January 06, 2010

Plum Cottage Antiques

Red Bank, NJ, is one of my favorite places. This hip little riverfront town is home to some of the best antique stores in the state, great shopping and eating, and an intimate little non-profit theater where you can catch everything from classic movies to the Dog Whisperer (yes, the Dog Whisperer!). All happily located just a stone's throw from the shorehouse.

There are many places in Red Bank I have yet to discover, and until recently Plum Cottage on Red Bank's Antique Row (Front Street) was one of them.


Truth told, it was the chair in the window that got me in.


But it was the crafty corner tucked in the back of the store that kept me there. For longer than I care to admit to.
















That "1" above? One dollar. I had found crafty mecca, and it was good.

While I didn't buy the stripy fabric (why, I have no idea) I did buy the lot below for $8 total.


Pieces of the black stripe and solid white were relatively quickly (for me) made into a little tote...


...with a golden oldy from my thrifty button collection:


I also added a double pocket inside with a small scrap from my (growing) pile(s):


I think I'm getting the hang of this sewing thing. And it's much better for me than, say, binging on cupcakes. (Though I miss my little frosted friends.)



Speaking of crafty and Red Bank, The Art Opera is coming to town April 7-10. Art Opera visionary Lisa Kettell found there was a void in our area for like-minded creative folk, so she's filling it.

"I found I was always traveling a great distance to do the things I enjoyed, and once there I met so many teachers and students doing the same thing ... many of them were from the East Coast, and expressing their wish for an event that could bring their favorite teachers and friends together without doing all the travel."


Click here to visit the web site and learn more about the seminars and sessions being offered, and be sure to visit Plum Cottage while you're in town.

Plum Cottage
212 West Front Street
Phone: 732-747-5333
Saturday and Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.(weekdays by appointment)

Art Opera
April 7-10, 2010
Oytser Point Hotel
Red Bank, NJ
www.artoperanj.com
www.theoysterpointhotel.com

26 comments:

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Laura, cute tote you made! And pleaaaaaaaaaaaaase tell me you went home with that adorable chair! Oh, it caught my magpie eye, too! It's adorable. If you didn't get it, run as fast as your car wheels will take you back there and claim it for your own. Love the shape AND the fabric!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Patti @ Pandoras Box said...

I also love that chair!! Your tote is fabulous! I will be posting a tote I made - next week.

Anonymous said...

Laura,

I know Red Bank! You are doing great with sewing. Love the tote.

Deborah

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

We almost bought a house in Middletown, NJ, years and years ago so I probably would have hung out in Red Bank -- now I know what I missed!

Plum Cottage looks like it has some wonderful things to buy. I would have been so tempted by that chair!
Your tote looks so pretty and I agree that sewing is a whole lot less fattening hobby than baking..lol

Art Opera sounds like a great idea! There will probably be beautiful crafts for sale at the vendors show.

modernemama said...

The tote! The button makes it so cute.

Leila said...

Never let me near that store!! I would never come out! :)

Great tote, love the button! Sewing is so much fun, isn't it?? But it requires so much in the way of stash ;)

s. pearce feldman said...

my heart goes pitter patter at the mention of the count basie... i must have snapshots of my dance recitals there hanging around somewhere... and now there's a tiffany! from stabbin' town to tiffany - what a good 20 years can do for a little seaside place...

ps: gorgeous tote!

Caren said...

That place looks adorable! We have lots of antiquing here in the Brandywine Valley as well as in the Lancaster, PA area, The Husband and I would enjoy it but The Son, not so much so it's not something we do too often... maybe as he gets older.

Rue said...

Laura:

What a fabulous post!!! The Plum Cottage is a wonderful find! I am so intrigued, it looks like I will have to drag the fam there one weekend soon.and your tote is beautiful!!! Love the button and the ribbon handle! Your sewing skills are on fire!

Btw, do you knit at all? If so you should check out Wooly Monmouth-- it's also in Red Bank and is a super cute yarn shop.

sweetjeanette said...

I can see why that is your fave place! And great job on the tote! I love it

sweetjeanette.blogspot.com

Kwana said...

Look at you and your cute tote. You are rocking it. Lovely.

Beach House Living said...

The tote looks great! Red Bank is fun, you can stay there all day discovering.

Birds of a Feather said...

Exciting! i cannot wait to come and discover all these cool shops! Thanks for the preview! xo

Shorely Chic said...

I love Red Bank! It is one of the stops on the train from NYC to Spring Lake (heaven).

Adorable bag you made, and what an awesome shop!

Anonymous said...

too cool! the store, the opera thang, and your tote! Good job, lady!!

Tina said...

Simply divine and everytime you post about your neighborhood, I wanna plan a vacation to the shore.

Stunning chair in the window. So great. Loved it.

T

desiree said...

What a find! If I'm ever in your neck of the woods...hey wait this summer I will be! I will definitely stop in. I'm a sucker for fabric...have piles of it and can't really sew. Go figure!

Shellbelle said...

I would have been lost in that corner forever, what a great find. And your tote? Wonderful, I love the double pocket inside.

What else do I love about today's post? The name of that event — Art Opera, how fab is that?

Maureen B. said...

I love Red Bank too - it's a great place to visit, browse, shop, eat! The antique shops are fun and so are all the great stores and restaurants. TG for Count Basie Theater too.

Maya @ Completely Coastal said...

I'm so super thrilled that I found another Quahog shell! I'm putting together a post about them..., yep, an entire post, celebrating the Quahog. Love the chair in the window!

Courtney said...

Laura! you are amazing me with your sewing! Love the tote. And the chair. It's the story of my life...a chair sucking me in. :-)

And now for the big news. Do you get House Beautiful? OUR LAMP IS ON PAGE 96!!! ha ha ha I feel giddy, like we're famous or something. It doesn't say anything about the lamp, I looked in the Resources section too, and notta...but it feels like next to you or I actually being in House Beautiful, this is the next best thing! As SOON as I saw it I knew I had to tell you about it! Sigh. I probably shouldn't get that excited about little things like this but it just made my day. :-)

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Laura, Did you know that the owner of Plum Cottage is also a Laura? She and her husband have been in the antiques business in Red Bank for as long as I have lived here (which would be 20 years)! Next time you are in the area, call me!! When is our next foray into the flea market on steroids?? That sale is like having a baby...the pain is forgotten months after and we are itching to go there again.
♥, Susan

Fifi Flowers said...

Looks like the shop is full of treasures... good to have you visit!
ENJOY!

Sue said...

Hi Laura...this shop looks mighty interesting...think daughter....who I beleive went the other day with Miss B.....will have to take me there next time I am in Jersey....and what have I missed...when did Redbank become so "chic"......

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

EYE CANDY!


HUGS!
Leigh
Tales from Bloggeritaville
www.lbratina.blogspot.com

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

Hi Laura........

What a charming little tote!.....I often wonder why I pass things up too....I get home and smack myself upside the head!

And, the chair is so tres chic!.....Love it.

Warm blessings,
Spencer