I finished sewing my red rose dress today from the 1957 pattern.  I wore it with modern peep toe pumps I got from penneys a few years ago. They look so vintage, you can’t tell!  Sunglasses, bead necklace and bracelet- all vintage 5o’s.  The red crinoline is enormass with many layers- looks great but not for everyday! Scratchy!!

The navy blue dress is a vintage early 1960′s shirt dress made of lightweight poly with polka dots.  I wore it with a netted navy blue circle hat (50′s) and a 60′s enamel flower pin and pink beaded 50′s coil bracelet. Shoes, belt and hoop earrings are modern with vintage flair.  I hope this inspires you to send pictures in.  If my aged, chubby little self can have fun doing this– so can you my lovely vintage lovers!

I’m happy to announce that I am now carrying a new artist created jewelry line called Custom Jewelry by Miezer Bijoux!  The artist’s name is Tracey Kugel and she currently sells her unique creations in MD. All Tracey’s jewelry is created from sterling silver with beautiful beads and quality craftsmanship. She shops and is on the lookout for unusual stones, beads, and glass to make unique pieces that I have never seen before. She creates delicate, as well as colorful and chunky, which I LOVE!

Blown glass, silver, crystal, gold cat’s eye, onyx rounds, Czech glass, swarovski crystal, shells, bali silver, millifiori beads and on and on and on…..gorgeous colors and things that are definitely out of the ordinary.  I have my eye on an amethyst chunk bracelet and some leopard spotted glass bead earrings for myself.

Vintage JoAnn is proud to now be featuring vintage button Jewelry boxes created by local artist, Julie McLaughlin.
Julie is well known for her incredibly detail oriented fairy houses she sells on ebay.
These beautiful, one of a kind boxes are created from vintage boxes, antique tinted photos, antique buttons and lined with vintage fabrics and trims. Each one is different.
These are also part of the 20% off sale as I am going to forgo my commission for March. Julie has sold these before and they go fast!

UPDATE: 3/22/2011 Find Julie’s jewelry boxes on Etsy here.

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

My daughter Jennifer, her husband Jason, and son Nate were here for a whirlwind visit over Thanksgiving when the shop was closed.

They live in upstate New York and we don’t get to see each other very often.  I cooked dinner and my folks and brothers came also.

Black friday was an insane romp on the wild side!!!!  My intrepid sister in law, Becky insists a gang of us friends go SHOPPING!  Jen joined us this year and had fun in a terrifying kind of way!

Toys-r-us at midnight, Khohls at 4 am.  The rest was a blur.   I got 90% of my presents bought, but heavens knows what exactly I did purchase in my not a morning person daze. You all might be getting  sausage and cheese gift packs for all I know! 

After they departed for home on sun, Rick and I transformed Vintage JoAnn and our living quarters into a Christmas dream.  We have the routine down pretty good by now.

So stop in, warm yourself by the roar of the faux fireplace, check out the pink tree and lots of gift ideas and gorgeous holiday dresses and jewelry. And if your significant other needs a gift idea we can fix them up with a gift certificate.

I had a great time antiqueing with Rick on Sun and found some incredible bargains on vintage hats that will be passed on to you hat lovers. I’ve got new hats in velvet, tweed, and feathers and wool from 1930′s through the 60′s. Today I acquired 2 more fun and cuddly soft faux fur coats, silk dresses, embroidered and sequined jackets.

Before I could catch my breath my friend, Julie M, stopped by with her cute daughter to give me some vintage finds she found shopping in Dover today.
Several retro 60′s and 70′s blouses (love that leopard) and a fabulicious curly lamb wool cape that has a lovely black satin lining. I want to keep it but My dressing room is exploding as I type, no doubt..
Roxie, one of my red hat ladies stopped by looking for cool stuff for their ST. Paddy’s day parade and left with a pair of kick ass rhinestone and lucite shoes. All in all, a good day, plus a few sales.
I even managed to cook a dinner. Hope Rick doesn’t keel over in shock!!!!

The short version-  cyst in cheek, infection, resistant to antibiotics, cat scans, oral surgeons and other assorted unhelpful specialists, pain, fatigue, 2 root canals, stronger antibiotics that made me sick, months of not feeling well and one whole week in bed, and I missed my friend’s wedding!!!  whine!!!!!!!

 Feel sorry for Rick, he had to hear EVERY DAY how crappy I felt.

Anyhoo, I’m back!!!!!!!!!! Not a 100% but feeling better then I have in months.

I have brought some great coats and fall and winter clothing in and the whole shop is bursting with new inventory.  Lots of costume material for halloween and back to school ideas.

There is a fab full length white faux fur  coat here that is begging for a fashionista to take home.

I am getting more cool weather items almost daily as people have been bringing in their treasures to sell.

What is selling well?   Vintage bustiers,  jewelry of all types, camisoles, cute vintage dress of all eras.,hatsof all eras,and a lot of shoes and purses. Formal wear is always popular.

Update on Ziggy, my bichon-  He is totally recovered from his staph infection, his sores are healed, he’s on better dog food which controls his food allergies and thanks to Anne Marie’s pet beautique, he looks like a little cutie pie.

He is a total mommy’s baby, and yes, I have turned into one of those pathetic fifty yr. old women who talk baby talk to their little dogs. Oh well, gotta be me!!!!!!

Monday I was out shopping and  found some great 60′s and 70′s sleeveless dresses in the most outrageous patterns.  Some have never been worn.  I also picked up a 50′s brocade suit that includes a pencil skirt and cute cropped jacket with big cloth covered buttons. I also got a nice full rockabilly skirt in a red bandanna pattern and another 50′s silk dress with jacket.

All the jewelry boxes I had were sold last week to one customer so I am restocking. I found a very nice wood one thats looks like a little dresser.

I have also recently put out some great 1940′s ads framed with various movie stars and pin-ups.

That’s just a small list of all I have brought to the store recently. People have been bringing me really nice things to buy lately and I’m constantly unearthing treasures.

Renovations on our home sweet money pit continue. The new kitchen ceiling is soon completed and all the original upper shelves have been painted and the kitchen wiring has been done.

Only those who have renovated an old house know the thrill of being able to finally be able to flick on a switch and the room lights up!!!!!!! We are now searching for the perfect antique or at least antique looking lighting fixtures.

Ziggy is growing and is a handful.  The biggest problem is keeping him free of mats. I swear if I didn’t keep after him he’d have dreadlocks within a week.