Easter Brunch a la Passionflower

I don't usually go in for the blog as advertising vehicle....I think of it as more of a way to share with you what gets my juices flowing....and I don't usually go for photos I didn't take...But this image that just arrived from our beautiful glassware and tabletop vendor Juliska was just way too beautiful to pass up......

It's nothing too fancy....some madelines, a tart and lemonade but it makes me want to put on the biggest, baddest Easter Brunch ever.....alas this year I'm having dinner - leg of lamb, mint jelly, leeks in cream, wild chickweed & arugula salad and I'm not sure what else.

Any suggestions?

Handpainted Easter Eggs at Passionflower

Years ago, when I lived in Portland, I would go to Powell's Books and buy the most beautifully colored Ukranian dyes and writing tools.....Many people don't know this but Mr. Powell (who was a really great guy) was Ukranian and he had a little locked cabinet full of dyes and styluses and wax which he would ceremoniously unlock for you. Then I'd have a big party with friends and their children. We'd make a mess and make some beautiful eggs while we were at it........There was something special about the vivid colored dyes and the way the styluses could be used to "write" on the eggs with wax. We'd write our names and draw maps of the world and scribble bits of poetry on them. Sometimes we'd hang crystals and ribbons from them. It was great fun. Click here to find out more about Ukranian Easter Egg dyeing tools.

These eggs remind me a little of those times.....They're handpainted in Austria and we have them in several patterns.

Porcelain Happiness at Passionflower

I've been so excited about our upcoming artist's shows that I had my amazing talented graphic designer Cathy Simard play around with making us a few postcards to commemorate the event.

Here's the one she did for Katie......and the one for the Susan Goodwin trunk show is equally as amazing......

That squiggly line of script at the bottom is an e.e. cummings poem.....

Swinging Bunnies & Other Great Easter Gifts

We've been so happy with how things went with the Artists with Autism show that happened in our upstair space last year and then was followed by Barb Campbell's trunk show.....that led to the Objects of Desire Show & so now it's official - We will be using our upstair "attic" space to promote the works of a number of local artists whose work we think fits in with our "look"....And I'd describe that look as whimsical, soulful, and nature centered. Sometimes these shows will be short lived trunk shows and other times, exhibits that might last weeks and sometimes there might be some front window display involved too......This seems like such a win/win to us. Local artists get a rent free venue to sell their work and we get a window or upstairs space that is really beautiful and curated with love and attention. Plus the customer gets a chance to see some really special work.

In April we will be featuring the ceramic work of porcelain artist Katie Swenson...Her hanging bunnies pictured above have been hits at Passionflower for years..... Here's a sneek peak of our front window curated by Katie....or as we like to think of it, this slightly crazed (in a good way) fairy showed up last Friday night and made our front window beautiful.....or perhaps it was someone channeling Beatrix Potter........

These are amazing.....they are jars and the bird on the nest is the lid!!!

Katie has really outdone herself......the window is full of flying bunnies and baskets and birds and everywhere you look there is more and more to see - bowls with poems written on the inside and tea sets and mad hatters. We hope you get a chance to come by and find something special. These are all one of a kind pieces. No mass market here.

And just to give you an idea of scale, here's a photo Lindsey took of the itsy bitsy bunny.

So if a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush......what exactly is the value of a bunny in the palm ?

Katie Swenson Comes to Passionflower

Many of you may know these charming porcelain pieces as a Passionflower staple.....I've always loved these rabbits because sometimes I look at them and they're barely hanging on trying to keep it all together. Other times, they look like they're free spirited and frolicking. To me they're a metaphor for moving through life.....There is something just right about them. I've given them as baby gifts and get well gifts too ......

How lucky for us that their maker Katie Swenson agreed to be our First Friday Artist coming up on April 2nd.........

Lots of beautiful porcelain pieces and she's guest curating the front window.........stay tuned for more posts on Katie & her work.......and click here to go to her website.

We've been getting into a plum, purple, platinum, silver kind of mood at the store lately.

Everythings got some color but it's dusty - just perfect for our foggy, grey Oregon weather.

Leave a comment and tell me what colors are working for you these days.

Memories of A Valentine's Day

Cupid was looking for his arrows.

Mother Nature smiled upon us -


The weather was mild and we had lots of great local flowers: quince, and plum, and pussywillow and hellebore

Big Yummy - quince in the middle of February.

We stirred up a little creativity.

And dished up some tasty food.

Celebrating Birthdays at Passionflower

A big ole "Happy 40th Birthday" to

Becky who is Passionflower's ..........

beautiful,

very beautiful,

very creative,

extremely hardworking,

fun loving -

and loving and amazing manager. You make the store a great place to be.
Hope the
next decade gives you all things wonderful.

And because there are so many ways I want to say Happy
Birthday, I thought this cake was perfect. I found it on Letterpaperflower.com

I think it's in Arabic but it perfectly expresses all the things I want to say in the most intelligibe/unintelligible way.

A Beautiful Handmade Card Arrives in the Mail -

Becky opened this card from long lost artist Sue Tackmier in Portland.......she wondered had she made it and mailed it to herself in a dream? Needless to say we were enchanted.

Just the other day I was planning an October window display with Lynn Peterson about blackbirds and here comes one in the mail.....

Sue sent her business card in a glassine envelope onto which she has stamped her seal.
I love this and am now going to search for the one we had made when we incoporated....

I think we will start stamping glassine envelopes and anything else we can think of......

So happy to see some of her cards again - she is my Edward Gorey in sister disguise.
Sue told me she has been busy making shoes for ants......(Did I mention she is extremely droll - that's funny in an odd way)....I'd like to see some of those shoes.

This will make a lovely Valentine's card.

Our Christmas Window at Passionflower

Merry Christmas to All

And to All a Good Night..........

Passionflower Design Hosts a Party

We're getting ready for our annual Open House - this is no drink a cup of cider while you politely peruse the merchandise. This is one huge party! Downtown Eugene really comes alive. So put on your party finery, get together your shopping list, and come be part of the brou ha.......

Plus live music, libations, and special surprise guests.....

Stay posted for shots of THE PARTY!!!!!

Thanksgiving Feasting at Passionflower

From our neck of the woods to yours. Blessings on your meal.

Happy Thanksgiving Day November 2009

Bella Notte Pillowcases Get A Little Lovin'

Here's a beautiful little bedding study in purples and lavenders.

As I studied the photo, something was bothering me.

Hhhmmmmm.......

Uh Oh - that pillowcase looks a little bit like a tic-tac-toe board.

Merchandising 101 - all bedding needs to be steamed or ironed.



Stay tuned for more merchandising 101.

Christmas Ornaments Come to Passionflower

A little taste of Christmas Goodies.....in our front window.....now.

Some Details from Barb Campbell's "First Friday" Show at Passionflower

A few details from the colorful world of Barb Campbell's ceramic work.

Everything tastes better when it comes from this magical teapot.

I'm still not sure wether she calls these Pinkies or Pixies but they are little flower frogs - that become miniature gardens. People loved these.

And the sipping cups were very popular.

Some details....