Teardrop Trailer Re-Done in a Surfing Theme

Go See What's Around the Bend
Adventure calls us all to the open road, and wide ranges in search of finding some empty point breaks along our treasured coast. Some of the best and most elusive surf can be found in remote areas of the world not yet suited for fancy resorts, and infinity pools. If you are going to be hunting desolate surf breaks I suggest a good vehicle, and bringing along your own sleeping accommodations.

Tear Drop Trailer

Don't Cry, Dry Your Eye
You don't need to sleep on the ground in a tent all the time, you can simply attach your own tear drop trailer and hit the road in style. Tear drop trailers (or tear drop campers) are small, streamlined travel trailers in the shape of a tear drop that can sleep two people in full comfort. They aren't as bulky or gas consuming as an RV, and can be easily towed behind almost any regular sized passenger car.  These are great lightweight units for camping, and weekend warriors. They are so popular that even Home Depot sells their own version of a teardrop trailer.

Surfboard Comforter and Custom Curtains

Perfect Wife, Perfect Life
One of our customers had his tear drop trailer outfitted in a surf theme, and used our Surf Tapa comforter set for the bedding, and had some custom curtains sewn with our surfboard fabric to bring that beach decorator touch to the great outdoors. He even fastened a Gone Surfing sign inside the trailer, (which we are assuming can be easily hung outside the trailer to let his wife know he has snuck away again for a dawn patrol session, and hopefully he will have a hearty breakfast waiting for him upon his return.)

Gone Surfing Wood Sign

The trailer looks great with the chrome on the back, and seems to have been a labor of love. I hope the owners will enjoy the summer sun, and get out and explore!

Vintage Hawaiian Fabric Couch

Re-Cover A Couch With Hawaiian Fabric

Our Hawaiian fabric is not only great for your bedroom, but our bark kahala fabrics are also perfect for re-doing an old couch. We found this awesome four band Hawaiian couch on Craigslist, and decided it definitely needed a make over. The old owner was moving, and couldn't take it with her, so we picked it up for quite a steal. It does need a little oil and a gentle cleaning, but we also like the old vintage look it has.

Four Band Rattan Couch Upholstered with Vintage Bark Cloth Hawaiian Fabric

The fabric we chose was one of our black birds of paradise patterns since we knew our office couch would get a bit of traffic, and will hide stains well. We didn't want to have the cushions entirely covered in the fabric without a bit of piping to break up the design. We found a solid green linen fabric that matched the tropical leaves in this particular design pretty closely, and rolled it up to sew the piping around the edges of each pillow. I also thought a solid black, purple, or orange would make these couch cushions pop as well. Basically any color used in the fabric would work in my opinion.

Center piece of couch with Toss Pillow

I also like this particular Hawaiian fabric design because it comes in three different colorways, so it was easy to sew up a couple of coordinating throw pillows to toss on our new couch. We used the red colorway for the toss pillows, but I think some solid color coordinating dec pillows would be great, or we also liked the contrast of using one of our Banana Leaf blue throw pillows on our side chair. 

Feel free to browse our selection of vintage Hawaiian fabrics online, or feel free to stop by our office, and check out our fabrics in person. You are more than welcome to take home a swatch, and get a free lei!

Top Five Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Surfers

Top Five Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Surfers

1. Stocking Stuffer - Surf wax and a wax comb combo is a perfect and very inexpensive way to stoke out a surfer. Every surfer could use a couple of extra bars of wax and this will be a small gift they are sure to use. (In case you are wondering what a wax comb is, it is a piece of plastic that is roughly in the shape of a comb, and one side of the comb has saw tooth like edges to rough up old wax, and the other side is a wax scraper used to remove old wax off your surfboard.) Brand recommendation: I like Sticky Bumps, but most surfers won't care to much about which brand you get them, at least for a few sessions before they re-apply new wax. Since it is winter time, I would also recommend purchasing cold water wax unless you are in a warm water area like Hawaii or Florida. But your local surf shop will be able to help you choose the right surf wax.

