For a surprise he whisked me out of town fri. and wouldn’t tell me where we were going. We spent the day driving and stopped at a few thrift shops and antique stores along the way which of course was great.

After hours of driving however, my back hurt and I was turning into JoAnn, the vintage crabby bitch as soon it was apparent we were in downtown Pittsburgh. I kept thing, “what the hell is in Pittsburgh that he made me spend the day in the car???” I zonked out early and slept like a rock.

The next day I felt better and he informed me we were heading to the Homer McLaughlin Co. to shop the FIESTA WARE outlet!!!!

I didn’t even know this place existed and is the mecca for fiesta ware collectors.

When we got there and I surveyed the emense 2′nds warehouse space I felt weak in the knees and short of breath. THOUSANDS of every color and pattern! It was a beautiful sight.

Then, when I realized the prices, I really got happy- for instance the large size tea pot which retails for about 60 dollars is 15 dollars , a vase is 3 dollars, dinner plates were about 3 dollars, etc.

Rick gave me the budget and we filled the trunk of the car with enough fiesta to start a restaurant!!!

Happy Happy JOY JOY!!!!!

One of the weird things that happened on the trip was at one thrift shop we stopped in I bought a coat for 3 dollars- a Woolrich wool coat in fiesta ware striped colors. I even looked at Rick and remarked,”Look honey, it looks like Fiesta ware !” He still kept the surprise!!!

Well, I guess this is kind of a materialistic post, so sue me, but I am very pleased with my spouse. What a guy!!! What is it with some women and dishes????

LOVE and Christmas Joy to all of you!!!!!!!!!! JoAnn

You can find the article here: http://tinyurl.com/VJNews

Thank you Leigh! It’s fantastic.

The weather wasn’t so hot this trip but we still had fun.

During my scaveging on the way there last Sun. I bought an absolutely lovely circa 1890s dress. I have already displayed it in my victorioan parlor on a dress form. I also found some lovely ladies portraits from the same era with ornate frames. I also found a coach purse and several 50s dress to sell on etsy.

I was thrilled with my loot and had to do some picture rearranging today and retire some to the sell pile. Here are a few pictures of the dress, pics, etc.!

Mary Deluxe of the great blog Deluxeville has thrown out the challenge to show some photos of 5 favorite vintage finds. Here are a few of mine, although this changes constantly!

The chandelier in our bedroom was a $10 light fixture I found on the floor in a junk shop but with shades, trim, etc, it looked great with the Frenchy victorian theme I’ve going on in there.

The large headvase I got at the local goodwill for $1. The same goodwill that charges insane prices for anything they think is new!

My $10 victorian rocker from ebay(I did have to drive to MD to pick it up).

My $5 framed picture in our living room that I got at a thrift store.

I love the little blue glass deco table I paid $12 for.

The cool lamp came from a garage sale for $5, the shade a gift from my friend Julie.

Last- I recently found this vintage fabric at the Roots flea market.

Notice a theme? I tend to enjoy the things that were the best bargain- I’m such a cheap ass(excuse me, I mean frugal)

I’ve been without my car this week as it was undergoing major(expensive) repairs. So today I tired of this house arrest and spent a few hours walking about our small town, Red Lion, PA.

Rick and I both grew up in the area but spent over 25 years living  in other states, including MN.,MD.. and Illinois. for Rick’s career.

When we were young we were desperate to leave small town life and experience other places. So we packed up our baby son and were off ! I regret nothing and It was so good for us.  Somehow, after the children were grown we found ourselves drawn back to home.  Life is different when you hit 50 and a slower pace life looked great.  York County is one of the most beautiful areas of the country- when we were young we were too boneheaded to see that.

We ended up in Red Lion because we found an old  Victorian house cheap that was sorely in need of restoration. We bought it from a young couple who had started working on it and we just picked up where they left off.  4 years of work, sweat and every spare cent we are pretty proud of our home. We replaced moldings, installed  antique light fixtures, removed miles of dropped ceilings, repaired plaster, installed a period senstive bath and kitchen, painted miles of walls and trim, outside painting, and created a garden with fish pond.  Tons more to do but that is the nature of reviving a victorian–it’s not just a house, it’s a lifestyle.

