Fixer Upper heaven...

Another Shop I Adore...

In this day of extreme social media and technology overload it’s easy to develop an obsession about celebrity. We see their every move and quickly become acquainted with their daily lives. Each and every aspect of their fame is chronicled for our enjoyment in excruciating detail. I personally am not one to get wrapped up in celebrity (?), although I do remember once being obsessed with Bette Midler some years ago after seeing her perform – I was sure that she and I would be close friends in another universe and time, if she only knew me.

Even though I am world away from Waco, Texas living in California, I am pretty confident that Joanna Gaines and I would be girlfriends if I lived nearby. From the first episode of Fixer Upper that I watched, I sensed that she is genuine.  And you only have to watch a couple of episodes with she and her soul mate Chip to wish they were your friends living down the road.

So it should have come as no surprise to my Texas native/hubby Dave that one of my coveted destinations during our recent trip was a stop at Magnolia Market in Waco. Joanna’s new storefront at the Silos had not yet celebrated their grand opening, but it was hosting a soft opening nevertheless, much to my delight. In fact, the very next day, all of Texas was hit with a major storm, so our timing for our brief visit was fortuitous.

Naturally I secretly hoped to meet Joanna and Chip there, but it was not to be - get real, Laurel..they were out filming the new season episodes! Their absence didn’t hamper my enjoyment of my shopping experience, as I could sense their love and energy following me around the tables and shelves of beautiful and unique home decor.
 

I remember the episode where these were placed in a craft room for kids..

The Sales staff were trained well...or were they just naturally nice like their bosses?

These stems were my favorite item...

Although the store did not ship (you can of course order online and they will ship) I was bound and determine to bring something from the actual store home in my carry-on. I would have loved to bring home their classic magnolia wreath as a momento, but I was pretty sure the overhead bins would not be kind to it. I will have to be content to order it online.

 

Dave couldn't resist documenting my visit - he knew how excited I was to be there!

So what did I come home with, you ask?

Only a few more days and the new season of Fixer Upper will start. Dave and I can't wait to watch Chip and Joanne make another dream home out of nothing!

Laurel. And they make me laugh.

Shops I Adore: The Crave

Crave: (v) to have an intense desire for something.

Yesterday was my bi-weekly shopping trip with Mom. My brother and I trade off taking her to buy groceries and whatever else she needs. Her soon to be 90 years may sound like we're following a little feeble lady with a shopping cart through Walmart, but our Mom is no little old lady.  She wisely decided about a year ago that she might kill somebody behind the wheel of her car because of her poor eyesight. She willingly gave up her license, which speaks volumes about her feisty razor-sharp mind.

Our normal shopping day consists of Sam's Club, Walmart, Target, etc., but whenever we want a true shopping experience, we try to hit one of the locally owned shops in the Greater Yuba-Sutter area. Yesterday we discovered a chic little gourmet shop on Bridge Street in Yuba City aptly named The Crave.

Owned by  George and Melinda Barlow, The Crave is a gourmet food and gift shop filled with a massive assortment of Olive oils, condiments, teas, and all manner of epicurean delights and gifts for the foodie in us all.

"Our mission is to make gift giving fun, easy and unique for every occasion. 

We want to satisfy your crave to give and make our little corner of the world 

a place where smiles are contagious."

If you're into olive oils, then The Crave is THE place to come.  I didn't count the number of 

olive oil makers, but I noted that many of them were from local 

Northern California growers. 

And YOU CAN TASTE every one of them on the spot. 

I loved their private label oil myself.

The shelves of The Crave were filled with other delights

 to enhance your cooking experience:

salts, mustard, jars of pickled stuff, jams, etc...

heart warming teas and teapots...

 

And a variety of gifts and treasures all to complete great gift baskets 

for a friend, family member or foodies...

George and Melinda have been open a year and 

I can't imagine why I never found this shop before.

 

Though I didn't see Ronnie in Walmart yesterday, 

our visit to The Crave was far more enjoyable...

if you live in the area, it's a must visit!! 

