New vignettes in our shop

We just finished re-displaying the shop. This week was busy with big furniture sales which left alot of holes whioh, of course, means we have to display new inventory! (One of my favorite things to do.) It's always fun to see the store transform and see customers reactions. Here is just a sampling of some of our store vignettes:
This vintage ottoman has been given new life with a custom matelasse slipcover. So cottage-y and comfortable. We also slipcover your ottomans or footstools. Give us a call or ask at the desk - slipcovers are a perfect option for creating a fresh new look in a room and doing it inexpensively.



Silver and sterling are one of our specialties. Here's a sample of a very old Sheffield sugar scuttle. There's nothing like the antique silver items and this piece is no exception with its hand engraving. Any Sheffield silver is always of exceptional quality.


I love these burlap pillows - they're French grain sacks made into pillows and are down filled. Very chic!

How about these 100% linen double boxed ruffled pillows. They're custom made especially for our shop, with ties in the back that give them an extra special sassy look. We can't keep them in and it keeps our local seamstress busy!
I am thrilled to have this Victorian wire plant stand the pillows are sitting in. It is a rare piece with the original paint and looks like it was kept inside. It's perfect for displays. I can picture it in an entryway filled with hydrangeas!

Here's another French grain sack item - this one a seat cushion. We have a lot of these on hand.

I'll be posting more photos tomorrow - I want to capture our displays quick before things sell. :)
'Til then

My friend Kim's Bella Rustica Italian Easter Market in Coronado this Saturday

It was a great morning with Kim, hostess of her Bella Rustica Italian Easter Market in Coronado, her second annual sale in her comfortable, ever-so-stylish Italian-flair home. It was fun meeting so many of Kim's customers and friends. Tamerie and Rita brought their wares, embellished antique bottles, custom pillows, slip covered ottomans, whimsical birdhouses (one which I couldn't resist and took home). And Kim is such a tremendous talent; I admire her energy and creativity and how she makes it all come to life. Her home is so special and every where you turn you see her signature style. Wonderful sale, terrific morning. Bravo!














From left: Cordelia (me), Tamerie, Kim and Rita

Journals by artist Martha Stauderman with her Martha Lily Designs

I love these and they're selling as they're coming in. Exclusive to Cottage Antiques, these are created by Martha with her Martha Lily Designs. Made from pieces and fragments of the past and inspired by old wallpapers and vintage lace, these will knock your socks off. Custom made journals available, too. Bring in your own memorabilia for a personalized journal by Martha Lily.


This Notes journal is one of my favorites












The very first day we had these miniature "Friends" books in my shop, we immediately had custom orders for them! They make great gifts! Martha Lily can create them with a child's fantasies and delights in mind, gear it toward someones hobby, for example horses, mermaids, swimming, soccer - anything!













These journals make the ideal gift!

The Fascination with Ephemera

Wikipedia describes ephemera as "The word derives from the Greek, meaning things lasting no more than a day. Some collectible ephemera are advertising trade cards, airsickness bags, bookmarks, catalogues, greeting cards, letters, pamphlets, postcards, posters, prospectuses, stock certificates, tickets and zines".
This corset trade card is great and perfectly captures another era.
Whether it's old advertising trade cards, vintage postcards, old newspapers and tickets, there is something so appealing about finding an old hand-written letter or greeting card or vintage photo, so much so that it's hard to discard them. I recently acquired some turn-of-the-century 1900 receipt books in unused condition with a wonderful aged color. I'm fascinated with them. They'd be great for scrapbooking, if I were so inclined. I like the way they look just sitting out on a desk with an old pen and paperweight. Things like that are perfect accessories for decorating. Old photos are wonderful for adding a nice touch, too. The accents of old photos makes it look like there's a family with a history living there. Framing vintage photos and antique postcards are a great way to enhance any room, no matter what the style.

Vintage sheet music, particularly sheet music from France, is especially desireable right now. You can use them as a wall paper in the back of a glass fronted cover to lend an old Paris look. It's very effective.
This is a photo of my mother as a young child, had to be around 1925 on the sand in Mission Beach in San Diego. My grandparents loved to go to the beach for picnics. I have this photo in an antique frame on the wall in a grouping of family photos. This is one of my favorite pictures of my mom and I treasure it.

Today's Vintage Magazine picked up an item from this blog, featured it in their March issue

Save the date - Point Loma Garden Walk & Boutique

All of us involved in the upcoming Point Loma Garden Walk & Boutique are excited so mark your calendar so you won't miss this great event. It's the 8th Annual and it's going to be held Saturday, April 25, 2009 in the Sunset Cliffs area of San Diego. the Boutique will be from 9am 'til 5pm, the Garden Walk from 10am - 4pm. The Boutique has the most diverse items and garden oddities imaginable, from whimsical planted chairs, herb gardens in unique containers, great garden iron, to antique furniture, vintage and attic finds, garden statuary, garden furniture, and one-of-a kind birdhouses, salvaged windows made into wonderful garden items, and on and on. The rummage corner was a huge success last year and complete sold out! You have to see this boutique to believe it.













Cottage Antiques will once again be a vendor at this very special, tremendously popular garden event. Remember, save the date! We'll see you there!

Valentine's Day is over but not forgotten . . . xoxo

Melissa Morgan, an internationally renowned harpist and a local, played her harp for us most of the afternoon. Thank you, Melissa, you were so appreciated by everyone! Very angelic for Valentine's Day.
The chocolate fountain, with chocolate cascading down and providing an aroma that was the pièce de résistance! Customers told us they could smell the chocolate from the sidewalk and with the harp music - heavenly!







A big thank you to Karen Hendrix, a very talented papiery artist. Her creations are so special, with their intricate antique embellishments.





It was wonderful to see so many people having a good time and loving the merchandise we brought in special for the day.


Well, we were pretty tired but as our associate, Jane, put it - it was a fun tired! We can't wait until the next event.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here's just a sampling of what we have in store for our customers on Saturday, February 14th!