Gloria Waggoner, creator and proprietor of Rosa Gallica LifeStyle Boutique, has announced that the shop will close its doors for the final time on Saturday, October 18. Shop hours will continue to be noon-5 p.m., Wednesday-Friday until its closing, with substantial discounts on most merchandise. The shop is located in the lower level of historic Paulsen House, which also houses the diocesan offices and the bishop’s home.
Waggoner, a landscape artist, proponent of Fair Trade practices, and leader in the field of environmental stewardship, founded “The Friends of Paulsen House” in 2005, and opened the non profit shop in December of that year to raise funds for the maintenance and preservation of the 97 year old Paulsen House and its grounds. The boutique has raised over 25,000 dollars for this purpose, and provided a peaceful oasis for members of the Diocese and local residents. Works of local and diocesan artists, including potters, photographers, and painters, have also been featured in the boutique and in the Parlor Gallery upstairs.
Noting that the shop surpassed its annual fundraising goals each year since its opening, Waggoner wrote to its customers and supporters that the current stressed economy makes it difficult “to support our small businesses as we would like,” and that 2008 “has seen a marked decline in sales compared with past years.” She went on to thank “all who have so generously supported the shop in purchases, time, talent, donations, and gifts during the past three years.”
While Waggoner is looking forward to pursuing her artistic and environmental interests, she wrote that “Rosa Gallica should be celebrated, as it was not only a period of enjoyable (for me) and creative fund raising, but a way to raise consciousness about Fair Trade, provide education about stewardship of the environment in our daily lives, and the principles of recycling, reusing, and renewal.”
Paulsen House itself and its gardens - the Myrtle White Paulsen Meditation Garden and the Rose Garden - remain open to the Diocese and to the public. The Meditation Garden is registered with the International Quiet Garden Movement of the Anglican Church of England, and photographs and articles of and about the garden have been published internationally. The entire property has been maintained in an organic manner since the year 2000. Earth and people friendly products are used for housecleaning and recycling is practiced; recycled papers and supplies are employed as a means of practicing and honoring stewardship of the environment.
Worship takes place at 9:10 a.m. Monday through Friday in the Bishop’s chapel, located in the former Paulsen family breakfast room. All are welcome to attend. Paulsen House is located at 235 E 13th Ave, Spokane 99202. Call 800-359-2587 or 509-624-3191.