Some of Wilsonville’s best summer gems come with a story. Guest writer Emily Corak takes us along to meet the people behind three local gems — discovering colorful creations, dreamy lavender fields and unforgettable ice cream along the way. Part travel diary, part local conversation, consider this your invitation to experience Wilsonville through the people who make it special.
I adore a trip to Wilsonville — it’s not far from where I live in Vancouver, Washington, but it’s a little refuge from ordinary life. The farmland, the bakeries, the vineyards and the small boutiques are enough to make me prioritize a trip every few months. It is a guaranteed family favorite, and we discover new gems every time we come.
But what I’m learning more and more, is it’s the people of Wilsonville that make the place feel so special. The stories and the community behind each and every business are the reason we keep coming back.
Meet: A Branch & Cord
The first time I treated myself to a pair of earrings from A Branch & Cord, I was waiting in line at Lux Sucre Bakery. I spotted a pair of coral colored statement earrings, and I wanted them almost as much as the cupcake I had my eye on. It is without fail that I will get compliments anytime I wear these earrings — they are colorful, fun and unlike anything else I own. I’ve since bought two more pairs plus a wall hanging, and they are all little pops of joy.
At the time, I just wanted new jewelry, and I loved the macrame style, but after meeting the business owner and creator, Vanessa Deets, it’s a brand I’ll support for life.
Vanessa and her family put down roots in Wilsonville in 2014, and she instantly fell in love with the community. “I remember a time I was walking my kids in Memorial Park,” she says. “Everyone was chatting and informing one another about local events, and I remember thinking, ‘this is community.’”
Vanessa is incredibly charismatic and kind as she tells me about her accidental foray into small business. What started as a search for a macrame wall hanging in February of 2020 turned into Vanessa saying, “I’m crafty, I can make that!” While pregnant with her third child, she purchased her own kit. After some trial and error along with numerous YouTube tutorials, she began creating her own wall hangings. She says, “I shared a picture of me making these kits while balancing on a yoga ball with my big old belly, and people were intrigued!”
Vanessa adds that her first projects took a steep learning curve, but when lockdown started, friends began gravitating toward her new hobby. “People started asking if I could make them a key chain, and I’d say, ‘I can figure it out!’” She was then tasked with the challenge of creating a rainbow that could be used as an essential oil diffuser, which took off immediately and branded her as the “rainbow lady.”
As this hobby turned business grew rapidly and expanded into boutiques, Vanessa dove headfirst into the business end of things. “I began picking out logos and searching for a business name, and it really lit this fire inside me that I didn’t know I had.” And with three young children including a newborn, she knew she wanted to enlist support. She says, “I needed someone with time and capacity, and I really wanted to hire a mom.”
Initially she was taking on whatever challenges people threw her way but ultimately refined her brand. “I was just going with the trajectory for a while,” Vanessa says. Now the macrame jewelry, wall hangings, accessories and kits are sold in 700 stores around the US, and in 2024 she expanded her small team and moved into a workshop space.
Frog Pond Farm reached out to her and asked if she’d be willing not only to sell her products but also to work at the farm part-time, handling vendor relations and merchandising. “I just love this community, and I am obsessed with finding opportunities for other creators!”
When you buy one of the pieces from A Branch & Cord, you’re not just getting an original statement piece — you are supporting an incredible local mom and her business. “Imposter syndrome is real, but I want other moms to know they can build something,” Vanessa says.
“I’ve fallen in love with creating, but with the business side even more,” she adds. “I’m just learning to ride the wave and see where this takes me.”
Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a one-of-a-kind piece of art through her website, or hop over to Frog Pond Farm and meet Vanessa in person. “Come say hi! I love being the type of person that people can reach out to.”
Meet: Thistle & Bloom
Walking through the lavender fields at Thistle & Bloom is a sea of purple and the dreamiest smell. It feels like wandering through the fields in Provence — rows and rows of lavender in bloom and a delightful buzz of bees.
Sheena Rupp had no farming experience, but when she and her husband purchased 18 acres of farmland in Wilsonville, she knew she wanted to use the land intentionally. “We’re in farm country, but so much of it is equestrian property or vineyards,” Sheena says. “I knew I wanted to do something different, and I love flowers.”
The land had originally been a hay field, but they wanted to try something new. Their first experiment was agricultural hemp used for CBD, but it did not pan out. “The weather was weird that year, and it ended up being a complete bust — we had to go back to the drawing board,” she says. “But I was adamant that I wanted to do something, and it was important to me that I could connect with it.”
It was then she stumbled across lavender, and it checked every box as far as crops go. Drought-tolerant? Check. Uninteresting to deer? Yes! Thrives in poor soil and with only minimal water? Double check. “I’m a bit of a plant killer,” says Sheena, “so I knew I needed something that would thrive easily.”
What started as three 100 x 100 plots has blossomed into 16 of these plots and 25 varieties of lavender. “We plant so many different varieties intentionally to elongate our growing season,” Sheena says. “It can be used for so many different things.”
My family and I came in the late afternoon, when the sun was dipping low and casting a golden-hour glow. It was one of the most tranquil, serene ways to spend an afternoon. For my kids, the farm store was one of their favorite spots of the day.
