If you head down the stairs in the Phoenix Shop, you’ll find yourself in our beautiful clothing boutique. Next to the hand-painted dressing rooms is a bevy of color, full of hand-knitted sweaters, vests, gloves and hats in a variety of rainbow hues. Many of these pieces were made by our very own Holly Fassett. Holly wears several hats here at Nepenthe…
The Phoenix Shop is home to a plethora of stunning textiles from around the world: Suzanis, Kathna quilts, Ikats and African mud cloths, just to name a few. But one of the most stunning you'll see in our shop doesn't come from some exotic corner of the globe. They're made right here in the Monterey Bay area. Dorcas Owen's quilts are works of art, stories told in fluid shapes that are hand-stitched together, flowing from one fabric to the next…
The Phoenix Shop has always been a home for color, beauty, and design from all around the world, and Kaffe Fassett is no stranger to any of these elements. His bolts of fabrics and lengths of ribbons grace our shelves, dripping with their vibrant hues, exploding with layers of feathers, flowers, and geometric shapes. Downstairs in our boutique, you can find his one-of-a-kind creations: intricate knitted sweaters with complex patterns and hats layered with a multitude of exotic buttons. Not to mention our shelves that are heavy with his collection of books on quilting. A master of his craft and a huge advocate for the creative spirit that lives in all of us, Kaffe Fassett is more than just part of our rich history. He is a passionate, multi-talented man that continually brings creativity and color to our shop.
When you first walk into the Phoenix Shop, it's a dazzling array of color, scent and pattern. Since it's beginning our shop has been a curation of the unique and the handcrafted; a home to all sorts of artistry, both from around the globe and from right here at home. And nothing comes closer to home than the art of the deeply talented Erin Lee Gafill. Her paintings adorn our walls, each one a window into Big Sur's ever-changing faces. They are a meditation on the land that watched her grow up: its rocky cliffs plunging into the immense Pacific, the lone oak outside her window wrapped in light, the dawn echoing across the sky in deep blues and sharp golds. Each day carries its own beauty, and Erin's paintings are a record of her exploration of that magnificence.
Holly Rose, stems from an incredibly creative family. A granddaughter to Bill and Lolly Fassett; creators, visionaries and developers of the famous Nepenthe Restaurant in Big Sur, California which is also home to the original world market; The Phoenix Shop. Daughter of Dorcas Jane, hand sewing applique quilt designer for over 40 years. Niece to renowned, London multi-platform designer, artist and author, Kaffe Fassett…
We have the honor of being one of the very first stores to carry Matt Glasby's incredible jade pieces. His jade earrings are a beloved favorite of many of our customers, and they fill our cases like exotic butterflies with wings of vibrant greens and rich earth tones. His elegant, often intricately carved jade pendants nest in among the earrings, though they don't usually rest for long, finding their new home quite swiftly.
Matt's a big believer that the jade shapes the carver as much as the carver shapes the jade, and his relationship with the stone itself is his biggest source of inspiration. There is no divine inspiration behind creativity, creativity happens from the doing, and as soon as you start doing something, you’re being creative. Be forgiving to yourself around the fact that no matter what it is that you do, it is always a practice, no matter how experienced you are. Be the constant student!
Carrie Armstrong may have only been a part of our collection of jewelers for a few years now, but in reality, she's part of a longer legacy here at the Phoenix Shop. Her father-in-law was Karl Lee, one of the first local jewelers to show their work here. Karl's rings graced our cases for several decades, from August of 1969 until after his death in 2012. Building on his legacy, Carrie crafts rings that are stunning and simple: each sterling silver ring has a square band and cradles a unique gem in a bezel of 22 karat gold. ..
Rachel Moody, longtime Big Sur resident and local vendor at the Phoenix Shop! Her exquisite and elegant beadwork graces our boutique jewelry cases with beautiful pieces that sparkle in the sun. Her work is truly one-of-a-kind, incorporating abalone shells, crystals and glass and we’re proud to represent her artistry here at the shop…
