Hastings Cottage Designs blog features stories and information about my handmade Junk Journals, ephemera, and more, while SueBee and Kat’s blog is where I share my adventures and photographs of “Everything Southern California and Sometimes Beyond”. Thanks for stopping by! ~SueBee
About Hastings Cottage Designs (launched May 1, 2019):
Hastings Cottage is my home, as well as home to the studio where I create various physical and digital art products, my Designs. I nicknamed my home not too long after moving in, end of 2015, wanting it to have a name, not just a number. Being a small size, I referred to it as my cottage. At the time I was rather hooked on Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, both the books and the British TV show staring David Suchet. Poirot’s sidekick, Captain Hastings, was a favorite character of mine from the TV show, and therefore provided the name for my place!
In addition to photography, I enjoy all sorts of art, from sewing to painting to my new addiction, Junk Journals. My YouTube channel, HastingsCottageDesigns, showcases flip-through videos of some recent journals. I’m currently working on the retail end of things and will announce upon completion. ~SueBee
About SueBee and Kat (launched September 1, 2013):
Update (March 14, 2019): Time keeps a-chugging along, thankfully. I look forward to retirement on April 30th, and to spending my time out n’ about, photographing, as well as working on my new-found hobby of junk journals. My sister-in-law got me started on the journals last year and I’ve been hooked ever since. The variety of crafting is just endless, with each journal having its own unique theme and style. I’ve been researching and collecting vintage photos, and learning how to dye paper, press flowers, transfer flowers onto paper, create fabric from scraps of thread, you name it. It’s a multi-faceted hobby if ever there was one. You may notice I added a Hastings Cottage Designs page to this website as it was becoming too time-consuming and costly to maintain separate websites. I’m updating the page as I have time.
Kat married her sweetie-pie, Cameron, in May of 2017. It was a beautiful wedding, set in the mountains of Julian, California. Kat and I still continue to share adventures, but not nearly so often as in year’s past. Understandable!
Update (January 14, 2017): The years have rolled along, bringing many changes and new adventures. It seemed my blog should follow suit. What started in 2013 as a way to chronicle the Southern California adventures of SueBee and Kat, morphed into just SueBee zipping around. I may not be out n’ about as often because other fun things have jumped into my spare time, but I still enjoy photography immensely. I hope you’ll continue on adventures with me! ~SueBee
Update (January 1, 2015): With Kat now living in her own apartment in Orange, and keeping busy with her boyfriend and a fabulous job, she hasn’t had as much time to devote to our blog as she did in the past. She and I continue to share occasional adventures, but you’ll find most of the photos and posts are from me. Such are the stages of life! ~SueBee
Original SueBee and Kat Post: Southern California is like a goldmine to us! It’s the entire world represented within one time zone, in an area reached within a half day drive most any direction. Surrounded by world-class museums, music and cultural activities, restaurants of every ethnicity, geography that encompasses beach, mountains and desert, anyone would be hard-pressed to sit home doing nothing. Therefore, we’re nearly always on the go, taking pictures along the way, sharing our adventures with you! From gardens to the beach, architecture to the streets. Downtown, Uptown, All Around Town! By the way, that’s our shadows projected on a travertine wall at the Getty Museum; Kat on the left, SueBee on the right. We hope you follow our blog and join us in our adventures! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email us at suebee.and.kat@gmail.com.
SueBee: A native of Los Angeles, California, I describe myself as having Attention Deficit of the Creative Mind. My curiosity tends to have me jumping from one interest, intrigue, or project to the next without rhyme or reason. I’m the mom of three awesome adult kids, the youngest being Kat, who will turn 30 in December, 2019.
Kat: Music, food, dance, photography, museums, the great outdoors…just a few of many “all over the place” interests I have. Always looking for new experiences, places to explore, and foods to eat. Randomness + creativity = awesomeness… a one track mind I will never have!
Note, we took all the photos on our blog, and wrote all the articles. Please, if you wish to share, link back to our site. Thanks so much 🙂
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Thanks so much for following Oh, the Places We See. Sure do wish we could get to Southern California to soak up the culture and those sunny vibes. But, we’re happy to see it through your eyes as the next best thing. Wishing you all the best.
You’re welcome. I’ll enjoy seeing your travels!!
We have a lot in common — a little bit old, but still feeling young. Love of writing. Love of family. Love of life. I like the idea of changing up your blog. Looking forward to more posts from SueBee!
Thanks so much for the feedback. The transition period isn’t easy, finding new focus, not being scattered brained!! And, getting the time to rework it all. Best wishes!
