Favorite Flower of the Hour

Loving the whimsy of  poppies right now....they're so paper thin and delicate but with those big hairy stems..

Our Fun Little Wedding Show

 Really was a lot of fun putting a little tablescape together for Brides on Broadway....we did an orange, peach, coral story and a lavender, purple story, and a couple of others.  We set each vignette up like a three dimensional color board.

 

This one went with the purple story.
Plus it was so fun to have other vendors like Little Arrow and Jane in the Woods at the store.
I hope we do it again.

The Unicorn Bride

 

Valentine's recovery mode going on here chez Passionflower.....our feet hurt, we've had a zillion flower buckets to clean and thank god, our delivery driver is still talking to us.  It was a fabulous whirlwind of a holiday and we loved it.  Because, really, we have amazing customers.  Lots and lots of men in deep romance mode(some anxious, some confident), moms buying for daughters (I sent my stepdaughter a pair of over the knee red cashmere socks), and more.  These are people I might only see a few times a year, but I've been seeing them for 10 or 15 years.  It's a strange bond the one between shopkeeper and customer. It's intimate and it's not.  Also big thanks to everyone who's written us a Yelp review because that really helped us out this year too.  And since there is no rest for the weary, we're off contemplating the Bridal Show we're having in store this Saturday.

How do you like our front window?  We call her the unicorn bride

She's my take on the whole wedding fantasy business.

Because I think , time to give up the fantasy, get real, show your love in a way that is uniquely yours, and throw the best party of your life. (and a huge thanks to Blush Bridal for providing us with the dress for our window)

Floral Revelry

We thought it was pretty exciting when this came across our feed:  apparently the ladies from Little Flower School in Brooklyn are coming out our way to teach a design class on working with bearded irises.  They're teaching it at Schreiners -  you know the fabulous iris gardens you see blooming in May,  just north of Salem when you drive up 1-5. We're lucky that way, us florists in Oregon.  We have world class rose growers, and iris, and peony, and hydrangea, and dahlia growers too.  So I think it's great that this talented duo is coming out here to show off some of our Oregon flower love. They're really inspired by the Dutch masters and in fact, Sarah from Saipua (one of the teachers) did my favorite wedding flowers I saw online all year which you can see by clicking here.  Can you guess which part of this wedding was my favorite?

The class is wicked pricey - think a spa weekend in Portland with some fabulous meals thrown in as well.  Still, if you have the inclination, I bet you'll learn a lot and be inspired.  (And who can put a price on inspiration?)  So, if you go, find out for me, which iris it is that smells like root beer.  Because, besides being a ruffly confection of color variations, bearded iris also have amazing scents.

And click here to find out more about the class.

Photo courtesy Little Flower School

Happy Valentine's Day

A mostly lovely Valentine's to all our beloved friends, family, & customers!

This almost 200 year old Valentine proves, once again, that love endures!

May Cupid's arrows find their mark.

Hugs and kisses.

X's & O's

Getting Hitched?

Stay tuned for year two of Brides on Broadway, a little indie wedding show featuring all kinds of fabulous downtown and other local vendors.  We'll be hosting Jane in the Woods Photographie  and Little Arrow Studio.  Melissa Jane and Brianna are two uber talented young women.  You'll love their work. Plus we'll be doing a little show and tell about hair flowers and crown.   It's happening Saturday the 22nd from 3 - 7.  Not exactly one stop shopping but you can  check out flowers, get invitations, buy some beautiful bridal jewelry and plan an engagement shoot all in one spot.  I'm pretty excited about the potential of this show to really be an outside the box event that offers brides the opportunity to create an authentic look true to their style.  Lots and lots of other things happening in the neighborhood  too.  Please pass this on to anyone you know who's planning a big party because I'd love to see a big turnout for this show.

photo courtesy Blue Bus Creative

Beautiful Frida Earrings

And while I'm in the Valentine's mood, this pair of kissing dove earrings  would be quite perfect for Cupid's holiday.

