*MINKA Is Having A Paula Party!* Saturday, June 29, is a special day at Minka as we celebrate Paula Shields on her creative endeavors in Tacoma, and a new business launch in Seattle. Yes, we’re having a Paula Party! For the past year, Paula has been Minka’s co-owner and a co-conspirator in searching out the fine, the fun, the unusual and the compelling to re-up any living space. Now, she is striking out on a new adventure, composing her own shop space at Epic Antique, a design emporium in Seattle’s SODO District. A few things you might not know about Paula: She grew up in the Bay Area, in what is now Silicon Valley. “The brown grasses on rolling hills, the oak trees and (dying) eucalyptus, the fog coming in from the coast — this scene tugs at me every time I drive it, reminding me that I am a Californian,” she says. A place of special magnetism is Berkeley, “Where I spent several years as an undergraduate and graduate student. As much as other parts of the Bay Area have changed, Berkeley remains resolutely itself. Its vernacular architecture is unmatched for its variety, creativity, and quirkiness, while the overgrown vegetation and untidy streets speak to the bounty and beauty of a particular kind of California living.” Paula Shields Today, Paula resides in Tacoma with her husband, Wayne, and two felines, MC and Moose. She is an avid traveler, one who has “been to Asia five times, beginning in 2008, when my husband and I lived in Seoul for 5 months. I made shorter visits in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2015. Every one of those times I was in Korea, and I went to Japan — Osaka and Kyoto and environs — two of those times.” Paula’s expertise in Asian pottery and folk textiles has been a great attraction at Minka. Paula enjoyed a full-time career at University of Washington, where as Communications Manager, Office of Admissions, her duties included creating an online community welcome site — a secure meet-and-greet suite, of sorts — for thousands of incoming freshman. Talk about a job akin to herding cats, or traffic-directing a herring ball! But she treasured her interactions with young people and has retained many friendships with them to this day. Paula’s next move is to Epic Antique, an aptly named vintage emporium in Seattle’s SODO District, where she is curating her own showroom space under the name, An Edited Life. She compares her approach to collecting antiques (mid-century, American-primitive and Asian) with another life-long passion, baking. “I haven't baked in awhile but I do love a great piece of pastry. If there is any similarity, it's that I look for quality over quantity. Sure, I've been known to eat a very ordinary donut just because it's there, but really, I'd rather wait for a really fine Kouign-Amann or brown-butter pear tart. Some people in the vintage biz are happy to fill their spaces with stuff — each piece may not be notable, but they enjoy the happy jumble. As the name of my business implies, I prefer an edited, curated, personal collection. When I hunt for vintage, I am looking for things that contribute to that aesthetic. If it's not for everyone, so be it.” Like the name says, you’ll find only knowingly selected objects under An Edited Life’s shingle (Space #253 at Epic). I couldn’t help but ask my friend the question, if a cache of her own belongings were found in 100 years, what would they reveal about her? “That I was a hunter–gatherer. I have collected paper shopping bags since 8th grade, and I now have several hundred, from shops around the world - with many contributions by generous friends — from stores that no longer exist (like Bonwit Teller in NYC), and from the fanciest to the most humble. When I was young I dreamed of displaying them all on a huge wall, but that's never happened.” Perhaps it will happen someday; perhaps at Minka, where Paula is continuing to sell some of her prize finds. Join us for our Paula Party on June 29, 2-5pm, as we wish Paula the very best, on her way. ~ Lisa Kinoshita (Minka is located at 821 Pacific Ave. in downtown Tacoma. On Instagram and Facebook @minkatacoma and @lisakinoshitatacoma. Contact: minka@minkatacoma.com. Hours: Thurs-Sun 12-5, and by appointment. Find Paula Shields online @PaulaShields and @EpicAntique)