If you don't, they have online shopping in addition to this lovely storefront.

Mom and I will be back...and Walmart Ronnie will have to wait!

P.S. TO MY Facebook FRIENDS and FOODIES - THEY SHIP - go online to their website

The Crave

454 Bridge Street St.

Yuba City, CA 95991

(530) 790-0792

 (855) 854-3700

info@thecravegifts.com

www.the cravegifts.com

Laurel. Support Small Business!!

In Search of Style

If we confine ourselves to shopping in department stores, outlet malls and discount retailers we will always be able to find something to wear that is popular, perhaps even "trendy".  If we only buy our wardrobe online or from the dozens of catalogs stuffed in our mailboxes, we will probably find something at a bargain price that suits our fancy, but not without a modicum of  hassle and a lot of time. This is why I sew...I'd rather spend my precious time constructing a garment that fits me, fit's my style and doesn't always squeeze my pocketbook. And I am usually guaranteed of a good outcome, especially because my precious Stonemountain, my "muse", is just a freeway away...(can a fabric store BE a muse?)

To actually see an Alexander McQueen gown? Perfection!

Part of the joy of sewing for yourself comes with finding your own personal fashion sense, your "style". We get that by experience. When you have sewn garments for a while, you start to know what looks good on your body and what makes you feel good about the way you look. The other side of sewing for yourself is that you can get into a rut, always constructing the same looks, using the same fabrics. And this is why we "window shop": to get a sense for new designs, new uses for fabrics, etc.

Admittedly, you can still get into these ruts by limiting your window shopping experiences. If you go to the same department store over and over, you're likely to see the same thing over and over again. Department stores tend to overdo everything - if a dark printed polyester knit is popular, then everything in the store is made out of the same type of fabric and color pallet.(perhaps a gross exaggeration, but it seems that way sometimes).

Streetwear...black is STILL the go-to color, Zan

I like to window shop at smaller boutiques and the high-end boutiques within the high-end retailers. I want to see what the designers are offering up for the season. I'm no Project Runway candidate, but I like to watch it for inspiration (although I swear I can sew better than any of them). And despite their lack of sewing prowess (Kini being the exception this season) I have gotten a couple of design ideas.

The end all/beat all source of inspiration would be a trip to New York or Paris. Okay, we can't all do that, but I was blessed with a vacation this year which included 5 days in Paris. Just sitting at a cafe table for an hour will provide a person with enough inspiration to create a seasonal wardrobe. Strolling the streets of the Marais or fighting the crowds at the Galleria Lafayette provides one with ample opportunity for new ideas.

Tulle Streetwear.

Budding fashion sense...

Get out the credit cards...unless you SEW!

mmmmm..Vivienne Westwood... where would I ever wear it? BUT....

Too short for me, but cute!

Bet you can make this Chanel jacket...Hel-lo!

Digital prints.. STILL big this year.

DVF - does she ever go out of style???

In the end, I only actually "purchased" a pair of jeans at a high-end sidewalk sale in Avignon, Provence.  They have this sale once a year in September, and you could find the most amazing "bargains". I use the term loosely as everything in fashion is relative.

I am "SEW' ready to get back to sewing for me and The FabricLady. Our pile of fabric awaits!

Laurel. And sew on and sew on...

The essence of indulgence...

"If you make most of your clothes yourself, it's okay to splurge occasionally

 on something more than the little treasures you find at Nasty Goodwill..." 

I told myself that very thing as I wandered around the handbag section at Nordstrom, looking for a little cross-body purse to take to Paris. I rationalized that I had just come from the second floor dressing room where I tried on several pairs of expensive white jeans and left empty handed, defeated.

Fact: White jeans are tough - you know what they say about white making your backside look big. It's true.

Get back to the purse hunt, Laurel.

As I walked slowly around the shelves of leather purses, I found myself wandering where people like me should not go...little rooms off to the side...walls of glass shelves, subtle lighting, handbags displayed like works of art. From across the space I saw this cute little Gucci bag. As adorable as it was - it would be perfect for travel - I silently choked so the saleslady would not notice as I perused the price tag. To make matters worse, I sauntered out and into the Balenciaga space as if I owned the joint.

