patchwork santa ana spring 2014

Over a decade ago, I was on a soundstage at the Universal Studios movie lot running a lint roller over the lapel of Alec Baldwin’s grey suit coat as he repeated the same phrase over and over but with varied inflections and pauses… “He walked into the room. HE waaalked into the room. He walked into… THE room.”

I had no idea how much thought and creativity went into such a simple line of dialogue. I’d never seen an actor prepare for a role. I’d never even been on a movie set before that day. My short-lived career as a costume designer didn’t just teach me how to make sure Alec Baldwin was lint-free, it also made me realize how many people’s talent as well as blood sweat and tears it takes to make a movie. My job was only a tiny part of the big picture, but if I didn’t do it perfectly, everyone was affected. I was motivated by the pressure of a common goal and being part of a team.

Last Sunday, as I pulled away from the empty street in downtown Santa Ana that only hours before had been bustling with vendors and attendees at our spring 2014 Patchwork Show, I got the same bittersweet sense of relief and sadness that I’d had when we wrapped that film so many years ago. On the drive home from Patchwork I thought about how that year of being a part of a movie crew prepared me for the high stress situations and teamwork that producing events like Patchwork Show requires. Patchwork Show has so many moving parts… the months and months of planning Delilah and I do, the team of volunteers greeting guests and cleaning up, the sponsors and partners whose support over the years have helped us grow, our staff who treats the event with a sense of ownership that fuels their hard work and the vendors whose months of creativity and work producing goods is realized when they meet their customers and find people who appreciate the fruits of their labor.

The bonds Delilah and I have formed with the people who make Patchwork Show happen are so dear to us. We appreciate every single person who plays a part in the event. Even now, with 30 Patchwork Shows under our belt, I’m still amazed at that awesome feeling of accomplishment, pride and gratefulness that overwhelms me when a Patchwork season is over. When I was a costume designer I had to wait for months to see the evidence of what I’d been a part of – the actual movie, but with Patchwork, I always try to stop for a minute and look around while it’s happening. Sometimes I don’t get the chance to do that, but the first thing I do when I get home from Patchwork is pour myself a cocktail and load the photos I took at the show. I love seeing what Patchwork has grown into over the years and thinking about how Delilah and I play a role helping support creative entrepreneurs and the local economy. But, like making a movie, we don’t and can’t do it alone. Thanks to each and every person whose hard work and creativity make patchwork happen! we’ll see you all in November for the fall season.

-nicole s.

you can check out more patchwork santa ana spring 2014 photos in our gallery.