The best part is all the great folks we have met, small business owners,and neighbors.  We have been invvolved with local govt.  Like many small towns on the northeast coast  we are a town that struggles. Red Lion was incorporated after the civil war and was extremely successful manufacturing cigars and furniture, up and down the streets you can see the old tobacco factories now made into apt buildings and such.  During those days a lot of money was made and some beautiful homes were built.

That heyday has passed and Red Lion has struggled to find a new idenity. We have a cute main street and many have started businesses. We do have empty store fronts, and are supportive of new businesses. The housing stock is amazing- a virtual treasure trove of Victorian architecture. of all sizes and prices.  Many people have fixed up properties and they are beautiful.  Many more are crying to be saved.  With the housing market crash, all properties are a real buy, if you can afford to invest. There are so many people here who care about the  town and work constantly to improve. it.

I took pictures within a 2 block radious of our house- I live near the square.

My apologies to all the businesses I missed, we have a lot of great places, I also didn’t make it to our great park, library, or high school.  This is just a little overview of our town that I have come to love and consider my forever home at this point.

I’m always relieved when the holidays are over and the years starts anew! Even though I’m fighting hibernation mode- I can smell Spring in the distance which gives me the will to live.  Not a wnter person, 20 years living in Mpls. cured me of that.

Well, in between hibernating, eating carbs, talking on the phone, spending hours on facebook, oh yea- working on the website, it is AMAZING the good shopping that has occurred.  The key to this my friends is to have a good natured spouse or friend who will join you on ferreting out new adventures, and I have both!!!  The vintage spouse was in N.C. all last week on business.  So I guess he was feeling magnanamous and took me to the Thomasville Morning star flea market.  It was like a date for old people!

All the good outdoor stuff of course is not there in winter but it still was a good time.  Cream of Crab soup and french fries for brunch.  Food is yummy there, not diet. That is why it is good.  Karens little shop was open and as usual was crammed with the most delectable assortment of vintage girlie goodness you can imagine.  I bought a lovely victorian glove box with an illustration of a lady.

At the antique center  I got lost in the book dealers section and came home with 4 books on hauntings. Whether you believe or not it makes fun late night reading and I’m an imsomniac and live in a big old spooky house! We also stopped at a fav junk store where I unearthed some nice 40′s hat patterns and a few hats.

I thought I was all done hunting and gathering but Mon. morning bright and early Julie calls and says the magic phrase- ya wantta go thrift shopping? Oh twist my arm!  Julie is willing to drive farther then I usually do on my own so it’s a special treat.  Plus the fact that she is obsessed, wacky,and loads of fun. It is a good idea to cultivate friends with mental illnesses compatible with your own tee hee. The last outing I had with her I found a Christian Dior hat in a downtown York junk store plus a 40′s printed table cloth and a box of hats , all for about$9.00!

Off to Lancaster we went, first stop the bin store at Salvation Army. For the die hard thrifter, not the faint of heart.  Cheap but you really got to dig.  We have found some amazing things there though. The score of the day for me was-you’re not going to believe it- a large black leather COACH tote bag/purse in excellent condition!  $1.00!!!!

After sandwiches in the car we hit the regular salvo next door, and then went to a newer mennonite charity run thrift that was HUGE! Found some lovely linens, my fav being a black hostess apron with red appliqued roses.  Lots of fun!

The next day I had to shovel out the disorder in my house that I normally do on mondays.  I even packed up some big bags of purses and shoes I no longer wear for Goodwill.  Like a lot of “vintage” people my house is rather full and if something comes in, it’s a good policy to make sure something goes out.

