7
2
3
Rarely do I get as excited about discovering a new gift shop as I have about finding Cape Coddle this past week. Inspired by a photo I saw in Cape Cod Life magazine, I bribed Rich with breakfast out in return for a road trip to Orleans. Given that I have recently launched a fish fetish in my style of décor at the Inn, the photo of a stuffed whale pillow in a graphic fabric piqued my interest. So off we went.
Breakfast was wonderful, but the real treat was walking through the entrance of Cape Coddle. We were greeted warmly by the owner, Dana, and her lovable pooch, Ginger. After getting our fill of sloppy wet dog kisses and a lovely conversation with Dana about her experience with pet adoption, my eyes turned to the bounty of beautiful gifts curated by Dana in her studio/gift shop on Main St. 
Gorgeous pillows in colorful textiles, hand-crafted wall art, candle sticks, tee shirts, bags, jewelry, linen napkins and placemats, ornaments, cards, and children’s clothing all artfully displayed in her unique space and each proudly “made in America”. Dana makes a lot of the items herself and the rest is carefully sourced with the goal of having something from every state.
You can peak into her studio, separated from the main store by a glass door with a sign bearing the cautionary tale “Woman with Scissors”. Bolts of fabric line the walls of the sun-filled room where she happily crafts many of her goods.
Dana is passionate about her mission and intimately knows each and every item in the shop-where it was made, by whom, and from what. She definitely has an eye for textiles, honed from years in New York City fashioning children’s clothing. She and her husband left the city to relocate to Cape Cod after falling in love with the area on a vacation a couple of years back. The Big Apple’s loss is definitely our gain.
We reluctantly left the shop after more than an hour’s visit, leaving with a wooden whale for our “Nantucket” suite and an octopus tee shirt for Rich. I would have loved the peacock feather graphic pillow and several other items, but needed to be prudent so close to the holidays. Fear not, Dana and Ginger, we will most certainly be back soon.
Cape Coddle is located at 41 Main Street in Orleans. Contact [email protected] for store hours.