Apr 03, 2021

The Flower Nook: Connecting people and telling stories

Posted Apr 03, 2021 7:02 PM
<b>These pieces by Lyric Cairns are meant to be used, not just look pretty on a shelf, Peggy DeBey said. </b>Salina Post photo
These pieces by Lyric Cairns are meant to be used, not just look pretty on a shelf, Peggy DeBey said. Salina Post photo

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post

Local businesswoman Peggy DeBey is a connector of people and teller of stories.

Those connections can be seen in the display area of The Flower Nook, 208 East Iron. DeBey and her husband, Wayne, have owned the 45-year downtown institution for 39 years.

"I've always been very arty. I was on the Arts and Humanities board, and so I met a lot of wonderful people. Salina does good for very talented fine arts people, but they don't do good for starting-out people," DeBey said.

DeBey, who at the time was teaching marketing at a local college, talked to her husband, Wayne, about what they could do for the starting-out people and others who display creativity in their work but might not be considered artists by mainstream arts standards.

"So I said, 'Wayne, let's do this and let's see if we can help people,'" DeBey explained.

"Instead of calling it 'art,' we started calling it 'artisan' because it's sewing. It's collections. It's jewelry. It's not like fine art on the back wall like a gallery would be," she said.

<b>Jewelry by Irene was one of the recent displays at The Flower Nook.&nbsp;</b>Salina Post photo
Jewelry by Irene was one of the recent displays at The Flower Nook. Salina Post photo

At one point, the couple had the artisan displays in the building they own next door to the Flower Nook, but attempting to assist customers and visitors in both locations proved to be too much, so the artisan work was moved to the front area of The Flower Nook, DeBey explained.

"It's been really great because it marries very nicely" with the flower and plant part of The Flower Nook, she explained.

<b>Part of Steve Hanson's guitar collection was on display at The Flower Nook.</b> Photo courtesy The Flower Nook
Part of Steve Hanson's guitar collection was on display at The Flower Nook. Photo courtesy The Flower Nook

DeBey said that during the five years The Flower Nook has been offering the artisan series, they also have featured a variety of collections, including vintage cigar boxes, a selection of Steve Hanson's guitars, and salt and pepper shakers.

Becoming a stalker

While there are hundreds of artisan in the state, convincing them to be brave and display their creative works in The Flower Nook takes some doing.

"I have become a stalker as far as finding people because it's hard. You have to convince people," DeBey said and chuckled. "I've had to court people like the dating thing for over a year sometimes to get them brave enough to give me something."

DeBey said The Flower Nook initiates a contract with each of the artisans it features an DeBey discusses with the artisans what The Flower Nook can do for them.

"We do a lot to promote the artisans. For me, it's not just a total make money. We make films and we put them other places such as newsletters. We always try to connect people with people," DeBey explained. "I've rarely had someone say 'you didn't do good by me.'"

You can see the videos on The Flower Nook's YouTube channel or on its Facebook page.

First Friday

DeBey said many of the featured artisans have also benefitted from First Friday arts events at The Flower Nook.

Until the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Salina Arts & Humanities coordinated a multi-location arts event on the first Friday of each month and The Flower Nook was a regular participant.

"That was extra fun because then they got to be seen and people talked to them," DeBey said. "And then I realized that my customers really liked to meet the people."

Bringing artisans and customers together in the First Friday format allowed for a more personal connection. Customers enjoyed hearing from the artisans about why they do what they do and how they create their works. The customers, should they purchase pieces from the artisans, also had the opportunity to have the pieces signed, DeBey said.

"Oh my gosh, it was such a wonderful feeling to watch that connection happening," she exclaimed.

<b>Life's Journeys creations at The Flower Nook.</b>&nbsp;Salina Post photo
Life's Journeys creations at The Flower Nook. Salina Post photo

Artisan works in the house

DeBey said the works of at least 15 artisans are on display at any one time, however, at Christmastime, that number jumps to about 30.

Playing off the old adage that "variety is the spice of life," DeBey said the artisans who are showcased are changed regularly, with the majority of artisans signing a three month contract.

"Rarely do they come back. It's not because I'm opposed to that. It's just that I realize that my public is not going to come in and see the same thing," DeBey explained.

In fact, to change things up further, cosmetic changes are made to the Flower Nook on a regular basis, she added.

There is one artisan display that has stood the test of time, however.

"Alpaca we've had for four years in a row. He's my only person that I have an exclusive contract with in Salina," DeBey said. "We expand it when it's winter because of all of their stuff."

<b>A selection of the clothing items from North 40 Alpacas.&nbsp;</b>Salina Post photo
A selection of the clothing items from North 40 Alpacas. Salina Post photo

Some of the items from North 40 Alpacas include sweaters, socks, scarves, and other gear to help keep people warm.

DeBey said another group that occasionally has items featured at The Flower Nook are the nuns from the St. Joseph's Motherhouse in Concordia.

"They're such great women. I've had them here off and on. They brought in some crocheted dolls and now we have their quilts," she said.

<b>Some of the creations from Janet's Flower Garden.&nbsp;</b>Salina Post photo
Some of the creations from Janet's Flower Garden. Salina Post photo

Among other artisan works on display so far this year at The Flower Nook is a colorful collection from Janet's Flower Garden. Janet Stanley "creates expressions of sentiment using pressed flowers, postcards, and other paper memorabilia, or calligraphy," according to information with the display. Most of the flowers used are from Stanley's own garden and she presses them herself.

Flowers not your thing, how about a wine bottle candle from Prairie Fire Winery in Paxico? Prairie Fire uses empty bottles from its tasting room in the creation of the candles. The candles are made with 100 percent grown natural soy wax.

"As a part of our sustainability mission, we have never sent a bottle from our tasting room to the landfill. It took over two years to develop the candles to achieve our goals, ensuring we could source only the best ingredients to make the most natural product possible," information with the Prairie Fire Candle display noted.

<b>Prairie Fire Candles uses natural and recycled materials.&nbsp;</b>Salina Post photo
Prairie Fire Candles uses natural and recycled materials. Salina Post photo

"His whole operation is recycled. He puts his candles in the wine bottles, he recycles the material to make the corks, the labels are recycled, the tin has been recycled, he grows the soybeans for those candles," DeBey explained.

After a career in international law and business with AT&T an Pfizer, Kristin Blomquist founded Gratitude Soapery, a business that would both use her career knowledge and be consistent with her goals "to live intentionally, to do what we can to help the environment, and to find ways to practice gratitude." She opened Gratitude Soapery in July 2019 selling vegan friendly, cruelty free bars of soap, according to information with her display. She has since expanded Gratitude Soapery to include bath fizz, face masks, lip conditioner, and a line of all-natural facial soaps.

<b>Aluminum jewelry by Amethyst Sankey from The Metalbender.</b>&nbsp;Salina Post photo
Aluminum jewelry by Amethyst Sankey from The Metalbender. Salina Post photo

Other recent artisan offerings included a variety of jewelry and ceramics.

Over the past five years, other featured items have included saddles, furniture made from horns, and men's bowling balls.

"Recently, I've been trying to do more with the people who have products that have stories," DeBey said.

<b>This birdhouse is one of the items created by inmates at the Ellsworth Correctional Facility.&nbsp;</b>Salina Post photo
This birdhouse is one of the items created by inmates at the Ellsworth Correctional Facility. Salina Post photo

As an example, she mentioned the wooden items produced by inmates at the Ellsworth Correctional Facility.

"Yes, the products are nice, but that's not the story behind that. That's what they're doing to give those people a trade when they get out," DeBey said.