Notes from the Patch

Celebrating life - What A Beautiful Mess!

 

I woke up extra early Saturday morning and tip toed from the bedroom so as not to wake up my sleeping husband.  As the coffee brewed I grabbed a pad of paper and pen and in the quiet darkness of morning I started my list. I had big plans to explore some new territory, a you've survived the holidays so celebrate kind of day.

I Map Quested my course, south down 101 about 30 miles to an area I'd read about on blogs and in magazines and heard about from friends. I was excited as I added my camera to the list. I thought it would be fun to take you all along. After all, we're kind of birds of a feather here and chances are that if I liked something you probably would too.

My destination was Agoura Hills and my first stop was A Beautiful Mess, an antique boutique featuring an eclectic flow of antiques, design and oddities that all come together beautifully in simple elegance. 

As I chatted with the shop clerk I asked for permission to photograph the store, telling her about you friends in blogland that would just love the inspiration found here.

As I returned to the car to get my Nikon I discovered I'd failed to add check camera for SD card to my mornings list.

There would be no photographs on this trip. All photos here are from the store's websites.

Very disappointing because there was so much inspiration there. Oh well, I'll just have to go back - not that I need an excuse.

 I loved the elegance of A Beautiful Mess

and I think you will too.

Just down the walk was a wonderful 9,000 square foot antique mall that featured finds from over 40 vendors with a good mix of old and new.

The window still showed bits of left over Christmas but I could tell that I would love it before I ever stepped inside.

So many things I love from places I adore!

Couldn't you just imagine this full of fabric in a sewing studio? Don't know about you but I could sure fill it up without a problem.

 

Don't be surprised if you don't see this French enameled table at the Patch in the near future. I just need to figure out where to put it. It kept whispering, take me home, take me home as I walked by.

This old store fixture was fabulous with its enameled labels. Love the mustardy color!

Just posting these photos makes me want to head back there soon. There are a half dozen other antique stores in the immediate area and a sandwich shop for when you need a quick pick me up. A girl has to keep up her strength when working so hard doesn't she?

Tell them Suzanne sent you and oh, don't forget your SD card!

Encourage one another,

 

Monday was one of those rare January days when I got an extra day off AND warm sunshine.

In my quest to savor unplugged moments, I ditched boxing up Christmas and ironing sheets for a long walk on the beach.

Good call.

What a perfect way to start the new year.

(Found sea glass too. Yeah baby)! 

It just doesn't get any better than that!

Encourage one another,

 

 

 

Playing with dolls

Friday I finally got to meet three week old Katie for the very first time.

What a living doll!

Amanda and I had way too much fun dressing her in fun hats and headbands and posing her for our little photo shoot.

Katie however quickly tired of our shenanigans and

pretty much slept through all the posing

 

and costume changes.

 

I'm excited that I finally just might have a real live model for all the hairbows, headbands and little outfits we make here at Strawberry Patches.

Thank you Amanda and Katie for a fun morning!

Encourage one another,

 

Doing my homework

So. My former manager, Amanda recently had a baby girl and has invited me over to take some photographs. I immediately did the following:

1. Bought a new camera

2. Purchased a new lens

3. Shopped Etsy for newborn baby photo props

4. Downloaded a book on "The Key to Taking Pictures Like a Professional Photographer"

5. Went to Home Depot for a piece of paneling and some molding for my backdrop and flooring*

6. Shopped Strawberry Patches for the perfect "wallpaper" for backdrop

7. Set up my "studio" and practiced with a most cooperative model

8. Curled up in the corner and sucked my thumb.

I feel so inept when it comes to photography! Seeing great pictures gives me goose bumps, but capturing goose bump producing photos is a struggle for me. Fortunately Amanda has no expectations and if the photos are lousy I'm blaming them on the baby. After all, she's too young to defend herself. 

Here are my practice shots. My model was fabulous. She never once cried or peed on my props. We could have gone on for hours, but I started losing my light (that's professional photography  jargon for, it was getting dark - read that in my new book).

*I did want to share this neat tip with you. Customer,  Michele Hartman  was in the store buying fabric for backdrops for her photography shoots and was kind enough to share this tip with me: Here's what you do. Purchase a sheet of paneling at a home improvement store and ask them to cut it in half. You'll end up with a 4'X4' piece for the flooring and a 4'X4' piece for the back wall. Michele then covers the wall with a piece of fabric using double stick tape. This can easily be changed as desired. Her cool tip was to add a piece of molding across the bottom for a finished look. The fabric totally looks like wall paper and can be easily changed as desired.

Here's a SOOC shot. (Straight out of camera (unedited) - that's book jargon again) You can see the two pieces of paneling and the baseboard. (Sorry. That baby stand in is a bit distrurbing looking).

I just leaned the wall piece against the bar b que to hold it upright

Here you can see that the molding makes the fabric look like wall paper.

Here you can see that I need to press the crease out of the fabric backdrop and pull the fabric taunt and secure the molding with tape. But I love this idea for an almost instant back drop. It's so quick and easy to switch out the fabric for totally different looks. (God knows I have the fabric)! I think the best part is that it all stores flat; under the bed or in a closet and you can get it in your car for when you take your camera on the road. You know, for when you become a famous professional photographer and book your photo shoots all over the country.