Surf Wax and Wax Comb Combo - $1.00 for a bar of wax, and $2.00 or so for the wax comb

2. Leash Law - A new Surf Leash is something every board rider already has, but we could always use a new one. Even though the leg rope we currently have works just fine, the Velcro usually has heaps of sand, lint, and dirt stuck into it, and will not grip as securely as a new one does. Velcro gets worn out over time, and getting a new surf leash usually isn't to high on the priority list of new surf equipment to purchase. Also surf leashes get stretched out after numerous sessions, especially if you frequently ride in larger conditions. Size recommendation: Surfers who ride a short board will want a 6' long leash, and long boards generally use an 8' or bigger leash.

Surf Leash - Starting at $19.99 to $39.99, Available at your local surf shop

3. Well Read - A good book is a great way to spend your free time when the surf is flat. Here are a couple of novel recommendations that I have read, and I know any surfer will enjoy. "The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the the Ocean," by Susan Casey. "The Wave" is about big waves, how they are formed, captain's tales of rogue waves, and of course the surfers who ride them. A great true story, and gripping first hand accounts of encounters with big waves. The second book I recommend is "In Search of Captain Zero: A Surfer's Road Trip Beyond the End of the Road," by Alan Weisbecker. This is a surfer's memoir of an epic odyssey through Mexico to Costa Rica via land. Of course he gives an awesome narrative of foreign off the grid surf breaks, and all the characters he encounters along the way. This books makes you want to drop everything, pack the truck, and head out on the highway in search of surf.

"The Wave" & "In Search of Captain Zero" - Both books on Amazon.com for under $14.00

4. Head Case - A warm Knit beanie is like a man's best friend. Beanies are essential to completing the look of being a surfer. Every surfer owns one, and loves to wear them when they get out of the water, especially in the winter time. I would recommend a light knit beanie, not the full blown sailor maritime ones. A simple black beanie, nothing to flashy, with a small embroidered surf brand logo will be used regularly until next year when you sneak another beanie under the Christmas tree.

Men's Surf Beanie - Starting at $12.00 - $30.00, available at your local surf shop

5. Home is where the Heart Is - A Gone Surfing throw pillow will add a little aloha to his or hers home decor. You don't need to change the entire theme of their bedroom, or living room, you can simply toss this gender neutral basic navy decorative pillow anywhere in the room. This primary color will blend in with your current design scheme, and add some of the owner's personality to their personal space. With an wood button enclosure on the back, even the messiest surfer can clean these pillows with his regular laundry. This is a fun and unique gift that is available at our company web store or online at Amazon.com.

Gone Surfing Throw Pillow - $24.99 Available at www.deanmillerprints.com

We hope this helps make your holiday shopping a little easier in finding that perfect gift for any surfer you know. Here are a few honorable mentions in case you still need a little more creative thought, or have a whole brood of surfers to shop for!

A Few Honorable Mentions:

1. Surf Magazine subscription - Surfer Magazine and Surfing Magazine are the biggest publications in the industry, and prices are generally about $12.00 a year.

2. Sunscreen and Beach Towel combo - Surfers are always in the sun even when its cloudy out, so get a good water proof lotion, I recommend the Headhunters brand available at most surf shops. And we could always use a new beach towel, mine is pretty crusty sitting in the back of the truck!

3. Surf Video - Surf videos are something I never really spend my money on, but always love to watch them. So the only way I would really own one is as a gift, and I love getting them! Your local surf shop will probably have the latest video out, before it hits the You Tube channels.

Surf Art - The "California Surpher"

Ever seen a Californian Surfpher? Last weekend was the last time to see one of these rare and beautiful creatures out in public. The city of Dana Point hosted the Elephant Parade, which is basically a charity to raise awareness, money, and support for Asian elephant conservation. They did this by having different artists, celebrities, and personalities paint baby elephant statues in whatever manner they choose. These celebrities range from Khloe Kardashian, to Katy Perry, to the dog whisperer Cesar Millan. They all contributed their time, and artistic vision to help this charitable cause.

California Surpher by Alan Nowell

Jungle Fever: Our favorite statue of course was done in a surf theme, this would be a great piece of surf decor for any large room in your home, or next to the door for the grand entrance. This piece was painted by artist Alan Nowell. This woody car elephant provides the ultimate mode of transporting your surfboards deep into the jungle in search of empty deserted surf breaks. The detail put into this statue is amazing, with a California license plate on the back, to using the headlights and front grill for the elephants eyes and mouth. I love the way the artist captured the feel of freedom you have cruising the California coast in an old woody car searching for surf.  The artist describes his piece as, "A Classic. Just seeing a surf-Woodie implies a lifestyle. It's a symbol. The love of water."