Sheena has worked tirelessly to curate a serene experience with treats to match. “I am my husband’s biggest pain in the butt,” she says. “I care about all the little details!” The farm store is charming and full of gifts, including Thistle & Bloom’s own line of essential oils. And while I was busy smelling the candles and the culinary lavender, my kids were obviously invested in the treats.
We left with lemon lavender cookies and lavender lemonade, which has since ruined all other lemonade for us going forward. It is refreshing and sweet, but not overly floral. It is summer in a glass with a stunning background to top off the experience, and it’s a must-try.
Through their farm store and organic farming practices, Sheena remains committed to sustainability. “We really value the earth and our land,” she says. “I want to take good care of this place and our community here.”
Thistle & Bloom, which was named as Sheena’s nod to the fact that life is beautiful but also a little prickly, is dreaming up new events all the time. The farm is available for u-pick lavender, golden-hour picnics on Friday and Saturday, special milestone celebrations, and even yoga classes surrounded by the flowers in bloom.
She says, “My main goal is to create lots of community events — I want to bring people together outside!” Visiting the lavender farm is a little respite from ordinary life — Sheena and her family work hard to curate a magical experience that will transport you to France, even for just an afternoon. “I just want people to remember that there are so many ways to enjoy being outside,” she says. “This is such a beautiful and different way to experience nature.”
Prepare for an afternoon of tranquility and delight, and make sure to head to Thistle & Bloom during the summer to experience this gift to the community. Learn more about their events and the farm itself at their website.
Meet: Half Pint Brothers
I’ve always loved ice cream, but very rarely is there a cone that stands out as exceptional. They’re all delicious, but they ultimately blend together. And then I tried a scoop (or three) of the ice cream at Half Pint Brothers, and I had what can only be described as an awakening.
Tucked into the Butteville General Store, this ice cream is unlike any dessert I’ve ever had. And while you will definitely want to come for the ice cream, you will want to stay for the story.
A former middle school teacher, Jordan Scoggins was once tasked with a unique quest for the upcoming school year: take a blend of kids from each grade level and teach a 30-minute class every day about anything he wanted. After a little deliberation and calling on his background in catering, he proposed teaching kids how to make ice cream.
What started as a school experiment quickly evolved into something much bigger. The class not only experimented and perfected their craft, but the ice cream was so good that others began to take notice. People were so impressed with the quality of the ice cream that the class began giving it away at school events and fairs, but students were ready to take it to the next level.
And while it took some convincing and lessons on persistence, the district agreed to let the students form a business and Jr. Scoop was born. Students were able to practice business and financial skills, sell ice cream once per week at lunchtime, and create a pint subscription system for parents and community members. He taught his students the beauty of independence and collaboration with the philosophy of “you run the show.”
For an entire decade, the class continued to evolve, and students learned incredible skills in both the culinary and business worlds before Jordan retired. “I hadn’t had a Saturday morning to myself for 10 years,” he says. When he decided to leave and spend his time homeschooling his two boys, they unsurprisingly wanted to venture into the business realm as well. “I asked them what they wanted to do, and they said, ‘Dad, we’ve grown up around ice cream, we want to do ice cream!”
They found a home for their small business inside the historic Butteville Store, which has been operating since the 1800s and is a beautifully preserved slice of history. “It started toward the end of the Coronavirus lockdown, which was perfect because we had no idea how to run a restaurant,” Jordan says. They started serving ice cream from a walk-up window and eventually evolved into original sandwiches, salads and soups.
Half Pint Brothers, named in honor of Jordan’s two sons, Lincoln and Ben, used some of the recipes from Jr. Scoop and developed brand-new flavors as well. One of their incredible secrets? Every item (except Oreos) they use in their flavors is made in-house. The lemon curd, the brownies, the almond brittle, and anything you can think of are all created in their own kitchen.
The extraordinary flavors are a result of science, research and plenty of trial and error. My family’s personal favorites were lemon buttercake and cup of dirt, with house-made brownies scooped on top. I’m still lobbying to make the orange cardamom flavor a year-round staple, and I hear I’m not the only one.
And while you’re going to love the ice cream, the atmosphere is what keeps people coming back. Jordan’s sons still help operate the business, and you can find plenty of former Junior Scoopers working the counters and making the ice cream themselves. “We want this place to be more than just a business — this is a chance for mentorship,” Jordan says.
Like many families who could never come here just once, we enjoyed making a day of it. It’s a perfect spot to enjoy after a stroll or a bike ride through Champoeg Park. “We see a lot of red-faced kids who’ve earned their ice cream when they come in!” he says. The place is filled with picnic tables, outdoor games and people who are in no hurry to leave. “There are so many restaurants and spaces that are transactional,” says Jordan. “We wanted a spot where people felt comfortable just hanging out and being around one another.”
Come enjoy some exceptional ice cream and enjoy a leisurely afternoon — you won’t be able to come just once! Visit their website to learn more.
About the Author:
Emily Corak is a freelance writer and photographer based in Vancouver, Washington. A former high school English teacher, Emily now works for a nonprofit and writes about food, local travel and parenting for numerous Pacific Northwest publications. At 11 years old, she graced the cover of a national pygmy goat magazine, and the thrill of publication never left. If she could spend every day perusing bookstores and bakeries, she absolutely would. Check out her other content.
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