Pink Pig Cottage Antiques

Shades of White in Home Decor

2012-01-16T07:47:00-08:00

Shades of White

Bringing shades of white into your home decorating theme with the help of a few simple idea's here from the Pink Pig

This display was featured on the most recent cover of Country Living Magazine and we are happy to announce that they are available for purchase at our shop from the HomePort Collection. White with texture.. we love it!

Porcupine Bank

Decorative ceramic birds and pretty white cake plates from our Bianco Collection.......

For the French Inspired.... Ooh La La have a look

Floral Edge Crown

Simple ways to give white a chance in your home decorating scheme. So fill up those dark spaces with some pretty white! Visit our shop in Essex, NY or online for more ideas

Best to you!
Debbie

Romantic Bedding At Affordable Prices

2012-01-12T10:43:00-08:00

A new bedding line is born.... Meet Reve.

Do you remember the awestruck feeling when you rented a cottage for a romantic getaway? The homey vintage appearance of the pristine bedding can just take your breathe away as you stare at it for an extended period of time. You can re-create the same feeling in your home with our new ruffled, white and cotton bed linens for bright, cheerful days and sumptuous nights!

Pink Pig is introducing a new line of Romantic Bedding. Our new bedding line called "Reve" which means dream in French - will have you doing just that. The linens are fabricated with the highest standards of quality in cotton for the crisp, comfortable feel of Grandma’s house that helps you to have a restful night’s sleep or a romantic evening for two. You can add a matching duvet, pillows, pillowcases and shams in many different styles to suit your country cottage appeal. The luxurious clean lines with large ruffles for trim accent any bedroom.

There are also lamp shades and crisp chair covers to match your bedding and tie the entire bedroom together into your own vintage style. You can transform your bedroom or a guest room into the bedroom of your dreams with top quality bedding at affordable prices. You can mix and match antique bedding with shabby and chic accessories to create a look in the style you love.
Contact us for all of your romantic bedding needs and accessories. We can help you decorate your bedrooms and offer expert advice on products to suit your needs.

Visit our new Etsy Shop to view more of this collection from Reve....

Cottage Furniture

2012-01-02T17:58:00-08:00

Sink into cottage furniture ... spring’ll get here soon enough

These are the months — as the snow quietly drifts outside — when the warmth of a cozy hearth draws us inside. When cottage furniture made of sturdy wood and soft cushions muffle thoughts of spring.
We’d rather be in here, watching the flakes fall. Here, where time doesn’t matter.
In small, comfy spaces like this, furniture should be simple, yet adequate. It’s the charm of efficiency, practicality.

It’s a spirit we brought with us from the Old World — and it’s a style that is re surging, according to RealtyBizNews.com.
So how, we wonder as we watch the snow continue, do we furnish it?
We look back, RealtyBizNews says.

“Look to flea markets and antique stores,” a recent post on the site suggests. “You don’t have to worry too much about having a matching furniture set. Look for comfortable, functional furniture, and accent the room with antique picture frames, ornate mirrors and vintage ornaments.”

Consider the rest of your decor, too, the post urges. Pastel colors tend to work best — coral, green, pink and yellow make for dainty, country-style rooms.
And think creatively:
“If you can’t find an antique lamp, consider converting a vintage jug or vase into a table lamp for an authentic look,” RealtyBizNews says.
Mmmm. Yeah, maybe.
Have some more hot chocolate first — then contact us.

2012-01-02T05:34:00-08:00

Wearing that Little Black Dress

2011-12-27T17:25:00-08:00

The answer to the question, "What to wear?"....can't go wrong with the iconic LITTLE BLACK DRESS. Believe it or not, the origins of this "go to " garment are a fascinating blend of HISTORY, DESIGNER influence and the rise of CINEMA in America.

Until the waning of the Edwardian Era, Black was reserved exclusively for the socially complex protocol of women in mourning. Think Queen Victoria, who after the death of The Prince Consort, her beloved Albert, wore nothing but black forevermore.

It was, of course the French orphan, Gabrielle, who would change all that. The ubiquitous black and white habits of the nuns in her convent orphanage provided Coco a chance to train her eye. Many women, all shapes and ages, draped in the same fabric. Sewing was taught as a matter of course and it was these two skill sets that came together and changed the world.

It was the publication in American Vogue of Chanel's short, black dress, a simple sheath in crepe-de-chine, with long closely fitting sleeves, that spoke to all strata of women and became an instant hit. Vogue proclaimed, "Here is a Ford signed 'Chanel.' " Because like the Model-T, its very standardization inferred quality - transcended class distinction, was obtainable by most women yet conferred instant style.

It's debut however stirred outrage by condemning journalists who hissed, "Feminine fashion of this moment in the 20th century will be baptized 'lop off everything.' " It was precisely the removal of the proffered bust and derriere and the flattening of the belly that killed the heretofore male contrived female fashion. Only Marilyn, decades later is allowed tummy.....

Vogue, in the same publication, went on to describe the little black dress, a "uniform" and thus it has been ever since. The Great Depression only strengthened the black dress's hold as hard to come by textiles made the production of the LBD affordable, while the emergence of women in the workforce during and after WW 2 required a tasteful "uniform" that could, with the addition of blazer, compete in the professional arena with the male uniform of suit and tie.

It is hard to exaggerate the virulent push back this deconstructed frock aroused. Two black dresses on display at the Elegance pavilion at the 1925 Expo showed cropped arms and unsculptured design, echoing the sleek new Art Deco Style. It was this brilliant innovation which inspired Paul Poiret famous put-down, "What has Chanel invented? Poverty de luxe. Formerly women were architectural, like the prows of ships, and very beautiful. Now they resemble little undernourished telegraph clerks."! But women, it seems, preferred telegraph clerk to ship prow....

Madam Chanel arrested at the Ritz, in 1944 as orders from the Committee for Public Morals proved quite demoralizing. However, she escaped the swastika forehead branding and nude parading other females involved with Germans or suspected of collaboration were forced to suffer. It is whispered The Duke of Westminster and Sir Winston Churchill provided intervention.

Still, the great couturier closed her doors at Rue Cambon and fled to Switzerland. The vacuum she left was soon filled by a man, Christian Dior launching the overnight sensation dubbed, "The new Look."

