Here’s some of the beautiful things we saw in Provence… We shipped a load of goodies and we’re expecting them soon, but this enamelware set was so pretty it had to come home with me!
In the Chinese calendar, 2017 is the year of the Rooster, or the Red Fire Chicken… At the Cottage there are some fine feathered friends to help celebrate!
The story of enamel cookware begins in the 1760s in Germany. Enamelled cookware came to the US after Western Europe. Around 1850 Americans began to own enamel-lined culinary utensils, but they were very plain, nothing like the colourful mottled surfaces that were yet to come. The Stuart & Peterson foundry in Philadelphia was making enamel-lined […]
Some of us had moms who kept their perfumes and lipstick and other essential items on lovely little mirror trays on their vanities or dressing tables. How fun it was to tinker around a bit with those glamorous lady things! In honor of the mirror tray, here’s a few of the beautiful variety available at […]
Gazing balls, mirror balls, or lawn globes are said to have originated during the 13th century created by artisan glass blowers in Venice. A beautiful addition to any garden, they were also believed to ward off evil, or bring good luck. Popular in Victorian England, they […]
We are well into the season, and if you live in the country or travel through the countryside you’re sure to see the frisky first signs of Spring: baby animals! These endearing little lambs are a favorite reminder of everything that comes with Spring: joy of renewal, much gentler weather. Long regarded as symbols of hope, tenderness […]
We love these antique French iron crosses circa the 1800’s! They are rare, heavy, and beautifully ornate made of solid cast iron. These crosses were commonly seen in the countryside of France, where they were used in small churches to mark graves, along roads, or as silent guardians of vineyards. They make a stunning addition to any garden, equally lovely […]
The “fleur-de-lis” (flower of the lily) is a stylized lily or lotus flower. Traditionally representing French royalty, this association arose from a legend that an angel gave Clovis, king of the Franks, a golden lily upon his conversion to Catholicism. In the twelfth century, one of the French monarchs began using the fleur-de-lis on his […]
To honor all the wonderful moms in our lives, all the women who inspire and nurture us, we invite you to come out to the Cottage and create some quality time with your special guest! Have some cider, or a cup of tea, relax in the garden… come see the wonderful blooms in all shapes, sizes and […]
We love the artistic genius expressed in jewelry making. Especially the use and re-purposing of ordinary items to create new and interesting pieces of wearable art. Over the years we’ve carried the work of various artists at the Cottage, and the most recent of them is a collection of cross pendants made from antique nails, […]