Photo courtesy of Morgan Fuller Photography
The Three Speckled Hens Antiques and Old Stuff Show is chock-full of inspiration. The three “Hens”, Carrie, Kathy and Susi decided to have a show fueled by their passion for antiquing. Be sure to mark your calendars for the next show on October 4-5, 2014. For more information go to www.threespeckledhens.com
The AHah! moment is when your internal desire to create stumbles upon its tailor-made, external means of expression. This can be realized through joys of painting, a creative business idea, falling in love—even engineering in a laboratory. A happy, artful home isn’t just where we lay our heads at night: It’s us. If one hasn’t yet experienced (or recognized) their AHah! moment, we haven’t yet known our full potential—or even how to get there. Share your AHah! moment with us. Inspire others to discover their own unique passion. After all, that’s one of the reasons we’re here…is to create!
Next Show:
Oct. 4 &5,2014
Paso Robles Event Center Paso Robles, CA
Antiques Home decor and all things inspiring
1320 B Pine St.•Paso Robles•TheCottageonPine.com•805.237.8533 “A” Designed by E. Zarate at RONS Nusery
New DIY
Section specialty paints, brushes, waxes llage of Shops aVi & hardware Home to over thirty artisans and vendors
P.O. Box 937 Pismo Beach, CA 93448
A Happy artful home www.ahappyartfulhome.com
1344 Pine St. in Paso Robles, CA•(805) 239-1001 Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 10-4•www.reminiscepasorobles.com
Open Daily 10-5 Over 30 years of antique history with 40 plus dealers
22390 El Camino Real•Santa Margarita, CA (805) 438-5329•Join us on facebook
Hush-Harbor Artisan Bakery & Café
Artisan breads & pastries baked daily 805.460.0541
Also serving delicious salads & sandwiches
Discover why people travel from miles around to eat here. 5735 El Camino Real Suite L, Atascadero, CA
AMERICAN BARN & WOOD Reclaimed Barn Wood, Barn Doors, Beams and More
3460 La Cruz Way #D Paso Robles, CA www.AmericanBarnandWood.com info@americanbarnandwood.com (805) 610-7838 or (805) 610-7839
What do you get when you combine an electronic engineer and a schoolteacher? American Barn & Wood in Paso Robles. What was once a dream project rebuilding their barn turned into a game changer for John and Kira Olshefski. When John and Kira graduated from Cal Poly in 1986, never did they imagine that by 2012 they would start a new business as a result of a failed building project. After their barn dismantling contractor abandoned the job halfway through, they decided to sell off what they had to recover their losses. They had their Ahah! moment after they were inundated with phone calls for their wood. A business butterfly had emerged from its cocoon, ready to spread its wings. John travels to the Midwest to scout barns on the verge of being destroyed with their new, trustworthy barn dismantler. They carefully dismantle the barns piece by piece and ship them back to California. Meanwhile, Kira stays and runs the storefront. Their customers buy everything from siding to beams, doors, windows and hardware. So what do you get when you combine an electronic engineer and a former schoolteacher? One happy, hardworking couple who loves what they do for a living. Images on right starting from top left clockwise: Ladder and barn doors from 19th century barns. Lamp built from a remnant piece of an 1860 hand hewn beam. Barn beams that stood the test of time await future projects. Kira and John organizing the stacks of mid 1800s barn wood.
“It’s in my DNA”, explained Sandy Virgin a creative resident of Templeton. “My mother won awards for the most beautiful home garden as well as my aunt, who won best garden in her town. My brother and sister both became award-winning professional landscapers. I grew up surrounded by beautiful gardens.”
SolsticeGreen &
Sandy further recalled even as a young child marveling at specific architectural details no one else seemed to notice. These details eventually trained her eye for design and fueled her passion for everything beautiful. She was 18 years old, when she bought a canopy bed and an old spinning wheel. It was the beginning of her love for décor. Does it have to be old or an antique? “No!” she says, “It just has to be beautiful.”
Healthy Living
In 1999, she moved into her small home. Her landlords gave her free reign to do what she wanted to fix up her place exactly how she envisioned it. “The secret to living in a 360 square foot home is to have lots of windows overlooking a garden. Keep the décor light and bright. Start with one pillow you like and soon you will find other pillows to go with it.”
www.slosolstice.com
Avila Bay Athletic Club & Spa 6699 Bay Laurel Place, Avila Beach Food Sampling: Avila Bay Athletic Club Music: Jon Stephen. Meet The GREEN Wizard and other like minded people interested in healthy living!
Expo Over
$1,000
worth of
FREE
Giveaways!
(beer and wine available for purchase)
$5 donation to benefit: The Noor Foundation
Weddings, Events, Businesses or Everyday Mirelle Carmichael Photography
Her love of the outdoors clearly influences her home with vintage floral textiles and dishes and natural colors. To make her outdoor space bigger, Sandy laid the bricks down herself to make a patio and walkway. This provided her ample outdoor
Wednesday, June 18 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Erin McClellan Owner/Designer 805.543.2501• San Luis Obispo, CA
erin@sprigsfloraldesigns.com • sprigsfloraldesigns.com Join us on facebook
Tue. - Sat 11-5
Anthology Boutique
Look for our parking lot Flea Market every month! ckelseyville@yahoo.com
74 S. Main St., Templeton 805.434.5533
space enabling her to leave her door open and not feel cramped inside.