Back came the feminine silhouette, albeit, in softer contours. Soft shoulders, wasp waist, perfect cut, finish and reams of material fed a hunger for sumptuousness for which post war Paris and the world starved. Dior's little black dress, by now as necessary to any collection as the wedding dress, described not a telegraph clerk, but a voluptuous, dangerous woman. Femme-femme whose very femaleness spelled doom, danger or divorce.

Hollywood in the fifties fed this image. Dressing "fallen" women in black halter styles- corseting them in stays and girdles, pronouncing their female sexual vulnerability -only to punish and taint - roasting female character on the spit of new sexual conservatism.

The sixties, of course changed course and charted new territory. Enter the Mod look, the Mini and Hubert de Givenchy. Givenchy, the designer, whose dress Audrey Hepburn wore in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's

sealed the fate for all time of the return of the simple little black dress.

And Coco was back too, preaching logic in design, what, ces messieurs, (her male competitors), couldn't grasp. "Ah no, definitely no, men were not meant to dress women. Yet, she felt it was men, for whom women dressed and desired to please.

The LITTLE BLACK DRESS and Coco Chanel were back! Coco held the premier position in the haute couture market for the rest of her life and beyond.

This HOLIDAY CELEBRATE, LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH and FIND your UNIFORM for your next PARTY.

The beauty of the LBD is in it's versatility. In the immortal words of the Greatest Couturier;

"Fashion is at once both caterpillar and butterfly. Be a caterpillar by day and butterfly by night. Nothing could be more comfortable than a caterpillar and nothing more made for love than a butterfly. There must be dresses that crawl and dresses that fly. The butterfly does not go to market, and the caterpillar does not go to a ball."

Depending on accessories, the LBD crawls and flies.

Bienvenu a Pink Pig! Morph into one of our LBD numbers - FLY into the New Year and into the ARMS OF LOVE!

Holiday Traditions

2011-12-20T10:41:00-08:00

We all look forward to the time of togetherness, presents, twinkling lights, good food and drink the HOLIDAY SEASON brings. It is fun to enjoy Christmas Windows and the general SPIRIT of the Season just walking or driving around. But what holds special meaning and joy for many is the CELEBRATION of TRADITIONS.

Drinking a post-ski cocktail at the Au Sable Inn the other day, I posed a question to my fellow elbow benders, "Who here keeps a Holiday Tradition Alive?" ...and the very friendly, very Italian gentleman next to me turned to his two sons and their wives and they laughingly piped up in unison..."FESTA DEI SETTE PESCI" !

I asked him if he would be kind enough to explain how this tradition is honored in his family. Feast of the Seven Fishes, also known as the La Vigilia enjoyed on Christmas Eve. Seven seafood dishes are prepared and eaten while commemorating the vigil for the midnight BIRTH of JESUS.

Some of the yummy seafood dishes have roots in Southern Italy where this tradition is thought to originate. Often impoverished communities would find local fare easy to come by in the sea. Preparation was simple, often salted. Many of the seafood dishes, therefore, are humbly prepared in remembrance. Baked eel is a most traditional offering as is some style of calamari. But this tradition also is a perfect stage for excellent cooks to turn up the heat and dazzle with scrumptious dishes Italian style.

TRY making a pitcher of bitter CAMAPRI mixed with the juice of freshly squeezed BLOOD ORANGES for a delicious APERITIF. Perfect pairing with the traditional ANTIPASTI!!!

One Tradition I read about on Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Life blog is the lighting of the MENORAH. This candle lighting ceremony commemorates the oil lamp that burned for eight days on one day's oil. This tradition is the Jewish FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS and is known as HANUKKAH. Get into this wonderful mindset - foster preserving energy and energy awareness. HONOR the light and warmth from the FLAME of ONE candle.

A Tradition I JUST started I found on the same website. And I invited ten friends to tell ten friends.....and hope you will also. A FREE and EASY way to FEED a HUNGRY CAT AND DOG!! Just go to the Animal Rescue Site and click on the button. That's it. Voila! Corporate advertisers donate about .6 of a cup of food per click......so click away friends and put on your favorites for easy access whenever you want to up your KARMA quotient.

Getting so much pleasure from words and their origins, I am happy to share with you how Santa Clause came by his moniker. In 4th century Italy, Saint Nicholas was a kind and generous man. The Feast of St. Nicholas was celebrated on December 6th but after the Reformation his cache diminished except in Holland. The Dutch pronounced him Sint Nikolaas then shortened to Sinterklaas. American English retooled the Dutch contraction to our well loved Santa Clause. How many families have one Santa designee to don a suit and hand out presents every year?

CHRISTMAS DAY traditional MEALS are fun and you can come up with something that has a special meaning for you. Some cultural traditions include serving Latkes, (potato pancakes), Ham, intricate stuffing, Roasted Meats, Lutefisk,(Swedish Fish)...and about as many creative recipes as there are people and cultures.

You might innovate with a VEGAN or VEGETARIAN meal or dish. You are only limited by your IMAGINATION. But be sure to write down the recipe so you can refer to it year to year.

I LOVE decorating the EVERGREEN TREE. EVERYTHING about it appeals to me. The HEAVENLY SMELL, the gorgeous color and the DECORATIONS. The TREE provides ample opportunity for creating your family tradition. Get together around the table and make your own ornaments from popcorn and cranberries, colored paper or found objects. I enjoy collecting ornaments from travels. Whenever I take these treasures out of the box and lovingly place on the branches I welcome the season officially. Always best savored with loved ones present.

MUSIC! Do you HEAR what I HEAR? LOVE the sound of Children's Choir and a perennial favorite playing in my House is "A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS by VINCE GUARALDI ORCHESTRA. Whatever you do...do not FORGET to SING! Be it after the FEAST, after, during or before TREE TRIMMING, or after the HAPPY HOUR eggnog.......FA LA LA LA LA and JINGLE those BELLS....SONG is good for the HEART.

Whatever your long standing Holiday Tradition or exciting NEW tradition have FUN, be INCLUSIVE and EMBRACE the SPIRIT of GIVING and the graciousness of RECEIVING.

HOLIDAY TRADITIONS are the BONES upon which hang happy and MEMORABLE times.

HAVE A WARM, SAFE AND VERY MERRY HOLIDAY- WITH LOVE- FROM THE PINK PIG

Find Unique VIntage Style Gifts for Everyone on Your List

2011-12-16T05:54:00-08:00

To find unique holiday gifts, look no further than Pink Pig. Our selection of vintage style gifts offers something for everyone on your list. From the sentimental to the practical, we offer original and fabulous gifts your friends and family will love and cherish for years to come.

