Looking for something to brighten your decor or to bring the feeling of spring into your home? Try looking at the Cottage Company, 129 S. Second Ave., Sequim. It's putting out a new spring line of dishes and decorations to encourage a light, airy feeling.

The Cottage Company is the "mommy/daughter" creation of Susie Tuttle and Michelle Shay. They've been at their Sequim location for six years although Susie previously owned shops in California. They enjoy working together, decorating and buying.

As Michelle puts it, "We shop and socialize for a living."

The store inventory has a bit of everything: Crystal strands for decorating, especially bobeche dishes that fit over candles to keep wax from dripping on furniture or tablecloths.

A wide variety of cast iron ranging from hooks and outlet covers to towel holders and shelf brackets.

The company has an exclusive contract for the peninsula to carry a line of quilted runners, tablecloths, throws, napkins and aprons.

They have several bags from Seattle designer Emilie Sloan ranging from small cosmetics bags to larger carryalls.



Uncommon scents

Cottage Company has a line of gourmet foods, including a popular scone mix. The women enjoy helping perplexed shoppers find the perfect gift, even offering to fill any of their variety of containers with products anyone might enjoy.

They offer custom-made furniture, including benches, bookcases, coat racks and decorative birdhouses.

The women make their own potpourri from organically grown flowers, leaves, berries and pods. The new blend for spring will be in freesia or cucumber/melon scents. Their best-selling potpourri is lemon verbena that they always keep in stock. They also sell a variety of oils for misting or simmering on the stove.

The comfortable, homey shop invites people to visit and stay for a chat. Tuttle and Shay know their regulars and ask about their lives and families.



In an English garden

The store is in an old house they gutted and rebuilt from the outside in. They have added an English-style garden out front and spend time outside during warm weather chatting with customers and gardening. They even have a neighborhood cat named Oreo that stays in their garden and ushers

customers around the store.

The women say they appreciate their customers staying with them through the difficult economic times. December was their best Christmas season in three years. They plan their once-a-year, 15-percent-off storewide sale for Feb. 15-20.

Store hours are 11 a.m.-

4 p.m. Monday through Saturday during the winter. The rest of the year, the store is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m.-

4 p.m. on Saturday.

Reach Dana Casey at dcasey@sequimgazette.com