Hosting a Holiday Party

 A few ideas for great holiday parties.  Tis the season and we're here to help with just about everything but the food.  I love entertaining

 Hello, start with candles.  I start with a big lantern outdoors to welcome people.  And in my world you can never have too many candles - the more the merrier.  I scatter these beautiful cast iron Sequoia candlesticks down the center of my dining table.  They're dramatic but delicate and people can still talk over them. I like the beeswax candles because they put off just the subtlest hint of honey without being overpowering at the dining table. Plus candlelight always makes your guests look good.  And if you have one, make sure that fireplace is all aglow.

 And flowers - again the more the merrier although I think you can do just fine with a few dramatic and strategically placed blooms.  Don't be shy.

And music counts, for a lot!!! Live music is best, so welcome friends young and old who like to play but have a good selection of CD's already cued up.  Music totally sets the tone.....

 And try to have something slightly nerdy & ridiculous for folks to do......it loosens people up and puts them in the party mood.  Mistletoe, a guessing game,white elephant, sparklers, sing alongs and more all work.   If there's going to be lots of kids, considering hiring a sitter and have a play place for kids to hang out (and I don't mean putting them in front of a TV). 

So there you have it candles, flowers, music, (and food too) but really the most important ingredient at your party are your guests!  So enjoy them and have fun!

Thoughts of Mexico

I thought that since today is the day that, all over Mexico, people celebrate the milagro of the Virgen de Guadalupe, I might share with you notice of a little tour to Mexico I am organizing.   My pal, the teacher and artist, Jill Cardinal and I are planning another art making adventure to Oaxaca Mexico this coming March.

 

Find out all about it by clicking here

And get in touch with me if you'd like to go and explore and make art.

Last year was our first tour and it was amazing. This year ought to be even better.  If you have always wanted to go to Oaxaca, or tour with a group of women, or make art amongst like minded folk, this just might be the trip for you.

Photo above is a journal page I  made on the art adventure last year.  I think I am going to use it for my journal cover for this years trip. 

Stay tuned.

 

Favorite 2013 Botanical Calendar

 

It's funny how sometimes you see just one little thing and it sparks a whole story. You know, like those decorators who say they built a whole room around a painting.  Well such is the case with this Snow & Graham calendar that I spotted during August at the New York International Gift Fair.  Charcoal grey (or very light black as Becky might say), green and pops of white. Who would of thunk?  I've built a whole story right at the entrance to the store around this colorway.  Oh and I popped just a dusting of silver into the mix to give it a little holiday sparkle.   Here's a charming blog post from the maker about her whole process in designing the calendar.  And she's right....you can never go wrong with white flowers.

Decisions, Decisions

I am trying to decide whether to have a tree this year.  And whether I want to do all white flowers or all red flowers.   And I know, whichever way I go, it will be fabulous and smell good and twinkle.  I just love decorating for the holidays.  Even if it's a single paperwhite or a rosemary wreath, there is something really wonderful about bringing a bit of something living and bright into your house during this darkest time of the year.

Considering All that has been and all that will be

Greetings on a perfectly and very rainy Tuesday morning.  It is the beginning of my work week and I am feeling happy and pensive at the same time.  And this Julia Margaret Cameron photo of a woman and a Passionflower seemed just right.

It's Party Time

Hello All -  A short note to inform you that It'S PartTy Time chez Passionflower!  This is our biggest party of the year and you're invited.  We'll have live music and bubbly and we'll all be dressed in our holiday finery.  Plus this year we've invited Paper Moon Photo Studio to set up a little photo booth.  So get dressed up, come  out and have   your photo taken and enjoy the convivial holiday spirit that is known as downtown Eugene during holiday season. Come put a little bubbly in your sparkle!  We would seriously love to have you join us.  And bring your friends!

Buying Local and Smelling Good

The buy local message resonates with me for the obvious reasons  (I'm a small local retailer !)....but I have also been taking it to heart and trying to do more of my buying locally.  Florists in Oregon are lucky in this respect because we have a lot of great growers working here....but I am trying to refine the local to get even more and more local.  (Like buying in Eugene instead of having it shipped from Portland).   And while I didn't gather the greens for my holiday wreaths in my backyard ( I was too busy, raising the sheep and spinning the yarn for my holiday gift giving (ha)), I think they are about as close to local as I can get.  And here's why that's good news for you - that means these are fresh, fresh, fresh, as in cut and made within a week from when you get it.  Which means they're going to last longer and smell better.  Just one more example of the win / win that comes from buying local.  So come buy a fresh, local wreath from us and we'll customize it for you with ribbon,fruits, cones, and flowers!