October Charm | Antiques, Pumpkins & a Cozy Cottage Update

Antiques in Cornish, a seaweed mocha yellow ware bowl, my Great Pumpkin Wall, and a cozy cottage rug — welcoming October in Maine style.

Welcoming October on the Maine Coast

Well, it’s October — and I’m ready for it.

Through much of September I was still embracing summer, but over the past couple of weeks I’ve gradually shifted gears. Now I’m all in.

So bring it on, October! Give me all the pumpkins, colorful leaves, cozy sweaters and blankets, hearty cruciferous veggies, squash, and apples. Crisp mornings and warm afternoon sunshine — I want to soak it all up!

October is a beautiful month here on the Maine coast. It’s still a wonderful time to get out and about — then return home to fluff the nest in preparation for colder days ahead. I managed a little of both this past week.

On Saturday I headed to Cornish with friends for some antiquing. We had a fabulous time, and I came home with one special find. I’ll share a bit about its history and show you how I styled it in my home.

On Sunday I made my annual trip to the pumpkin farm to gather pumpkins for my Great Pumpkin Wall. This display has become a favorite of yours — and mine!

And just the other day, a new rug arrived for the guest cottage. I’ve been puzzling over the right rug for the seating area there, and I can’t wait to show you how this one fits in.

So join me as I welcome October here in my coastal Maine cottage — a season of antiques, pumpkins, and cozy little updates.

A Day Antiquing in Cornish, Maine

Cornish is one of those delightful Maine surprises you stumble upon while driving backcountry roads — a tiny gem of a town with half a dozen antiques shops and a handful of restaurants. Located halfway between Portland and the White Mountains, it’s a good 2½-hour drive from my home. Definitely a full-day outing.

You might remember my disappointing birthday trip there this summer. I had envisioned a fun day of antiquing, only to discover that most of the town is closed on Tuesdays. (Read all about it in this post!)

I vowed to return — and last Saturday, I finally did.

Lunch

When friends invited me on a last-minute trip to Cornish, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. I drove to their house and hopped in their car, happy not to make the long drive myself.

We kicked things off with lunch at Krista’s Restaurant, a cozy, eclectic spot with a warm and welcoming vibe — casual, but with plenty of playful character. Their menu mixes comfort food and creative dishes, with daily specials and house-made desserts. My friend is gluten- and dairy-free, and I’m a vegetarian, and we both found plenty of options. I ordered the portobello sandwich — artichoke heart and olive relish, tomato, roasted garlic aioli, melted Swiss cheese, baby spinach, and a balsamic drizzle. It was flavorful, hearty, and anything but ordinary.

Krista’s is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday in summer and fall, and Thursday through Sunday in winter and spring. For more information and to peruse their menu, visit their website.

Shopping

Our main destination was the Cornish Trading Company — a three-story, multi-dealer antiques shop right in the heart of the village. Filled with everything from early American furniture to quirky country finds and architectural treasures, it’s a browser’s paradise. The booths were beautifully displayed, and I thought the prices were very fair.

We also stopped into Libby’s Antiques, Evie’s Eclectic Collections, and The Smith Company for more browsing. Each shop had its own personality and treasures to discover.

What I Bought

My friends, who recently moved into a wonderful old house, were on the hunt for some specific items.

As for me — well, you all know I don’t really need anything (nor do I have much room left!). For me, antiquing is more about the experience: admiring the patina of old objects, imagining the stories behind them, and maybe — just maybe — finding one little treasure to bring home.

And I did! I came away with a bowl to add to my dining table stack. Not an antique, but a vintage reproduction of a type of pottery I’ve had my eye on for a while now. I’ll tell you all about that next.

(My friends, on the other hand, didn’t find the cabinet or settee they were looking for. The hunt continues!)

Seaweed Mocha Yellow Ware Pottery & My Dining Table

My love of antique pottery and dishes runs deep. And whether it was nature (is there a pottery gene??) or nurture, it definitely came from my mom, with her huge collection of antique blue and white transferware.

I’ve even written a whole post about my pottery collections, though I didn’t include yellow ware at the time. Specifically, seaweed mocha yellow ware.

What Is Seaweed Mocha Yellow Ware?

Wow, that sure is a mouthful! But really, it’s just a material and a technique brought together.

The yellow ware part refers to the warm, golden earthenware clay body that was common in England and America in the 1800s—sturdy, affordable, and found in just about every kitchen.

The mocha part describes the decoration: potters dripped a special solution onto wet clay slip, which spread into feathery, seaweed-like tendrils.

Put the two together and you have wonderfully whimsical seaweed mocha yellow ware pottery!

