Opening Our Online Store

 

You heard it here first.  We're open for online shopping!  Mostly jewelry but a few other goodies too.

It's a work in progress and it's been fun.  Check it out and enjoy!

shoppassionflower.com 

photo by Jane in the Woods Photographie for Passionflower

The Inner World

Roost has a new product we're carrying called candelariums .  I guess that's like halfway between a terrarium and a candleholder.  Basically a big sturdy glass box with a carrying handle.

They're kind of fun, right?  Like a naturalist's take on the Jungian sandbox.

A little moss, an air plant or two and some Mexican church candles and voila!

But who says you have to play all neutral and mossy with these?  How about some colored candles, a houseplant or two and some cones, fruits,  and nuts in your candelarium? 

We only have two sizes left so come in and have fun putting your little world together.

Bottom photo courtesy Julie Benson, all other photos taken at Roost Design booth in NYC.

A Thanksgiving Placesetting

I LOVE it when customers send me photos of what they do with their Passionflower goodies.

A sprig of rosemary, a wee bit of velvet ribbon, and a gratitude card make for a most charming placesetting at this Thanksgiving table.  Thanks Julie Benson for inspiring me. 

My Shadow Self

 

It's been cold around here.  Really cold.  Like I'm hoping my jasmine which is supposed to be hardy to around 20 degrees is going to make it kind of cold.  Despite the temps,  there's still a few things to be foraged from the yard for Thanksgiving flower orders : some cotoneaster with their bright orange berries, huckleberry, boxwood, and  twigs of spirea.

(not to mention the purple callicarpa berries and larch cones that Chris brought in ).

And lo and behold, on my way to work yesterday, the day before Thanksgiving, the sun was out and I 

saw my shadow on the wall and snapped this pic which says just about everything I would ever want to say about how very, very grateful I am to live with all of you on this beautiful planet that we call home.

And another thing it says to me, is that , whenever things get tough, (and it has been a little rough  lately) I can always draw sustenance and nurture from my connection with nature. As long as I have that I just know everything is going to be allright.

A most excellent Thanksgiving Day to you and yours.

 

Thanksgiving Table Tips

 

I love setting a table.  And I love entering a room with a beautifully set table and all the promise it holds.  And I love eating at a beautifully set table.  And I even like the aftermath!  And so with Thanksgiving coming up wanted to share a little table inspiration.  I am of the pre planning school.

I like to start thinking about and assembling things ahead of time.  (photo above shows me putting a few things together that I might want to use for a homespun holiday table).

 

First let's start with the must haves:  flowers and candles - personally I love lots of little votives down the table.  Candlesticks are also a nice option because they give you some height.  And flowers, well they're the life force on your table.  Think outside the box, leaves, fruits, nuts, berries plus flowers all fall into the "life force" thing. 

 

Linens count too.   Cloth napkins are the minimum.  I like a runner.  But I've been known to use really cool pieces of wrapping paper or brown kraft downt the center of a table.

 

And then there's the details.  I like to have a pitcher on the table, whether you're decanting red wine or pouring orange juice, pitchers let you stay at the table, pour for your guests, and there's just something graceful and

charming about serving or being served.

 

Every table needs a little sparkle which is where glassware can come in  - I like to use tall champagne glassed as vases for flowers.

 

Salts are fun and each guest can have their own little one set in front of them. (Food hygiene police at my house insist on this).

 

Party favors at each places setting give people something to do...give everyone a fortune, or a sparkler, or a mask , or a hat, or you get the idea.

 

In short, get a headstart on the game which allows you to really savor the details,  have fun, vary your heights, don't worry about matchy, match and always go for a little something unexpected to delight and amuse the guest.

 

And finally, enjoy yourself!

 

 

 

The Creative Process

 You know the store is just packed with inventory, and our backroom is overflowing, and there's a ton of Christmas cards that constantly need restocking and well it's just like that.  But I still played hookie the other day and went to a class put on by the Friends of Buford Park on making cordage from nettles. 

Always been on my bucket list - the making cordage part that is.  I didn't know you could make cordage from nettles.  You use the stalk.  It has to cure for 6 months to a year before you can work it. 

Once you get the hang of it, it's pretty easy going.  It's also tedious but curiously satisfying. 

