Back again

 

It's been so long since I posted and so much has gone on.  I thought to just let the blog move on into the internet ethers in a dignified way and focus on instagram and facebook but I realized, sometimes I have more to say than just a soundbyte or a few hashtags. So I'm back to pontificating on the blog.

The Joy of Jewelry

A shout out to the uber talented Athena Delene who has been taking some awesome photos for us.
We love the one below so much we're using it for our Susan Goodwin Trunk Show image!
And Athena's going to be a the show taking pics for us of everybody in their  bejeweled fabulousness

So yes Susan Goodwin Trunk Show - Friday May 6th (right before Mother's Day) starting at 3 pm!
Plus it's First Friday and there's several great art shows on our block.

Spring Cleaning Part 3

I love my wooden kitchen goods, a big wooden salad bowl, some great wooden spoons , and of course the cutting board which serves as cheese platter, breakfast plate, and good old utilitarian chopping block. Which is why I was totally psyched to find these wooden care products from Christopher Pourny.  First question to them was, "Do you use petroleum products in your wood finishing products?"  And they had the right answer, "Absolutely not, we've been in the furniture refinishing business for 25 years and have developed these non toxic care products based on traditional old time formulas!"  Sign me up.  But the proof is in the pudding and I couldn't be happier with how the cutting board tonic is performing.  A little bit goes a long way and now oiling my wooden utensils is just one more pleasure of being in the kitchen.

 

Stephanie Pearl, she of Marche/Provisions fame, once shared with me the formula for seasoning a new wooden bowl or implement and so I'll share it with you.  She suggests you oil your new piece once a day for a week, once a week for a month, and once a month for a year.  After that, I typically oil as needed. Pick yourself up a bottle of this oil next time you're in and guaranteed your wooden spoons will thank you.

Spring Cleaning - Part 2

             

                                        

So excited about these handmade brooms we just brought into the store.  Made locally using old time tools and techniques, each handle comes from brush cutting up near Brownsville.  And they're just right for our spring cleaning display where we've amassed all kinds of goods to make the whole cleaning experience a little more magical.

These brooms will last a super long time.  So sweep out the old and make room for the new.

Love them as a housewarming or a wedding gift.

Spring Cleaning Part 1

  

I am really committing to serious spring cleaning this year.  Spiffing up my bedding, cleaning my windows, polishing all my wooden utensils, my goal: no nook and cranny goes unturned.And of course, I need a little reward for all this organizing.  Usually that takes the form of gorgeous flowers everywhere but I just might put this great doormat from Sugarboo designs on the list too. What a great way to say yes to spring cleaning. 

Mexico was so Inspiring

I'm still dreaming a little bit about Mexico and going through my pics. 

  

Thought this one would be just right as I love this color palette of naturally dyed yarns I spied in a weaver's atelier in Teotitlan de Valle. Kind of putting me in the Easter mood.  Two soft colors and two brights together - it's really working for me.  

It's a Pink Thing

What a beautiful mild spring we are having in the Pacific Northwest....and between the plum and the magnolia and the ornamental cherries, it's just pink everywhere.  And it's okay to play favorites right? Because the magnolia is one of my all time FAVORITE flowers!  We've had them for several weeks now as we they make great blooms for forcing!  Just a single branch or two is so dramatic.  So come and get 'em when you can because spring is flying by.

The Luck of the Irish

We put together a fun St Patrick's Day table of goodies  for you.
We made little bitsy leprechaun bouquets and  you'll find lots of other things to bring
you some good luck.Who couldn't use a little luck?

Flowers of Mexico

I heard Oaxaca calling my name and so I headed down for a short trip.

And I took some picture of flowers for you....it's a whole different tropical world.... 

lots of trees are flowering before they have leaves on them. 

Terrarium Love for Valentine's Day

A whole lot of fun terrariums being made at the store these days.

Enjoy!