Jewelry is always a hit, and we have a wide selection of original pieces, like this inspiring necklace with a charm that reads "dream, always." It’s handmade with a vintage pale blue rhinestone drop bead on darkened metal.

For the romantic in your life, check out this luxurious Plum Pretty Sugar Silk Robe. This stunning kimono sleeve-style crossover robe with self-tie sash and inner tie is poetry in silk, perfect for unwinding at the end of the day.

With an imprinted leather bound cover, the Traveler's Journal Notebook is filled with blank, hand-made paper that offers the perfect vista for any memory. It’s the perfect place to collect pieces of inspiration.
The yogi on your list will love this Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat by Peace Love World. It’s oversized and twice as thick as other mats, with an anti-slip, moisture resistant textured surface. Easy to clean and extremely durable, this TPE mat is also non-allergenic and eco-superior to PVC.
To see more of our gifts for her, for him, and for anyone, click here. And as always, feel free to contact us with any questions or to discover more of our unique vintage offerings.

ALL CHOKED UP

2011-12-12T07:30:00-08:00

Gigi & James jewelry is a sumptuous new discovery. Pink Pig is featuring this REMARKABLE LINE in our new shop in Essex, NY and soon available online.

“ Gigi & James, founded 2010 by Jamie Anderson, is a result of Jamie’s love of all things vintage. She acquires vintage and antique jewelry from around the world and repurposes it with semiprecious gemstones, vintage beds and African beads, some which are old and rustic, to create jewelry that is unique, timeless and one of a kind.
Gigi & James jewelry uses elegant vintage pieces that have already lived a thousand lives to make brand new jewelry that is relevant to today’s woman and can be worn for any occasion. She can wear it on her wedding day, out to dinner, to parties and events or to simply add a little glamour to an every day outfit. Eye catching, beautiful, and sometimes bold, each piece of Gigi & James jewelry is designed and created solely Jamie and offers her customers a little piece of the past in jewelry that won’t be seen any where else.”.
I had the pleasure of meeting Jamie Anderson recently and her loving and supportive husband, Rob. They are a strikingly good looking couple and together they comb the world looking for vintage finds to repurpose into this extraordinary jewelry line.
But she has always honored that streak or irrepressible creativity that first showed up as a child. She made her own doll clothes. And later, could not resist bringing her new jewelry purchases home only to tear them apart and re-fashion them.

Well, now we are lucky beneficiaries of her uncanny creative gift. We love her chokers, single or multi-strands of beads of all stripe. What you get is simply what we women want! Count on finding beautiful and unusual clasps, asymmetrical vintage “bling”, a variety of color from Aqua Crystal Quartz , Black Onyx, Pink Howlite to Yellow African Trade Beads.
VINTAGE FINE JEWELRY

Jamie loves the juxtaposition of rustic and refined. You will find a surprising energy arises from this combination. It is a SWEET harmony. Love the GROUNDING the rustic elements bring. SUPPORTS whatever perfectly sparkly eye candy Jamie selects to go with. And there is quite a cachet from which to choose…. SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS, a Vintage FUCHSIA Rhinestone Brooch, a Vintage Aurora Borealis Brooch, a Vintage Sterling Silver Marcasite Bird Brooch and the list is ongoing, surprising, unexpected and utterly sure to spark our interest!

These creations arise from a deep well of alchemy we call art. And it lives inside the artist. Each piece has a soul. Jamie sends these jewels of her artistic creativity out into the world - letting go isn’t easy- but it is her contribution and the world is a more beautiful place because of her commitment to this craft. Her process.
Of course I tried on a necklace as soon as I saw one. And let me say it was almost a religious experience. The heft and smoothness of the beads around my collar bones felt like ancient Ayurvedic therapy.
Make no mistake, this is STATEMENT jewelry. Pair it with casual wear, a tee shirt and jeans ... keep the necklace change the clothes and go out for an evening on the town.

VINTAGE BRIDAL JEWELRY
If a wedding is in your future think Gigi & James!!! You get something old AND something new in one. And if you nab the Vintage Rhinestone Brooch with Aqua Crystal Quartz, Vintage Brass Beads and Vintage Clasp - you get something BLUE as well, perfect TRIFECTA. In fact, why not gift the entire bridal party with a special collection privately commissioned by Madame Jamie herself?
In case I gave the impression Gigi & James offers only neckwear….let me assure you. There are earrings and bracelets exquisitely rendered on offer.
Creativity knows no bounds. Thank God.
FINE ANTIQUE COSTUME JEWELRY is new and happening now at the PIG!
One of the things we LOVE about the necklaces is the attention to the clasp. The clasps are so amazing that you look GORGEOUS going as well as coming. Jamie was describing one recently finished creation that actually drops down the back of the neck. When the hair is worn up the jewelry is shown to great advantage.
　
Catch a rising star, check out Gigi & James, “New Jewelry that has A Past”.

Foraging From Nature to Enhance Your Rustic Cabin Decor

2011-11-30T03:03:00-08:00

Now is the perfect time to enhance your rustic cabin decor and vintage style with natural elements you can find in your own yard. Pink Pig's apothecary jars, mason jars and other vintage vessels are perfect receptacles for simple arrangements that make a bold statement.

Grab your clippers and a basket and stroll through your garden or yard with an new outlook on the flowers, plants, shrubs and trees that are there. Look for natural elements that emphasize shape, color, texture and a bit of whimsy. Late-blooming flowers, colorful foliage, dried flowers, evergreen branches, berries, pine cones, seed pods and small branches with interesting shapes make great accents for arrangements.
Use them indoors in small vessels to add a fresh look to your home for the fall holidays, or outdoors in larger pieces such as our vintage wooden crate or antique wooden caddy to make an eye-catching statement at your front entrance. Check out our website at http://www.pinkpigwestport.com for endless possibilities for your unique style or contact us at for advice about creating a natural look for your home.
There's no limit to the unique looks you can create when you find inspiration in nature!

The Peppermint Pig

2011-11-22T08:46:00-08:00

The Peppermint Pig - A Holiday Tradition in the North Country
A local tradition here in the Adirondack's i thought i would share with all of you.... We are delighted this year to share with you here at the Pink Pig the "Peppermint Pig" by Saratoga Sweets.

