The Stillroom

Here is a brief rundown of how The Stillroom came into being.

First came the quote, “Herbs do comfort the weary brain with fragrant smells which yields a certain kind of nourishment”.  -William Coles, 1656

I developed a great interest in  fragrant flowers,  spices, essential oils and herbs around 1980 when I was living in Baltimore, MD.  We had a third floor apartment just outside of the city limits where I had a great third floor porch.  This is where I first potted rosemary, cilantro, parsley, basil, patchouli, lavender and mint just to name a few.

I grew up appreciating parsley from the garden and stepping on mint that grew wild in the summer.  Many years later when I started to experiment with flavors in cooking that I never had before, everything was a learning experience.  Like,  the first time I  tasted cilantro and I thought it tasted like soap and vowed I would never try it again.  Over time, however, Mexican food gained major popularity and only then could I appreciate what it added to dishes.  Rosemary was down right exotic to me.  I put rosemary in biscuits and butter and stuffed it into chickens and also had rosemary ice cream once in Avalon. Basil and lavender… well don’t even get me started.

Years later after reading and watching and learning everything I know about this subject, I decided I wanted to open The Stillroom and on September 11, 2001, I was ready to open the doors of my first location.  However, fate had something different in mind.  On the way there I put the car radio on and this was when I heard Ba Ba Booey say the news.  I was trying to comprehend what he was saying.  When I got to the red barn where the shop was located,  we were all just stunned at what we were hearing.  It was really like the day the earth stood still.  The quiet outside in the parking lot was like nothing I have ever experienced before.  A bright, beautiful blue September sky and no airplanes anywhere for what turned out to be days. The quiet was eery.  I was scared. I went home.

The next day I, like everyone else in the country,  was trying to figure out how I was going to fit in this new world that we all experienced together.  New territory.  Unsure. Scared.  I went into my tiny shop and rearranged almost everything and created a corner with a chair and small table and heated water for tea.  Anyone that wanted to come in and just sit there to contemplate where we were all headed was welcome. If they were looking for something  to hold in their hands that felt warm and comforting and familiar,  the tea was there and on the house.  It was quiet but for the ambient music, it smelled fabulous from the lavender which is said to have a calming effect and the space was lit with well appointed  lamps (no overhead lights allowed) and the tea was always ready. That is pretty much how the tea part of the shop was started.

The shop stayed in the Sarver location for less than a year and by the next spring  we were able to purchase a property in Saxonburg where The Stillroom remained until 2013.

We never had a story in the newspaper to announce a grand opening and never did an open house.  (We did get a nice mention in Pittsburgh Magazine and that was pretty sweet).  I always joked and said in spite of being located almost in the middle of a corn field, our tea drinkers did find us!

FAQ-Tea companies are in abundance and the Stash Tea Company is our west coast supplier. Why do we sell Stash teas over other companies?  Stash is just plain, good tea and the variety of flavors offered are excellent.  The Stillroom selection is tip top.  The shop is transitioning from the 10 packs as Stash now offers boxes only.  After selling 10-packs since 2001, this was a bit of a “thing” for me to get over.  I’m over it. Get them while they last! lol

Harney & Sons is our east coast supplier.  If you have not had their Hot Cinnamon Spice tea, you are kind of missing out because it  is superb!  If you love a deep, rich cinnamon tea, this is your cup.  Harney & Sons is a family owned tea company and the teas are outstanding.  (A little more expensive than Stash but not by much and so worth it).  The shop carries limited best selling Harney & Sons teas  that include loose Paris tea by the ounce, loose chocolate and loose rose tea.  African Autumn sachets are now available.

I digress.

Over time, life changes were made and we decided to downsize and move a bit further south on 28.  Closer to the parents, our son and new adventures.  This is the move that prompted me to become part of a fantastic co op that is Diamond Antiques & Gifts.

After many years in the area, The Stillroom is now in Tarentum and has been for three years now!  The shop has developed a great selection of tea including all of the gear that comes with tea.  Self sealing bags, honey sticks, teapots both new and vintage and everything else that I could think of.

The Stillroom is a purveyor of organic, fragrant culinary lavender and super French blue lavender.  The shop keeps a few lavender and peppermint essential oils on  the shelf.  If you have not noticed, the organic lavender is not as colorful as the super blue.  It’s because it is organic, not old. lol If you haven’t tried a floral flavor in food, grab a bag of our organic lavender and bake a lemon lavender pound cake with lavender drizzle fashizzle. It will knock your socks right off.

The Stillroom carries fragrant, dried patchouli which is a natural moth repellent and it is great for sachets.  The shop also has oak moss which is just a terrific subtle scent on its own.   These all blend well with rose petals.

Organic, locally made catnip pillows are always in stock.

New this fall, I put together beautiful harvested dried floral bundles. They are really pretty!  These make such colorful  little touches of late summer and fall in any room.  We have a few great estate sale finds that are used for displays but are for sale.  We have vintage, old, new, locally made cards, sachets, cat toys, tea cups, tea pots, vintage hats, gloves, purses and cool odds and ends.

FAQ-Why does The Stillroom have an arm and hammer as a logo? Because I like it.  Tea strong. lol

The Stillroom has pretty much everything you might remember from the Saxonburg shop and the best part is if you don’t find it in The Stillroom space at Diamond, you now have a whole giant building to peruse! Diamond Antiques and Gifts has over 25 vendors to shop through and they are all terrific.

Diamond Antiques and Gifts is located at 311 E. Sixth Avenue in Tarentum.  Right next to Massart’s historic diner.  Look for the black and white striped awning, that’s us!

The hours at Diamond Antiques and gifts are

Wednesday through Saturday from 10-5

Sunday from 12-5

closed Monday and Tuesday to dust and restock.

The shop opens early on Tarentum Fleatique Days which falls on the third Sunday of each month through the fall.

To reach The Stillroom

412-721-6357 and by all means, leave me a voicemail!  I don’t pick up when I’m driving.

for shop photos and random pics check @lequitalee on instagram!

to read my blog http://www.stillroomgifts.com  oh, wait, you’re already here.

That’s all folks!