We're looking forward to First Friday as lots of our neighbors will be open and our friend Jill Cardinal will be having a show over at Oregon Art Supply.  Above is a photo from a time when Jill did our front window a couple of years ago.  You may also know Jill as a brilliant mixed media artist/teacher in town and the person who I lead the trips down to Oaxaca with.  She's actually going to be doing a mixed media piece on the wall at Oregon Art Supply and will have lots of small pieces from her journals for sale. Just one more reason to come downtown and enjoy First Friday.

Every Artist Needs this Book

Feel like you've got a book inside you?  Well my friend, I don't believe you are alone.  

As you know, chez Passionflower we love books.  In fact in my darker moments:

But thankfully, these are just my darker moments, because I'm in retail....

and I really do love people. And,  you know how we can be at Passionflower - any excuse for a party is a good one for us and so we were thrilled when our pal Vicki Amorose agreed to have her book launch at the store during the First Friday Artwalk on Feb 1. 

Vicki's  book, ART-WRITE is  a non fiction piece that teaches artists how to talk about their work. We all know that  hyper talented artist who breaks out into a sweat when you ask them what inpsired them. Well this is the book for them. 

 

 Stop by for a book signing, short reading,  and pick up a copy for yourself or your favorite artist.  We'll also be showing new ceramic work by Betsy Wolfston, whose writing process is featured in ART-WRITE,

I'm really looking forward to this event as I adore both Vicki & Betsy and find Vicki to be one of the funniest people I know. Should be a great crowd and we'll have nibbles and libations.
Click here to find out more about Vicki and her book.

top two images from google and bottom image courtesy Vicki Amorose

Getting Ready for Wedding Season

 

Thanks Eugene Weddings Magazine, we couldn't be happier with the photos and the article. 

photo courtesy Eugene Weddings Magazine which you can pick up chez Passionflower

Romantic Paris Time Capsule Apartment

Ever since I first pinned this image to a pinterest board, I have always wondered it's origin.  Well here ya go, this story of a long ago locked Paris apartment is amazing.    This place is a crazy, romantic,  time capsule.

Thanks Messy Nessy Chic for turning me onto this great story.  I really like your blog.

image courtesy Getty

A New Drink Discovery for the New Year

 I had everyone from our little Passionflower staff  over for a little holiday dinner chez moi, last Monday.  Tiffany and Mark from Party Cart came over and cooked for us ( a little decadent, but we deserve it)....And Tiffany  turned me on to St Germain, an elderflower liquer.....read all about it here....all I can say is "wow"...For starters the bottle is great and then it tastes like I guess nectar is a good word to describe it.

She mixed it with champage (thank you Kathy Re), tequila, and a little grapefruit juice.

Plus, makes me want to wander right over to the Juliska glassware aisle of Passionflower and start planning my next cocktail hour.
top photo from google, bottom photo courtesy Juliska

Our Love for Air Plants Continues Unabated

 

More store reset with scads of air plants and sticks and branches

 

 

Running with inspiration for as long as she'll have me.

Why I Love Having a Flower Shop

Here's a little look back at 2012....or we could say a look ahead to 2013!

The Coming of a New Year

Deep in the midst of a New Years reset, Lila and Becky put up this wall of bird and botanical prints!!!! My friends who are great textile designers keep a whole library of vintage prints and I go through oh about four or five hundred images to pick these for you.   And there's those bulbs I promised you.  We have hyacinth and muscari and baby daffodils.  The sets in the store feel really light and fresh and spare this year.  Kind of like the scenery outside.

Nothing Like a Big Flowering Beauty in the Middle of Winter

We're down to our last two (white) amaryllis in the store. But no worries, spring bulbs are not far behind.  

photo courtesy of and  from the fabulous home of Miss Becky Tonkin

Ruminations

I just love the New Year, it just seems so fresh and  full of possibilities and like starting with a clean slate.  After (un peu of )the holiday excess, it's like clearing the palate.  Getting ready for a post holiday reset at the store.  And I can hardly wait.  Like I have a whole new story to tell - the story of the New Year!

To Tree or Not to Tree

 Brrrr....it's cold outside, like frosty the snowman cold, one of the coldest days we've had in a year or so....and so I am  wishing I had been more attentive to my potted plants on the porch.  Probably the geraniums won't make it but I am hoping the succulents do.  In the meantime, while my jasmine would probably have easily survived a freeze, I'm glad I brought it inside a couple of weeks ago. 

 It became my de facto Christmas tree with lights and ornaments and tinsel.....and no needles to drop and no tree to dispose of......sort of perfect solution for me during extra busy time of year.

 

Plus it's on wheels so I can move it from room to room!!!  Anyway I am smitten with this because I love the conservatory feeling and enjoying big tall plants in the home during the winter.  But I am still learning.  It's so tricky bringing plants inside, like last year this jasmine (aka Christmas tree) got covered with  some kind of mealy moth bug and almost died.  I just read in this very informative article from Portland Nursery  some excellent tips for helping your semi hardy outdoor plants make it through the cold winter times. 

Ringing in the New Year

It's all happening....so full of hope for the New Year!