"Gee, I'm just not finding exactly the right one," I lied. (Do you have anything less than $950, honey, I thought to myself.)

"Perhaps this little Valentino over here", she purred. "I just love your blouse and necklace," stroking my ego.

"Nasty Goodwill, honey," I wanted to say, but I WAS shopping in Nordstrom for a new purse and I HAD asked her for help. And more money, obviously.

Reality check: Step away from the purses! You are in way over your head, Chickie. Changing gears, I thanked her and left Nordies for the great open spaces of the Mall, back on the trail of the white jeans. Hmm...JCPenneys... yeah baby!

And as luck would have it, I scored on a pair of skinny ankle jeans...AND they were on sale!

Coming off the heels of that success, I prepared to leave the Mall, sans new purse. I wandered into Michael Kors on my way out and found nothing. I love his stuff, but nothing really captured my attention. Across the Mall I spotted the Coach store, also on my way out.  What the heck, Laurel...go check it out.

Patrick was more than obliging to show off his handbags (they're not "Purses" there).  I've never bought a Coach bag...never even desired to own one before. As he lovingly petted the soft leather of each little cross-body bag, I could feel myself getting sucked in...

"If you make most of your clothes yourself, it's okay to splurge occasionally

 on something more than the little treasures you find at Nasty Goodwill..."

You can do this...breathe. It wasn't like I hadn't spent that much on a handbag before. It was actually reasonable, as "purses" go. It had the perfect strap and the leather was a yummy buttery tan. Perfection.

"If you make most of your clothes yourself, it's okay to splurge occasionally

 on something more than the little treasures you find at Nasty Goodwill..."

"I've never had a Coach bag", I slobbered.

Every sales person in the store started sighing and purring all at once. I could hear them flitting about, heels clicking on the polished floors, joining Patrick, cooing and ready to pounce!

"Oh then..you MUST have it!" waving his hands gracefully in the air.

 

"If you make most of your clothes yourself, it's okay to splurge occasionally

 on something more than the little treasures you find at Nasty Goodwill..."

Yes, I must!

"And since you are a Coach Newbie, let me just box that up for you!"  Oh Patrick, you smooth talker...

 

"If you make most of your clothes yourself, it's okay to splurge occasionally

 on something more than the little treasures you find at Nasty Goodwill..." 

Laurel. Handbag for Paris - Check!

Desert Shopping

I've never been to the famous Rodeo Drive to shop, but almost every "resort" town has a Rodeo Drive wannabe. El Paseo Drive in Palm desert is theirs.  It's still hot in this desert community near Palm Springs, but not so hot that we were deterred from wandering the length of the avenue on a Friday morning...(and back again on Saturday!)

Being a sewist and creative spirit, I rarely wander these types of upscale shops thinking I'm going to find a bargain. I just like to be inspired by the ambiance of the whole shopping experience and am happy just to walk away with a few good ideas.  

The desert did not disappoint...art on the sidewalks, palm trees lining the street, awesome designer shops...

Evidently, desert women would have loved the fashion jewelry that I made in my LaurelLeaves collections...

Beautiful Fall collections with every possible shade of Autumn leaves...

I love the fabrics that are used in designer clothing lines. When the sales ladies are looking the other way, watch me lift the hem so I can see the finishing techniques...

We actually contemplated some more reasonable fashion accessories.  Hey, you could buy a couple of yards of silk at Stonemountain and Daughter and make this yourself...

Lunch with friends...who can beat that?

Like I said, I go for the ideas, although I came dangerously close to forking over $278 for a yummy green Eileen Fischer sweater. 

When push comes to shove, why spend all that money when I can get great fabric and sew my own designs?

Stretch silk print top, silk noil crop pants...love Stonemountain!!

Don't forget to tune into Suzan at Fabriclady to see the fashion I'm creating for her.

Laurel. Back home on my own computer!! Yay!