The in between time

This is such a sweet time of the year..... The marathon race known as the holidays has been run, the many magnificent feasts have been had, and the gifts have been given.  There's a kind of sweet satisfaction.  And it's a time of reflection.  A time to consider all the good things that have happened this year.  Plus, my accountant tells me, it's time to spend a little money.  Here's what's on our shopping list at Passionflower:  a working typewriter, Photoshop, a new sign for our front window, speakers so we can play music on the sidewalk (oh yeah), and maybe a fixture or two. Here's to a Happy New Year everyone.

Christmas Dinner

I love setting a table.  In fact that would be my dream job....designing and executing tablescapes...a few shots from Christmas dinner.  The theme was a walk in the woods with a little nod to faux bois.
Wishing everyone a fun and fabulous holiday. 

It's a Volkswagen Van Kind of Thing

What are the odds that you'll do flowers for two weddings that both figure vintage VW vans in their weddings?

Well, if you're a florist in  Eugene Oregon, I guess the odds are pretty good.

Loving these happy couples.

(Bottom photo courtesy Jane in the Woods Photography)

Making signs

 You may know the lovely Chelsea who has been working at the store for a bit over a year now.  But you may not know that she is an amazing hand letterer.  We've been using her skills to do some in store signage.

 She made this super fun chalkboard sign over by the floral area.  We really love thinking of quotes and having something inspirational at the store.

And then what about this in the front window?  So fun. I'm encouraging her to offer signage to our brides for their weddings.  Chelsea is definitely making my spirit bright this holiday!

Christmas Cards & Ornaments

It appears, winter is upon us and Christmas is on it's way.  The holiday  card table is packed.  Ornaments and calendars are everywhere.

And Santa's elves are here to serve.

Holiday Open House at Passionflower

It was sometime during my blogging hiatus that I went to Sitka Center and took a woodtype letterpress class and fell in love, I mean, IN LOVE with letterpress. Which is how, when I came home and was on a quest to find all the letterpresses in Eugene, I met the talented Kristen Walker from Twin Ravens Press. Kristen is, at this time, the only commercial letterpress in Eugene.  She does invitations and lots of custom work plus she has a card line.   We dreamed up this holiday gift tag together and she brought her tiniest press down to our Holiday Open House and printed tags for everyone.  Twin Ravens, thank you so very, very much for bringing it!

Words to live by....

Truth and then some!

Happy thanksgiving all

A little walkabout at Passionflower

A few shots from the store that I took for all of you.....

Chelsea painted some beautiful windows for us!

And I'm in love with this glowing crystal necklace every time I see Jamie wearing it.

Which leads me to a little melange of necklaces, long and short.......

And the other side of the jewelry case!  Hope you enjoyed the tiny tour!!

What's Cooking for Thanksgiving

I'm cooking cornbread for Thanksgiving and this just might be my secret ingredient.

A Short Pre Thanksgiving Trip to the Woods

Went out on a little wildcrafting walk earlier this week but it turned into a birdwatching event where I picked up a few mossy branches along the way.....as always my beloved (Boy Scout?) backpack acompanied me.  It was unbelievable...close to town, out at Fern Ridge.  I must have seen about 100 geese flying high in their V formation, beUtiful, bright white snowy egrets really close up, cormorants all perched high in a tree and just below them a bald eagle.  Feeling lucky to live in such a beautiful place.  And happy to have an abundance of gifts from the woods and fields to add to our Thanksgiving arrangements.

Setting the Table

 I always like to incorporate a few sprigs of this or that straight from the yard when I set a table.

For starters, it's a great way to get outside on a cold, or even rainy, fall day and take a little walk and see what presents itself.

And I think it strengthens my connection to the natural world.  Never want to forget where it all comes from!  Starting to put my Thanksgiving plans together.

I'm bringing cornbread, inspired by my recent trip to Mexico.

Flower Happiness

    And a little flower love for your Saturday morning viewing pleasure!  Love, love those succulents tucked in dead center!

Thanksgiving Happiness

Just loved seeing this photo of Lindsay in front of the store from uber talented local photographer Athena Delene cross our feed. Screams Autumn at Passionflower....well also a little bit "The hills are alive with the sound of music" .  Just call it our Tyrolian Thanksgiving fantasy.  As you can tell, the store is totally geared up for all things Thanksgiving.  So come and visit.

UGG Brand at Passionflower

Because we can't get enough of them.  Two more ponchos for the winter season. And these from our new clothing partner.  UGG Brands......best known for their sheepskin booties, they've expanded into sleepwear, some clothing, and handbags.

This beauty comes in a cream or a heather and can be found right now in our new Thanksgiving window.

And then some charming fairisle leggings for when you get home.
We thought these UGG pieces were just right for our Northwest style.
Hope you enjoy them.