The first dusting of winter's snow gathered in darkened downtown doorways and twirled by night's wind seemed to dance and whirl like sugarplum fairies. Behind the oaken doors of gingerbread-sized candy shops that dotted Saratoga, tireless old candy makers, bathed in amber glow of crackling hearth and bubbling candy pots, labored on into the night creating... and continuing a holiday tradition known to all as the "Peppermint Pig" by Saratoga Sweets

This "Peppermint Pig™ as aptly it was named, was cast of hard candy similar in fashion to candy cane and festive pink in colour. And while the pig is honored in Victorian holiday tradition as a symbol of good health, happiness and prosperity, these special "Peppermint Pigs",™ unique to Saratoga Springs, New York, came to represent much more. They proudly stood for and old-fashioned Yuletide itself-a wonderful time when red-cheeked children laughed and rode old wooden sleds over fresh snow, when church bells pealed and fond recollections were shared by family and friends. After the holiday dinner, the Pig was passed amongst those gathered, each in turn giving the pouch a firm tap and sharing a tale of the past year's good fortune. The delicious broken peppermint and warm memories were enjoyed by all in hopes of prosperity for the coming year.

As holiday seasons passed and time marched further into a new century, the tradition of the "Peppermint Pig™ continued on in popularity...until Father Time could wait no longer. One by one the candy makers of Saratoga Springs passed onto their reward and the "Peppermint Pigs™ became but a wonderful memory.

Visit our shop and choose your selection of Peppermint Pigs to add as part of your Holiday Tradition!

Decorative Pillows Give Rooms a Homey Flair

2011-11-17T06:06:00-08:00

Have you finished decorating your living room, den or bedroom, but it still seems like something is missing because it doesn’t have quite the homey look that you imagined? Unique decorative pillows can add just the touch you are looking for, whether floral, ruffled, burlap, French Country, grain sack or primitive pillows.

We have several types of grain sack pillows to complement your rooms, including stripe grain sack cushions, double stripe grain sack pillows, antique stripe grain sack pillows, antique red stripe grain sack pillows and woolen grain sack pillows.

Our grain sacks are from Europe. Some have red strips and some have blue or red and blue. Pillows come with new down-like inserts for a fluffy, comfortable look that goes with most any décor you choose for your home. Our French grain sack pillows come with French words. Some come with vintage ticking trim. We also have soft woolen French grain sack pillows with gray plaid fabric and off-white stitching for a homey look in an elegant living area.

Choose from many different sizes and shapes, including square, long, a distinctive shape, large or small for the perfect embellishment for a sofa, chair, chest or window seat. Our decorative pillows give your home the perfect look, whether you want a rustic touch, an elegant touch or a mix of both.

Green is Gold - Article 14

2011-11-15T05:26:00-08:00

A complete with much of the original wrought

Green is Gold
Living in the Adirondacks is like no other place on earth. We are an experiment playing out on the world stage. The balancing act is between wilderness/habitat and people/economics. Though this contest is played out on every inch of the globe, no other place has constitutional protection in place. To wit: “The lands of the state, now owned or hereafter acquired, constituting the forest preserve as now fixed by law, shall be forever kept wild forest lands. They shall not be leased, sold or exchanged, or be taken by any corporation, public or private nor shall the timber thereon be sold, removed or destroyed.”
This overarching ethos colors our day to day existence. We go about our business often not fully aware we inhabit a six million acre PARK struggling to balance the mandates of wilderness, the needs of people and economic exigencies. We all share this womb struggling to birth a viable and thriving template the rest of the world might clone.
MOSTLY we just live here, year after year, as creeping awareness seeps, osmotically into our collective cells and changes how we view the world.
We like having almost no traffic lights. We like seeing faces of foxes, bears, eagles and falcons as we venture out for coffee. And we begin to see - no feel - the beauty of old things. Like old wood, be it barn boards and beams or the smooth well worn seat of an old chair.

Here at PINK PIG in Essex, we collect and rescue these artifacts. And BREATHE NEW LIFE into them. We beat the bushes looking for the relics of a time when pride of craftsmanship was the order of the day. For instance, you will find late 1700’s and early 1800’s paneled doors. The wood is a bookmark of the great Northeast virgin forests and a door to today’s quest for re-purposing.
Here at the Pig we find great ways to play with old doors. We leave the vestiges of latches and hinges if we are lucky to find those still clinging. We love to see these doors as headboards, sideboards, work tables and desks or propped against a wall - maybe holding a photo a painting…. Maybe throw a rack over the top and display our camp blanket collection - a wonderful MIX of texture.

Seven billion people on the planet and counting….a challenging game of musical chairs indeed. Breathing new life into OLD STUFF is fun, creative and very ,very green. And GREEN IS GOLD.

Creative Decorating Tips Using Candles For Home Decor

2011-11-03T07:02:00-07:00

Home Decor For the Cottage or Cabin
As the cooler weather blows in and the sun dips earlier in the day, why not decorate your cottage, cabin or home with candles adding warmth and ambiance to the space. Fall is the perfect time to collect colorful leaves outside and harness their warmth when decorating with candles. For example, you could use our mirrored winery tray to display leaves or flowers in red, yellow and orange with short amber or chocolate colored candles. To maintain your vintage style, tie velvet, satin or other rich material around the candle and secure with a favorite brooch. The mirrored tray will capture and reflect the light, creating an inviting centerpiece on the dining room table.

Using special items around the house for unique and unexpected uses is a great way to show off your creativity! Look for an urn, a finial or a pedestal bowl to place on a table in your entrance or foyer to welcome guests with the smell of cinnamon. If using a clear container, fill with acorns or cranberries first, then using wooden florist wire as sticks, attach fruits of the season and fill in with flowers. Surround your tall container with pedestal candle holders with cinnamon scented candles. Greeting guests with fragrances of the season adds a nice touch to any home decor.

If you just can't let go of summer yet, fill your garden bistro table with fall leaves and pine cones and place votive candles in between. To keep everyone cozy, bring out your blankets or throws, like this Kantha Throw.

Stop in at Pink Pig now in Essex, NY to touch and feel our yummy blankets in person or contact us with any questions you may have!