I really believe getting outside your normal routine is important to the creative process - so I'm hoping, in some ways that I'm not even aware of yet,  that this little cordage class is going to inform my display work at the store.  Who knows? We shall see.

The Thanksgiving Table

Because my love affair with the camera has become a thing of the past (Seriously , what's with that? I remember a time in the not too distant time before now when we were wedded at the hip.  ) I must resort to trolling the internet for visual treats for you.  And I suppose that's none too shabby an option because there's a lot, a lot, of great stuff out there.  So, should you want a little Thanksgiving table inspiration you may go here to this lovely Swedish (?) blog with 17 inspiring table ideas.

 Oh, and this one here really slayed me -

 

Favorite New Design Book at Passionflower

I admit, I was seduced by the cover of the book - spiral staircase, flotakis, tree trunks and multi paned windows are some of my favorite things. Doesn't everyone want a little retreat space like this? But it's really what's on the inside that sent me.  And maybe because I'm thinking about turning my garage into a studio space I'm extra interested in a book like this.  Stay tuned!

Life's Simple Pleasures

Napkin love chez Passionflower.  I have always used cloth napkins, and I always will.  It's part of the whole dining experience for me.  Here's a shot from New York show with me having fun putting together some table stories.  Wonderful new napkins from Pehr Designs out of Canada - runners too.

Keeping a Happy House

Best design decision I ever made - putting a birdfeeder outside my bedroom window - which jut so happens to look onto a quiet and private part of my yard - the birds love it.  And so do I.  I feel like I have my own private aviary framed by the window of my house. 

 It's better than a television except no reception at night! :). I got my little birdbook out and have learned to identify all the common feeder birds.  And some that feed on the ground below the feeder too.

  If you feed them, they will definitely come.

Click here for some tips on keeping a birdfeeder.

Johnny Was at Passionflower

Might we tempt you with some Johnny Was clothing?  In store and ready to walk out the door.

Today. :)

Really love selling clothing. When someone finds something that  looks great on them - that you know they're going to wear and feel really good in - that's a good feeling.  I guess I'm in a warm fuzzy I heart my customers mood this morning.

We've had some busy days and it's been fun

 photo courtesy Johnny Was Clothing

Susan Goodwin Jewelry at Passionflower

 

  You might want to put this on your calendar.  Our Susan Goodwin trunk show starts the day after Thanksgiving and goes through Saturday afternoon.  We always like that we have what it takes in Eugene to show her the love.   And we definitely couldn't do it without you.  

As always , it will be spectacular.  Susan will be here Friday evening.  She's a wonderfully generous person (not to mention supremely talented) who has a knack for helping you find something just for you.

We are so looking forward to it.

What month is it?

We booked our first wedding for next year this week.  That was fun.  Already thinking about peonies in June and we haven't even had Christmas.

Plus,  to entertain you, a little ad my graphic designer put together for us.

Chez Passionflower

 

Our Autumn Angel

Eye Candy

 

Ooooooohhhhhh.....We're going to start selling online and  Melissa Ferrell from Jane in the Woods Photographie has been taking some pretty beautiful photos for us.

Really having fun .  Stay tuned

And click here to go to Jane in the Woods site where you can see more of her work including some very wonderful children's portraits.

photo from Jane in the Woods for Passionflower

Beautiful Velvet Bella NOtte Throw

 

Starting to get excited about doing our holiday store set.  We've got a lovely, scrumptious, silk velvet Bella NOtte bed we're putting together for you. Here's a little sneak peek! And maybe this is the year to break down and get that crazy expensive satin throw.  You know you want it ! (ha) Because remember, they might read high luxury,  but  all Bella Notte pieces are machine washable!  And they use low impact dyes and are made in the USA.

Click here to see more seriously beautiful eye candy from Bella Notte Linens.

And then come in and oogle our samples and we'll help you put it all together.

Photo courtesy Bella Notte Linens

A little walk in the woods....

We have been having a somewhat spectacular, last gasp, days of fall around here, haven't we?

These have been  bike riding, leaf kicking, breath taking , this may be the last sunny day of the year, drink it all in kind of days.  And daylight savings starts tomorrow.

Favorite Childhood Book

All kinds of lovely calendars in the store , right now.....here'a a peek at (predicatably) one of my faves, the new Rifle Paper Co. 2014 calendar.