PAPAYA! BLOG

Flora Bowley: Podcast Interview via Do What You Love

 

At Do What You Love, PAPAYA! artist Flora Bowley chats candidly about how she became a painter, and found her own personal style. She also dives into talking about licensing her work, teaching, traveling abroad, creating the life you want, and how she fuels her creative spirit.

Hear Flora's Podcast at Do What You Love.

Flora has a wide variety of products available through PAPAYA!, including tote bags, sticky notes, memo mouse pads, fine paper wrap, hard cover journals, spiral journals, and envelope sets. To see more of Flora's work, and find information regarding her painting classes, take a visit to her personal website and inspiring blog.

PAPAYA! Introduces Cork Boards

PAPAYA! is pleased to announce a Special Edition Home Decor Product Line--Decorative Bamboo Cork Boards. For a limited time only, cork boards are $150 shipping included. (Domestic US only--we are unable to ship this product to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada or overseas.) We have produced a limited number of special edition cork boards, framed in gold or white bamboo, with sturdy cork wtih custom PAPAYA! designed artwork within. 

They are a gorgeous--and functional--addition to any office, bedroom, kitchen, or art space. They are a substantial piece: the inside cork area measures 18 x 29 in. and the entire bamboo frame, 27 cx 48 in. This is the perfect statement piece for the creative customer.

Inspiration: Leigh Wells

I'm loving this San Francisco based artist, Leigh Wells. Book designer, calligrapher, and illustrator, she caught my attention when I stopped to look at the cover of "Confessions of a French Baker"...not that we've ever judged a book by it's cover.

I really like her distinct palette and modern use of the Victorian silhouette...makes me want to get out my dip pen, black ink and pad of watercolor paper....
 
 

HMONG Tribe's Rich Textiles

 

(Bag above: via LuxuryLannaCrafts)

HMONG Tribe textiles have been really fueling my inspiration and imagination lately. Made in the Northern part of Thailand, Vietnam and Laos from vintage costumes and fabrics, these upcycled bags are the perfect fusion of old world crafts, color, and texture. 

A beautiful way to modernize a cultural craft, and share with the world. 

Did I mention how in love I am with the colors and fun mix of patterns?! Amazing.

(Image Via: loupiote)

Four New Additions to the Luxe Tote Line Have Arrived

Four new style of Luxe Totes have just arrived in the PAPAYA! store and we couldn't be more excited! Pop on over and check out This Instant, Laughing Whale, Hong Kong Beauty, and Eiffel Tower.

Igor + André: Blogger Portraits

Artist Danny Roberts  illustrates photos of bloggers to feature on his site Igor + André. I really love how he captured each subjects unique personalities! To see more of his amazing illustrations and explore the blogs of his featured style makers, be sure to take a visit his portrait series. 

New Uppercase issue arrived!

I've written about Uppercase Magazine before but it bears repeating. It's always fresh, is chalk full of incredible photography, artist bios, gorgeous illustrations, imaginative DIY projects and best of all, printed on a thick matte paper that gives it a wonderful luxurious feel. 

(Photos via Issue 9 of Uppercase.)

The theme for this issue is food and all of it's creative delights: cooking, gardening, farming, table setting, and even packaging for gourmet food products. Thanks again, Uppercase, for another great issue. You bring many magazine design smiles to the girls here at Papaya! 

Feather Earrings

And just like that, insta-rockstar! Papaya Living is selling these amazing feather earrings & we are crazy about them! Not surprising that they have become a bestselling item in the store or that all the Papaya Living girls are strutting their gorgeous stuff with them. Made from luxurious pheasant feathers and available in all colors in the rainbow, this defines luxe boho. 

Magenta feather earrings....yes, more is more.

And dear blog readers, I have to give a little shout out to our resident beauty (above), Sarah, who is such a striking model but would only pose if I promised to either put a paper bag over her head or smile if I said "think about a double double at In and Out Burger." Is she gorgeous or what? As always, model behaviour here at Papaya.

For more info. on the earrings, give us a call at (541) 488-8305.

Back to Canvas

Having your dreams come true is apparently a bit of a distraction. (Who knew!) And I have been riding the waves of the store opening.  But as one way of life begins for me and our crew we're having to find even more creative ways to be, well... creative!  I've been scrambling to get back at the artwork and wondering just how I will juggle all the newness that we've been so fortunate to manifest.  I was shooed away from PAPAYA! LIVING this week to sink myself back into a bit of art making.  Now more than ever I realize everything stems from this place for me.  And I have to water it and learn to give into all the expansion and busy-ness.  Feels good to get back to canvas.

Papaya! spotted in Steven Tyler's Living Room!

Big Thanks goes out to Erin, for spotting PAPAYA! Home decor canvases, Invisible and Temple Girl in Steven Tyler's recent interview with Matt Lauer and posting about it on our facebook page.

 

It's always amazing to see and hear about the places where our products appear. We're so grateful, and can't tell you enough how much we appreciate PAPAYA! fans for letting us know where they see us. A BIG Thank you to you all!