Don't you love going into those little Boutiques or out of the way stores that have one of a kind treasures and where you seldom leave the store without purchasing something special? These are usually the items that your friends ask "where did you get that?"

Well you've found Col. Potter's Eclectic Corner in our Mall. Please come in and browse through our selection of special items. Many of our items are special order or one of a kind! Remember to write down the item number of your favorite to make ordering easier.

Intarsia is a form of wood inlaying that is similar to a puzzle type sculpture. The term is also used for a similar technique used with small, highly polished stones or marble. The technique of intarsia inlays sections of wood, at times of different origins, within the solid matrix. The pieces are perfectly placed within a plain of a solid base (such as plywood or louan). The technique of intarsia is believed to have developed in the Islamic world; introduced into Europe through Sicily, the art was perfected in Siena and in northern Italy in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, spreading to German centers and introduced into London by Flemish craftsmen in the later sixteenth century.

It is the craft of using varied shapes, sizes and species of wood fitted together to create an almost 3-D inlaid, mosaic-like picture. It is thought that the word 'intarsia' is derived from the Latin word 'interserere' which means "to insert" and that it was originally developed in Siena, Italy in the 13th century by crafters using inlays of ivory inserted in wood as well as inlays of wood inserted into wall murals, table tops and other furniture.

Today, intarsia is created by selecting different types of wood, using its natural grain patterns and color, in addition to dyes, stains, and paints) to create the different colors in the pattern. Each piece of wood is then individually cut, shaped, and sanded before fitting them together like a jig-saw puzzle and gluing them to a piece of 1/4 inch backing cut to the outline shape of the final product. Once together, a final layer of finish is applied and the project is complete.

We have a limited supply of these Intarsia Cairns and they will be sold on a first come, first served basis. They are hand crafted by a retired gentleman in NE Pennsylvania. Each piece is precision cut to fit together to make the perfect Cairn expression. Each comes with an alligator hanger on the back. There are five color choices for the cairn head, two for the full body cairn.

This terrific toy box is made of Solid Pine with a Luann bottom. It is 18" square X 8" deep – that’s plenty of room for TONS of toys! Carry handles are routed on each side for easy carrying and since nothing is sticking out on the sides, so you can easily fit it into smaller spaces. The front is dovetailed and there are no nails or extraneous things for dogs to get in their mouths. The back is joined with biscuits (NO not THAT kind of biscuits) as a true piece of quality furniture would have.

Each hand made box is stained a light honey color then given two coats of polyurethane for protection (indoor use only). The decal is a permanent stick automotive vinyl that is custom made for just for these boxes. As with all pine, knots and grains will vary depending on the wood itself. We try to make sure the front of the box has the most “personality”.

And there is one caveat... just because you put the toys IN the box, does not mean they will STAY there!

If you are giving this toy box as a gift, and we are not able to deliver your completed box by your special occasion, we are happy to provide you with a Col. Potter "Toy Box" gift card, which announces that you have purchased a custom made gift. This gift card includes a picture of these gorgeous toy boxes. Just let us know if you would like a Gift Card in the comment area of the order form.

This dog bed was made to match the Terrific Toy Box and is made of Solid Pine with a Luann bottom. It is 25" long x 20" wide x 6" deep.! They will have the same dovetail front and biscuit/joined back, with a luann panel in the bottom, routed in to fit perfectly. They will sit flat on the floor just like the toy boxes. They will NOT have any decals on them.

Each bed comes with a bed pad that is a soft/fluffy light cocoa colored fully washable and dryable fleece, with a zippered back to insert a therapeutic heating pad (separate purchase from the company, all info is on the tag), and a hang strap for easy hanging to air dry should you decide to do that.

Each hand made box is stained a light honey color then given two coats of polyurethane for protection (indoor use only). T As with all pine, knots and grains will vary depending on the wood itself. We try to make sure the front of the box has the most “personality”.

If you are giving this toy box as a gift, and we are not able to deliver your completed box by your special occasion, we are happy to provide you with a Col. Potter "Dog Bed" gift card, which announces that you have purchased a custom made gift. This gift card includes a picture of these gorgeous dog beds. Just let us know if you would like a Gift Card in the comment area of the order form.