I hope you are all well and enjoying these beautiful spring days.  Things have been busy in our household, my 16 month-old son is more active than ever, and I find myself buried in a whirlwind of play dates, home improvement projects, household chores, and preparing for our second son’s arrival in a few more months.  My life as a mom has top priority and it is taking up the majority of my days and nights.

Because of these things, this website has been much slower to grow than I had planned.  I want to apologize to all of you who have been waiting for new blogs and for our online store to open.   I hope you will continue to be patient with me, and continue to check back to see what we have going on.

I will continue with the blog portion of this website – you will slowly start to see more and more postings, but due to the difficult economic times, the online store is going to have to be put on hold for awhile.   You will see a mix of personal and creative blogs coming your way on these pages, and your comments and emails are always welcomed and loved!  For more frequent updates on my family and lots of pictures, feel free to check out my personal blog, One Love, My Life, Our World.

In the spirit of keeping in touch, I am giving away a beautiful correspondence kit.  Those of you who have a friend or loved one far away will love the creative and old fashioned touch of this kit.  Included are a journal, 11 envelopes, photo corners and tape, and envelope seals.  It is meant to be mailed back and forth between two or more people, and in the days of email, twitter, and facebook, makes for a nice surprise to find a package in the mail!

I am sure all of you are busy as well, so I am allowing two weeks (May 26th – June 8th) for this giveaway!  Simply leave a comment or send me an email telling me who you’d like to keep in touch with, and I will enter you in the drawing.  Good Luck!

Love to all of you!

Suzanne

These last few weeks have been a whirlwind, and I appologize for being so scarce online.  I am now officially in my second trimester of this pregnancy, with high hopes for more energy in the coming weeks and lots of promises for new products and information here on our site.

I have been inspired by our crisp spring weather lately – walks by the beach, trips to the farmers market, drives along the pacific coast highway…  I hope you are all enjoying the spring, where ever you are!

I have almost everyone’s giveaway prizes ready to go, just waiting for a few last addresses and then they will be in the mail!  Watch for them towards the end of this week.

Suzanne

Monday: Milena (potpourri and bath salt)

Tuesday: Melinda Harris (European poster papers)

Wednesday: Annie Chermak (Amazon gift – Bee Magnets)

Thursday: Nica Tarasut (Ventura by the Sea Potpourri and Bath Salt Combo)

Friday: Ellie Baer (Combo giveaway – one of each of the above gifts!)

We also have gifts for the first 5 people who subscribed on the morning of our launch.  They are below:

Marlene

jbjnash

chhamblet

lardinaville

benylyn

And because I wanted everyone to win, with so many people participating…  I am sending a special gift to the wonderful ladies who participated the most all week long!  I will contact you by email my friends, I think you know who you are!

All you lucky winners will receive your gifts as soon as I receive your mailing addresses!  I will be contacting you for this information.  Congratulations to all of you!

Love,

Suzanne and Barbara

Today’s Giveaway

Today’s winner will receive FOUR PRIZES – one of each of the prizes that were given out this week!  This includes the potpourri and pomegranate bath salts from Monday, the vintage style European papers from Tuesday, the Amazon gift from Wednesday, AND the “Ventura” themed potpourri and bath salt combo from yesterday.

You MUST check in with us today to win this prize!  Leave a comment by clicking on the comment counter at the end of this post, or send me an email with GIVEAWAY as the subject.  Send to blog@gardenmemoriesgifts.com.  Good Luck!

I will post the giveaway winners on Monday!  Be sure to check in so you don’t miss your prizes!

I hope everyone has enjoyed this week.  We will continue to do giveaways about once a month, and we will be continuously posting on our blog a couple of times a week.  We are working on getting our online store up and running, and will let everyone know as soon as it is ready.  Thanks again for your support!

Have a wonderful Weekend!

Today’s giveaway is a special blend of our fragrance bead potpourri called “Ventura by the Sea”. Ocean blue and white in color, it includes a hint of ocean scent, combined with sea glass and shells, and makes a wonderful gift for out of town visitors, or a lovely room freshener for your home.  We will also include in today’s prize, a generous bag of lavender and rosemary bath salts.

Why we love Ventura

Ventura is full of beauty. The beach, the mountains, the people, it can’t get any better.  With that in mind, my favorite place to walk has always been downtown on Main Street.  I love to wander in and out of all the shops, enjoying an iced tea or smoothie from one of the coffee or juice bars.  On the weekends my husband and I pick up our Mexican food fix at Corralles and walk down the street to have a picnic at the park while our one year old son, Lucas, plays at the playground.  Or sometimes we drive to surfer’s point and eat in the car, watching the waves crash with the pier in the background.  It is a beautiful and calm city we live in.

There are a lot of things that make Ventura special, from historic landmarks like the pier and Grant Park, to favorite restaurants and shops, our bountiful farmer’s markets, treasure filled thrift shops, and holiday street fairs and art walks.  We have talented local artists, intelligent business owners and entrepreneurs, and a general population of kind, good-natured, happy people.  We are surrounded by “Local Gems”.

In order to win today….

