One rainy and cold Saturday afternoon, I walked into an art studio in the Fremont district of Portland and met a woman making pussy willow baskets. Her shop was called Bella Flora and upon entering you felt you had discovered a magical, secret place. The fragrance was spicy, herbal, and floral. Everywhere you looked there was a touch of beauty and enchantment. Well of course I did not want to leave, so I wandered about and started talking to Elaine, the owner. There was vintage clothing finery, fairy-sized furniture made of twigs, ribbons, and lace, and her newest creation, a line of children’s clothing complete with petals, silk, and storybook dreams.
Elaine sat on a stool weaving a basket of pussy willows. She explained that she could only use certain pieces that would weave well into her creation. I touched the pussy willow and understood the metaphor she was trying to capture. Gazing at Elaine, I thought I was looking at a more delicate version of Meryl Streep. Such a beauty creating and capturing the romance and vision of her own particular mood and dream. We visited some more, I purchased some silk ribbon and said I would return soon.
When my birthday arrived my husband presented me with two of Elaine’s creations, the chair with Lily of the Valley above and the chair below with the dragon fly. I think my life has been touched by a certain rare and unique magic. Bella Flora keeps us hoping that the world will continue to have some rarified essence and that people like Elaine will keep weaving and dreaming a little magic into our lives.
Those are indeed magical, and we all need magic in our lives…
Exquisite…how lucky you are to have a Husband that knows your hearts desires. His Birthday cake…Fig Newtons…is inspired. Happy Birthday!!! 60 looks good on you.
One of the reasons I love blogs, is that many…like yours, do the “weaving and dreaming a little magic into our lives”…to quote you exactly.
I am a little late in getting back to my blog and responding to comments, but I wanted you to know how much I appreciated your words and compliments. Thank you for taking the time to share and be a part of my world. When we all have so little time, a comment is always so nice to receive and yours was so gracious and warm. Thank you!
They are so beautiful! I got a little emotional looking at the chair, I haven’t seen anything as delicate or as moving for a long time. It took me back to my childhood when I wanted to be a fairy, sit on tiny toadstools, and sleep on a bed of moss and petals (I still do, actually)! Thank you for sharing such magic. xx
I had the same thoughts as a child. Reality was too boring. I was always trying to create a world that was full of magical and enchanting things like fairies, toadstools, and moss. I also remember making dancing fairies out of fuchsia blossoms. Those were special memories, weren’t they?
How sweet. He really knows how to pull off a bday gift that touches you. This is no iPod.
Funny how times change. Now I love my ipod, but not all technology is my “cup of tea”!
I love a crooked branch, crooked tree, crooked path.
Your comment reminded me of the children’s rhyme….”There was a crooked man, who lived in a crooked house….” Crooked is good, more interesting than straight.
These lovely, magical piecesbring back such wonderful childhood memories….it is nice to be taken back to those innocent times when everything was more simple.
Beautiful, heartfelt birthday gift.
I do think these pieces touch a chord in all of us. I think part of this is our hunger for simplicity as you mentioned. We all get so wrapped up in our worlds of chaos and demand that these pieces seem to take us back and restore our senses. Thank you for you appreciative and lovely comments.