Another Holiday Boutique For the History Books
It all began in February 1953 with a “Trash & Treasure” sale to raise beautification project funds for the newly-founded Solana Beach Women’s Civic Club. That first “pop-up” shop at Witmer Drugs netted $650 to buy and plant shrubs along Hwy. 101. In December, the same year, the Club hosted its first Christmas Tea and gift sale, launching a tradition that has expanded and continues annually — our Holiday Boutique.
Over the decades, we estimate that the event has generated more than $200,000 to support the Society’s Scholarship Program and other contributions to Solana Beach. Even in 2020, when an in-person Boutique was impossible due to Covid 19 pandemic restrictions, the tradition was sustained as an eCommerce event, with a storefront on this website and close to 1,000 items in stock.
Our Crafts Group, now led by Kathryn Schmiedeberg and Stephanie Wilde, counts on about 15 regular members, many of whom work year-long in their sewing rooms or art studios, to turn rare finds or donations into one-of-a-kind treasures. Our November 8, 2025 sale was again a success, with proceeds nearing $12,000. Thanks to all you volunteered their time and talents to create the Boutique, and to all of the shoppers who went home with one-of-a-kind, handmade holiday gifts.