We started in September 2013 as well ! So I feel a fellowship here.
Indeed!!
Hi Ladies, thank you for following my blog. I appreciate you taking the time to look 🙂 I love the vivid colours in your photos, and I think, it’s reflective of your personalities.
Thank you for stopping by and the lovely compliment! ~SueBee
Pleasure to meet you. This looks like a fun place to be.
Hi there! I see that often you take pics for contests or challenges (I do sometimes).Do you know this website? http://gurushots.com they have a lot of challenges some very nice,maybe you are interested.take care.Stefano (King Dackel)
Thank you, Stefano, I will check it out!
Hi there Sue Bee and Kat, great to meet you. Just coming on over to say hi and many thanks for the follow on my humble wee blog. Greatly appreciated and you are warmly welcomed aboard. I really need to see some more of the States. Have a great Easter. MM 🍀
Thanks for stopping by! ~SueBee
HI Sue and Kat.. Thank you so much for your visit on my blog. Your blog is vibrant and lovely, travelling makes it even more beautiful. I am glad that we share the same passion and thirst for travel. Happy to be following you to read your travel tales.
Cheers
Aanchal
Thanks so much for visiting our blog, too, Aanchal!
Uhhhh… California. One of my dream destinations. I know I will love reading and going through your blog for some great ideas and destinations when I get there someday in the future!
Thank you for joining along on our explorations of Southern California! ~SueBee
Giys, I’m hooked! I love Cali, especialky the SF area, and you two sound like a lot of fun so I will willingly join you on your adventures.
Can’t wait to see more 🙂
Awesome! Glad to have you along for the ride! Thanks so much 🙂 ~SueBee
Cool blog, the two of you have!
Thank you! We’re glad you stopped by 🙂 ~SueBee
I love that mom and daughter create and share together. As a mom, it makes my heart sing.
AnnMarie
🙂 thank you!!
You’re welcome and lovely blog.
AnnMarie
Have a glorious Monday 🙂
🙂 you as well!!
I have nominated you for the Liebster Award. Should you wish to accept the award, do check out this link .http://lucywrightdesign.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/ive-been-nominated-for-the-liebster-award/ Congrats!
Lucy
Thank you, Lucy. We’re honored you chose us, but having fun and sharing our photos and adventures, and reading what others are up to in the blogosphere is what blogging is all about for us. We haven’t figured out the awards concept yet. 🙂 ~SueBee
Hey chicas! Just wanted to make sure you were invited to our Long Beach meet up on March 22nd. (Feel free to delete the direct link, I feel so tacky leaving it behind, but it’s better than leaving a bit long rambly comment, right? 🙂 more details: http://rarasaur.wordpress.com/2014/03/02/bi-meetup-so-cal-style-march-22nd/ )
Thanks for the heads up! Will check calendar, check with Kat, and rsvp. 🙂 ~SueBee
Nicely formatted theme. Colorful but easy on the eyes. Gets your attention.
Thanks so much! We’ve been pleased with this theme. ~SueBee
Hey ya, I have an award nomination for you: Dragon Loyalty Award! You can view your nomination here: http://turquoisecompass.com/2013/12/14/dragon-loyalty-award/ Congratulations. It’s been great connecting with you.
-Jessica
Wow! Thank you! Being somewhat new to blogging (a bit over 3 months), it’s our first award. We’re very humbly honored. ~SueBee
I received my first award during my first month of blogging. It is an amazing feeling isn’t it?
Hi SueBee and Kat,
Nice to see your adventures with beautiful photos here.
Enjoyed your blog.
Have a nice day.
Thank you for visiting our blog and for the wonderful compliment! 🙂 I hope you have a nice day as well. ~SueBee
Mum and daughter blog? That’s a cool idea. Good luck, girls 🙂
That’s us! Thanks so much for visiting 🙂 ~SueBee
Love the shadow pic-and thanks too for stopping by Move the Chair-I appreciate you taking the time to look-
Thank you as well, for the compliment and stopping by SueBee and Kat!!
Thanks for following “atterrata”!!
You’re welcome! Thank you for the follow, as well. ~SueBee
Not quite sure how you found your way to my blog, but thanks for the follow! 🙂
~Lindy
Thank you for the follow as well. I most likely found your blog via another… such fun! ~SueBee
cool shadows 😀
Thanks! We have lots of fun w/our shadow pics! ~SueBee
You are too kind, DC! Thank you so much 🙂 ~SueBee
Thanks, Don! ~SueBee
Appreciate your comment on my blog. Like you shadow photographs, nice idea.
Thank you so much!