Love the license plate on the rear!

So Much to See: There are a lot more different elephant statues, in plenty of different themes besides surfing. If you want to see more painted elephants be sure to visit their website at www.elephantparadeamerica.com

Headlights for eyes, I wonder if they light up at night

Custom Wood Beach & Surf Signs

We just put together a little product video on our made to order wood signs. These are very high quality wood pieces with full color re-printed original drawings and artwork to be displayed in your home. We have lots of different colors, and themes that are suited to fit with almost any decor or design theme you may have in your surf shack.

The best part about our signs is that they can be tailored to feature your favorite surf spot, beach, or just to remember a great time you had on the coast on a family vacation. We all have fond memories of the beach, and its great to add a little custom personality to your house.

Our all wood planked signs are made here in the USA, and although they do take about two weeks to get done, I guarantee you'll be happy with the quality, and the way it looks where ever you decide to hang it. Our signs usually come in three different sizes, usually small, medium, and large, and the large is a pretty big piece of artwork. So grab some popcorn, and check out our small You Tube video presentation of our custom made surf signs.

Mahalo!

Pimp my Surf Van

A customer overseas ordered some Hawaiian fabric from us for his interior overhaul of his weekend cruiser. This surf van was built for long trips, and "glamping" in style. I know when I am on a surf trip at a remote point break far from civilization, there is nothing like having your own piece of paradise waiting for you to dry off in, cook some breakfast, and start re-counting tall surf tales over a warm fire to those around you.

Our DM396 - Aqua Hibiscus fabric helped to transform this otherwise ordinary surf bus into a true Hawaiian paradise, complete with coordinating paint trim, and storage drawers. The hardwood floors make this not just a gas guzzling touring car, but an entire living room placed right in the back of this wave wagon. I can't quite see what the person sitting in the couch can see, but I would imagine it is a full entertainment system, complete with a satellite enabled flat screen television, and blu-ray player to watch "Big Wednesday" over and over again. At least that is what I would be doing.

Aqua Hibiscus Fabric Used to Pimp Your Van

Let us know what you think of this surf bus make-over, and if you have any pictures to send us of something you have re-habbed let us know!

Custom Hawaiian Fabric Surfboard Inlay

Surfboards bought right off the rack at your local surf shop pretty much all look the same. They are all white with a wood stringer down the center, and of course the shapers stamp on the front or back of the board. There aren't a lot of options to choose from in regards to color, design, and having any of your personality displayed on your surfboard. Shop boards are basically a blank canvas to paint and create on. Of course you have a great selection of stomp pads, and leashes in many different colors, and styles to reflect your identity, but with so many riders in the water we like to stand out a bit, and spread a little aloha with our surfboards.

Customizing your surfboard is a great way to add a little touch of individualism and style to your quiver. There are many ways to add your own personal flavor to your surfboard, you can draw your own artwork like the ....Lost crew does with paint pens, add heaps of surf branded stickers to the nose like a professional surfer, paint the whole board any color other than white, or do what we like to do, and that is to glass in some Hawaiian fabric to the surfboard. Here is a great simple example of a surfboard with a Hawaiian fabric inlay on the nose of a long board one of our customers sent to us.

Nose of Surfboard with Navy Hibiscus Fabric Inlay

As you can see just adding a little touch of aloha gives this long board a much more stylish look, and when you are done riding it, it will look great hanging up your wall. This custom built nose rider with the Hawaiian fabric inlay has an old school foam density, Volan glass, 1/4 cedar on each side with a 1/4 balsa center stringer for added strength (see close up below.) 

Close up of Navy Hibiscus Fabric Surfboard Inlay

Look at the detail put into that stringer, you know this guy loves to shape boards! This surfboard was shaped by Steve Divita over at Head High Surfboards and he does some pretty incredible artwork on his surfboards, be sure to check out his online gallery of his boards. 

Navy Hibiscus Hawaiian Print Fabric by Dean Miller Surf Bedding

Dean Miller carries a good selection of Hawaiian print fabric that can be used to get your custom surfboard made, just visit our online superstore at http://www.deanmillerprints.com

Mahalo!