Julie and I wore vintage outfits of course!  Julie looked adorable in her 50′s red and white cotton dress, red flower in her hair and vintage red bracelet and earrings. I wore a black and white polka dot strapless cotton dress with a red cardigan. I also wore a vintage bracelet. I tried to make my makeup as authentic as possible. The food was various hot sandwiches and fries and there was an open bar.  It felt so good to dress up and go out, we need to do more of that!

The crowd was hoppin’ and the dance floor packed. Very hard for me to dance since my back makes walking difficult but Rick and I did slow dance which made me all giggley. Swoon. The guy has still got it! Rick wore a black and red bowling shirt I got him, Marv  wore a cool Hawaiian shirt, Scott was cute in his bow tie and argyle. Unfortunetly my pic of Andrea and Brooks didn’t turn out!S

What do you get an old guy who doesn’t need anything (except a 44′ sailboat)? A vintage bar set of course. I received a lot of neat gifts this year but this set that the Vintage One got for me is my favorite. No, its not over-packaged and new.  It doesn’t connect to your Wii.  It doesn’t have a screen to measure and it didn’t cost a fortune.  And those reasons, coupled with the fact that I love bar stuff from the mid-century, is precisely why I like it.

Everything you need to mix the perfect cocktail including recipes for the most popular concotions of the era right in the handles of the tools. While the box isn’t in perfect shape it is very unusual to find one of these sets with all the pieces let alone in the box.

My friend Tim Vidra ( E.A.T. and on FB at Tim Vidra Eats) is into vintage kitchen items of all types with a sweet spot for vintage bar stuff also. What he doesn’t keep for his own collection can be found at his Etsy shop - Behind the Screen Door.  Coincidentally we both really like Mad Men as well where it’s not unusual to see a cocktail in someone’s hand, at the office, anytime after 9 in the morning! Those must have been the really good old days.

Oh and by the way – there’s room for this set on a 44′ sailboat.

Happy New Year Everyone!

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

Julie and I took a field trip to Dover yesterday and trolled every shop and source we knew.  I found a few lovely 50′s dresses in larger sizes, chiffon scarves, vintage jewelry, gloves of all colors, and a treasure trove of men’s items such as hats, fabulous old ties, robes, and 2-tone shoes.

We always come home exhausted, stopping for coffee along the way.  I am busy pricing the new stuff this afternoon and a dress and some jewelry are gone already.

Had a nice customer today who was shopping for her little girls.  They are each getting vanities for Christmas and she picked out vanity hand mirrors for them and some empty perfume bottles.  Start them on this stuff early, I say!  These lovely items are better then the cheap ugly toy vanity items available.

The Slaugh family Christmas is at our house this Sunday and I am looking forward to seeing everyone.  Shannon is coming to clean tomorrow, we spent hours wrapping gifts yesterday.  All I have to do is make some cookies, finish up the laundry, pop Ziggy into his new reindeer suit (he loves it), get some food(that’s why God made Cosco’s) and we are ready!

The Hall side of the family gathers at my brother Jerry’s Christmas day.  I think I’ve got it all together but I’m sure I’ve forgot something!!!

Retro prints galore, takes you back to those disco nights.  I grew to adulthood in the 70′s and remember when…

The guys in my high school and my boyfriend (future husband) sported these beauties worn tight with several upper buttons undone with their bell bottomed pants which were often cuffed and usually dragging on the ground over big chunky boots and shoes with platforms.

My hubby never sported the platforms but he did rock the rest.  Also in his defence, he never sucumbed to the leisure suit fad, although my brother in law’s graduation picture shows him wearing a particularly fetching baby blue polyester one.

Oh, and of course don’t forget that the really cool guys had rather longish hair then, cut in feathered shags that went past their collars.  Facial hair was big too, with big bushy mustaches and long sideburns,

I even remember some of the younger teachers in my high school looking like this. Oh My…..

Anyhow , all you groovey guys out there who need duds for your 70′s party or who just like to keep your friends on edge with your cool vintage clothing, We have quite a offering for you.

Oh great, now I have a bee gees song in my head that won’t GO AWAY!

I’m seeing more and more ladies from all age groups buying and wearing these beautiful creations from the past as a way to show their individual style.  I personally love hats from all eras and would wear more but I have a humongous head and few fit.  I’ve met a few other people with this issue and find the headband types sometimes fit.  I prefer the feathered ones myself.