Intimate Venues Portraits & Weddings
“You can’t have too much stuff living in this home,” she giggled. “If I want a new piece of furniture I just sell the old one to make room for the new piece. There’s no room for storage. I feel like I’m in control of my space. I don’t get overwhelmed.”
www.lesliemenocalphotography.com
Fresh, delicious Japenese cuisine in a serene casual setting Open Monday – Saturday Lunch 11:30 – 2:00 p.m. Dinner 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
When asked if she enjoys shopping at garage sales, she admitted, “I’m a frustrated garage sale buyer. I’d much rather go to my favorite stores and find my treasures there.” Sandy, a retired nurse of 25 years, loves the friends she has made in the vintage furniture industry. “I have the kindest friends. I just love them.” The nurturing nature of having been a nurse simply transferred over to her frienships, home and garden—ingredients for a beautiful life.
1319 Grand Avenue•Grover Beach, CA (805) 489-7424•www.pacificumisushi.com
When Sandy is not gardening or beautifying her home, you’ll find her working at The Cottage in Paso Robles a few days each week.
Spend more time with your guests and still impress them with this tasty and easy-to-prepare appetizer
apparel . decor . more 715 Higuera Street San Luis Obispo 805 541 3600
Succulents, house plants & unique home accessories Open Daily 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
850 W. Grand Ave. • Grover Beach, CA
(805) 489-4747 • www.ronsingroverbeach.com
When Dianne isn’t cooking or painting, you’ll find her using her creative talents at Petit Soleil Bed et Breakfast as a hotelier with her husband, John, in San Luis Obispo.
Step inside our cobblestone courtyard and experience a rustic colorful charm of Provence reservations@petitsoleilslo.com and European comfort. www.petitsoleilslo.com
1473 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (805) 549-0321 or (800) 676-1588
Custom Orders for Weddings & Special Events! Find our Vegan Peanut Butter Joycups at: Baywood Farmer’s Market on Mondays Cambria Farmer’s Mkt. on Fridays
www.thejoycupco.com
Growing up, our family packed into our Vista Cruiser—luggage on top—and drove for miles and miles. The highlight should have been all of the monuments and sights, but for me, it was more about the souvenir shops and trading posts! My dad would give us a few dollars each and our eyes would dance around the shop to find something that must be mine! Ruby Rose is orchestrated like this now, in hopes of re-creating that same feeling as you enter: What will you discover? Fast forward to my family now: we have traveled in our Airstream, hitting flea markets, thrift and second-hand shop, and we always want to bring home the treasures we find. The AHah! moment for us was when we realized we could combine our love of the road with our love the nostalgia for days past. We have been in our current location at 1335 Walker St. in San Luis Obispo for four years now and are moving to a new location this June.
The art of being human God’s dream is that you and I and all of us will realize we are family, and that we are made for togetherness, for goodness, and for compassion. - The Archbishop Desmond Tutu
marthamartha.net
Being in this biz, we know our customers love hearing of other lil’ shops in the area (since some are off the beaten path) so we orchestrated a collaborative showcase of all talented people and their shops. The Junking Trail will take place on Mother’s Day weekend, Friday and Saturday, May 9-10, and will return in the Fall. -By Stephanie Hendry
When not on the road or quietly reading her magazines, Stephanie Hendry loves to share stories with friends, bust up laughing or spend a fun day with her daughter, Ruby.
Photos courtesy of Jennifer Young
Photos courtesy of Lance Kinney
or
n to ad o n i ssi o this 1 ing $ dm Br ve e a Sa mor
e on
s
With 11 structures, rebuilding the historical Old Edna Townsite in San Luis Obispo may have seemed a monumental task, but with a little dreaming and a lot of sweat equity, Pattea Torrence took on the challenge. She and her husband, Jeff Kocan, first purchased the property, located at 1655 Old Price Canyon Road, in 2000. Recently, Pattea restored the 1897 DeSolina House, named after the first love of the original owner, Guido. “There were so many layers of walls…that covered up the flaws, we had to tear it all down to the bear bones” said Pattea. “We had to do it right.” The 450-square-foot house was the perfect canvas to showcase her love of vintage, carpentry and high-quality materials. She grew up junking with her mother PiPi (Pie-Pie) and grew to love beautiful vintage decor. Her father, “The Duke,” was a builder. She learned by watching all his hard work banging, drilling, sawing and nailing. Although she first studied at the University of Santa Barbara, there was no better education than working with a few great mentors who helped Pattea learn by doing. It was during her time working with Sue Mason, a locally renowned interior designer, that she had the opportunity to touch and work with exquisite materials and textiles. What’s next on her list to restore? The Bluebelly Barn—stay tuned. From top left to right: Front view of The DeSolina Vacation Rental House, DeSolina’s kitchen, Pi-Pi’s roaming wagon, DeSolina’s bathroom and bedroom.
