Yesterday I sold a 70′s wrap style suede coat with mink collar, a red wool 50′s style coat with a fox collar, and bracelet sleeves and a gray tweed 50′s era coat.    Obviously the customers are shopping for cold weather too.

I’ve decorated the front porch and shop for autumn and folks are starting to ask for halloween costumes already.

On Labor day Rick and I had some relatives and friends over to celebrate Aggie’s (my wonderful daughter-in-law) birthday.  We had loads of fun and Aggie took home a nice 50′s light brown wool jacket with a fluffy fur collar.

My friend Cindy took home a beautiful Jessica McClintock lace dress that she intends to wear for her upcoming wedding. I was really tickled pink about that!

My darling little niece stole the show when she tried on a little fluffy (cute) witch costume complete with hat. Kristina is 5 and looked adorable.

My sister-in-law Jan fell in love with an “I dream of Jeanie” type Indian costume with heavy embroidery which she happily took home.

I’ve been meaning to write about something wonderful that has happened recently in my life.

I have moved many times in my life to various states and had lost contact with old PA friends from my youth. I always envied people who still had childhood friends.

One day 2 ladies walked in the shop and I said hello and didn’t really look at them too closely.  One said, “Do you know who we are?”

I took a second look and almost burst into tears! It was my friend Julie McLaughlin and her sister Sara!  Their maiden name had been Goggin.  I had’t seen either in over 20 years and had lost touch.

It was the same wonderful crazy Julie I loved during my teen years, And although we both look older she looked great.

To make a long story short we have picked up our friendship and I am grateful and frankly ecstatic.

Our lives developed in so many similar ways. Both of us have long term marriages and a son and daughter.  Both of us are Artists and she is currently working as an artist making intricate, incredible “fairy houses” that sell for hundreds and even thousands of dollars to collectors on ebay. (Click here to see what Julie currently has on ebay)

But the most hilarious similarity is she is also completely obsessed with vintage!!!!! She also loves old houses, loves garage saleing and thrift store shopping for treasures.

Her home is SO cool!  She has collected all kinds of 40′s pottery and vases, has a tiki bar , decorates with bark cloth and has the greatest vintage stuff you ever saw!  I want to steal the huge stuffed peacock she has in her living room. The whole house is done with such creativity and style.

Like me ,Julie does this all on a very tight budget. She has a pet cockatoo and I have an African gray parrot named McBeth who lives in my shop.

Anyhow, Julie,  I’m so glad to have you back in my life and look forward to spending many years getting reaquainted.  She has already taken me to a killer garage sale where I found all kind of cool red 50′s stuff for my kitchen.

Here’s to friendship and vintage shopping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Her name is Nedra Rank and I’m sure many local people know her as she had a 37 yr. career teaching jr. high at York Suburban and Red Lion schools.

I purchased the dress because it is just beautiful and in pristine condition as it was professionally cleaned and properly stored all these years.

This silk ivory dress was bought in 1959 for her 1960 wedding at a local church.

I really enjoyed talking to her and hearing her fond memories working at Jacks (a local clothing store long gone) and walking to the Dorothy Fox wedding store and finding her dress.

This is a familiar scenerio at my shop as many people who are downsizing their lives or disposing of a loved one’s estate come here to talk to me about the clothing. Nothing holds as many memories as the clothing we live our lives in.  I’ve seen people moved to tears as they touched the garments their mothers wore.

It always makes me happy to tell people that yes, these things are important and that others value them too. Let me tell you, some of our grannies were total fashion plates in their youth.

The dress is now displayed with a crinoline under it’s full skirt in the middle of the shop, looking exceedingly dainty and feminine.  I wonder who will eventually take it home.

I will add some pictures later but right now Ziggy and I have an appt. with the sofa.