Poppies is open. Poppies is fresh. Poppies is a shop of “Art, Body & Soul” in the heart of historic downtown Woodland.
Poppies
Gallery is creative expression of Dora Martin, the vivacious owner of
this eclectic, engaging store now open just shy of one year. And to
think it all began with a dairy farm and a bar of soap.
Dora
grew up on the family dairy farm in the Willows area of Yolo County.
“We were self-reliant like many farming families,” she recalls. “If we
needed something, we made it ourselves. My siblings and I all grew up
being creative thinkers.”
She
left the farm for college, focusing on a dynamic combination: business
and chemistry. And she began making soap, the product that became her
springboard into her entrepreneurial pursuits. For seven years, she
worked trade and retail shows selling her line of Bella Esse Naturals,
including soaps, balms, salts, and other body-care products. Her
extensive travels and high quality goods eventually gained her
distribution around the nation.
“In
the course of my travels, I came across a wide range of interesting
goods from incredibly talented artists that I met along the way. I
thought, one day, I could bring all of this together for a lovely
store.”
She opened the doors of Poppies Gallery in June 2012. It’s a charming space, on First Street
a half-block south of Main Street, with a high ceiling, brick walls,
warm wood flooring. It’s packed but it doesn’t feel cramped—in part
because of the variety and vibrancy of what she carries.
Everything
Dora sells is made in the USA, exclusively hand-made products that are
priced quite fairly for the quality you will find here. She has things
for the home, for the garden, to wear, and to nurture.
For
the home, a lot of what she offers you might call functional art, like
the whimsical clocks and wall hangings or the lovely flour sack towels.
For the garden, you’ll find decorative metal and ceramic artworks. To
wear, she has a tasteful selection of beautiful clothing, scarves,
belts, purses, and casual foot ware.
The
rest of the “art, body & soul” theme is carried through with her
selection of framed art—especially interesting are the painted images on
cedar planks—matted note cards, scented candles, and other discoveries.
You’ll also find a few food items as well: honey and jam made by Z
Specialties of Woodland, as well as salt-water taffy and peanut brittle.
Besides
making soap, Dora also produces her own ceramics, fused glass pieces
(she makes very striking bowls), and paintings, mostly done at her
warehouse space on the north side of town.
“My
goal is to bring everything together—the retail space, the art and
craft-making equipment—and eventually offer classes so people can get
hands-on themselves.”
Poppies is original. Poppies will cheer you. Poppies is a small gem you should come to visit and explore soon.
Poppies is at 418 First Street. For more information, call (530) 665-3666 or visit the website: www.poppiesgallery.com.
