I love it when I see an item full of old world charm but in a modern setting. It feels oddly comforting, doesn't it? Especially considering that in this day and age so many items are mass produced and highly marketed (and often poorly made)! I'm sick of seeing the same stuff over and over! How great would it be if where you lived it looked like a small European village where every single house on your block was full of whimsy and charm. And if we could have this ideal yesteryear look but still have the convenience of hitting up the local coffeehouse for a mocacchino, well it would simply be perfection!

This pursuit of a comfortable old world feeling for my home has come to the cottage. That's why I had all the doors switched over to the old school lock and key system! My key ring no longer houses those boring old silver square keys that look like everyone elses. Yes, I even have a skeleton key. Just don't peak through the key hole when I'm changing!!

These amazing ornate skeleton keys from Ashbury Lane Art & Design scream old world to me and when I look at them, I can't help but feeling like I hold some important secret hanging off my keyring. Imagine what someone would think when you pulled out your keys and these beauties came popping out? How very mysterious it all would seem indeed!

Time to Unpack!

Well now that we're all set to go in our brand spanking new Hand Crafted Cottage what would be the first logical thing to do? Hmmm...well, unpack of course! For the first little while unpacking is so much fun - it's like Christmas morning opening up all the gifts under the tree. As you open each item from that thick brown paper, you can't help but have days gone by come crashing into your memory - grandma's chipped teapot, a sweater you stole (um, borrowed) from your sister, picture frames with a younger version of yourself looking up at you...

I say that unpacking is fun in the beginning because after a while it's just too much and the job can't be done quick enough! I suppose that's the beauty of unpacking at the Hand Crafted Cottage...it's virtual and I can do it all while I sip away on my vanilla latté!

So, first and foremost I think I should mark my territory! What better way to tell visitors and neighbours that they have arrived at my humble abode than with a beautiful sign?

The Back Porch Shoppe is one of my all time favorite Etsy shops and she makes simply gorgeous signs. I love the shabby white look of these signs and the french flair! I'm also all for personalizing an item, so really this sign has it all!

Next up is the living room and a throw pillow cover created by Two Stray Cats. How awesome is this Jane Austin Silhouette piece? I have always loved silhouettes and when combined with one of my all time favorite authors, well, let's just say I think even Mr. Darcy would be proud to have it in his home!

I think next I should unpack my considerable collection of knick knacks. I have so many treasures that I simply can't part with, but really have no where to put them. That's why I'm so drawn to this keepsake trinket box from Fun Wall Art. How fun is this design? It combines shabby chic with bold elegance and equates to perfection for any woman's little pieces of history.

Next up is the kitchen and this is an item I can't live without - the cake stand. In this case, a single cupcake stand from Two Cupcake Gals. I just love everything about this piece from the black and white polka dots to the white ceramic birdies...I can just imagine a decadent chocolate cupcake with a tall dollop of icing and sprinkles on top! Yum!

What better way to end a day of unpacking than to sit down with a friend and enjoy a delicious hot cup of Himalayan Spiced Tea? These organic tea bags by Mistical AcScents are pure luxury and boast whole pieces of star anise, cinnamon, cloves, and black peppercorns among several other ingredients.

Thank you so much for helping me unpack - it goes by some much faster with a friend by your side!

Hello and Welcome to my Brand New Hand Crafted Cottage

I am so pleased that you decided to come and visit me here at the hand crafted cottage!

I debated for a while if I should start a blog. There are so many pros and cons - pro, I can blog about my newest obsession Etsy; con, I'm already neglecting everything else in my life do I really have time for a blog too?; pro, I can exercise my all my creative juices in a new and exciting way; con, there are a million and one blogs out there - who's going to read mine?

I am drawn to handmade because I feel like it means...well, more! Heirlooms (another obsession of mine), the items that we hang on to so tightly for our whole lives, are usually impeccably crafted, handmade pieces. We don't pick up a necklace, for example, at our local Walmart with the intention of handing it down to our children. It takes something special to become an heirloom, something more. With that being said, handmade items of course aren't all destined to become heirlooms. However, the feeling I get from supporting fellow artisans (either locally or on the other side of the planet) is something that I also hang on to rather tightly.

Obviously the pros outweighed the cons because we are here at the cottage and loving all things handmade! I am so excited to explore more of the wonderful hand crafted items on Etsy (and maybe even beyond) and to share them with you, my cottage guests!

As my guests there are only have a few rules! One, take your shoes off at the door. Two, have fun exploring the handmade world with me. And three, check in every now and then to say hi!!

Thanks for reading blog number one million and two!