Ripples in Essex, NY

2011-10-31T09:52:00-07:00

This week I am welcoming to the Pink Pig web site, guest blogger Linda Coffin. She has an interesting and varied background that colors her perspective. Prior incarnations include, equestrian, theater, launching a wholesale manufacturing company to the furniture trade in High Point, North Carolina of her own designs, experience in restoration, preservation and love of Historic Architecture, and animal welfare campaigner. Moving to Montreal with her French speaking Mother as a child, she said, she was a little scared but excited at the prospect of Igloo living. Instead she found a vibrant city which, she says, touched a very responsive chord within cultivating a love for art, style and urban landscapes. Summers were spent in the Adirondacks -first as a camper and then Counselor at local storied Camp Poko-O-Moonshine, and with her family on Big Wolf Lake. So read along with us as she treats us with her take on…the fine art of Essex living with a side dish of, “a little bit of everything.” Welcome to “Horse-Feathers”, by my friend, Linda Coffin

As an Essex resident I am excited about the local presence of the Pink Pig Boutique. It's a game changer. Most scramble to exit this neck of the woods after the Autumnal Equinox. Like frenzied little mice trying to escape a rain barrel. And until The Essex Inn on Lake Champlain received a no holds barred face-lift and the Pink-Pig hung it's shingle, pretty much the only folks who stopped in Essex , "out of season" , were those unfortunates caught in that dirty little seat-belt and stop-sign trap instituted a few years ago.

Hundred bucks minimum for not having the seat belt buckled or only slowing to a crawl at the stop sign before turning right out of town and straight out of Essex. Mind you the stop sign is virtually twenty-two yards from the Ferry parking lot so most folks didn't stand a chance with the seat belt thing or the crawling stop because they are anxious to cover the 15 miles to the Northway on Ramp- so they can get to Montreal or NYC before nothing keeps happening.

If I sound a little bitter I am. One day I was headed to the dump a - half mile up the hill - seat belt unclipped - as I was jumping out momentito and also did not want to restrict my arm since it is attached to my hand that held a piping hot coffee and since no one was around I turned up the hill from a "crawling stop". Adjudicated down to court costs thanks in part to my friendly neighbor and magistrate. (That's why I know the fee schedule)

I am a happy citizen to report that this unsavory practice is now abandoned as the gun-ho rookies slunk back Down-State where night-clubs exist. But still beware racing down Rt. 22 in a hot hurry to catch the Ferry as there is ALWAYS a stake-out waiting as soon as you see the 35mph limit sign.

Keep going and you T-Intersect with the Main Street of Essex and Lake Champlain, where the Adirondack Park becomes known locally as the Banana Coast. That's because though we are not far from Lake Placid, we experience a significant drop in altitude with a co-morbid rise in mean temperature. It's kinda a joke since nobody can really grow any banana trees here so far yet. (But haven't confirmed with Essex Farm lately) www.gardenshare.org

Turn left and you are almost at the Ferry, BUT just before you arrive - there it is....an eight foot high by two-foot wide black and white sandwich board in it's own parking space proclaiming...COFFEE! AAAAAbsolutely FAAAAAbulous! That slows the rubber on the road and then you see these colossal 18th ct. display windows and you can't tear your eyes away. It's the store front of the Pink Pig Boutique housed in an early 1800's gray stone Emporium.

Greeting one upon entering is a large silver urn of hot coffee and on a round, cloth-covered table with dainty doilies and napkins - homemade pumpkin cookies. Courtesy of Debbie's old school Italian mother. (sometimes it's banana or zucchini bread - from scratch she explains to me - practically does her own threshing...'nuff said?).

But it's those gi-normous display windows, luminous eyes that sparkle and wink and change with the season, that pull you to the sidewalk transfixed. Right now, but at the end of it's lease on life, is a Fall and Halloween Vignette. Precious, little, tear-drop headed ghosts suspended from pink ribbons dressed in translucent fabric with rose tulle scarves smile down on the drop-dead gorgeous Alaskan inspired Hooded Parka featured front and center. Gee those ghouls put a spell on me and made me purchase it - you could plausibly tell your husband, lover or accountant. You wipe the saliva from your face and notice the 14 piercing pair of eyes looking back at you. Five snowy white Owls perch here and there, two small hoot owls and three larger barn owls -all stylized in white fur- as if to say - you too can be as striking we are - just put on that parka! The other eyes belong to a grinning white pumpkin and a horribly scowling orange squash poking out from the lower corner reminding us it is the haunting season. (That exquisite jacket does a pretty good job of haunting all on its own of course)

The twin window on the other side of the entrance inexplicably holds two lovely lithe torsos on wooden stands wearing sparkling tutus in striking cherry. I notice a bone-white vase with cherry blossoms in the fore-ground. If you ask me, and I am getting paid to offer my perspective- those cheery cherry outfits hint at the fashions and spirit of the splashy holiday season just around the corner, and the cherry blossoms echo the cherry colors whilst reminding us that spring ,will indeed, spring forth from a bone white winter.

If you get the feeling somebody knows what they are doing you'd be damn right. Debbie Schrodt, my friend, and Pig proprietress, cares. And she has changed the deeply, I'l say it again, deeply, entrenched traffic pattern of the Village of Essex. No small feat.

She is, perhaps, the hundredth monkey. Because something is afoot here. For sure. Hundredth Monkey Effect. In fact, I was galavanting at the store today, drinking free coffee, eyeing the pastry offerings on display....uh...oh, I mean researching things and watching a few customers...people...not from around here. I couldn't help staring.

She is, perhaps, the hundredth monkey. Because something is afoot here. For sure. Hundredth Monkey Effect. In fact, I was galavanting at the store today, drinking free coffee, eying the pastry offerings on display....uh...oh, I mean researching things and watching a few customers...people...not from around here. I couldn't help staring.

Finally, in the interest of research, I asked an interesting looking woman what she was doing here, why she was in the Pink Pig and...she interrupted me to ask politely if I was interviewing her. Caught with my writer showing!! Such a rookie mistake but can't knock off that prideful flush - my first official writing job....finally getting paid for inking that cursed natural verbosity, (also known as wordiness, prolixity and garrulousness - those last two almost sound like venereal diseases- thanks Wikipedia.)

