Dog & Pony Show will welcome the first day of spring when its downtown Asheville space transforms into a small indoor arboretum filled with fine art, a new candle born from the mountains, and a tabletop collection inspired by the colors and motifs of the season.

Shop owner Margaret Lancaster has partnered with local candle maker Laura Booth of Fern & Willow and artist LeeAnn Donnelly to create the Blue Ridge Awakening candle, debuting alongside Donnelly’s installation, Blooms & Sidewalks: Asheville Feeling Itself. The collaboration will be celebrated during “A Spring Awakening” on March 21.

Lancaster, known for her knack for curating beautiful things for the home and as gifts, has refreshed the shop with new arrivals and thoughtful seasonal displays. Her window displays - which regularly stop passersby on the sidewalk - set the tone, inviting visitors inside to explore.

The store, which shares space with UpMarket Gallery, is housed in one of downtown Asheville’s most historic buildings. The space once served as the city’s first Greek Orthodox Church and was lovingly restored by artist Heather Davis. Today the shop features Lancaster’s thoughtful mix of gifts, home décor, and artwork, including many pieces created by Asheville artists and makers. A visit often includes a warm welcome from Gracie, the store’s beloved canine ambassador.

Blooms & Sidewalks: Asheville Feeling Itself

Donnelly’s installation pairs her botanical portraits with abstract downtown scenes photographed during a walk through Asheville. While photographing and editing the two series separately, she discovered she had instinctively pushed both bodies of work toward the same heightened palette - an unexpected visual thread connecting petals, pavement, and storefront reflections.

The fine art pieces are displayed throughout the store, creating a gallery experience woven seamlessly into displays of spring home décor and one-of-a-kind gifts.

The Debut of Blue Ridge Awakening

Blue Ridge Awakening marks the second release in Lancaster’s Blue Ridge candle series and the second collaboration for the trio of creatives. Inspired by the first hints of spring in the mountains, the candle captures the feeling of the Blue Ridge landscape waking after winter.

The first candle in the series, Blue Ridge Solstice, debuted at the start of winter and quickly became a popular gift item at the shop.

Welcoming The Conservatory Collection

Rounding out the season’s offerings is The Conservatory Collection, a curated tabletop line that Lancaster describes as “the table you’ve always meant to set.”

Botanical motifs in rich greens and deep indigo blues appear across dinner plates, coupe salad plates, and canapé plates alongside stemware, cloth napkins, and silk stems. “The collection feels garden-fresh,” Lancaster said.

For Lancaster, the idea behind it all is simple: create a shop that feels welcoming, inspiring, and full of discovery.

“There's nothing better than watching someone walk through the door and just exhale,” she said. “That's what I'm always going for - that feeling that you've stepped somewhere special, where everything has been chosen with care.”

“A Spring Awakening” will take place during shop hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, March 21, at Dog & Pony Show, 68 N. Market St., in downtown Asheville. More information about the store can be found at dogandponyshow.com. 

Source: Dog & Pony Show.