One can Never Have too Many Vases

I pulled out a bunch of  vases and assorted containers when the Register Guard was coming out to shoot their story on spring flowers and thought I'd share with you.  Clearly, I like curves and I like the country vibe at my house.  And  I like pitchers and I collect vintage pottery and I always like to use repurposed pieces like the milk bottle and the growler.  And I always love, love a container with a narrow neck.  Plus the basket is super special as it's all hand peeled willow and handwoven by my basketmaking friend Elaine Falbo who has a charming little shop in Portland called Bella Flora Studios. It's the perfect May Day basket shape.  I am definitely of the school, one can never have too many vases, but I find myself going 

to these same ones over and over.  Except for the growler.  I'm still experimenting with that one!

 Easter was spectacular. It was all lilac and dogwood and apple blossoms everywhere.

And the weather was gorgeous.

 I brought three different kinds of lilacs to our little local  feast. I had to smile when they served Bloody Marys for Easter Brunch.

 And, of course, in the best locavore tradition, they were composed of fresh frozen tomato pulp from the summer before. Plus a little salt, a little pepper, lemon juice, and some fresh grated horseradish gave it just the right amount of zing.  Oh and then the vodka zing thing too!  And a home canned dill bean to stir it all up.

I think I'm going to make Bloody Mary's my new Easter traditon.

Susan Goodwin Jewelry Comes to Town

 The ever talented Susan Goodwin will be joining us for a trunk show next Friday at 2 and her work will be up until Saturday afternoon.

 Word on the street is that Susan has radically changed her display and I had a little sneak peek when I visited her in Carlton.  It's ephemeral and incorporates photographs.  Susan not just a great jeweler.
She's a talented artist who has spent most of her adult life living off the fruits of what she creates with her hands.  I have so much admiration for people who do that. Just stick to their one thing and ride with it as far and long as they can - constantly re-inventing themselves and, at the same time, staying true to who they are.

I always find something lovely for myself. And hope you come and find something lovely too.

Passionflowers Abound

Passionflowers come in all shapes and sizes!!!

Did you know we can print these beautiful canvas wall charts with your artwork?

Come in the store and take a look?  Wouldn't these be a fun backdrop for a wedding with big urns full of curly willow branches on either side?

Making Nice Nice for the Register Guard - Ode to Spring Flowers

 Colin Andrew from the Register Guard came out to my house for a photo shoot today.  They're doing a story about picking flowers from your yard for spring bouquets.  I wanted to stay true to the story and not stress out about it too much.  So I made sure we had a little spot on my porch to take pics and then I went out and picked some flowers in the morning. Simple as that. No pumping it up with big hothouse garden roses or other exotics. A little trust in Mother Nature experiment.  Doesn't hurt that the lilacs have just begun to bloom.

I put a group together of whatever spring like vases I had around the house.

 Colin came out and took the pics.  A couple of me tra-la-la ing out in the apple orchard and then he said my yard looked like a park, which pretty much made my day.  And then I put a little bouquet together for him.

 Okay, I guess it wasn't so little!

 

And then there was a big mess to clean up and onward with the rest of my day.

Kind of a fun way to start the workweek.

A Lovely Cordial for Easter Brunch.

 

So happy to have this back in stock.

Passionflower Turns Twenty

It was twenty years ago today.....well I'm not sure if it was exactly today....but it was close to this time that Passionflower had our official opening party.  The very first ever Passionflower party. I remember because it was near Easter.  And I rented a big Easter Bunny outfit and talked a friend into wearing it. (I like a little drama at a party!)  And, for years afterwards, a young child named Marlow, son of some art professors, would come in the store and ask his Mom where the bunny was.  And my mentor, Elaine Falbo, my inspiration, my beautiful, hippie friend who channels Tasha Tudor, brought me glorious branches of white native dogwood.  And I saw the dogwood blooming the other day so I knew it was about now.  It was the little store down at the train station.  And there was a double rainbow during the party which we all went outside to ooh and aah over.  I have a picture of that somewhere. That was when you had to go get film developed.  And my Dad and my stepmother came out and took us all out to dinner in the little tiny dining room at the old Jo Federico's.  Twenty years is a long time.  So many people have passed through the door as friends and customers and employees and people we do business with, or some fluid combination of all of that. So many. And so many things have passed over our sales counter and, I hope, made your life more beautiful and contemplative and fascinating.   I just love being a shopkeeper and I have all kinds of mystical notions of what that means, which I will spare you from today, but suffice it to say, thank you each and every one of you for being a part of the whole Passionflower party.  Happy Birthday to us, All of Us!

Our Easter Window

 The Beckster came to visit and it was fun.  She set up the whole upstairs sale at the store and then, since Elvis was in the house, why not the front window too?

 

Then we go into our little mind meld code and I say things like, " wall chart, powder blue, your boy, Easter basket"....

And then I come back the next day.

And voila, magic, the veil is lifted a tiny bit.

Always a happy surprise.

Celebrations

Hippity Hop~!  Easter isn't quite the holiday it used to be....but still I love the traditions.  Brunch and eggs and all things egg shaped and rabbits (oh and chocolate too). And last year I was in Oaxaca over Easter and that is a decidedly different celebration than it is in the States. Nary a rabbit in site but lots of sorrowful Mary's and penitents.  They each have their charm but it has been lovely to enjoy the entire springtime here this year.

Lovely Ceramics from Wanderlust

 What's the buzz? 

Starting to make friends with the camera again.

And feeling a little more of that blogging thing.  But really, I am a serial blogger.

As in I'll post five or six posts at once and stagger the posting dates.  Some people have that rhythmic daily blogging thing going but I think I'm a little more obsessive type.

In the mood.

The End of Daffodil Season

 Ode to the daffodil

 

Oh you of the beautiful peach perianth ...just add  a sprig of flowering branches, plum, quince & cherry are all at the top of my list.  (or even the green leafy branches of the dogwood) a spot of hellebore and voila .

 

And the biggest, baddest, ranunuculus ever....

I am always so sorry to see the daffodil season end.

April Fools Sale at Passionflower

Just a little heads up, if I haven't already told you a time or two before this - we're having a sale.  It ends Saturday.  And a shout out to my long time graphic designer Cathy Simard who first found the fool.  Been using him every year for the sale.  Love the fool.  Thanks Cathy.

Shop Passionflower Online

For your two am viewing pleasure...and other times too....shop our Easter Collection online.

http://shoppassionflower.com/shop/?category=Easter+Goodies

Springtime

Stay tuned....I'm busy in the yard.