I confessed I was: feigning embarrassment that I had a bona fide reason for engaging her. She was so gracious and forthcoming, explaining that she was a collector. Always has been. Collecting doll house interiors as a young girl and only gaining scope and whimsy from there. Definitely a very interesting and articulate person, Pam. She is a huge fan of Debbie and her store. She is from the city but has tap roots in Philly and once, she and her husband - a native northern New Yorker- were pleasure traveling and disembarked in Essex and ended up buying a place in this area. She likes the store because it affords her ample opportunity to add to her collections and find new things to collect. The great mix of old and new- country and urban, primitive and refined allows anyone to indulge their passions.

Everything from furniture, accessories, to soft goods, clothes - a hybrid with a resort mentality- understands trends, fun, elegant and with really good unbelievable prices. ( Pam, if you send a S.A.S.E. I will send you $2.40 - .10 cents. per word)

You'll find scrumptious hand creams and jewelry, some of it local artist made. I bought the sweetest paper mache bracelet this summer made by Lynda Smythe -a confection of stripes, butterflies in soft pastel corals, gold, pinks and apricots -loved that the interior of the 3/4 inch wide band also had decoration.

Coincidentally, Pam, the interesting collector, was accompanied by a friend and my new friend, Frank Edgerton Martin. Turns out he is one of the Port Henry Seven. (as is, also coincidentally, Lynda Smythe). This gang of insiders and outsiders have a mission to bring culture, a thriving economy and at least one French Restaurant, ( I hope), to Port Henry. Don't bet against them. They are like seven magnificent Samurai, but that could be coincidence also). Frank is a landscape historian. ( www.frankedgertonmartin.com ) Another great concept linking scenic hiking trails to the village economies is CATS= Champlain Area Trail System. www.champlainareatrails.com

Noticed Debbie was the proud recipient of an original Sid Couchy painting. She pointed it out when I was drinking coffee and trying to read the Times Headlines (without actually purchasing). 'Tis a great little wee painting of - interestingly - a masculine pink pig - leaning on a fence chatting up a frilly and fluffy feminine sheep with long eyelashes and a hint of pink lip gloss. Anyone familiar with the Little Lotta, Richie Rich or Little Dot Harvey Comics knows Sid Couchey. ( www.facebook.com/pages/Sid-Couchey/143335009015123 ) Proud to say he and his wife are pretty close neighbors- Mrs. Sid Couchey saved my young Border Collie, Blue , once when we first moved here seven years ago. He ran away to investigate the neighborhood. She saw the number on his tag and called me. Thanks Mrs. Couchey!

Ex. Gov. George Pataki also lives up the road in a large farm with waterfront called The South Farm. Sid painted the large square farm sign by the road so be sure to notice when in the area. When are you going to throw in your hat, George?

I think it is often the case, little Eastern towns, once major players in shaping early history but left in the dust of Manifest Destiny,come round again attaining glorious new heights when some event precipitates a chain-reaction. I-Pads, Phones and technology in general allow connectivity, in turn allowing Manhattanites- as an example- to live here -in the Great White North - at least part of the time. Clearly there is a ripple effect along the Adirondack Coast and it's rousing little towns.

Next week there will be new Store windows, new merch, and more people and stories.

Hey, hang on to your seats because this LITTLE PIGGY HAS WINGS!!

Bringing Antiques into Your Home Decor

2011-10-21T10:56:00-07:00

Bringing Antiques into Your Home Decor

When decorating your home there are many different ways you can incorporate antiques and unique pieces, giving your home a personal touch that’s just right. Never considered adding antiques into your home decor? Here are five easy ways you can start:

Collections
Picture something you remember from your childhood visits to the local farm or to your grandmother’s home. Old wooden shoe molds, pottery of all sizes and shapes, old bottles, quirky salt and pepper shakers, or delicate lace doilies are wonderful collectibles that can be showcased in your home in interesting ways. Group them together for the greatest impact. With the holidays approaching, look for items that can be part of your seasonal decor as well.

Fabrics
Do you love the colors, designs, and textures of old fabrics? Bring a few into your current home decor by adding decorative pillows made from old quilts or blankets to your sofa. Delicate pieces of cloth or even small articles of baby clothing can be framed behind glass and grouped together in a display. Have fun finding old clothing items that can be displayed in various rooms. We love to see beautiful silk gloves displayed on a dresser top or an old hat peeking out from a shelf.

Color
Do you love color in your home? Or do you enjoy the peaceful feeling of ivory or off-white? Find treasures in antique stores or from your family heirlooms that bring out the colors you already love in your home. A collection of creamy-colored vases is both soothing and functional, while a bright yellow-hued collection of pitchers brings a vibrant splash of color to your kitchen.

A”Wow” Item
Sometimes there is one amazing piece yo u just can’t pass up. Whether it’s an old butter churn, an interesting side table, or a large piece of antique poster art, make it a high-impact item in one room of your home. By focusing attention on one great piece the feel of the whole room can change.

Antique Meets Modern
Some people feel that antiques and modern pieces don’t get along with each other. They certainly can! Mixing pieces from the past with sleek, modern items brings interest and depth to your home decor. A chunky distressed-wood kitchen table looks amazing with shiny, polished, and modern stainless steel serving bowls and platters. A group of antique kitchen implements can bring a homey touch to a sleek new kitchen remodel.

Ready to give it a try? Let Pink Pig help you find some wonderful items to add to your home decor. Stop by and visit us in person, or contact us for help finding your home decorating treasures.

Create the Romantic Bedroom of Your Dreams

2011-10-16T12:49:00-07:00

If you've always wanted to turn your bedroom into a romantic getaway or a restful retreat, you can! With the right colors, fabrics and furnishings you can create the bedroom of your dreams.

For inspiration, check out this slideshow of 10 Romantic Bedrooms. You'll find ideas in a variety of colors and styles, with something for everyone, whether you prefer sleek lines and minimalism, or more elaborate and intricate designs.

Granted, one room featured in the slideshow benefits greatly from its seaside location, but if you don't happen to live right on the beach, any of the other ideas could be implemented right in your own home.
No matter whether your bedroom (and your budget) is large or small, you can absolutely turn your sleeping space into a unique reflection of your most restful and relaxed self.
Browse Pink Pigs Antiques for romantic bedding and bedroom accessories. Our collection of unique bedding features affordable quality bed linens, duvets, and pillows. Romantic, French and modern bedding styles co-exist happily and set apart your bedroom decor as your own.
Contact us for more inspiration and ideas, and get ready to start designing your ideal romantic bedroom!

