Sellwood Flower Co. Tour

Boy, do I have a treat for you today! There's a fairly new flower shop in my neighborhood and I went over on a rare, non-rainy, day to snap a few photos for you. Introducing Sellwood Flower Co.! "We love flowers. And we love people who love flowers." Umm, sign me up.

Owner LauraLee has created a truly darling, inviting space for your floral and garden needs. You will feel like you've stepped into another world when you step into her world. Check out the delivery car! Perfection and totally on brand too.

Right now, the Sellwood Flower Co. website says poppies, anemones and peonies are in! Guess where I'll be visiting soon! Hopefully you're following me on Instagram so you'll see a sneak peek when I pop in.

Having fresh flowers is a wonderful way to treat yourself, cheer yourself up or celebrate something. Having a photo of beautiful flowers is the next best thing and it lasts forever (well, at least 100 years with my lab).

San Diego Desert Botanicals

Are you tired of the blizzard scenery or grey winter skies in the northern hemisphere? I'm here to give you a visual vacation to San Diego so take a few moments for yourself and escape into these dreamy, desert botanical images.

I hope you feel restored now or even inspired to start planning a getaway for yourself.

Wall of Sunshine Photo Set

Do you have a blank wall in your home needing art? Have you been too busy with work and kids or overwhelmed by curating a gallery wall? I'm really excited to offer you a curated gallery wall from my collection and I'm calling it a Wall of Sunshine to chase away the cold.

Here it is presented in vintage gold frames thrifted in Portland, OR for my very own home.

Purchase your own Wall of Sunshine today!

Birthday Dahlias

I bought myself a lush bouquet of summer dahlias for my 45th birthday, which was Sunday. It was a small act of self care three days prior, when I was feeling too hot, tired and a bit miserable. Self care is not something I save for emergencies anymore, it's small daily acts of love that keep me energized for my life.

I had a wonderful birthday and celebrated with a potluck dinner at our home with my family and close friends who held my hands through the lymphoma relapse last year. My husband surprised me with a turn table and I've been spinning my dad's old records every day.

Spring Color Inspiration // Plum Blossoms

I learned over the weekend that February is the normal time for plum trees to bloom here, so I am now enjoying their beauty instead of worrying about why they are blooming "early." I snapped these pretty blossoms on a walk this morning, it was quite cold but sunny as could be. I hope this palette inspires you, no matter where you live, especially if you are still knee-deep in snow.

Coral Charm Peony: A Color Study

Peony season has arrived. I purchased my first one as an early Mother's Day gift for myself. The astonishing transformation in color has been astonishing and delightful to observe. Photographs were taken on May 11th, May 13th and May 14th (from top to bottom). I never knew about peonies until I lived in Oregon, so my first year here I fell in love with their newness, my second year here I went to a peony farm and this year, I plan to study them in detail with my camera. I was asked recently what florals represent to me and my answer is that they represent triumph over adversity. They remind me of me in that way and that is why I am so drawn to observing them with my eyes and my camera.

Coral Amaryllis

I’ve been getting my hair done at Gold + Arrow for more than a year now, the longest I have ever gone to one place for my hair in my life. It is a delight for my senses from the moment I walk in the door. Last week, I was greeted with this coral amaryllis. It took me a few tries to get my composition to reflect what my eye saw immediately: the contrast of the petals against the salon’s dark wall, the way the leaves were splayed out. It felt like it was painting before me, only it was three dimensional and living. What gets me the most is how the stem changes color on the leaf!

Soft Sunlight

When the city of Portland is blooming the way it is right now, it’s visually overwhelming at times for me. I am hard wired to notice details anyway, and after a long winter, the abundance of colors and textures in spring is truly uplifting. I feel almost like a toddler as I move through my days: I am easily distracted and it takes me quite awhile to move from point A to point B. Every petal, every stem, every tiny bud demands my attention. I have been diligently watching the dogwood trees in my neighborhood, and my patience has been duly awarded! With my camera in hand, and my dog at my feet, I clicked away giddily.

P.S. I'm sharing Portland during spring daily on Instagram with the hashtag #springtimewithjess.

Shadows Catch My Eye

I’ve been fairly busy lately: I’m enrolled in 10ThousandFeet with Tara Gentile and Brigitte Lyons, I’m photographing a book for Jessica Swift (read more on her blog!) and I’m a new board member at my son’s school. All of these activities involve huge learning curves, so taking a moment to notice the beautiful details around me, like shadows on the walls or floors or tables, is a moment that restores me. When the sun makes a fleeting appearance here, I always pay close attention. Light creates superb shadows, which catch my eye and I photograph them so I can get lost in the memory of their dance whenever I want.