Home is where the Heart Is

2/7/22

I just relaunched my 10 year old businesss under a new name, Poetica Home. The last couple of years have been all about change and letting go for me personally. All the while I still wanted to keep my business afloat despite challenges I was facing. I’m proud to continue representing SF Bay area artists Andrea Speer Hibbard’s ‘1,000 Monks’ and Becca Smidt’s cool lenticular art.

Moving forward I will discover, curate and sell fine goods, artifacts, art and more via Instagram and my website. Please reach out if you have anything special you’re looking for.

Thank you for all the support over the years,

Traci Teraoka, Owner

Poetica Home   

This is not required reading - but if you want to know more please read on!

Poetica Art and Antiques

For 9 years,  I was a small business owner of an eclectic furniture, art and gift store on Sacramento Street in San Francisco’s Presidio Heights. I found quality antique and vintage furniture in a range of styles, periods and materials.  The shop was made even better by adding the artwork of contemporary artists: Andrea Speer Hibbard, Becca Smidt, Suzanne Moulton. Chris Turner and jewelry maker Francesca Kennedy. I enjoyed meeting people and being one of those neighborhood stores you could pop into for ‘retail therapy’ or a neighborly chat. Since closing my store in SF - I joined Chelsea Antiques in Petaluma CA.for 2 1/2 years and in Sept 21’ relocated to Franklin, TN.

My family background:

My father is 2nd generation Japanese American (Nisei.) He had 4 siblings and is from Seattle, Washington. My father’s family lost their home and assets when he was 7 as a result of the Japanese Internment camps Executive order 9066.

I didn’t even know there was such thing until I was in college and learned about it from a cultural anthropology class I was taking. My mother is from a family of 12.  She was born and raised in Savannah, Tennessee.  My mother and her sister Mary left Savannah as young women and moved to Lawton, OK.  My parents met when my dad, a young Army lieutenant was stationed at Fort Sills, OK.  He met my mom at a drive-in restaurant and asked her out the next day.  Soon after they got married.  They just celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary.  

Our family moved about every four years when I was growing up. My mother is a creative person who always enjoyed working on her home and making things.   When we moved she always encouraged me to make my room special - to make it my own. This is a gift that has grounded me throughout my life and helped me cope with change.

I was one of those kids who didn't know exactly what I wanted to do as a career.  What I did know:  I loved working with interesting and knowledgeable people (women especially) and I was drawn to people who loved their work. I worked during the school year and summers trying different part time jobs: flower shops, antique stores, interior design studios, art galleries and local nonprofits. I started school at U.T. Arlington,  transferred to De Anza College in Cupertino and then transferred to U.C.S.C. where I graduated with a B.A. in Art History (Porter College 93'.)  I found work selling furniture and art and volunteering to community causes as I was able. 

Healing Environments:

Between 1994 and 2010 I worked with Kate Strasburg and Bay Area graphic designer and teacher,  Sam Smidt.  Our mission was to create comforting and meaningful  environments for patients, family members, staff of hospice, palliative care centers and hospitals.  Kate and I were co-directors and Sam came on board to help design our business cards. Soon after meeting Sam he became integral to the work.

We created resource newsletters that became their own phenomenon.  All in all, 50 individual issues were made over 10 years. They continue to help people and thankfully Kate Strasburg continues to send them out to anyone who requests them. The newsletters are rich in meaningful content and with Sam’s talent for infused each page with beauty.  Each issue shares stories acknowledging the suffering encountered in life and illness and inspiring stories of how people have dealt with the toughest times in life - in the simplest of ways.   You can find the website and materials at this address:  healingenvironments.com.   

Maitri Compassionate Care and the Jefferson Award:

In 2006, I received a Jefferson Award for the design and furniture contributions I made to Maitri Compassionate Care in S.F (through my work at Healing Environments.)  The work and care happening within this facility taught me so much - far beyond design and furniture it boiled down to the importance of compassion and care. Not letting people die alone was the original mission. Over the years the mission has expanded to help make Maitri 's services and housing available for people who are affected with debilitating AIDS get stronger and live longer. It was a remarkable and rewarding experience that helped shape who I am today. Click here to see Maitri's website. 

The Shop:

In 2011, I opened my store. I was in a career transition post-Healing Environments and post-Interim Executive Director of Maitri. My son was in 6th grade and commented to me that he appreciated the good work I was doing but he didn't get to see me as much. Alexander’s comment made me think hard about my next step. I encourage people I meet to LIVE. LIFE. NOW.  I decided to heed my own advice and take a leap of faith by starting my own business.   Having a 'brick and mortar' shop in a charming neighborhood in a great city is pretty awesome.  Challenging  - yes and very rewarding too. A local paper, The New Fillmore wrote a beautiful story about me and the shop closing in their April 2019 issue.

Community:

 I have been committed to community volunteering for special projects and causes throughout my life.  I served on nonprofit boards and volunteered for 20 years continuously.   Groups and organizations close to my heart include: Presidio Heights Neighborhood Association (PHAN), Sacramento Street Merchants Assoc. (SSMA), NERT- (Earthquake Emergency Preparedness) and Maitri Compassionate Care.