1. Leave a comment on this post, answering this question- Where are your favorite places to shop, eat, or hang out in Ventura County? (if you aren’t familiar with Ventura, tell us about your hometown)  What places do you consider to be “Local Gems”? Tell us why these places are so special to you!

2. To get a second entry – and a second entry on every giveaway this week – subscribe to our site (by clicking here) and forward me your email confirmation or your first delivered email from our blog (should arrive around 9am the day after you register).  If you subscribe via a RSS reader, use the link at the bottom of the feed to email me directly from your reader.  Send emails to blog@gardenmemoriesgifts.com.

This giveaway will end Friday, March 20th, at 6pm, PST  and winners will be announced next week. I sure hope you win!

Today we are giving away a product of your choice from our Amazon Shop!  One lucky winner will be able to pick out anything listed in our store, valued at $25 or less. Good Luck!

Here is How to Win Today:

Take a look through our Amazon store.  Browse all the different categories, and then leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite item.  If it is $25 or under, and in stock, you will be entered in our drawing to win this product!

To get a second entry – and a second entry on every giveaway this week – subscribe to our site (by clicking here) and forward me your email confirmation or your first delivered email from our blog (should arrive around 9am the day after you register).  If you subscribe via a RSS reader, use the link at the bottom of the feed to email me directly from your reader.  Send emails to blog@gardenmemoriesgifts.com.

This giveaway will end Friday, March 20th, at noon, PST  and winners will be annoucned next week. I sure hope you win!

Who doesn’t love a good project? Mom and I sure do!  Everything from sewing, knitting, cooking, baking, scrap booking, jewelry making, gardening, and the list goes on.  I’ve made blankets and booties, potpourri, pajamas, bracelets and toe rings, paper trees, confetti, and more.  When I was a little girl, I was given a flower press kit – I tried every flower in the back yard, and preserved them in laminating paper to make bookmarks, magnets, and frames.  I still have some of those flowers.

What Creativity Does For You

There is something to be said for the sense of accomplishment that occurs after creating something by hand.  Whether it is a spectacular meal, a collage, or piece of art you put together, or even a letter you’ve written, it is indescribably YOU.  It has your signature all over it, and that feels great!

Garden Memories was built on this type of creativity.  Nearly 20 years ago, Garden Memories was just a workshop located in my mom’s garage.  There were dried flowers hanging everywhere, and she spent hours out there putting together beautiful wreaths and arrangements that she sold to stores around Ventura County.  As they grew more and more popular, she decided to open up her own store.

Explore Your Creativity

Our hope for each and every one of you is for you to explore your creativity!  Try something you’ve always been interested in, take a class in floral arranging or cooking, pottery, drawing, photography, or writing, and just enjoy the experience it brings you.  Creativity is passion!  Let it run through you and let yourself be open to it!

If you don’t know where to begin, here are a couple simple and inexpensive paper crafting projects to get your creativity flowing, and they are perfect for beginners AND experts alike.

Paper Source Flower Kits

I love these kits!  The end result is beautiful, and can be used for table decorations at a party, or even something to spruce up your desk or counter top.

This one will be a little more difficult.  Courtesy of Martha Stewart’s Craft of the Day, here are instructions on how to make these adorable Shamrock Pins!

We are also working on some great kits for you, coming in the near future!  And we found some fun craft kits for kids and adults that are now available in our Amazon Store.

Today’s Giveaway is a selection of vintage style European poster papers.  They are beautiful framed in your home, or can be used as wrapping paper, or cut apart for paper crafts.

Here is how to enter to win TODAY!

1. Leave a comment on this post, answering this question – Do you create? Share a little bit about something you make at home.  Use your imagination!  If you can’t think of something, let me know something that you would like to create.  If you have a blog or website to show your creativity, let me know! (to add a comment, scroll to the bottom of the post and click on the comment counter)

2. To get a second entry – and a second entry on every giveaway this week – subscribe to our site (by clicking here) and forward me your email confirmation or your first delivered email from our blog (should arrive around 9am the day after you register).  If you subscribe via a RSS reader, use the link at the bottom of the feed to email me directly from your reader.  Send emails to blog@gardenmemoriesgifts.com.

This giveaway will end Thursday, March 19th, at noon, PST  and winners will be annoucned next week. I sure hope you win!

We are so thankful for each and every one of you, our loyal customers, so we are offering you the chance to win some new treasures! Details on how to win are at the bottom of this post… BUT, don’t skip ahead!  First, let me introduce you to Garden Memories Online!

Our vision for this site is to make it a resource for you, to create an environment where we can share new products and exquisite finds, trade tips on home decorating and gardening, and to offer inspiration for being creative in our daily lives.  Please feel free to join in by leaving comments, tell us what you are looking for, what inspires you in life, and what makes you happy!

Many wonderful things have happened since we closed our doors on Main Street.  Barbara has had more time to explore her passion for both animals, and design.  She is excited to be offering both a dog walking and pet sitting service, and in home design consultations.  To find out more about her services, check out her personal blog, Barbs Baubles and Babbles.

And, before you leave, make sure you don’t miss any important information! Subscribe to our posts by clicking here!