  I sometimes sport a rather audatious red feathered number that curves a spray of crimson feathers around my chubby cheek.
In the last week I have purchased around 52 hats from 2 different sellers.  I had a ball going through them and displaying them!  All price ranges are included, ranging from 90 dollars to 7 dollars.  Shiapperelli, Dior, and other designers are included. Many of these beauties were purchased from famous
department stores in N.Y. during the 50′s and 60′s. There are also some 40′s ones.  Wool. straw. and many materials and lovely trims, including flowers, cherries, and feathers.

I also recently put out some more men’s hats , fedora types, caps and others which will be fabulous for fall for men or you ladies.

I am actively buying for autumn now and have put out a extensive array of coats for your enjoyment.

Many of the hats I have for winter are various furs from the 50′s to the 70′s.  Very glamorous and warm.

I don’t wear or sell new fur but don’t have a problem selling these that are 40, 50 yrs, old. I think it shows more respect for the animal then throwing it in a landfill, but we respect all viewpoints at Vintage JoAnn.

Come in soon and try on a hat! View more hats here: http://www.vintagejoann.com/photo-gallery/?lzkfile=Hats%2F

Julie is an artist and spent weeks planning and assembling props and decorations from her garage sale shopping.

She totally outdid herself and the decor was really cool and spooky.  There was everything from a full graveyard in the garden complete with wheelbarrow of dirt and shovel to a haunted staircase full of creepy original artwork and paintings.

Every time I would think I’d seen everything, I’d notice something new like the rat coming out of a hole while I was using the bathroom!!

Costumes were mandatory and it was so much fun dressing up.  Rick was Al Capone and I was his “moll”.

Julie was a fortune teller and Marv was “Mad Marvin” the evil scientist.

Julie’s kids had their teenage friends over and their costumes were cute and hilarious. Their daughter Meridith tried to look scary but the girl couldn’t help still looking cute!

More pictures are posted in my photo gallery under “Halloween 08“.

Rick looked great in his vintage cuffed black wool slacks with suspenders.

He wore shiny black shoes and a black shirt and striped tie. A fedora hat topped off his look.

I was attired in a black and gold beaded dress. Not vintage but vintage looking. I wore my favorite red feathered hat- headdress and was dripping in all the sparkly vintage jewelry I could pile on.

My outfit was topped off by a fabulous old fur stole complete with tails.

We had a great time!

I had sent fliers and e mails to every one I knew and my store mailing list advertising sales, discounts, and coupons.

In retail one never knows how things will turn out, even bad weather can depress sales.   During the York Fair my business was really slow since every one was there!

Much to my delight and gratitude the anniverary sale was a hit!   All week sales were great, and lots of new folks came in plus all my regulars.

Everyone that came in was rewarded with a discount on something.  I had a few baskets filled with 1 and 2 dollar items and they were a big hit.

The week was my highest weekly sales ever!   Thank you everyone!

I made my bank deposit and Mon. morning was out looking for more treasures of which I found plenty!

Lately people are coming in the store selling the coolest vintage clothing and accessories.  Almost every day something new is put out.   This morning a neighbor stopped in to sell me 3 lovely vanity fair nighties and a leather frame purse.

2 of the nighties were bought by noon.   I try to give fair prices because people bring in the best stuff that way.

Halloween continues to bring people in for costumes and we still have loads of great items left including a size small flapper costume and a size small red poodle skirt, a grecian goddess costume, plus lots of period looks.

Loads of 60′s and 70′s looks plus 40′s dresses and hats from every decade are here.  I also have men’s hats, and accessories so your costumes can match.

Needless to say, that’s just another shopping opportunity for me!!!!

The requests have been for skinny 50′s ties, saddle shoes, bow ties, both large and small, hawaiian shirts, old bowling shirts, vintage suits, and of course, fedora hats of all styles and sizes.   The girls also love to wear vintage men’s fedoras.

I’m working on increasing my men’s inventory and currently have several 40′s and 70′s suit jackets, several white and black tux jackets,  hawaiian shirts, cuff links, loads of 50′s tie tacks and bars, 70′s shirts, and of course hats.

I am planning much more shopping and stocking for the guys though!

Leave comments below or email me to request items so I know what to look for.