Rustic Cabin Decor Brings Fall Inside your Home

2011-10-06T12:54:00-07:00

Finally, fall is in the air! All around our little town the leaves are beginning to turn color, the air is crisp and cooler, and our thoughts turn to mugs of hot apple cider, visits to the pumpkin patch, and fuzzy warm slippers.

What better way to celebrate the change of seasons than to bring the feeling of fall indoors? Your home decor is not only a mirror of your personal style, but can reflect the changing seasons with a few simple updates .

One of our favorite ways to bring in a touch of fall is to use rustic cabin decor items throughout the home. Think rough-sawn wood, raw edges on fabric accessories, burnished metal accents, and thick fisherman-knit afghans.

Accent your usual decor with a few unique antiques that speak to you. Hunting for new treasures is half the fun of decorating! We love the look of old pottery in wonderful fall colors, mixed in with your usua l tableware as either serving pieces or in a warm, fall tablescape. Antique bottles make interesting vases for sunflowers, tree branches with fall leaves, or dried grasses. Or try putting an old pair of boots in the corner by the door, as if waiting for a romp in the dry leaves.

Changing up your decorative pillows is another easy way to bring that fall feeling into your family room. Look for fabrics with texture and warmth, in rich colors like browns, reds, and deep mustard tones. It’s amazing what such small changes can do for your decor.

Pink Pig brings a variety of decor options to your everyday life! Stop by for a visit or contact us and see what treasures you discover today.

It's Time to Decorate Your Home for Fall

2011-09-29T14:48:00-07:00

As the trees display their vibrant colors and the air turns crisp and cool, fall can be a season of change for the inside of your home as well.
Whether it's a matter of adding some throw pillows, finally having the time to do some repairs, or painting an entire room, we found this article with some great ideas from three home decorating experts.
That back-to-school vibe is in the air, and even if you're not a student, you might want to create a space for reading or pursuing a hobby. Any quiet alcove or area can work. If possible, utilize natural light. For example, a window seat makes a perfect reading niche:

If you don't have one, pull a large, comfy chair up near a window with a small side table that can hold your laptop or a book and mug of hot coffee. If the table has a drawer, you can keep necessary items on hand. Otherwise, keep a decorative bin or basket nearby.

For painting or accessorizing, you can't go wrong with classic fall colors like gold, burnt orange or brown. Autumn flowers such as mums, or even a branch from a maple tree can be displayed inside or out to add a splash of bright color and enhance your decor.
When making design changes, don't forget the big picture. After a busy summer of wear and tear, your home might need some touch ups. Maybe door frames or baseboards are scuffed, the floor needs to be polished, or carpets are in need of cleaning.
Finally, fall reminds us that the upcoming holiday season is not far away. Now is a great time to polish silverware and prepare your dining room for any entertaining you have planned.
In the midst of your fall decorating, check out Pink Pig where you can find unique furniture, home decor, and accessories that reflect your personal style. Contact us for more information or to find that perfect fall accessory for your home.

Happy Fall from the Pink Pig!

Country Chic Living

2011-09-24T12:11:00-07:00

You don't need a home in the country to crave a rustic country appeal. Whether you’re partial to antiqued wood finishes, subdued prints or well-worn accessories with an antiqued-aesthetic, there’s always a certain charm that comes with this design scheme. Bring that casual elegance into your home with our unique collection of furniture, accessories and decor that will bring a cool country chic feel into your home.

French Horse Print

Metal Bin Cabinet


Oval Wooden Mirror

Our new selection of linens and kitchen wares by Cote Bastide embodies the essence of an understated style, good living and a taste of French Country Living.

Linen Table Runner

Cote Bastide Olive Tray

If you truly crave a country weekend... then jump in that SUV and head up to the Adirondack's. Visit the Pink Pig in our new location in the historic town of Essex, NY. I promise you Fall is in the air and you will be inspired by our wonderful countryside and all is has to offer.

Thank you for stopping by and i hope you will visit us again soon as we find more way's to bring some Country Chic Living to you!

Shabby Chic Pillows & Quilts

2011-09-20T08:37:00-07:00

Hi all! Iím Jennifer and I write for Arcadian Home Decor, a site that chronicles the work of top interior designers and home decor trends around the world. I've been writing about home decor since graduating university and have loved it ever since. I'm addicted to patterned fabrics, Jonathan Adler, chaise lounges, old doors, milk glass jars, antiques, and chandeliers. The Pink Pig blog is always full of delightful surprises, and I'm so happy to be guest posting here today. Thanks Debbie Schrodt - and don't forget to check out her incredible store in Westport, New York!

Shabby chic evokes a sense of nostalgia - all those incredible patterns, soft shades and whimsical home accessories add instant elegance and character to any space. Today, original pillows and quilts in delicate shabby chic styles can be found at flea markets as well as revamped in modern designs at big-box stores. Here are eight shabby chic pillows and quilts to fall in love with.

Pretty in pink via†Shabby Chic Tips

A subtle floral print of pink, white and mint green looks lovely with butterfly wall art and an antique end table topped with a pink and white lamp.

Beautiful blend via†Like I Things

A shabby chic quilt is draped over an array of modern bedding layers, while vintage furnitures lend a deliciously dated feel to the space.

Mod magenta via†Apartments I Like

This contemporary spin on the traditional uses a shabby chic motif in avant-garde colours like magenta and lime green. The painted headboard and floating end table complete the look.

Shabby for baby via†Project Nursery

There's something oh-so-sweet about a shabby chic nursery such as this, with the tree-printed quilt and accent pillows. Two birds-in-flight wall art decals add some playfulness.

Boutique hotel chic via†The Home Decorating Company

The wrought-iron antique furniture and brushed copper table lamp give this bedroom a decidedly dated feel - the sleek material of the bedding along with frilly edging are a mix of old and new.

Classic rosebuds via†Shopperhive

A loft bedroom is perfection when outfitted in a traditional pink, red and white rosebud pillow and quilt - the pale blue is mimicked in the table decorations and curvy wall mirror.

A pretty party via†Moodboard

A solid white canopy bed flanked with paper stars, pink and white shabby chic bedding and newly-wrapped presents make this space worthy of celebration.

Ornate organics via†Paul's Home Fashions

The vintage patterned pillows, bed skirt and quilt in hearty earth tones are a contemporary twist on the original.