To Benefit
May 16, 17, & 18, 2014 Fri. & Sat. 11am - 6pm Sun. 11am - 5pm Earl Warren Showgrounds Highway 101 at Las Positas Santa Barbara, CA www.calmantiqueshows.com FREE Parking Info 805-898-9715 “Jon did a fabulous job on our travertine floor, fireplace and bathrooms.” 15 Years of experience Call for an estimate
John and Patti F. Shell Beach
Jon Malott 805.709.9281
Bakery, Produce, Ice Cream, Deli, Gourmet Foods & Gifts 560 Avila Beach Dr. San Luis Obispo (805) 595-2810 Open Daily 9am-6pm
Shop Online!
www.avilavalleybarn.com
U-Pick, Sweet Shoppe, Corn Stand, Hay RIdes & More!
805.481.1231
Like us on facebook
148 W Branch St., Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
CS
chameleon style
®
A A Fabric • Furniture • Gifts
www.chameleonstyle.com
Posies
106 W. Branch St. Arroyo Grande, CA PosiesintheVillage.com 805.481.0404
At the tender age of 6, Laurie Glenn was invited by her neighborhood friends to attend an arts and crafts class at UCLA since their mother was a professor there. The classroom was fully equipped with every tool and supply an artist could ask for. It was the “Disneyland” for crafters. Thus began Laurie’s love affair with learning and creating. At age 18, she worked at a local arts and supply institution, Law’s Hobby Center, formerly in San Luis Obispo. “It was a great job,” she explained, “Beth Law, the owner, sent me to classes on how to use the supplies they sold so I could teach classes in the store. I got to teach everything from stained glass making to lampshade design, jewelry design, cake decorating and decoupage. Decoupage was all the rage in the 80s!” she laughed. In 1990 she took the leap of faith and opened her own home décor store, Posies, 106 W. Branch in Arroyo Grande. She recalled, “At first it was crazy busy because I opened my store during the Christmas holiday; then it got to be too much for me wearing all the hats.” Fortunately, Laurie’s mom, Ruth Travis, quit her job as a real estate agent to help the business. Eventually, Tami Miller, owner of Affairs of the Heart, and Chrisy Wickstrom, owner of Chateau Chic, came on board to create an unstoppable team. With the three businesses in one location, each owner helps to carry the load of running one large store, which affords Laurie the time to do what she loves most. She now teaches her students how to paint furniture using up to 15 different techniques. Classes are held on the second floor of the store. Items at Posies clockwise from top left: Vintage Wedding cake forks, burlap and chicken wire pendant light, beach decor, indoor/outdoor area rugs and small salt and pepper shaker birds in a wire nest.
Welding Syndicate creations from top left clockwise: Custom BBQ, Riley Taylor welding on a project, Industrial style table, custom iron fence, custom horse shoe wine rack on a custom cabinet with mirror and custom magazine rack. To see more of Riley’s new work and apparel go to: www.weldingsyndicate.com.
Riley Taylor got his start welding at age 14. “My dad wanted me to know how (to weld),” said Riley. “I originally wanted to be a fireman.” What Riley found to be a decent and steady source of income took him to oil fields around the world—and even under the sea. From ages 21-27, he worked as an underwater welder. Recently, Riley decided to take a different path. He’s putting all his efforts into “hobby welding.” “I’m chasing my own rainbow right now and seeing where it leads: either to a pot of gold or something else.” Riley, who started Welding Syndicate five years ago, handcrafts everything from magazine racks to wine bars to tables equipped with electrical outlets. He works directly with customers on custom furniture; Luxe Boutique, 124 E. Branch Ave., Arroyo Grande, also carries his pieces. Taylor spends the remainder of his waking hours making and selling merchandise—hats, stickers and T-shirts emblazoned with the Welding Syndicate artwork—to welders. “A lot of welders like to say they’re welders,” Riley explained. He pretty much has the market cornered on such fare. If his rainbow happens to lead to something other than gold, Riley said he’s fine with falling back on his former vocation: rig welder and welding inspector. -By Heidi Flanagan
2359 Willow Road
(Hwy 1) in Arroyo Grande, CA Saturdays & Sundays
from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
200 Nelson Street Arroyo Grande, CA 805.489.3624 Come visit my 1886 restored Victorian Cottage Open Wed.-Sat. 11-4:30
Antiques
thegreenvaseantiques.com
2665-L Shell Beach Road Shell Beach, CA 93449 • 805.773.1589
Imagine your day at the
Pearl by the Sea...
www.applemoonphotography.com
Weddings Just steps from the beach
Receptions
Intimate vintage charm
Special Events Deluxe accommodations for the bridal party
205 Windward Shell Beach, CA • 805.748.5547 • www.laperladelmarchapel.com LaPerladelMarChapel@gmail.com
Something for Everyone!
Farm fresh eggs!
Gourmet Foods, Farmer’s Mkt. Gifts, Pottery, Succulents Roses, Fountains, Benches Garden Art and much more! There’s something for everyone
1275 N. Thompson Ave. • Arroyo Grande, CA 805.489.1000 • Open Daily • www.windmillfarms.org