The Alchemy of Love

 

Perfect Valentine' gift....one of my  all time favorite things we sell at Passionflower.  Perhaps even, over time, our Passionflower best seller.

 

Locally made by artist Lynn Peterson, she really does wash them in the rain and let them sit under the rays of the moon.

Click here to purchase one online.

Treasure Hunt

 

Look what just came our way:  Five vintage clock case, empty (until they're not).....all with glass doors and beautiful detailing. I have been dreaming about these for oh, about fifteen years when I first asked my clockmaking friend if he ever ran across anything like this.  Well I guess yes, once in about every 15 years or so he does!  Proving, once again, that good things come to those who wait.

Perfect curio cabinets.

Chez Passionflower

 

Random shots from throughout the store.

Spot of color in the middle of winter....so hopeful....

 

 

 

Hints of spring.

More Goodies from Las Vegas

I ordered these shadow box coffeetables at the Las Vegas Show.  Can not wait to let loose on our very own one.  Must be patient.  Won't be here until May. 

Meditation comes in all Shapes and Forms

I really enjoyed my little shopping for the store in Las Vegas instead of New York experiment. 

Just nice to shake it up a bit.  And Vegas has more of a home furnishings bent.  And the showrooms are big and spacious with lots of pretty flowers (What can I say?  I'm a sucker for pretty flowers.)  And while I do prefer New York's grit to Vegas's glam still I'm glad I went.  And I saw art I liked.

Lots of art I liked.

Like this lovely little bee print from an artist who did a daily painting of a bee as a kind of meditation.  Sounds like a lovely way to start the day.

Flowers on a Snowy Afternoon

 

Snow day , chez Passionflower.......

Some hothouse flowers and a hellebore too~

A sympathy bouquet.

Last bouquet to go out before the roads got too slick.

P.S.  Is there not something pure

about a snowfall?

Everything seems so light and clean.

 

 

Looking Outside on a Cold Winter Day

 

Flowers, I just must, must , must have flowers in my house this time of year.  Well actually I must have flowers all year round but, kind of, especially this time of year because it's just so cold and dried up andshriveled and  hard outside. 

 

 

It doesn't take much, just a bloom or two  -  in this case a little hyacinth and a hellebore in a champagne glass.

I like the lovely scent and the spot of color.

And I like how the hyacinths start out all stiff and upright and end up all fluffy and floppy.

 

 

 

And I realized flowers can be a little trickster this time of year - making you think it's springtime outside.

Because who knew, there'd be snow on the ground the day after I snapped this photo?

Eye Candy, Flowers, and Some Beautiful Calligraphy

Total and massive design crush on Annabella Charles Photography and just in time for some Valentine's inspiration.  She's a southerner and she works with a florist and a stylist and between them there's some beautiful synergy.....in other words, of all the shots on her site, the flowers are the most amazing and there's some drop dead gorgeous calligraphy too!  Click here to check out her beautiful collection of still life photos!  You won't be disappointed. 

photo courtesy Annabella Charles Photography

Chocolate Love for First Friday

We have some great customers at the store who, every now and then, bring us goodies.  Top on the list of beloved gifts are CD's (amongst which we find one of the store all time faves Rod Stewarts' Great American Songbook - who knew?) , champagne, and yes sweets!  And  top amongst the sweet givers is our pal Davey Wendt.  When he's not masquerading as our occasional handyman, he's busy whipping up chocolate confections for Rye Restaurant.  You can see their  chocolates list here.  And, enfin, finally we've put together a little event which is happening First Friday.  Davey is going to demo chocolate tempering and talk about combining flavors.  I have always wanted to dip strawberries in chocolate and I think dried pears dipped in chocolate would be exquisite.  But I had a bad experience in my youth and have always been a little wary. So please join us and learn the secrets and taste some chocolate goodness too.  Plus shop some Valentine goodness too.   
photo courtesy Rye Restaurant