Papaya Cottage

09/09/2026

Autumn Ember. No sign of autumn here on Florida's Gulf Coast — although I certainly wish there were. So I’m bringing a little of the season into the studio instead.

Deep autumn tones of paprika and warm gold, framed in cotton rope and finished with a jute rim.

And while Autumn Ember is having its moment, I’m already imagining this idea in coastal-inspired colors as I prepare for upcoming markets.

What colors would you like to see?

09/08/2026

If you’ve seen one rope basket, you’ve seen them all… right? Not quite.

Shape, color, texture and those final little details can give each piece a personality all its own. Sometimes it’s an unexpected combination or one finishing touch that changes everything.

That’s the part of designing I love most.

Autumn Rose has already found a home — but there are plenty of new ideas taking shape for market season, just one month away.

09/05/2026

Handmade means homespun and rustic… right? Not necessarily.

Handmade can be refined, sophisticated and beautifully finished, too. Thoughtful shaping, subtle color and carefully chosen details can turn simple cotton rope into a piece that complements many different decorating styles.

At Papaya Cottage, handmade means each piece is individually created rather than mass produced. This one has already found a home, while new one-of-a-kind pieces are taking shape for fall markets.

09/04/2026

Rope baskets are just for storage… right? They can be. But the right basket can also become part of the room.

Filled with rolled towels and a few bath essentials, Seaside Sonata brought color, texture and a handcrafted detail to an everyday space — while still being wonderfully useful.

Because functional can be beautiful, too.

This one-of-a-kind piece has already found a home, but more Papaya Cottage baskets are taking shape for the upcoming market season, starting October 10.

09/03/2026

Think rope sewing is just about making baskets? Not quite.

Rope can be wrapped, shaped, stitched with fabric and transformed in ways that go far beyond the traditional rope basket. This one-of-a-kind wall pocket cone is one of those pieces — designed simply by seeing where the rope could go next.

This one has already gone home with a customer (seen here) who discovered it at one of my past markets.

Discover more one-of-a-kind Papaya Cottage pieces online and at upcoming markets.

09/01/2026

Mark your calendars! We’ll see you there!

We’re so back! 🛍️✨ The summer wait is almost over—our upcoming fall market season schedule is officially locked in.

Mark your calendars, save this post to reference, and drop a comment below letting us know what you’re most excited to shop for! 👇

Lakewood Ranch, boutique shopping, market, local events, Bradenton, Sarasota, Manatee, vendor, sponsorship

09/01/2026

A little behind the scenes today… apparently sharing a creative journey through rope sewing for a trunk show requires packing a lot of rope baskets! (The back seat was full too!)

Thank you to Manatee Patchworkers Quilt Guild for such a warm welcome. I enjoyed sharing my creative journey through rope sewing — from simple beginnings to market pieces, teaching and all the possibilities that have unfolded along the way.

And tomorrow, I get to introduce a new group to the craft of rope sewing and help them create something of their own.

08/31/2026

My September schedule is below — lots of rope sewing this month, with market season just around the corner. The online shop is always open, too!

08/29/2026

Look a little closer at Sorrento. Layers of natural cotton rope and jute, subtle variegated stitch work, and a dimensional fold-over detail all work together to give this piece its character.

Even knowing when to stop adding is part of the design.

That’s what I want a Papaya Cottage piece to be—not simply a rope basket, but something thoughtfully designed from the first stitch to the finishing detail.

And now Sorrento is ready to find its place in someone’s home. You’ll find this one-of-a-kind piece on the Papaya Cottage website, or look for it at one of my upcoming markets if it’s still available.

08/28/2026

Sometimes you have to audition the finishing touches until it feels just right.

For Sorrento, I tried the sea biscuit, then a starfish, and finally a simple jute coil. The starfish would have been the natural choice for much of my coastal-inspired work, but something about this piece kept telling me to keep it simple.

The natural jute coil won.

Which one would you choose — sea biscuit, starfish, or jute?