!

No trip to a vintage trailer scene would be complete without a visit with my dear friend, Kristiana Spaulding of Silver Trailer jewelry fame. She was there too, and as usual, she was a vision of loveliness in a vintage metallic dress and heels. While we are on the subject of shenanigans, Kristiana will be a facilitating a presentation on Airstream interior design during Alumapalooza 2011 at the Airstream, Inc. factory in Jackson Center, Ohio the week of May 31, 2011. You might want to check it out.

After a day in the sun, surrounded by good friends, shiny silver trailers, kitchy vintage bicycles and tow vehicles, cabana striped canvas, glossy custom paint jobs, rag rugs, oiled wood, white walls, and trailer treasure “yard” sales, I was riding a serious over-stimulation high. I can’t wait to break out ol’ Audrey next weekend and head for points North for a few days of family camping and…you know I’m gonna say it…more shenanigans.

Life is good. Silver is great.

I hope, like me, you have been basking in the silver glint of this shiny new year. Yeah, I know it’s been a while since I last blogged, but I won’t bore you with all the inane reasons why. Instead, I’ll blow you a kiss and gently whisper a belated happy new year wish in your ear. Now, that’s more fun, isn’t it?

The other day I climbed to the roof of the old 2-story building I work in to watch a midday launch of a Titan rocket from Vandenberg AFB. The rocket was chauffeuring a super secret satellite into eternal orbit. The launch was cool, but while I was standing on the roof, I had an epiphany: Not everything that goes up comes down.

Anyway, if you are a bicycle enthusiast, check out the issue 02 of Peloton Magazine because Santa Barbara Silver Safari earned a little mention in its glossy pages. Or, if surfing is your thing, check out Billabong’s Road Trip ditty featuring our old silver gal in the background.

Life is good. Silver is great.