Valentine's Day Cards at Passionflower

One of our all time favorite anytime of the year, bestselling card which we think is super fun for Valentine's Day too.  From our friends at Lucca Paperworks up in Seattle.  Check out their lovely Parisian inspired store if you find yourself up in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle.

Supporting the Handmade

                                              

My hat is off to my neighbors at Oregon Art Supply.  I was purchasing a few goodies on a Sunday afternoon, some linen tape to mount some loose cyanotypes into a book  and a blue crayon to be exact, when lo and behold the staff pulled out a screen and a squeegee.  I couldn't quite figure out what they were doing.  It seemed kind of late to be starting a class on screenprinting. Who would have imagined that they were running low on bags and were getting ready to print a new batch?  How seriously cool is that in this day and age? Before I knew it, there were brown paper bags wtih fresh black ink spread out on the counters drying. "Perhaps I would like an original screenprinted bag to put my stuff in?" they asked.  "Well, yes, yes I think I would", I said.  I love it - an art supply store that makes it's own bags.  Note and a subtle hint to my staff - do not worry - I will not add 'hand screen our daily supply of bags'  to the morning checklist but wouldn't it be fun to do this?

The Influence of Jane Packer

I make it a point to check in with Chelsea Fuss's blog Frolic on a regular basis. I love that it's straight from Portland and as soon as I figure out how to add it to my blogroll I will be doing just that and with a glowing tribute to just how genius I think she is.....But in the meantime I wanted to direct you to her blog because this is where I learned of the recent death of Jane Packer, an icon of floral design.  Click here to read Chelsea's very moving tribute to the difference one person can make in the world. 

And I feel compelled to add my voice to the many who have been deeply influenced by Ms Packer.  She was 52 (a year younger than me) when she died from complications from a stroke.  She married a deep love for flowers themselves and a british floral sensibility with a fashion forward sense of style and design.  Her shop (inside the first Terence Conran shop in NYC in the days before the high line) was where I first saw someone wrap the stems of an orchid with moss.....just sayin that was a long time ago and it has now become such a standard part of our repertoire at Passionflower (photo above) I can almost forget it 's origins.  But I remember that moment....I also remember she was using strips of black suede leather and pink crushed rock to dress up some other orchids (ha!).  Besides being a gifted designer, Jane Packer was also a teacher and an author who shared generously and gave to florists the world over.  Thank you Ms. Packer.  I shall be rereading your books and thinking of you every time I tie up an orchid with a sprig of moss.

Farewell my Lovelies

Let's just call it the end of an era but two of my beloved employees Tara Stanley and Lindsey Meyers are leaving the store.  Lindsey to have a baby (stay tuned for future post entitled 'It's a Girl') and Tara to put more energy into the home business she runs with her husband where they blow glass, sell vintage finds, and paint  pet portraits too. Sounds like a funny combination but it all seems to come together.  See more of what Brian & Tara do on their etsy site entitled  good phamily fun by clicking here.   We wish them all so much happiness in their futures and are deeply thankful for all the happiness they've brought to the store.

Objects of Desire with Rogene Manas & Bev Soasey

  

 Readers, I have been completely lax about letting you know we're having our Objects of Desire Show tonight......the artist's Bev Soasey & Rogene Manas are self curating a table of oddities and treasures......Read all about it and more on Rogene's art blog Out of my Mind by clicking here. 

Photo above courtesy Rogene Manas from her new piece entitled Your Play....

Support Your Local Artist

   Eugene has been particularly blessed to have an artist of Bev Soasey's stature residing in our midst's.  Bev's output is extra-ordinary and she has graced our fair city with studio sales, gallery shows, and every now and then we've had some of her objets chez Passionflower....I remember stick birdhouses and copper hearts and more recently her self bound travel books of France & Italy have graced our shelves.  And now is one of those times when Bev is showing her work at the store.  We're super happy to be open late for First Friday tomorrow for our Objects of Desire Show which will be up for the weekend and showcase some of Bev's treasures.  

Come by on Friday night from 5 to 8 and meet Bev and find something wonderful for you or your Valentine.

All images courtesy Bev's fabulous site...beverlysoasey.com

Hyacinth

 

 Did I mention how much I have been loving the hyacinth?  Never mind that they're named after an ancient Greek youth who was  beheaded by Zephyr, the west wind, while playing a game of discus.