Valentine's Cards and a love of the Handmade

Thanks so much to everyone for coming out to our First Friday calligraphy/letterpress event.  It was a super blast.  Loved pointing out to people that the above text was actually hand lettered not picked from a list of fonts on your p.c.  The Valley Calligraphy Guild folks charmed us all by telling people that doctors whose patients get prescriptions that are calligraphed do a better job of taking their medicine.  And a calligrapher from China who is now living in Eugene was thrilled to meet fellow calligraphers. These are the things that happen that make me love running a retail store.  

Swag bags

I had fun putting together little party favor bags for our staff party.  There's something I love about lots of little smalls

Plus everyone got a lottery ticket!

Handmade Artist Cards at Passionfloewr

 

The uber talented Becky Tonkin, oh she of the black hair and the blue eyes, whom you might remember as our beloved store manager for many years before she moved to Astoria, has graciously agreed to put together a little body of ephemera in honor of Valentine's Day!

 Can hardly wait to see it all.  IN the meantime, here's a sneak peek. We'll also be selling artist's cards by Rogene Manas, Bev Soasey, & Judith Sparks.  These are all super talented women working right here in Eugene and I could not be more happy to be selling their work.

First Friday Event at Passionflower

 It's my store and if I want to spend ridiculous amounts of time working on an event because I'm pretty excited about it, well that's my perogative right?  Which is all a long winded way of saying that I hope you will find it in your heart to come visit us before Valentine's Day and find yourself a lovely handmade artist's card.  We have, once again, invited the talented folks from the Eugene Calligraphy Guild to come down and hand address your cards with your choice of red or pink ink. Plus Kristen Walker from Twin Ravens Press will be here letterpressing Valentine's tags like the one shown above(except with red ink).  Edie Robers from the Guild calligraphed the text and Kristen set it and printed them.  I just think it's a lovely collaboration.  They'll both be here on First Friday in February from 5 to 7:30! Please join us.

 

Lindsay rocking some jewelry in a quieter moment

Having a Pendleton Moment

Enjoy.....

Something warm and cozy on these cold winter mornings.

Shopgirls styling the Pendleton!

Stone Soup or Designing Flowers in the Deep of Winter

It may be the middle of winter and our flower selection might have been a little thin but Taylor was able to work her magic and pull a rabbit out of a hat to make this beauty for the State of the City address over at the Hult Center. It didn't hurt that there was a big white amaryllis plant just begging to be cut and used in this arrangement.  Happy first arrangements of the New Year.

A New Year and A New Sign

It's a New Year and we got a new sign!  Such a hopeful time.......My Passionflower gratitude list :

1) My  customers - seriously, there's nothing like the real look you in the eye, have a real conversation, help you find something wonderful, brick and mortar retail experience. I love my customers and have been blessed to have so many amazing ones over the years! You are literally what feeds me, on so many levels.

2)  My employees - with whom it

 would not happen.....they are really what keeps this whole merry go round spinning. In my grumpy moments, I feel like they have added years to my life, but the truth is, I think they've kept me young at heart and have taught me so much. 

3) My vendors, many of whom I have done business with for years and years.  I don't know how you do it, continuously reinventing yourself, finding new product, and yet staying true to your beautiful selves. I salute your creativity, vision, and hardwork. 

4) My bookkeeper who cares and feeds for the beast, keeps me legal, and gives it her all.  

5) My neighbors - many of you for decades now and some of you brand new, without you there would be no community. I love being part of our downtown and love all of you for sharing the vision.

6)  Well I know this was going to be my top 5 but with gratitude, once you start, it just seems to come spilling out....basically grateful for any and everyone who has ever walked through the door (except possibly you shoplifters) - you are too many to count, everyone who has contributed in some little way to the store...it means so much  -  - we're not feeding the hungry or saving the world, but we are engaged in the day to day act of commerce creating community and ties that bind and each and every one of you is part of that fabric. 

Thank You!