Couple connection

Bryce Alderton

Lonnie and Patricia Voss married seven years ago, and they have been

close ever since.

The two business owners share a suite on East 17th Street in Costa

Mesa housing Lonnie’s shop, the Creative Play, specializing in custom

framing and sports memorabilia, and Patricia’s Voss Salon. A door

separates shampoos and soaps from a Stan Musial jersey and a

Shaquille O’Neal bobble-head doll.

The couple moved their businesses from another 17th Street spot --

near the Wendy’s restaurant -- to the present location in October

after their former building changed owners.

The salon and framing shop combine to cover 2,500 square feet, 400

more feet than their old building.

Lonnie Voss, who studied commercial art at Orange Coast College,

got his first job in framing from J.C. Penney and worked for

Robinson’s Co. before it merged with May Co. He began the Creative

Play on 17th Street in 1993.

“I combined two things I love: sports and design,” he said,

standing next to one of his many three-dimensional framed displays --

his specialty -- where everything from baseball cards to bobble-head

dolls can be arranged in an appealing manner suitable to hang on a

wall.

Voss Salon is Patricia Voss’ eighth salon. She was born in India

and moved to England when she was 1.

Making people “feel young” is one of her goals.

“People look to me for help,” said Patricia Voss, who has her own

line of soaps and cleansers. “They are tired of the same old thing.”

The couple spent thousands to remodel their current location and

have been noticing a steady stream of customers.

The hot-ticket items this holiday season in Lonnie’s store include

anything pertaining to the Lakers, LeBron James and Angel memorabilia

from the 2002 World Series appearance, he said.

Voss considers his tribute to New York Met catcher Mike Piazza his

most prized possession, but one he likely won’t sell. A row of

baseball cards borders the top of the rectangular plexiglass casing,

which houses a figurine of the former Dodger catcher and a photo of

Piazza wearing his catcher’s mask. Sitting atop the display are

miniature Wheaties boxes featuring pictures of Piazza.

“We will make a one-of-a-kind piece no matter what you want to

spend,” Lonnie Voss said. “We do everything from $5 to $5,000.”

The typical protocol is for a customer to bring in merchandise --

an autographed football, card, bat -- and Lonnie Voss will use his

creativity to develop something that stands the test of time.

Most framed items, but not all, relate to sports. Hanging in one

case along a wall is a veil from his wife’s wedding gown.

“Most people don’t know what to do with something like this, but

this can be preserved,” Lonnie Voss said, pointing to the veil.

The only time Lonnie Voss turned down a request for framing was

when a man opened up the trunk to his car to reveal a piece of sod

from the Rose Bowl, when that venue hosted a 1994 World Cup soccer

game.

The man wanted Lonnie Voss to frame the sod, which showed the mark

where the winning goal was kicked from.

“I told him the grass would die in a day,” Voss said. “Besides

that, I haven’t turned anyone away.”

Customers can buy cards, lamps, wool pennants, posters and an

autographed hockey glove signed by the Mighty Ducks’ German Titov. A

framed photo signed by golfer Fred Couples sits next to a display

showcasing a Musial jersey signed by the St. Louis Cardinals’ Hall of

Famer.

The customer wanted to see Musial’s autograph -- written on the

back of the jersey -- but preferred to have the front of the jersey

facing outward. Lonnie Voss improvised and glued two strips of mirror

along both edges of the three-dimensional plexiglass display. Problem

solved.

Lonnie Voss specializes in 3-D, giving life to ordinary items.

“I wanted to get more upscale because the trophy dominated the

last century,” he said. “The trophy would often end up in the garage

collecting dust. I look for balance, depth and color [when designing

a display].”

He and two employees do all the work on-site except cutting and

connecting the 60 different frames.

“I like to have fun and enjoy what I do,” Lonnie Voss said. “There

is no other store like it in the country, I guarantee it.”

One can bring in a bat and autographed jersey for Lonnie Voss to

frame and shape into a work of art, and then go next door to get a

haircut or a massage at Patricia Voss’ day spa.

“They come to see Lonnie, drop frames and pictures, and he brings

in customers to me,” Patricia Voss said. “Then he goes on: ‘My wife

this, my wife that.’ He brings customers here.”

That goes both ways.

* BRYCE ALDERTON is a sports reporter. He may be reached at (949)

574-4222 or by e-mail at bryce.alderton@latimes.com.