Poppies in Woodland

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.