Daydreaming in Vintage Fabric: Sun. Moon. I.

October 14, 2022 by Virginia Bunker

I made a piece for a show called “Daydream Doodle” at Orcas Paley. Peter Gaucys, the curator writes: “In honor of wandering minds, wild tangents, and the exquisitely incomplete. Orcas Paley’s fourth annual group show celebrates the “unofficial” outputs of creative practice. Join us in mapping an exploratory space where ongoing experiments and nascent intuitions get their moment in the sun.”

My doodle is inspired by a conversation with an elderly neighbor in 2015. Buddhism means “awareness,” he said. “It’s not about God. It’s about nothingness. Stars! Moon! I! All are the same.” The corners of his eyes crinkled up as he laughed at this extraordinary cosmic revelation.

I recently found a record of our talk in an old notebook, just as I was thinking about how to represent doodling as part of the creative process — and being awake to the mysteries of intuition. Sorting through fabric scraps, I found remnants of things once shiny and new: the lining of a custom handbag, a favorite pair of striped overalls, designer denim from Barneys, a sari from a trip in India, a velvet flower from a 1920’s ballgown — plucked from a steamer trunk in Perth. These fragments have been joyfully recombined in tribute to friendship, connection, and deep universal truths that are so often beyond words.

The Perfect Jumpsuit: Reworked Vintage Boiler Suit

September 22, 2019 by Virginia Bunker

Cards that Make the Cut

April 25, 2018 by Virginia Bunker

Back in the day I used to write a lot of letters—drafted simply because I wanted to put words on paper, without any specific obligation or occasion. I considered it to be a fun activity; the perfect way to while away a few hours in a coffee shop on a rainy afternoon.

Gardens of Heavenly Cacti Delight

November 29, 2017 by Virginia Bunker

Today I was thinking about the artist Hieroynyous Bosch and an interview that I heard on KEXP with the singer Bobby Bare. It's a long story, but the two of these things combined in my mind and the next thing you know I was making some miniature cacti gardens.

A Perfect Arrangement: A Botanically-Inspired Seating Chart

November 12, 2017 by Virginia Bunker

As my botany instructor likes to say: “plants are like people: they’re all unique individuals.” So where better to look than the world of horticulture when plotting a seating chart for a dinner? This lineup of sparkling personalities was designed to keep the conversation (and wine) flowing—with a few irascible characters (and 3 unidentified party crashers) in the mix.*

*NB: One of the guests was a bit camera shy, so she didn’t make it in the group portrait.

Easy and Delicious Cherry Tomato Tart

October 03, 2017 by Virginia Bunker

Fall is officially here, but my tomato patch is still going strong, and one of the best ways to put the fruits of my summer labor to use is to make a tart. It's easy, delicious and perfect with a simple green salad and a bottle of bubbly. When this savory pastry, bursting with amazing tomato-y goodness comes out of the oven, your friends will declare you a culinary genius. Take a bow and let them toast you with a glass of champagne. Because you ARE a genius.

The Ultimate Garden Cocktail

July 27, 2017 by Virginia Bunker

The celery gimlet, designed by Naron Young of NYC's Saxon & Parole, is the ultimate garden cocktail. Actually, it's just the ultimate cocktail plain and simple—but its vibrant green hue and delightfully bright-yet-earthy flavor make it especially welcome on a warm summer night. It does require some work: lots of celery- and lime-juicing which is a bit tedious, and multiple ingredients (including green chartreuse which is expensive). Nevertheless, the effort is well worth the trouble, and the liqueur goes a long way.

The Words on the Street

July 15, 2017 by Virginia Bunker

Lately I've been meditating on word pairs, and how certain combinations shift our perceptions of the individual words involved. What sparked this thought is a collection of 1970's-inspired rings that just arrived in the shop. The options range from positive to profane, and it's fun watching people try them on.

