Guest Editor: Meet Shannon

Dec 07, 2017

Written by Shannon Donley

The holidays remind us of all the love that is in our life…whether it be through our someone special, family near and far, our wonderful pets, new friends and old, neighbors, or coworkers. Relationships. What would our world be without the strength and wonder of unique relationships? The challenge of the ups and downs help us grow, and the support that is provided is incomparable. Not to mention the inspiration beaming from each special connection. We, as humans, are so lucky to have one another.

Hello! My name is Shannon, and I am one of the newest members to join the Elsie Green team. I am a recent graduate from the University of Oregon, an avid music obsessor, dog enthusiast, poetry lover, fighter for equal rights and opportunities, Bay Area native, and coffee house fanatic.

How did I get to Elsie Green, you may be wondering. Well, flashback to December of 2000 on Lunada Lane in Alamo, California. A small blonde lady (also known as my beautiful mom) was struggling to get the Christmas lights up on the house in the pouring rain. A warm-hearted neighbor (also known as JP Furber) offered his assistance despite the unfavorable conditions. And just like that, the beginning of a lifelong friendship between the Donleys (my family) and the Furbers began. Flash forward to present day, JP and Laurie, along with their three amazing children, have been friends of mine and my family for the past 17 years. I now have the extreme pleasure of working at Elsie Green with JP and Laurie as mentors helping me navigate through this time in my life. Relationships shape the world, if you ask me.

In my post-grad life, I have taken the time to focus on the things, people, and places that truly inspire me. I found an abundance of inspiration during my time in Europe this past summer.

The history engulfed in the country’s structures and people were remarkable, and reminded me to appreciate all that I have and the journey that has brought me to where I am today.

Musical inspiration:

“So I’m back to the velvet underground

Back to the floor, that I love

To a room with some lace and paper flowers

Back to the gypsy that I was”

Fleetwood Mac- Gypsy

Today’s society often makes it difficult to remain authentically true to oneself. In light of this, I have seen myself reaching for the genuine, the candid, the honest. In the end, I found myself grasping back onto the relationships in my life. For me, that is where natural beauty and love truly lies. Near or far, old or new, relationships provide substance hard to find in other places. Elsie Green evokes this in every way. The people, the products, the vision of this company are all organic and vintage.

& More Musical Inspiration

“So when you see your neighbor carryin’ somethin’

Help him with his load

And don’t go mistaking paradise

For that home across the road”

Bob Dylan- The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest

To continually be inspired is, from my perspective, the ultimate dream. Inspired to reach for the stars, inspired to love unconditionally, inspired to inspire others, inspired to smile more often, inspired to do what makes me genuinely happy, and inspired to put the extra effort into relationships that mean the most.

A Few Inspiration-Evoking Things & Places

Guest Editor: Meet Shannon

Coffee & the Streets of Vienna, Austria

Guest Editor: Meet Shannon

Making Something Old, New Again at the Museum Hundertwasser in Vienna, Austria

Guest Editor: Meet Shannon

People Living in Color in Burano, Italy

Guest Editor: Meet Shannon

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

Guest Editor: Meet Shannon

Breathtaking Views in Salzburg, Austria

Guest Editor: Meet Shannon

Tile in Vienna, Austria

Guest Editor: Meet Shannon

Love in Venice, Italy

It was so nice to be able to introduce myself to all of you. I am in the shop all day on Mondays and Tuesdays and sporadically throughout the rest of the week. Come on in to Elsie Green and experience all of the love and inspiration that is abundant within these walls. I promise you will not be disappointed!

Meet the rest of the team

Meet the Team | Laurie

Meet the Team | Kelsey

Meet the Team | Sepi

Meet the Team | Terra

Meet the Team | Michele

Meet the Team | Andie

Meet the Team | Anna

Meet the Team I Katie

Meet the Team I JP

Meet the Team I Terri

Meet the Team I Isabella