Tuesday, July 31, 2012

The Creative mind of Tricia Fountaine


I'd like for you to meet Tricia Fountaine of 
Conversations with the Muses
I have loved her blog from the very beginning and have followed her themed weddings. She has a fabulous location on a private ranch in Santa Barbara that grows avocados. The owners soon realized that the success that Tricia brought to the ranch far surpassed the avocado business. I had the wonderful opportunity to actually meet her after over a year and a half of emails and comments on her blog!
You see, I didn't know that my friends Cynthia and Charlene had set this meeting up until I got to California! I was so excited, I could finally see where all the magic happens. I had always wanted to see the outside alter with pews where the wedding ceremonies took place. Seeing it in person was fabulous! The tree that the pews sit under is so huge is spans the length of a gray hound bus and it most likely the oldest tree on the property! The photos you see above are of Tricia's adorable side yard where of course you go through a white picket fence.
Well after seeing the yard, she so kindly invited us into her adorable house where you could see her artistic flair all over the place. It had a Bohemian,Victorian, Gypsy feel to it. It was so light and airy, oh and did I mention it was about 72 degrees outside so the windows were left open for a soft cool breeze. This is Tricia's bedroom. I'm sorry the photos are so blurry, I took them with my iphone.
It was crazy, she had these three wacko women running around her house snapping photos and oogling over the costumes and wings she had made for past events. I was in heaven. The rugs, the colors and all done with such ease and flair.
The green dress is from the fairy wedding that she did and these cute baby dressing gowns were hanging in the bathroom as decoration. Who thinks like that? She does, and it worked perfectly.
Oh, and in her "spare" time she likes to make little fairy houses. Really? OMG it would take a village to help me complete something so amazing. What you can't see is the interior of the houses, fit with furniture and a porch. Please go to her site for better photos.
And of course she drives a British car that she had painted purple and decorated the inside in her own style. SO, is she just the bees knees or what. Even her dang car is cool and Euro chic'.
Yes, those are real Magnolia Pearl bags from the good old days when they still made them. This trunk is standing open in her bedroom, used as a dresser and wonderful addition to the feel of the room. Did you notice there were no TVs? Tricia said that she quit watching TV years ago, too many other things to do.
Our quick visit had to come to an end because she had a wedding the next day. I so wish I could have had more time to see her but we all understood, she had to work. The first photo of this post does not really show how adorable she really is. Poor thing was slaving away and we kidnapped her for a break. She has a personality and a smile that is contagious and left the three of us smiling as we drove away. Before we drove off I had to get one more hug from her, it felt our friendship was complete, concrete in a way, being able to see her and her life. I can't wait to go back to visit. So until then, I'll go to her blog and follow her creativity from here. Love ya Tricia!!
P.S. My friend Charlene took much better photos 
that I'll share later!

Friday, July 6, 2012

I Love Doris Day!

I love Doris Day! She makes me happy and she makes me smile. Her movies are silly with happy endings and she always gets her man. I adore all the funny faces, the slap stick and most of all, the way she stood by Rock Hudson's side to the day he died. Did you know she wanted him to come live on her property in Carmel? She said she would make him chicken soup every day until he got better. He had not told her about his true illness. But even after he died she remains his biggest fan. Now who wouldn't love a woman like that!
She had a way of looking sexy, without looking too sexy. Women wanted to be her and men wanted to marry her. Well she did marry, three times! Oh well I guess she was just looking for the right one.
Oh how I loved the costumes and how she made ordinary clothes look like costumes with just an expression! They say on the set of her movies she was always making everyone mess up their lines with a goofy expression with her back to the camera.
I have wanted to have her wardrobe forever! Vintage clothes are not kind to a woman with curves and a waist larger than 20 inches! Plus there was no such thing as spandex in those days! Nothing had stretch to it! How did they do it? They wore heels, those gawd awful bras and girdles and to top it off garter belts, sheesh, I'd never be able to leave the house before noon putting all that on! OH, I forgot, the hair and make-up! 
Well I'd be ready for dinner at least.
So, I love Doris Day! She's in her 90's, still active with animal activism, and enjoying life in Carmel with all her own animals. I think last count was 17 dogs, but she has a large property so I say get a couple more sista'! Thanks for stopping by!