Bedroom Details

So winter is definitely coming and that means cozying up indoors.  Which always means extra time in the bedroom.  For me that means more candles, bringing the outdoor jasmine inside  (I just LOVE a big tree in my house during the winter) and maybe a little switching out of the art and possibly a petit peu of new bedding. In the meantime here's some pics from the summer bedroom iteration focusing on the closet. I keep the inside of my closet door like a big collage, constantly changing.

         Fun blue painting I brought back from Mexico a few years back.

Absolute favorite agave rope bag I brought back from Guatemala in the early 80's. I like to surround myself with things from my travels.  Even better if they're handmade.

Local, Organic, Wedding Flowers in Eugene

 Oh and this happened too during our little blogging hiatus.  Just a whole lot of wonderful wedding flowers.  We had so many great brides this summer.  It was a spectacular wedding season.

 Maybe we should just call it the year of the big ass bouquet~!

And once we get that new website update launched there will be a whole gallery of wedding photos for you to peruse. We heart weddings at Passionflower.

Ponchos R Us

\Oh lambchops, what has happened?  Last post I was waxing poetic about summertime and here it is the middle of November.  Well what happened is my laptop went through some kind of nutburgers phase and then I went to Mexico for a month  (more on that later), worked on a website overhaul (during which I told myself no more social media until that was done)  and now we're going deep into the holidays.  Clothing has been coming in fast and furious.  And we are all about the poncho this year.

Huge stock, lots of neutrals, and some in big fuzzy plaid colors. Loving this reversible one from Pendleton Woolen Mills.

Shop it here~!

Summertime

 

I am such a waterbaby.  All my troubles just melt away.

Feeling all full of words of wisdom in my old age....and here's something I wish I had known twenty years ago:  You're only as good as your team, you're only as good as the people you surround yourselves with.  Case in point, the lovely Sara Blasi (in the coral dress above) who, you may remember, worked for us a couple of years ago. Sarah has gone on to be an extremely successful freelancer in Portland (trust me, easier said than done) and has had her work featured on a slew of wedding blogs and magazines plus Buzzfeed listed her as a florist to follow!  So how about that?  Could not be prouder of her.  She has a joie de vivre (that's joy of living for all you non francophiles out there) which comes through in everything she does.  Her images on her blog and instagram are always insanely inspiring.  And I feel so happy to have had the time to work with her.  Check out Sarah's blog right here and prepare to be amazed by her uber romantic, blown out flowers, and unstructured style.

Summertime

So many beautiful flowers in the yard right now.

My favorite command

 

I'm on this new kick to work just four days a week during the summer (except on busy wedding weeks) - trying to work more efficiently and have a little more balance in my life.  But you know how that goes with all those blurry lines between art and life and commerce and a few workaholic tendencies thrown into the mix.  Which means that yesterday on my "day off" I had a chance to pursue both my newfound passion for all things letterpress and put on my buyer hat as well when I had the opportunity to visit the lovely studio of Kristin from Twin Ravens Press.  Kristin, as far as I know is the only person doing commercial letterpress in Eugene.  She's got all kinds of fabulousness going on at her place and we could not be more excited about her (Un) Valentine's cards which I picked up for the store.  They're just the right amount of snark and sass.

More to come on all things letterpress.

In the meantime here's a link to Twin Ravens site.

Passion Fashion

Lambchops (that's code for I'm in a tender loving mood)....we had so much fun at the City of Eugene Fashion Show.  Thanks powers that be, it was really fun. There's Laurel & Jamie, our on site stylists and personal shoppers who helped all our models get ready (which consisted mostly of proffering glasses of champagne and telling them how awesome they looked)....but seriously, these two really brought their A game.

And then some of our brave shopgirls took to the runway.....Deidre went flamenco, wearing Navone and Iron Oxide jewelry with flowers in her hair!

Chelsea rocking some Johnny Was and this awesome Bolivian ceremonial jacket (that you must be uber tiny to wear, but it's really a thing of beauty )....a little bit of lace, a little bit of fringe.....

 

 And our little flowerchild Laura with her feverfew crown and sweet smile all wrapped up in her Pendleton blanket.  Hope we get some more good photos to show you.

From Sidewalk to Catwalk -Downtown Eugene Fashion Show

So many beautiful summer clothes in the shop right now like this beautiful Bryn Walker, hand dyed, hand sewn in Northern Ca, top and pants.  And guess what?  We're going to be strutting our stuff and show off a little of the Passionflower vibe at a Fashion Show happening next Thursday at the Hult Center.  Several other local boutiques as well as indie designers will be presenting. We have been begging the powers that be to do a show featuring local boutiques so come out and show us the love now that it's finally happening.  Starts at 6:30. Can't wait!  (And PS if you've always wanted to be in a fashion show, this could be your moment....we're still looking for a couple of more models so let us know if you'd like to peruse our racks and find something fabulous to walk down the runway )

Earl Grey lovers alert

This just in.  Cannot wait to try it p

Plus loads of other tea related goodies for Mother's Day