The Cottage Industry Art of Snackerty Hollow

Decorate your home with a handmade mini home

Patricia Woodbridge of Barnstead just loves old, European-style cottages, saying, “They take you away to a simpler time.”  She began creating tiny versions of her beloved cottages about two years ago and was immediately accepted into the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen. They hadn’t seen anything like it.

All the construction materials are just like that of a real house, including the stucco. Woodbridge carves all the doors and windows out of cedar, puts glass in the windows and uses slate, wood shingles or thatch for roofs. (The thatch is created from local thatching reed in the same method used centuries ago for real homes.) A roof alone can take Woodbridge 10 to 12 hours since she must build up to the right thickness to keep out rain.

Beyond construction methods, there are details everywhere — a pie cooling on the window sill, roses climbing a trellis or a tiny farmers market complete with eggs and veggies, open for business. Most of her garden cottages are designed to be just the right size to nestle between herbs and small plants or to accessorize a woodland setting.

For custom work, she has often varied the size of her creations. One man requested a miniature of his home for his train layout, and another asked for a replica of his grandmother’s house to bring back fond memories. She is even building a full-size cottage to serve as her future workshop.

Woodbridge will exhibit again this year in the outdoor sculpture area at the League’s annual Craftsmen’s Fair, slated for August 6-14. The signature detail for every house is a tiny robin’s nest, complete with eggs. See if you can find it.

Prices range from $300 to $1,500. Custom work accepted.