About a year ago, I was spending a relaxing Sunday driving on a quiet stretch of Los Feliz Boulevard, when out of the blue my eye caught a garden oasis and I was forced to pull over and investigate. What I found was Potted, this amazing shop selling the most colorful pots, fountains, garden sculptures and beautiful furniture in a cozy garden setting. An hour later, I left with my car full of gorgeous glazed pots, a sack of soil and newfound inspiration to revamp my garden! A great store does that to you, and Potted is one of my favorites! Recently, they started selling Woolly Pockets, and we’re so thrilled to profile them!

Potted is the vision of two self-professed “Garden Tarts”, Mary Gray and Annette Goliti Gutierrez. Their idea was to create “a mecca for like-minded, design-loving, garden enthusiasts–people like us who want to shop for the outdoor area of their homes like they do their interiors.” Annette took a moment to give us the low down on Potted!

Hi Annette! So, when did your store open? How long have you been selling Pockets?
Potted opened 5 and a half years ago and we’ve been selling pockets for about 6 months.

Who is your favorite Pocket? Why?
We can’t believe we’re saying this, but the Tina is fast becoming our favorite. We love how great houseplants work in them and you don’t have to worry about those pesky saucers. And they look cool as hell!

Who is your customers favorite Pocket?
Probably the Wally One is still the favorite but as they become more adventurous they move up to the Three.

Do you have an in-store Pocket installation?
We have THREE in-store installations. We’ve gone pocket crazy.

How do you think gardening has affected you?
Gardening is like great sex and the cigarette afterwards. It’s exciting, relaxing and fulfilling.

Do you think plants & gardening can impact children? How so?
How could they not? I think gardening is a little addicting. Once you see your first avocado pit start to sprout it starts. Pretty soon you’re popping sunflower seeds and then you move on to the hard stuff…veggies!

What is your favorite color of Woolly Pocket?
Brown and Peacock.

If you could create ANY color for our next Pocket, what would it be?
Eggplant or Aubergine (you decide) and Sage or Celery would be good too. Oh and Flannel Grey…that would be good too. And–ok, I’ll stop.

If you could design any Pocket, what would it look like? What would it do? What would you name it?
Well, I’m glad you asked because I would absolutely design a rectangular pocket that would fit on the center of a table. 12″, 20″, 24″ long and maybe 4″w x 4″h. It could have a few interior panels that give it strength so it won’t lose its shape. It would absolutely be the most perfect table centerpiece. I think she’s a Lola (okay, the name of my beautiful daughter but I still think it works).

How do you think Pockets can change the World?
I don’t know if Pockets can change the world but they’d certainly do a lot better than nuclear weapons.

Potted is located in Los Feliz, California.

3158 Los Feliz Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90039

(323)-665-3801

Visit them online at Pottedstore.com, on Facebook or Twitter!

Miami just got a bit greener last week. Our partner in Woolly, FosterPlants, just installed a lush living wall at the new Splendid store in the Aventura Mall! In just one day, FosterPlants was able to turn a bare wall into a gorgeous and verdant oasis of living plants! The modular Wally system makes for a simple installation process, with instantaneous results! Here’s a little slideshow of the step by step process:

You can also read a detailed report about the installation at Steve’s blog.

Splendid was one of the first retailers to install a Woolly Pocket Living Wall in their Los Angeles flagship store. They saw how a living wall transforms their space and creates the right mood for their clients and employees! What a breath of fresh air, literally!

Last week, SHFT opened their art gallery pop-up in Downtown Los Angeles. Woolly Pocket was there with Wallys and Islands! They perfectly complemented the sustainable yet design oriented vibe of the art and products on display. The exhibition is thoughtful and beautiful. All the artwork echos the theme of sustainability in one way or another. Here’s a sample of what’s on view. Enjoy!

Photo Credit: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images North America

SHFT, a new media platform created by producer Peter Glatzer, actor Adrian Grenier and designer Lauren Gropper will be bringing their virtual, eco-conscious curation of goods into the real world this Thursday in Downtown Los Angeles. And since they’re opening up shop in the gallery district, it’s only fitting that they include an art exhibition of Los Angeles based artists, including Tierney Gearon, Jay Mark Johnson, Lauren Bon, Rebeca Mendez, Mel Ransier and Ramon Coronado. The show will examine the notion of sustainable messaging through art. The exhibit, curated by Edie Kahula Pereira for SHFT, will run through the month of May.

We’re thrilled to have a Woolly Pocket installation in their pop up, and look forward to celebrating consciously! Won’t you join us?

May 13th, 2010
6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

SHFT Gallery at The Continental
408 South Spring Street
Gallery District Downtown LA.

One of the best things about Woolly Pockets are their versatility. It’s great to see people finding new and exciting uses to fit their needs and goals. Here’s a case in point:

In Historic Williamsburg, Virginia, a newly planted Vertical Garden now lives in an 85 year old boutique department store, Binns of Williamsburg! Tom writes to us:

“We have started to photograph customers in front of the wall in the gowns they are considering and buying. It makes a great backdrop.”

What a Woolly idea! Thanks Tom! If you find yourself in Williamsburg this spring, be sure to visit Binns and the outdoor farmers market taking place in front of their store!

http://binnsfashionshop.com/

In the latest issue of Chicago Home & Garden, there is a great profile of Tara Heibel, owner of Sprout Home. We love how she utilizes Woolly Wally’s to add a splash of living color! Sprout Home has locations in Chicago and Brooklyn, both stocking Woolly Pockets!

www.sprouthome.com

Pigment in San Diego has a gorgeous installation of Wallys in their store. A nice variety of plants are used, with some cascading over the pockets. Clearly they have an eye for natural elements in modern settings.

Pigment
3827 30th Street
San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 501-6318
www.shoppigment.com

Shop at Shotwell near Union Square in San Francisco and enter through two lush living walls by Flora Grubb Gardens

Click on the image to visit FloraGrubb.com

Click on image to visit FloraGrubb.com

Shotwell San Francisco. Click on image to visit Shotwellsf.com.

photos by www.lanceshows.com