Seriously.  I can't wait to wrap my arms and camera around baby Katie Suzanne. I'm just hoping she cooperates half as well as her stand in did. I'll get back to you on how it all goes on Friday. Wish me luck!

Encourage one another,

 

What's for dinner

I've been on a roasted veggie kick lately so my Nikon and I went off to Farmers Market Saturday morning to fetch some groceries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Bill helped me unload the three huge bags of produce from the car I admitted that I may have gotten just a wee bit carried away.

Encourage one another,

 

 

How I spent my Sunday

1. Bought tickets to fly to Kansas in October and got killer fares.
2. Planned to attend the LA Gift Show until I realized it was last week!
3. Shopped for my favorite pregnant girl - loved the prezzie I got her and her hubby! Hope they like it.
4. Bought Bob Greene's book as seen on Oprah. Why do I do everything Oprah tells me?
5. Finally purchased a skin care line I've been wanting then scrubbed twenty years of dead skin off my face. The gentleman at the cosmetic counter called it affordable. I'd call $303 worth of cream ridiculous. Just a warning though; you probably won't recognise me next time you see me because for $303 I expect miracles!
6. Played with my new camera lens which cost more than my camera.
7. Caught up on Real Housewives of New Jersey and Flipping Out (not sure who flipped out more - Theresa or Jeff)
8. Wondered if it was too soon to start decorating for fall. Yeah, probably.
9. Ordered pizza for dinner and had a big ol jalapeno pretzel for lunch. (Need to follow Bob's diet advise starting Monday see #4.
10. Enjoyed the cool beach weather before returning to the hot valley

How did you spend your Sunday?

Encourage one another,

 

Hooray for family and Picnik

Bill and I are in Ventura through the weekend.

Our kids have converged on us and we are just enjoying one another and the cool ocean air.

Our son Bryan and his wife Jen are especially loving the weather here since it's been so blasted hot in Kansas all summer.

Cherene is here with her boys too. We love getting all the cousins together a few times a year. I think cousins are so important when we're growing up.

This is our youngest grand, Nathan.

He's getting a new heart valve later this summer

but you'd never know he needs one just by looking at him.

I have no idea who this cutie patootie is

but she really knows how to work the camera.

Heaven help me!

We've had a busy day. The kids have all been sent to their rooms for an hour of reading (cause grammy needs a rest) and Bryan, Jen and Cherene have gone up the coast for a night away without kids.

Thank you all for your sympathies on my broken camera. Turns out it was just a broken lens. Thankfully it was a cheap one and an awesome replacement is on its way. I'm looking forward to seeing if a better lens helps my pictures. In the mean time I'm heavily editing my photos. All I can say is hooray for Picnik!

Encourage one another,

 

Sad news...big news

The sad news:

Saturday morning I grabbed my camera, hopped in Minnow and headed for farmers market.

There are always great photo ops at farmers market. Rows and rows of beautiful California produce. Flowers. Cute kids in strollers eating big bags of kettle corn. Musicians on the corner singing for tips.

"So where are your photos Suzanne", you say?

As I was unloading the car my beloved Nikon slipped out of my arms and went skittering in pieces across the garage floor.

I was sick.

Fighting off tears I went into the house to tell Bill my sad news.

He just gave me a hug. He knows how much I love that camera.

While I finished unloading the car he had a look at it. His diagnoses was that it's curable. Very sick but curable.

I haven't had the courage to try and take pictures yet.

I guess I'll be at the camera store when they open Monday morning.

Now I know how my customers feel when they think they've broken their sewing machines. They walk in all sad and anxious. Seems they don't know that our most magnificent sewing machine technician* can fix almost anything.

I just wish he worked on cameras!

Encourage one another,

The big news:

* Starting in August TJ will be at Strawberry Patches every Tuesday! Have your Bernina, White, Singer, Viking, Pfaff, Baby Lock, Brother or Kenmore (did I leave anything out?) serger or sewing machine in by early Tuesday morning and TJ  will have it ready that afternoon. For our out of town customers we'll service your machine while you wait. No need for two trips to Bakersfield. Just tell us you're from out of town and your machine is next up. TJ is certified and experienced in all makes and models of sewing machines. (Doesn't hurt that he's cute and is a darned nice guy). We guarantee that you'll love his work!

 

 

 

April showers bring May flowers

One thing I came away with from last Saturday's trip to Remnants of the Past Vintage Show

 was a renewed appreciation for the flowers from my garden, gathered and casually arranged.

I adore my vintage Eden Roses and evidently some of you do too because several customers have ordered them since seeing mine.

They are so beautiful! I just wish they would last all summer long.

Encourage one another,

  

 

 

Today

I'm excited.

Today I'm doing something I've wanted to do for a long, long time.

Today I'm taking a private photography class!

Poor man. He has no idea what he's in for.

I hope the old saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" isn't true.

I hope Patricia's saying, "With enough hard work and dedication, dreams can become a reality" is true.

I am dedicated to work hard.

I dream of better photos.

 

I have a BIG photo shoot  tomorrow. A life changing revelation that you will see right here.

It's all very exciting!

Encourage one another,