This Weeks Giveaways

Every day this week, we will be giving away some fantastic products, including our retail shop’s signature potpourri and bath salts, vintage poster papers, and a couple surprises that you will have to check back daily for.  DON’T miss Friday’s biggest giveaway, and be sure to check in Wednesday for a chance to win a product of your choice from our Amazon shop.

Today we are giving away a beautiful fragrance bead selection and luxurious pomegranate bath salts.

Our Signature Fragrance Beads

These eco-friendly beads are made from recycled glass, essential oil fragrances, and recycled polymer.  Simply fill a bowl with beads to scent your surroundings, layer fragrance by pairing with your favorite candles, or fill a sachet to perfume linens, closets, or automobiles. (We will also have these fragrance beads in many delicious scents for sale on our website soon.  For more info, click here. Or, you can purchase them now at Fusion Home in downtown Ventura)

Here is how to enter to win TODAY!  Choose one, two or all three options!

1. Leave a comment on this post, answering this question – What kind of information and/or products would you like to see here on our site? Are you looking for resources on decorating, shopping, gardening? What types of products would you like to see in our store? (to add a comment, scroll to the bottom of the post and click on the comment counter)

2. To get a second entry – and a second entry on every giveaway this week – subscribe to our site (by clicking here) and forward me your email confirmation or your first delivered email from our blog (should arrive around 9am the day after you register).  If you subscribe via a RSS reader, use the link at the bottom of the feed to email me directly from your reader.  Send emails to blog@gardenmemoriesgifts.com.

3. And finally, to get a third entry, post about this giveaway on you blog, facebook, twitter, or other networking site.  Be sure to include the link to this post, and send me an email with the link to your post.  Send it to blog@gardenmemoriesgifts.com.

This giveaway will end Wednesday, March 18th, at noon, PST  and winners will be annoucned next week. I sure hope you win!

Lucas and Grammy behind the counter at Garden Memories

My mom and I have loved being a part of your lives, seeing your children grow over the years, helping you decorate your homes and more with beauty, and picking out special gifts for those you love.  We want to be able to continue this through our website.  Please take some time to check us out and let me know what you think.

Here is what we are up to now…

Barbara has decided to pursue some of her other passions…. Animals, and Home Decorating!

Yes, you guessed it, she is spending more time with her dogs, and other dogs too!  She is offering a dog walking service here in Ventura, and is also doing some pet sitting for many furry friends.  If you would like more info on Barbara’s dog walking or pet sitting services, please contact her at barbara@gardenmemoriesgifts.com or you can leave her a message on our voicemail (805-641-1070) and she will get in touch with you.

Barbara, walking the dogs by Ventura Pier

AND… now that she has more time on her hands, Barbara is opening up her expertise and experience to offer you some help in your home, office, or place of business.

Are you having trouble deciding on your decor colors?  Do you have a limited budget but need to make some big changes?  How about rearranging what you already have, and adding some plants or a few accessories?  Barbara is an expert in this area, and has always had a unique talent for seeing opportunity in every space, as well as manipulating furniture, accessories, and colors to find the perfect style.

We would love to help you with whatever you are looking for! We can work with you in your home if you live near Ventura County, and if you are far away, we can offer suggestions based on photos or video you provide.  Please send questions or info requests to barbara@gardenmemoriesgifts.com or feel free to leave us a message at (805) 641-1070 and we’ll get back to you ASAP.

To hear more from Barbara, visit her blog, Barbs Baubles and Babbles.

I (Suzanne, Barbara’s daughter for those of you who haven’t met me) am working  on this website, while also taking care of my one year old son at home.  I am excited to be writing this blog for all of you, our customers, and am working on making most of your favorite products available to you via this website.  In the meantime, I hope you will subscribe to this blog feed and stay in touch with us as we provide you some wonderful resources, creative ideas, fun products, and pure inspiration!

Lucas Andrew, showing off his sparkly blue eyes

Please check back with us soon, we have some surprises in store for the next two weeks, including some great giveaways!

Here is a little bit of what to expect from us on a daily basis.

Gardening Days! We will talk about seasonal planting, offer gardening tips and resources, help you find some great and unusual plants, and share ideas of how to bring the garden into your home with flowers and plants.

DIY Days! We will have simple projects for you, instructions, and resources for finding unique materials.  We’ll be working on paper crafts, floral arranging, jewelry making, and more.  We will also feature artists with some great projects of their own!

Decorating Days! We will talk about current decorating trends, working with small spaces and limited budgets, simple and green living, and will have great tips and resources for you as well.

Feature Days! We will be featuring artists and their work, new products, wonderful blogs, and wonderful shops that we find along the way.  If you would like to nominate someone/something to be featured here, please send me the info at suzanne@gardenmemoriesgifts.com.

Calendar Days!  We will help you plan your weekend with a calendar of local events for the next week, including things like flea markets, store sales, artwalks and street fairs, and restaurant openings.

Links, Love, and Shopping Days!  We want you to to relax, so on these days we will be sharing some great stories, links to other beautiful blogs, and interesting websites and products to satisfy your imagination.