The rest of the week I puttered around photographing a pile of men’s vintage that will soon appear on the site for sale. Maybe I’ll blog about that also. Also have been reading some vintage books I want to share- another day!!!! Love, JoAnn

Loads of good sales. I was on the hunt for a chandelier to replace ceiling fan in parlor area. It didn’t have to be perfect just a good size and shape, I could always paint,

add embellishments, shades etc. to make it work for our Victorian house.

We had a great time although I know it was hard for Julie to get in and out of the car.

On the way home we went to Wrightsville to 2 great junk stores  Bungalow bargains and the best little flea market.  Guess what? I found my chandelier !  In my budget range– cheap. 20 dollars.   Ah….life can be so good.  Now back to work!

Vintage JoAnn is NOT going out of business!!! We have been doing well and I’d like to thank all the supportive friends and loyal customers I’ve met!

Now that the internet store is up and running on VintageJoAnn.com that will be the primary outlet after the physical store closes.  My health issues have gotten to the point where this is the only way I can remain in this business that I love.   Actually the amount of work will be about the same but I will be able to work when I feel able, even during the night if I can’t sleep and rest when I’m flared up in a pain cycle.

My goal is that the internet store becomes just like the old store with hundreds of items at great prices.  I will be adding things weekly so the selections will be growing steadily.

I’m planning on expanding plus sizes in the future and also vintage and antique children’s clothing.

If you live locally you can still call and come over to try something on that you saw on the site.   Shipping is included in the price in the U.S.  Please email if you live out of the U.S.

I will still be living at the same address & will still be available for buying vintage items, it’s just that you will need to call first as I will no longer have set hours.   Even the big VJ sign will remain out front and I remain a member of the Red Lion Area Business Association. The sign will have my website and phone# instead of hours.

If you have any questions feel wecome to comment or email.  Best to all, JoAnn.

So yes, I have to be careful, not to overbuy for the shop.  Our living space on the top 2 floors of our Victorian house are chock full. Not like the shop, but PLENTY of victorian stuff.  I have to question all purchases at this point and usually have to sell something to make room for a new item.  My home is very attractive and cozy, very full though.  I will fight like hell not to EVER let this stuff become more important than family and friends.  The whole crew is coming for Easter and there is plenty of room to entertain in our parlour, dining room and kitchen.  People seem to love coming here and enjoy all the antiques  and I want to keep it that way!!!

Anyhow after watching an episode of Hoaders, I usually go on a cleaning, and purging mission, and let go of quite a few bags of no longer useful items…  I’ll confesst though, if any one really knew how many shoes I really have squirred away upstairs they would be horrified.

So please feel free to comment and share your own stories and to give me any advice you want in how you deal with this topic. Cheers my little vintage vixens, love JoAnn

The Atomic Warehouse in Harrisburg

The Atomic Warehouse is located in Harrisburg, PA approximately 45 minutes from Vintage JoAnn. Their website is http://www.atomicwarehouse.com/ and you can find the address there as well as a phone number. Also listed on the website is merchandise for sale online as well as in the store. One thing you won’t find on the website is the hours which are from 12 to 6 Friday, Saturday & Sunday.

In the words of my 6 year old niece, Kristina, this place is the bomb (pun intended).  There are 2 levels of merchandise. On the first floor is some interesting vintage from mid-century as you can see in the pictures. 

There is also a large vintage clothing section in the back. On the third floor is mostly furniture and furnishings including a pink refrigerator, wall hangings and pictures.  There is a room with all kinds of kitchen sets, bar stools and counter seats from a diner.  Lots of vintage jewelry was well displayed in jewlery cases on the first floor.

JoAnn spent some time talking with the owner – Steve.  He’s been here for 8 years now and you can tell is really into and knows a lot about what he sells.

I would rate this place as must see if you’re in the area.

A solid Vintage Bamboo LR Set in Great Shape

Console Stereo with Built-in Reel to Reel

There were all kinds of TVs

Check Out the Leopard Lamp (Yes - there were 2)

Third Floor was well layed out with plenty of room to browse

More lamps