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