About Us

GRACIOUS COTTAGE by monah comes to you from Long Beach, CA. I love Vintage! One thing has led to another…I started by renting a booth in a local antique store. Then I began to sell at some flea markets. When ebay came along, I was enthralled (“monah” seller ID since 1999). http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/monah Next, I had a brick and mortar store called Past & Present Shop on Broadway in Long Beach. I also dabble in catering called “Have Seconds” (heritage recipes). For teas, all my presentation is in the way the table is set with unmatched (but hopefully related) vintage dishes. I like cooking, baking, small entertaining & gardening. I have managed to combine vintage decorating with all my interests. My garden has more yard art than flowers.

My love affair with home accessories started with knick knacks. As I child (home then was Eau Claire, WI), I would earn money through 4-H projects or garden projects. I would take my 10 cents to the local Woolworth’s or Kresge’s Dime Store and buy a knick knack—almost always an animal. I still have most of them today. My interest in decorating got matched up later with my interest in vintage. I always gravitated toward my Grandmother’s house where everything was older. My Mom wanted to get modern things. But what was new & modern in the 50’s is now cool vintage. So it all worked out…

One more thing I want you to know about me…if I win the lottery, I will go to more (not less) thrift stores, garage sales and flea markets.

I am getting not my "sea legs" but my "cottage legs" so I can have a website that works for YOU and for me.  Future talk...I am going to feature the Spare (Guest) Room of the month. These rooms are smaller and cozier many times. I have seen some of the most welcoming guest rooms, and I thought this might be a fun feature--kind of your bed & breakfast room. Start taking your pictures.