English Cottage Inspirations

Have you seen our lovely limited-edition candle set? It pairs our beautiful Victorian-inspired candles with the most charming matchbooks in antique-style designs!

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I first came upon these matchbooks at a local gift shop called The Sheep’s Nest, owned by my sweet friend Kim Whritner. Her shop is located in the neighboring village of Hobart and was designed as a replica of a centuries-old English cottage!

The Sheep's Nest English cottage gift shop in Hobart, New York

Inspired by a visit to the Cotswold area of England, Kim and her husband, John, returned to the US inspired to create their own slice of the English countryside, right here in the Catskills of upstate New York.

“We found ourselves taking pictures of various aspects of the homes we came upon, making U-turns so we could go back to photograph an amazing gate or the color of a door. Between John's background in construction and my background in folk art, our creative juices were flowing. By the time we had landed on American soil again, we were ready to build our own cottage.”

…And, oh my goodness, did they ever! Every time I visit The Sheep’s Nest, I truly feel as though I’ve been transported to the lush hillsides and charming vistas of the English countryside. Set against the backdrop of rolling green dotted with puffy sheep, Kim’s cottage and surrounding English garden are always a treat to explore.

Inside the shop, Kim curates her own signature collection of unique gifts,home products, jewelry, stationery, candles, bath and body…and those lovely matchbooks! ;-) 

The Sheep's Nest English cottage gift shop in Hobart, New York

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And, in an expression of Kim’s creativity, The Sheep’s Nest also carries her original needle felting artwork, for which she uses wool from her very own sheep!

“We are currently at around 40 sheep with 14 new lambs just born this spring. My favorite part of raising the sheep would have to be lambing season. There is nothing more innocent and sweet! Shetland sheep come in many different colors and patterns, so when a new baby is born it is always a surprise!”

The Sheep's Nest English cottage gift shop in Hobart, New York

The Sheep's Nest English cottage gift shop in Hobart, New York

The Sheep's Nest English cottage gift shop in Hobart, New York

If you ever find yourself in the Catskills, I hope you will stop by The Sheep’s Nest and explore her lovely cottage and her sweet shop…And let me know when you're there! I’ll pop down the road to say hello! ;-)

You can find The Sheep’s Nest at 45 Main Street in Hobart and on Facebook, Instagram, and Etsy.

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Click here for the limited-edition candle set with our timeless Victorian-inspired candles paired with lovely vintage-style matchbooks from The Sheep’s Nest!

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