So inspiring: Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle

We just returned from a visit to market in Seattle, and we worked and worked and worked. It was a good market, and we found the perfect things to bring in to the shop. We finished a bit early (a rare thing), and got a chance to do some exploring on our last day (another rare thing). So we headed straight for the newish Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit at the base of the Space Needle, and were both gobsmacked by the beauty, the color, the artistic vision of this place and its glorious glass.

I took about 50,000 photos with my iPhone (because I didn't want to drag the camera around, not knowing we'd discover this place); reluctantly narrowed it down to some favorites. I so want to go back and see it again, especially at night. Go visit if you can: just go!

Soji solar lanterns are back in stock

We've carried our beloved Soji solar lanterns for about three years now, but they've been the hit of the summer this year. We nearly ran out of stock a few weeks ago, but are now fully restocked with all your favorites – we have lots!

The good news (?): it's getting darker a little earlier these days, so you can really enjoy the night glow from your Soji lanterns. Oh, that's not good news? I know: we love those days when it's light until past 9pm... so lovely. But it's still gorgeous, and you can still be outside in the warmth. We leave our lanterns out all year 'round – through snow and sleet and sprinklers. They glow all night (even with limited sun) and look so beautiful in the garden, whether hanging from a branch, or tucked in to greenery with a shepard's hook.

We have a great selection right now, and even have three different styles of the hand-blown glass tea lanterns (which can also hang, or sit on a side table).

Best hostess gift ever, especially for those who have everything, or are hard to buy for. Who wouldn't love one of these?

Also love the graphic design of these indoor/outdoor placemats: they're reversible, washable and just fun.

Paper paper paper...

In a perfect retail world, I would have a stationery store. Or a bookstore. Or both, combined, somehow.  That would cover two of my favorite pursuits in life. But as we all know, owning either one of those types of shops probably spells financial doom. You sink your money in, and it never comes out.

The good news is, we can mix in a good bit of it into Pomegranate: our little writing desk area is not big enough to hold all the fun cards, journals, paper, and office goodies we've ordered, so we've expanded it into every little surface we can find. I love having nice note cards on hand, a good journal, and nice note pads. Sticky notes? Why settle for boring yellow when we have so many adorable sticky notes to choose from? It all makes such nice gifts, too. Pair up a sunny Caroline Gardner pen with a little journal, and you've got the perfect girlfriend gift.

Here are just a few snaps of some of our new collections. The last two shots are from Seattle – we just went to market there, and found some fabulous shops during our evening walks. I took pictures from the windows of two marvelous stationers; one who's been there for years, and another with a really edgy take on paper. The beautiful antique Persian inkwell in the one window is for sale... for $10,000.  Any takers?