That 90's Ranch

Tag: #englishcottage

  • Mastering Wreath Photography: Tips for Optimal Light

    When I started working on the side door off our garage, I had one goal in mind—create a clean, simple backdrop where my wreaths could shine.

    And for a minute… I thought I had it.

    The door looked fresh. The brick had that warm, cozy tone I love. It felt like it should work.

    But there was one problem I couldn’t fix with paint or styling—light.

    The Problem I Didn’t See Coming

    That side door faces south, and while that might sound ideal, the roof overhang created a harsh shade line across the door most of the day.

    Half light. Half shadow. Constantly shifting.

    If you’ve ever tried to photograph anything for Etsy, you already know…
    that kind of lighting is a dealbreaker.

    • Colors don’t photograph true
    • Shadows cut right through your product
    • Editing becomes a nightmare
    • And worst of all—it just doesn’t look professional

    I kept trying to “make it work,” but deep down I knew…

    This wasn’t the setup my wreaths deserved.

    The Pivot That Changed Everything

    So I did something a little unconventional.

    I bought a brand new 36-inch door.

    Not to install…
    but to stage.

    I painted it, styled it, and leaned it against an east-facing wall outside my sunroom.

    And just like that—I had something I never had before:

    ✨ Consistent, soft morning light
    ✨ A full-size door that fits larger wreaths beautifully
    ✨ A controlled, repeatable photography setup

    No harsh lines.
    No guessing.
    No fighting the sun.

    Why This Works So Well

    This setup solved more than just lighting—it elevated everything about how my wreaths are presented.

    Here’s what made the biggest difference:

    1. East-Facing Light is Your Best Friend

    Morning light is softer, more even, and far more flattering than harsh afternoon sun.

    2. A 36” Door Gives Breathing Room

    My larger wreaths finally look proportional and high-end instead of crowded.

    3. Neutral = Timeless

    The simple painted door keeps the focus where it belongs—on the wreath.

    4. It’s Repeatable

    This might be my favorite part.

    I can now walk outside, hang a wreath, and know I’m going to get a good shot.

    And when you’re running a small handmade business—especially on days when energy is limited—that kind of reliability matters more than anything.

    A Little Honest Reflection

    I’ll be honest—there was a moment where I thought:

    “Am I really buying a door… just to lean it against a wall?”

    But this is one of those times where doing something a little different made all the difference.

    Because this isn’t just about taking pictures.

    It’s about:

    • showing your work in its best light
    • creating a consistent brand
    • and making your products look as beautiful online as they do in real life

    And for me, that’s worth it.

    If You’re Struggling With Product Photos…

    Let me just say this—if your photos aren’t working, it might not be your product.

    It might be your light.

    Before you second guess your design…
    try changing your setup.

    Sometimes the smallest shift (or in my case… a whole door 😄)
    can completely change the outcome.

  • When the Delphiniums Didn’t Bloom

    Last year I planted delphiniums.

    Or at least I tried to.

    I had visions of tall spires in soft purples and blues swaying behind the old fencing here at That 90s Ranch. I imagined lavender tucked along the walkway, bees humming in the heat, and that dreamy English garden feeling you see in magazines — a little wild, a little romantic, a little untamed.

    Missouri had other plans.

    I waited for weeks for those seeds to germinate. I checked the soil. I watered carefully. I squinted at the ground like maybe I was missing something small and green pushing through.

    Nothing.

    Not one sprout.

    If you garden, you know that quiet disappointment. It’s not dramatic. It’s just… empty soil where hope was supposed to be.

    Delphiniums are notoriously particular. They prefer cooler climates and can be finicky about germination. And while I still believe they could grow here with enough patience and the right conditions, last year just wasn’t their year.

    So I grieved them a little.

    And then I made this wreath.

    An English Garden — Even If It’s Only on the Door

    This 22″ delphinium wreath is my nod to the garden that didn’t happen.

    Layered purple blooms, soft lavender accents, white daisies, and airy greenery — full and abundant the way I imagined those flower beds would be. I added a sage green bow for that gentle cottage softness that always makes me think of countryside homes and open windows.

    It’s not planted in the soil.

    But it blooms anyway.

    There’s something comforting about that — the idea that beauty doesn’t always have to grow the way we planned. Sometimes it shows up in a different form. Sometimes it hangs on the front door instead of rising from the earth.

    Gardening Lessons from a Failed Packet of Seeds

    If you’ve ever planted something that didn’t grow, you understand this story.

    Gardening is hope in its purest form. You tuck something small into the ground and trust that time and weather and unseen processes will do their work.

    Sometimes they do.

    Sometimes they don’t.

    But the dreaming? That part still matters.

    This year I may try again. Maybe with started plants instead of seeds. Maybe with a little more shade. Maybe with adjusted expectations.

    Or maybe I’ll just keep building my English garden in wreath form until Missouri cooperates.

    Either way, there will be purple blooms at That 90s Ranch.

    Even if they’re wired to a grapevine base.

    This wreath is available on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/listing/4466080711/purple-delphinium-white-daisy-spring

  • Love the One You’re With

    I bought That 90’s Ranch on a whim. Purchased in 2021 at the height of Covid, I got caught up in the whirlwind of real estate activity. Located a block from my mother’s home who I worked overtime with as a Realtor and having a large yard outside of the city limits with a shop building made it somewhat attractive.

    I was hoping to find a small dreamy home with European cottage charm with a yard big enough to have English style rose garden outlined with well manicured box hedges and loads of character. Like every buyer I’ve worked with over the last 20 years, I wanted a home filled with luxurious, generous spaces at a small price. It’s completely unrealistic that I would find such a lofty and ideal English style property in this area. It’s certainly possible that it could happen, it’s just not probable.

    That 90’s Ranch, while well maintained and custom built by the first owners, was very typical of all brick ranch homes built in the last half of the 80’s and first half of the 90’s. It had some great features including a large sunroom, but was no where near what I wanted to purchase.

    Today, The 90’s Ranch looks different, but in many ways the same and I have come to love it. If you love seeing before and afters, stay tuned.