I love the light in our shop. For a room that only has one very high transom window, we get an amazingly sparkly sort of warmness. Lots of our new spring things are in the shop now, including new paintings by a local painter named Robin Carlisle. I am in love with her work. I have a huge crush on every single painting she brought in. I couldn't have dreamed up paintings more perfect for this space.
I want this one, the big huge one, for my hallway. Bad. It's 3' x 5'. It's so pretty I keep being distracted by it. Robin is originally from Santa Cruz, California. Her work has a light, luminous touch that reminds me of that warm, light, magical state. These are acrylic-painted panels -- 1' squares, 2' squares, and the big 3' x 5', from $120 to $800. We have about fifteen of them and as a collection -- all houses -- they just sing to me. It's a pleasure to sit in here today, surrounded by all this lovely light, and the tiny houses.
I had such a good day yesterday, full of busy-ness and lots of visits and good work and fun. My friend, the illustrious Andy Greer, came and hung out with me for the morning, and reminded me of how much I miss him, and my Missoula friends -- it's been ten years since we all finished our MFAs at the University of Montana, and that just seems impossible, somehow. Andy is here as part of Wordstock, a voluminous literary festival I'm now wishing I was able to attend today (but I'm here in the shop). Readings, workshops, a book fair, author dinners, and various speaking engagements are happening all over the city, with over two hundred and fifty authors (including such luminaries as Joyce Carol Oates, Gore Vidal, Dave Eggers, and Ira Glass) hanging out for the weekend in P-town.
If you're headed out to the festivities, go see Andy read this afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Benson Hotel. He'll probably be talking about or reading from his book, The Confessions of Max Tivoli. Tell him you know me -- he thinks I know everyone in Portland, but really it's just that he happens to have met the exact twelve people I actually do know. But now that he's so big and famous I don't tell him that.
Yesterday I was happy to meet the lovely Laura and her boyfriend, another Andy, who are from England, here traveling around the Northwest. I was introduced to Laura through our mutual friend Megan, who, as you know, really does know everything. I've been thinking about Megan a lot, because of my crocheted blankie project (which is going well, and oops I forgot to say thank you to everyone who made color suggestions -- going to print that out and take some of the finished squares to the LYS and decide about halfway through, I think -- you'll see), which has been fun in no small part because I got to reorganize all my crochet hooks in my sweet little vintage fabric holder from The Organized Knitter, Megan's business. I love Megan. I met her years ago -- I don't even remember how -- and her presence always upgraded the offerings of the Holiday Bazaars we used to do at Ella Posie. Laura brought me these beautiful paper lanterns, which are going up in my bedroom, or maybe my kitchen, tomorrow. So, so perfect for me. Thank you, Laura!
I could get lost in the photos of your shop...
You did not just send me to the dot com gift shop! Why didn't I know about this place? Why isn't it pay day till next week? You evil, evil enabling woman you! :-)All those beeyotifool things and on an English website too!
I wish your shop was closer...but if it were I would have no money left...Love the photos.
I wish your shop was closer...but if it were I would have no money left...Love the photos.
...and the paintings are delicious!
I choked on my drink when I opened your page today. Your shop looks like a slice of strawberry cake/heaven with pink frosting on top! I want to eat it. ;) Those paintings are so beautiful. I've been working on some new paintings that have a similar feel! Although, I'm sure they won't turn out so magnificent. :)
I'm packing my bags and moving into your shop. So if you see a heap over in the corner dreaming of cagelets and totes. Its just me. Beautiful!
And thanks for the link on the paper lanterns, I've been wanting some but couldn't find any that I really liked, those are perfect.
Your store look radiant! Thanks for the Robin Carlisle info. I think my friend has one of her pieces (got it at a hair salon), but couldn't remember her name. It also has houses and I love it, too. Wish I lived closer to you.
I wanted to go to Wordstock so much, but I have a 2000 word essay due in oh, two hours and thirty minutes, and also a biology mid-term on Tuesday.
The house paintings are so beautiful. I like the purple/fuschia one a lot, although the other ones are charming as well. Your shop is so very very lovely.
Your shop looks so lovely I wish it was close enough so that I could drop in on my way home from work! And I love those paintings!
since i do not live in portland, could you take pics of every angle of your shop for us to savor? so many things to love and adore!
everything looks so lovely! the paintings are to-die-for. i have to come in and pay you a visit again very soon!
OMG, you are NOT married to the man who wrote Confessions of Max Tivoli! One of my favorite books of all time! We are each the love of someone's life! Sigh.
What a lucky girl you are! (and the shop looks fantabulously scrumptious, too)
Ok, now I feel embarrassed, because upon re-reading, of course I get it that Andy GREER is your friend, and you are married to a DIFFERENT ANDY, and ack! Sorry, Alicia's Andy, I am still a fan of yours, too, knitter and screen-printer that you are.
Oh dear...
someday I will make it to Portland and get to visit your beautiful little shop. Seeing the pictures always miss my own shop. Beautiful things! I love the new art!
What a lovely shop! I could walk around and around for hours in there. So much to see, all wonderful.
looking lovely! you must have gotten some sleep, no? really love the shop's new artwork. xo.
ohmygoodness...they are beautiful. personally, i have such a crush on the purple one that i am seriously considering the plane fare to portland from london...including a seat for the painting on the way home.
the shop looks faboooooulous. :)
alicia... the light does look so beautiful. and robin's paintings are perfect. they almost look as thought they were made, just for your store. it's like a little village or a street, where each house holds a beautiful story.
are those my omondieu! flowers i see on the middle table? if i'm not mistaken, i can see the molly in rosé... and that just made me smile too on sunday morning!
luvs to you...
ang.
Ella Posie looks really lovely! It's a shame I live so far away, otherwise I would be there in an instant. Oh, and dot com gift shop, yet another place that has everything I want but can't have.
Goodness! Beautiful shop...i could go crazy in there!
The shop is absolutely gorgeous! It looks like heaven...can I live in there???
It's beautiful! I can't wait to visit it in June!
I wish I could visit your shop. It looks so beautiful. You're living my dream. :D
Someday...someday I will visit Portland and your shop!!! Can't wait!