Meet Denise Savela | Shop Owner, Craft Maker & Marketing Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Denise Savela and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Denise, how do you think about risk?
I had always lived a small, safe and relatively conservative life as it applies to taking risk. I like security: knowing my salary & job duties, living in the same area and having my routines. I am definitely not a gambler nor had I been willing to step outside my comfort zone.

That was all turned on its head when my 55 year-old husband passed away suddenly in December 2021. I realized that I was in the final quarter of the game of life, so I took a hard look at things. As part of the grieving process, I made a conscience decision to “choose joy” and “live boldly”; I have been working hard to do that every day since.

In the months following his death, I jumped into life with both feet – traveling alone to Argentina to visit a friend, opening The Cozy Cottage (a 40-year dream), taking my husband for a final trip to lay his ashes in Bimini, The Bahamas. I recently had my first of two hip replacement surgeries and can’t wait to experience all that is to come without constant pain!

As I open myself up to new friendships and adventures, I have one word to describe the experience thus far: magical! My heart constantly feels like it is ready to explode with JOY – especially at my happy place, The Cozy Cottage, with the incredible artists, vintage sellers, and customers I have met.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Back in the 80s, when I first dreamed of opening a boutique shop, I pictured a small shop where I could share my creations and those of other artists & makers. Fast forward to 2022, when I had renewed my love of “picking” – I love rescuing vintage items and they often pair beautifully with hand-made, original arts and crafts.

The Cozy Cottage became that dream – an eclectic mix of new and old, curated to show people how to incorporate vintage items and local artisan creations into their decor. Our artists are all local small businesses, creating unique items that you won’t find in other shops and definitely not in big box stores. Unlike most collectives that rent space, our artisans and vintage sellers are not “locked into” a specific shelf or square footage. I often will pull items from the various sellers’ spaces to create small tabletop vignettes and wall displays that pull it all together.

We also offer a variety of craft classes including macrame, paper art, crochet, cookie decorating, candle making and silversmithing jewelry. Having space where people from our community can come and gather is a very important part of the plan.

I am overjoyed when someone comes into our shop and tells me how beautiful it is. But the best comments to date may be from the journalist who, after asking me how I would describe The Cottage, told me to him it was “happy” and the young woman who felt vulnerable enough to cry in front of me, a stranger, when a vintage Hummel print evoked memories of her deceased mom.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would definitely encourage my bestie to come during season, both for the milder, drier weather and so that we could visit sites that may be closed during off-season. I am sort of low-key and not a big drinker, but love music and people-watching. Here are some of the places I would show her:

The Cozy Cottage!
The Lake Worth Beach to see the pier and have a meal
Phipps Ocean Park Palm Beach for a quiet beach walk/beach combing
Irish Brigade restaurant Lake Worth for music & dinner (known as Brogue’s when I met my husband there)
Mounts Botanical Gardens
Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens & Studio
Worth Avenue
Clematis by Night West Palm Beach Thursday for music
The Peach (hopefully her visit falls when they have the monthly Saturday Art Walk)
Brightline trip to Miami to tour Viscaya
Rosemary Square
The Lake Worth Playhouse if there is a local show playing

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people to thank – new and old friends, family, the community of Lake Worth Beach and the wonderful women (and man) who saw my vision for The Cozy Cottage and have supported and cheered me on virtually and in person.

Two friends and a family member who also recently have lost their husbands are women I can laugh and cry with openly. Being vulnerable is definitely something new for me.

A book that I was given “Healing After Loss” by Martha W. Hickman that spoke to me on a personal level so many days during my first year of widowhood. I now hand that book out to customers and friends who open up about recent loss in my shop. It always amazes me how many people are carrying grief and sorrow. Be kind, because you never know what someone’s story is behind the smile or frown.

Website: https://the-cozy-cottage-llc.square.site/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecozycottagelwb/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecozycottagelwb/

Image Credits
The Cozy Cottage