Content provided by Arcadian Home Decor, a site that specializes in top quality home decor items at extremely affordable prices. Come visit us today!

Vintage Home Decor

2011-09-09T07:09:00-07:00

Romantic Bedding

Imagine plush romantic bedding atop an antique wrought-iron bed, soft light glowing from a vintage style lamp. Decorative pillows and country antiques tastefully decorate the room. A quiet country breeze moving gently through the room. An oasis in an otherwise extremely busy life.
It's always so nice to get away from reality and stress and to have a place where you can just let your cares fade into the background. For many people, a trip away from the city and out to the country is a very popular stress reliever. However, if weekend getaways to the B & B in the countryside aren't a possibility, how about bringing some of that comfort into your home instead?

Industrial Drum Lighting

Shabby Chic Decor

Industrial Bin Cabinet

Alena Votive

Horseshoe Candelabra

Pink Pig Westport can help you turn your home into that country cottage. Our shop has a wide variety of eclectic home furnishings and decor. Pink Pig also carries a vintage clothing line and jewelry. Our jewelry is just as beautiful and unique as the home decor items we offer. The clothing is very fashionable and comfortable as well. Just one more thing to help you relax after a hectic day. To top it off, Pink Pig offers a luxurious line of bath soaps, lotions and aromatic candles to treat yourself with as well.

Farmhouse Table

Pink Pig Westport's furniture offers a very simple style that allows you to accessorize with your favorite throw pillow or blanket. We have a wide variety of chairs, dining tables, and beds to choose from as well as some side tables.

This is just a small taste of what is we have to offer at Pink Pig Westport, come visit our store, or you can shop online at www.pinkpigwestport.com. Our new location in Essex, New York is now open year round. So come and visit us and we will help you transform your home into what you have always dreamed of!

"Create your vision of vintage modern decor with faint wisps of yesteryear through well-placed vintage shabby chic cottage accents."

Bathed In Style

2011-09-06T14:31:00-07:00

Free Standing tubs of the Victorian era will add elegance and panache to any bathroom whether historic or contemporary.

Here is a new addition to the Pink Pig - This is an original Circa. 1890's tin tub that has been completely finished with a new look by our shop. The outside layer of tin has been powder coated in a pale shade of blue. It has an inside sheet of 12 oz. copper with the original nickel plating. The rim is made of Cherry Wood. This beautiful Victorian bath tub was made by the Steel Clad Bath Co., of New York as shown in this original ad below.

Nothing defines your bathroom more than a pretty rug. Here is my favorite from Peacock Park which is a bamboo mat with French script... Pretty yes?

Some vintage style bath accessories like our towel bars and soap dish.

Cote Bastide beautifully woven white cotton hand towel with fringing makes drying hands an absolute pleasure. White towel with blue stripe for a simple, stylish bathroom statement.

Our new Damask Collection by our favorite Uptown Soap Company features new wonderful scents in soap and luxurious body cream.

Come visit us as we show you more ways to Bath In Style!

Home Decorating by "Undecorating

2011-09-01T13:21:00-07:00

Christiane Lemieux, founder of bedding company DwellStudio, says it's time to undecorate your house to let your personality shine through. In her new coffee table book, "Undecorate," Lemieux encourages DIY designers to throw out the conventional approach to filling up your living space in favor of buying pieces you love. Gone are the pillows that match the sofa that matches the rug. Rustic cottage furniture in your downtown loft? Absolutely. Lemieux explains her concept in an interview with So Haute:

How did you land on the title Undecorate?
It really says exactly what I am getting at in the book. I really believe we look at interior design and decor in a more fluid way these days…we do things ourselves and the project is never really done. It’s never really decorated. We also – through blogs and social media – invite each each other in and work together and decorate together. It’s always an evolving process.
Your book refers to undecorating as a movement…what do you think it is about this effortless style that resonates with people?
I think there are no barriers to entry. If you love something – you can make it work in your interior. We shot to the most amazing place in Chicago where the owners Heidi and Art lived with their Jaguar cars…it was gorgeous. The cars functioned like sculptures.
What do you think is the key to achieving an “undecorated” look?
I think it’s personal. Don’t follow rules – follow your instincts. Do the things you like and it will come together. Undecorating is about soul and personality.

So, now you are officially free to forget your grandmother's traditional home decorating rules and pave your own path. We have just the right pieces to get you started. Visit us at the store or online to find your own undecorating style.
Painted vintage wicker, anyone?

Unique Lighting for your Kitchen

2011-08-25T03:12:00-07:00

In today’s kitchen, lighting is no longer the forgotten element of design. Pendants, chandeliers, and ceiling-mounted lights are often used to provide ambient light. These chandeliers look great in a group, but just as good singled out alone over the dining table.

Depending on where you live, you might find yourself with a relatively small space available for your kitchen. If this is the case it is more important than ever that you plan each and every nook and cranny so you get the most bang for your space and your buck.

Mercury Glass pendant lamps - 60 watt maximum - comes with a 6' cord and plug.

Three choices for you to choose from: Bell Shaped ( 6.5 x 6.5), Hobnail (6.50 x 6.25) and Classic (7.50 x 5.75)

$58.00 each

Industrial Wire Cage Lighting - Raw rusted metal industrial pendant lighting combined with antique brass and twisted cloth cord.

Measures 6 x 13 diam. x 19. 100Watt Max

$100 each

Find these and other unique lighting elements at the Pink Pig.

Relax in a Pair of Boxer Shorts by Clairidge + King

2011-08-17T05:50:00-07:00

Wearing soft, comfortable boxers as loungewear has been a trend with woman for years. We've found the perfect solution for how you can enjoy your boxers without having to raid your boyfriend/husband's drawer. No need to shop in the men's underwear area of your local department story either. Clairidge + King has come out with a line of boxer shorts cut especially for women.

Inspired by His, Made for Her

They've borrowed his boxers and her tap pants and melded the best of both to create our flattering sleep shorts. Made with 100 percent long-staple cotton, they've bundle two pair to a pack.

Fashioned with fine shirting fabric
Grosgrain ribbon-edged back pocket
Side slits on each leg
Comfortable elastic waistband lined with our signature pewter-striped fabric
Wear at your waist or folded over and inched down to your hips
Packaged in a quilted, zippered pouch

Package of 2: $32.00 at the Pink Pig
Available in White, Pink, Blue and Pinstripe
Sizes Small, Medium and Large