A Perfume Genius Distills Scent Memories

April 23, 2017 by Virginia Bunker in Perfume

One of my favorite things in the shop right now is a very special collection of scents by the Brooklyn-based perfumer, Christopher Brosius. For the uninitiated, the name of Brosius's company, CB I Hate Perfume, often evokes a laugh. It's a counter-intuitive brand name for a fragrance maker, but the backstory is brilliant.

We're Open! Saturdays 11-5

December 27, 2016 by Virginia Bunker

Welcome to Future Nostalgia and the Memoria Technica Workshop. After months of hard work and planning, we are finally open and super excited to welcome you to our new space.

5 Minute Exercises: Reduce Stress, Up Your Energy

October 01, 2016 by Virginia Bunker

Stress. It's a symptom of our modern world, and it can really affect the quality of our lives. Luckily, there are some easy exercises (in tandem with some wonderful, meditative breathing techniques) to get us back on track, calm and revitalized. Dr. Johannes Liu, a longtime practitioner of TaiChi, meditation and Chinese herbal medicine is here to show us how it's done.

DIY: Botanical Chandelier

September 29, 2016 by Virginia Bunker

Back in February I wrote about making myself some floral art to celebrate Valentine's Day, and I waxed poetic about Azuma Makoto, an artist whose work is an enduring source of inspiration. Scroll through my posts and you'll notice a major theme: I'm crazy about making structures out of flowers, leaves, branches and grass. And, I'm envisioning that plants, living and dried, will be an essential part of my store.

The Warp and the Weft

September 04, 2016 by Virginia Bunker

The shift from summer to fall is in the air. Signs of the transition are everywhere, even in unexpected places like the neglected alley behind my house, where I recently spied a row of tall golden grass. I must have driven past it countless times, but backlit by the late-afternoon sun its beauty was impossible to resist. I took a break from weeding my flower beds, grabbed my clippers and gathered some up. I thought immediately of the incredible botanical sculptor, Tracey Deep, and how my newfound material would be perfect for creating something with the sort of woven detail that I've admired in her work.

Take the Long Way Home

August 20, 2016 by Virginia Bunker in flower arranging

I am so grateful for Seattle's light rail. Without it, I'd have to drive to work in horrendous commuter traffic. But there's a catch: I live over a mile from the station, which means either walking or riding the #50 bus to and fro. In the morning, it's a breeze. The bus is almost always on time and well synced with my transit app. Going home, it's another story.

Deep Roots

February 22, 2016 by Virginia Bunker

There's a book that's trending right now on the dinner party circuit and in the press: The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries From A Secret World. Though I haven't read it yet, what I've gleaned from the reviews is that trees are highly social beings.

It's About Time

February 21, 2016 by Virginia Bunker

It's exciting to see signs of a new season, even though Spring is technically over a month away. After a week of intense rain, a sunny day in Seattle calls for a celebration—especially when shrubs and trees are starting to flower and leaf. A willow along my back walkway needed trimming, so I decided to use the clippings to make a wreath.

DIY Valentine

February 14, 2016 by Virginia Bunker

Today is Valentine's Day, a holiday that I have always adored—whether I'm in a relationship or not. That philosophy comes in handy for me this year since I'm in the midst of a breakup (and it's not one that I was expecting or wanted). Despite the lingering heartbreak, I decided to mark the event by making myself a botanical sculpture. (Here's looking at you Makoto Azuma.)

Persephone

December 21, 2015 by Virginia Bunker

I have never been a big fan of Winter. But my newfound interest in plants—especially brown curly leaves and the shriveled flowers of summer, has shown me a side of the season that I am truly enjoying. One of my favorite things to do is mix dried specimens with freshly cut greens and hothouse blooms.

Blue Twig: Study no. 2

December 18, 2015 by Virginia Bunker

The other day I was walking in the rain with a friend when my eye fell on this twig. It was lying on the wet bricks in Pioneer Square looking a bit forlorn, like it had fallen violently from a tree or been thoughtlessly cast aside. I suppose that's one of the reasons that it spoke to me. That, and the fact that I found it's shape really, truly beautiful. "I love that twig!" I sang out as soon as I saw it. And I knew instantly that I would take it home and paint it a vibrant shade of blue.