A Collectible Treasure

Today, those humble kitchen pieces are highly collectible—authentic 19th-century examples can sell for thousands of dollars on sites like 1stDibs. And while I’ve admired them for a while now, they are well outside my budget.

At the Cornish Trading Company last Saturday, though, I did find a sweet reproduction made in the same spirit by Sampson Pottery in Westminster, Massachusetts, dated 1994. With its warm yellow glaze, blue stripes, and wispy seaweed decorations, it has all the charm, but without the eye-watering price tag.

Styled on My Dining Table

The bowl makes a perfect addition to my stack of pottery bowls on the dining table, mixing and matching with antique spongeware and one piece of old yellow ware. The golden hues add fall warmth to my signature blues and coordinate perfectly with the Couleur Nature floral table runner I bring out this time of year.

It’s a good reminder that mixing high and low, authentic and reproduction, can still create a look with history and heart.

✨ I’ve linked several original seaweed mocha yellow ware pieces below, along with a few reproductions and my favorite table runner.

Guest Cottage Update: A Vintage Revival Rug

The guest cottage, located up the driveway, can be a little out of sight, out of mind. While I change things up regularly in the main house, aside from seasonal bedding swaps, the cottage usually stays the same.

This week, though, it got a little update with a new rug from Revival.

Revival is a wonderful online source for rugs — everything from one-of-a-kind vintage finds to well-made new designs, all at prices that feel refreshingly reasonable.

The guest cottage is one open space, so I use rugs to define the different functional areas — kitchenette, sleeping nook, entrance, dining, and living. I’ve tried a few rugs in the living area over the years, but none ever felt quite right. It needed to work with the sofa and chairs while also playing nicely with all the other rugs in the room.

Well, I think I’ve finally nailed it! My new one-of-a-kind vintage wool Turkish rug from Revival has a small, overall floral design in a wonderfully worn red with denim blue and cream accents. The subtle pattern adds warmth, texture, and character without competing with the other, bolder rugs in the room. It grounds the seating area and ties everything together.

I’m happy to say this rug is a keeper. I love it!

The rug gift arrived just ahead of Revival’s big Birthday Sale later this month. I’ll share all the details once the sale begins — so stay tuned!

The Great Pumpkin Wall — My Favorite Fall Display

It officially feels like fall once I pull together my Great Pumpkin Wall.

For those of you who are new here, every autumn I decorate the long stone wall that separates the lawn from the field with pumpkins.

So last Sunday I headed over to Bull Run Farm in Cushing and loaded up 29 beauties. Nick, the owner, prides himself on growing the best and newest varieties — yellow, green, and multi-colored, fairytale, warty, and stacking pumpkins. For the wall, though, I stick with the classics: cheerful, round, and orange. And there are always plenty of those too.

Nick knows me by now — probably as the crazy pumpkin lady — and always gives me a bulk deal (though his prices are good to begin with).

The display couldn’t be simpler, but when I pull down the driveway or catch a glimpse of those vibrant orange pumpkins lined up against the stone and fading grasses, it makes me smile. A celebration of fall abundance — and a nod to Halloween too.

I keep them on the wall through Thanksgiving, and then a neighbor collects them to feed the deer in his yard.

But for now, I’m enjoying this cheery, seasonal display! I hope you do too!

This Week Into Next — Fall in Coastal Maine

It was a good fall week!

We had some of the chilliest temps of the season so far, but I still haven’t turned on the heat. It’s supposed to warm up again this weekend. It might be silly, but I always like to see how long I can hold out before flipping the switch. With propane fuel, winter often feels like I’m burning dollar bills! Of course, as soon as the house truly feels chilly, I give in — but for now, it’s fine.

One little project this week was sewing cloth napkins for my grand-toddlers and popping them in the mail. It always brings me joy to write their names on the address label. The napkins turned out so cute — each is two-sided with coordinating seasonal fabrics. Milk bottles and farm animals, pumpkins and a cobweb-laced floral, and Christmas pups and the Nutcracker (my daughter Zoë danced in the Nutcracker for many holiday seasons).

Looking ahead, next week is quiet until Thursday, when I head to Vermont for a two-night visit with my friend Ann of Dabbling and Decorating. On Friday we’re off to Vintage Market Days Vermont. Ann has been several times and written multiple blog posts about her experiences. I can’t wait to spend time with her and join the hunt for vintage treasures!

I’m not sure what next week’s blog schedule will look like, but rest assured I’ll share all the details of this vintage market as soon as I can. So perhaps a mid-week post afterwards, instead of my usual Saturday?

I’ll see you when I see you! Until then, be well!