Rug Swatch Day

Six new rug swatches came in today. 

As I open them up, inside the studio, my eye immediately goes to companion fabrics.  

Stripes on floors, florals all the way around with hand embroidered pillow cases to boot!!

This combination is a lot of bang for your buck! Yellow cushions and the floor painted a dark green in this backyard porch.  

The pairing of fabric and rug is soft and quiet. 

And, of course, this is me!

Six swatches and six different looks. If any of these appeal to your senses, give me a shout at, shop@anchorcottage.net,  and we will see what we can pull together for you. 

Walking To Work Today

This little chair came into the studio with a broken cane seat. My husband will fix it. In the mean time the 14", round, wool hooked, chair pad fits perfectly.

It is a joy to walk into the studio with the light coming through the windows. The colors just pop in the sun shine. 

Save the date!! 

Steve stapled the birdseed bags inside the shed windows, looks adorable and lets the light in as well. 

Bird on a wire. 

So if you would like to stop over and see me...

...and you don't have 4WD...

...just know that it is the A-train to the bottom...

A luge run of sorts!!

Tabletop Attitude

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Anyone who knows me, knows that I love English pottery. My favorite is Emma Bridgewater. Not being able to order, sell and set the table with her pieces is just about the only thing I miss about having my brick and mortar store!

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Well, I have found a new tabletop line that is knocking my socks off! Carolina Irving and Daughters.

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Her table linens and accessories are styling. Her designs are so fresh and brand new. 

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If I still had my shop her new dish line would be the focal point. 

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Not grandmothers dowdy table settings for sure. 

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I like the combination of the Spode and Blue Willow plates. To me it is so cottage and grandmother had a lot of it. 

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But, I have really never been a fan of either Blue Willow or reproduction Spode. Although, whoever put these last two table settings together did a nice job. They look very comfortable and easy. 

So, there you have it! Mary Ann is developing a new look in her repertoire. Carolina Irving's new table top is crisp, clean and refreshing and definitely casual enough for sandy beaches and big ole fireplaces in our Lake Michigan cottages. 

Grandmothers Blue Willow and Spode will always be treasured but a new guard is coming and the look will change with the generations. I am still an Emma Bridgewater fan for my up north cottages, but I would work with this new line in a heartbeat! 

Gotta love Pinterest!!

Look who won a Grammy!!

 Rocking Elvis Costello won a Grammy last night, category; Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. This Grammy is for his album "Look Now" by Elvis Costello and The Imposters. I had a chance to hear him perform, live, at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre in November. What stunned me was his band and back up singers. They were in the groove. The girls, Kitten Kuroi and Briana Lee, were just jamming with Elvis and The Imposters. The lyrics on this album are so relevant to what is going on in the real world. If you have a chance to listen to this jam, you will recognize who he is singing about! I have been a fan since the early seventies and his innate sense of poetry still makes me listen twice!

Congratulations everyone!  

Saturday In The Studio

Starting a new year, here, at Anchor Cottage. I took inventory and weeded out the discontinued. 

Listening to my new favorite jam. Interestingly enough there is a song on this album called, "I Let The Sun Go Down". Written by Elvis Costello. In light of Prince Harry stepping down, the song is pretty relative. The whole album is a great jam. He has a couple of singers in his vocal group, Kitten Kuroi and Briana Lee, that are absolutely great! I was fortunate to hear them, live, in concert.

If you see anything you would like to look at closer, give me call and we will make an appointment for you to come in. 

This funny pink is luscious paired with Mad Cap Cottage.

I am still sorting through 2019, but managed to order fresh fabric swatches already and it is only January 18!

When the world, outside, is a blanket of white I tend to pile the color on. 

I perched all my hand carved and painted birds in the window.

I could use a larger desk but then I would need a larger studio. 

Ordered new rug swatches to start the year! I have another dozen coming in before April, I will keep you  posted. 

Fresh calendars and folders, I sharpened my pencils and replaced the pink erasers. Time to start my taxes. 

There is a story, to tell, about the sea captain poster. I'll save it for another day. Time to go shovel the white stuff!!