Treasures By the Sea

Besides the Farmers Market and Fruit stands, I did manage to squeeze in a little more shopping during our stay at the coast.

There are still a few Antique stores in Arroyo Grande where the Farmers Market was, and we visited a couple. I've noticed in the last few years, many antique dealers include new or gently used items to their booths...the economy, you know.

I found this book.

It is not only a beautiful book with lovely pictures, but it just happens to be in my favorite colors and the vintage look will fit perfectly in my little blue trailer.

These measuring spoons were found at the same place and will also find a home in the trailer.

Aren't they cute?

And Red!!

I got my friend to run me over to the little quilt store in Pismo. Country Cousins, I think.

I found this pattern for some different little zip bags.

Even though I haven't had time to piece a quilt in some time, I still like anything with 

quilt patches. Great for using up those scraps I just always have so many of.

In the same store, I found this. This is the box and it is as cute as what was inside.

Again...perfect for my little blue trailer...do you see a theme going here...We are planning a trip back to the coast  in October and will be taking the trailer.

Inside the box was a vintage reproduction tablecloth with a checker board in the center.

Camping and Checkers tournaments just go together in our family.

Maybe you can see a little more of the border around the checkerboard here.

I just adore it and can see it on my vintage drop leaf table in the trailer.

My friend Carol, who we stayed with, gave me this tea towel.

She knows my love for blue and yellow.

Yep...going to the little blue trailer too.

This is a little embroidery I took with me and finished it while there. I will show you in my next post what I made with it. (Now, you haven't guessed it is something for the trailer, have you?)

I have had this for a long time. It was in the playroom in our house. I found it at a garage sale and the kids would pack it with treasures and carry it all around.

I confiscated it for our trip to the coast. It is just the right size for my handwork projects and supplies.

I am going to redo the inside in Pam Kitty fabric (of course) and won't it look cute in my little trailer?

Something I found at the Marshall's over at the coast. The Marshall there is a lot larger than ours in Bakersfield, and I usually can find a treasure there, so Carol always takes me as it is really close to her house.

Found these yellow and orange paper straws at the Avila Barn, just before we had to make our quick exit due to my little "problem". Those and some peanut brittle for Mr. SS are all we had time to get there.

I thought the straws would fit with my Fall decorating when I get a chance to start that.

For now they look cute with my new cup and the mug rug I made to go with it.

A cup often inspires the design of the mug rug as this one did.

The weather has taken a little turn here.  Today was warm, but the nights and mornings definitely have a fall crispness to them....loving it.

I'm getting in the mood for some fall decorating and even had soup on my mind today.

Have you started decorating for fall yet? I'm going to have to do some blog visiting for inspiration.

See ya soon!!

God is Good!!

Life is Good!!

"Guess What?"

"We get to go to Strawberry Patches tomorrow." That is what I heard from 3 of my granddaughters before I even stepped out of the truck Friday night as we arrived home from another week in Riverside.

I had asked Mama Olivia if they could go with me to pick out fabric for their "First day back at school outfit." and she had told them about it.

So, Saturday morning we were at Strawberry Patches just as they opened.

Drew looked around for just a few minutes and zoned in on what she wanted right away.

She looked around and was thinking about a black and white or a turquoise and brown, but decided on the gray, pink and orange because she had never had anything gray. I love that she isn't afraid to try something new.  The picture above is a better, the color didn't come out true in the one below.

Lexi's biggest decision was whether she wanted a dress or skirt.

After considering blues and purples, she decided on a dress made from these pinks and browns.

Now Cami had a little harder time. She had already decided on a skirt and I told her it needed 3 fabrics.

Her first choice was red and aqua. Then we looked at red and pink roses. Then maybe blue...or...

But she too, went back to her first choice and we all agreed.

While Suzanne was checking us out, Cami asked if she could take some pictures and I told her sure.

These are what she thought cute enough to take pictures of.

We finally made it out the door with bag of fabric, patterns and smiles.

Don't you just love these doors.

I just absolutely love that my granddaughters share my love for this shop that has been so much a part of my life for over 25 years.

As we were driving home, they let me know that they are pretty fond of Suzanne, my friend and owner of this wonderful shop, too.

Visit Strawberry Patches and Suzanne's Blog .  You will fall in love too.

I forgot, I haven't shown you the models I made last week for that wonderful shop.

Next post...it's late and this girl needs her beauty sleep.

God is Good!!

Life is Good!!

On the Road Again - Part II

      My friend Gail and I both have blogs and didn't want to overlap too much with pictures and stories. To see our trip from her eyes and camera, go to Victorian at Heart.  We really had such a great time and it was fun trying to get pictures to share with those who read our blogs.  

We left Nipomo, and headed south with Los Alamos being our next stop. None of us had been there in years, but we remembered a big building called the Antique Depot and an old Victorian House. We spent too much time at the Depot and opted to not visit the Victorian House and headed south again. This is the Antique Depot

I guess I didn't get any pictures of the inside. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in looking for my treasures, I forget to take pictures.  I did purchase a couple of things here, but will wait and show them all at the same time in Part III.

As we got off the freeway to get to the Depot, we spotted a field of poppies. I couldn't wait to get back on the road and get a picture of that field before getting back on the freeway.

I have always been a picture taker, but really, my whole outlook has changed about what I look for to take a picture of.  It's now all about my blog....no, really I think I am more aware of all the beauty around me, now that I'm am posting pictures on my blog.  The picture of the old bridge and this next picture are problaby my favorites of the trip.

The poppy field with a touch of lupines growing among them.

Back on the road south, we stopped in Summerland (don't ya just love that name) and one of my favorites, Carpinteria.  Mr. SS (in case you can't figure that out, it stands for so sweet.  I've seen other blogs where they nickname hubby after their blog and I thought it was very fitting for my sweet hubby.)

Okay, back to our trip.....Mr. SS has had 2 jobs in the area of Carpinteria in the last year and we have spent a lot of time there. I have been through all the antique stores many times and also a quilt store.

I love to walk along the beach there too.

No pictures in either of these places, but  hope maybe Gail will post some.

From here we headed toward Oxnard where we were staying the night so we could be up early to attend the Ventura Swap.  Before checking in to our hotel, we had dinner and visited a huge outlet mall. By this time, I was beyond exhausted and just dropped those off that wanted to shop while I drove around checking to see if there was something I couldn't resist, but my body won out and I stayed in the car.

Gail's husband found us great rooms at the Marriot in Oxnard and I was never so happy to see my bed. My roomy was Sally and we just had the best time talking and settling in for the night.

I just realized I may need a fourth installement to show my treasures.

Part III tomorrow....Ventura Swap, Augora Hills, Valencia and home.