Freshening Up for the New Year

Here is a pic from our 2009 Christmas at the Iron Master's Display in Poole Forge.

We will be open this Sat., 1/2 normal hours for your shopping enjoyment! Since last Sat. was pretty quiet, we worked on clearing out the Christmas merchandise (although we've left winter/snowman type goodies up for at least another month), & spent Sun. finishing upon the dreaded inventory counting. Today we were at the shop as well, cleaning, rearranging displays to mix things up, and begin introducing the Valentine's decor. It has not been a big sales weekend, but we sure have been busy! It was lots of work, but it feels good to have the place spruced up and fresh for the new year.

** Oh, and we got word last week that we have been approved to be in the Spring 2010 (that feels weird typing & trying to say) "Lancaster County's Best Kept Secrets Tour". Let the planning frenzy begin! The deadlines for promotional materials is fast approaching already in January. I think I'll need a few snow days to catch up!!

Passionately Pink for the Cure

Whoops...I forgot to post the Dec. news here. I sent the e-newsletter out to the guestbook list (which is pleasantly quite large since Oct.) but I neglected to post in the blog as well. Sorry about that.

Anyhow, for those of you nearby, the second weekend of the Poole Forge- Christmas at the Ironmaster's Event is this weekend (Dec. 11- 5-8 pm, Dec. 12 & 13 1-4 pm). Our display is awaiting your viewing (we're in the "blue room" upstairs) and your votes (if you are so inclined). This is a self-guided, walk-through tour of the historic mansion located off Rt. 23 in Churchtown, PA. Local businesses and organizations have created Christmas displays, including decorated trees throughout the property. Be sure to end your visit with complimentary hot drinks and homemade cookies available in the West Tenant House near the covered bridge.


Here is a picture from last year's display we did, which happened to earn us a 2nd place honor.

I'll post this year's display photos after the event is over. Hint: the display includes lots of pink (and gold/copper) this year as a kick-off to our "Passionately Pink for the Cure" private sale we're hosting this Sat. through next (Dec. 12-19). This special offer is a fundraiser benefitting our registered team with Susan G. Komen. Current guestlist customers as well as 2009 Christmas at the Iron Master's tour-goers were offered a "Pink Pass" outlying the special event in the shop this week. To get your pink pass and to receive the full details, simply email me at orders@vintagechicboutique.net with the subject "Join Guestlist" and I will forward the "scoop" your way!!

Thanksgiving Blessings

Wishing all our customers and friends from the shop a blessed Thanksgiving with your families.

We will be closed Wed. this week to prepare for the holiday ourselves but will be back Fri. to resume normal hours.

We have done more Christmas shopping (for the shop, that is...no time for our own gifts or home decorating these days!) ...so, stop in to get best picks on the new goodies. Lot of glittery, snowy, sparkly pretties to brighten your holiday home!! We were covered in all of those things yesterday while unpacking and setting up the new display. Most of the fall merchandise has been packed away for next year. Some Thanksgiving items remain on the porch for one more day (and last minute shoppers looking to dress their turkey tables with something festive).

Look for a post here over the weekend about upcoming December events we will be hosting and participating in :)

3 New Furniture Pieces on Craigslist & in Shop

Just a quick post to highlight a few of the latest furniture pieces we've listed on Lancaster County Craigslist. All three are currently available in the shop.

1. Sage Cottage Highback Bench (click for full ad)

--handcrafted by VCB, this decorative & practical bench would be great in a foyer with a basket underneath for storing shoes, backpacks, or a purse by the door. It would also be cute for displaying seasonal items or teddybears/dolls. 17 1/2" wide and total height of 59". Price: $59

2. Antique Mahogany Desk/Vanity (click on title for full ad listing)

40 1/2" across top x 29 3/4" high x 20" deep, we refinished this antique beauty & brought back its gorgeousness with sanding & a coat of protective poly on top.


-features 7 drawers, bottom bookshelf, & beautiful carved sold wood design, arms originally used for skirting could be removed if desired, great condition for $160.



3. Highboy Dresser (click link for full ad)

-Antique solid wood dresser in good condition w/ only minor wear on top, measures 40" across top x 3' tall (71 1/2" to top of mirror) x 18 1/2" deep...could also be used for storing dishes or linens.


-2 large drawers (about 9" deep & dovetailed), top drawer is 4" deep w/ 3 divided sections, wheels, & attached mirror, 9 " bottom clearance for additional storage.

listed for $165

Absolutely Amazing 2 Weeks

The Best Kept Secrets' Tour was an absolutely amazing event for us. We met well over 400 new customers during the 16 days, and heard time and time again how people didn't even know we were there before finding us on the tour. We received many wonderful compliments about our shop, our prices, and our merchandise. Purses, vintage dishware, candles, soaps, fall decor, denim skirt purses, and our "Garden Tea-lites"were wiped out just as quickly as we could restock them!! Wow, what a busy, exciting, and profitable couple of weeks for little Vintage Chic Boutique. Thanks to all our regular and new customers for helping make this endeavor such a huge success!! We welcome tour-goers to share their overall feedback (impressions, suggestions, cheers and jeers alike) for the event with us via the blog or email.

What's next?? We will be involved in a local holiday house display in early December. We are just beginning to brainstorm ideas and will share full detail here in the next couple of weeks.

For now, we are back to regular business hours (but will be closed this Friday for Halloween) and trying to regroup for the rest of the holiday season. We will continue to refresh our Christmas decor and gift-giving goodies. It is officially time to start the madness and find those special somethings for your special someones!!

Selling Up a Storm!!

The Lancaster County's Best Kept Secrets Tour began on Friday, October 9. It has already been a tremendous experience for our little shop! We have met so many new customers (people who didn't know we are there) and are selling up a storm!! Merchandise is flying off the displays like never before, and we are busy yet ecstatic about the positive response this event is bringing us. We are sooo glad we took on this challenge, as it has exposed us to such a large number of new folks in and around the area!!

In addition to the constant attempt to stay stocked up this week, we have added a few Christmas nooks in the shop. Here is a quick glimpse into the first wave of holiday goodies we've put out. Many of the things pictured have already sold, but we'll update more shots of new Christmas merchandise in the coming weeks (as I find time!!)

Until then, we do have tour bags still available for anyone wishing to get in on all the fun while it's still underway. Reminder: the tour runs through Oct. 24 (Sat.) so there is still plently of time & plenty of great deals in the 35 local small businesses participating in this season's tour. If you need further info, feel free to call us @ 717-354-6228 or email orders@vintagechicboutique.net.

New purses will be arriving early next week to replenish our stock of bags in the shop....and there are several furniture pieces in the painting process now. Stay tuned!!

Scents, Scents, & Dare We Dare...More Scents

This week, we've added a new line of handmade (in Lancaster County, PA) herbal soaps to the shop. To get a feel of what scents customers like, we are starting with the following:

• Lavender Shea (made with shea butter, a calming, relaxing, soothing scent of fresh lavender)
• Gardener's Delight (lifts mood & dirt for soft skin...spicy scent men will love as well as ladies & the pumice will help scrub away a day's work quite pleasantly!)
• Cocoa Butter (a mild scent that moisturizes & calms dry skin with hints of ylang-ylang, patchouli, & lavender)
• Sweet Orange (an invigoratingly sweet tangerine scent sure to be a favorite)
• Orange Blossom & Honey (mild scent to nourish & refresh)
• Green Tea & Honey (renews & repairs skin ...anitbacterial & antioxidant)

The soaps will sell for $5.25 in the shop. We also will have some cute gift/guest soaps in lavender, cherry, & peach as well as chocolate lover's bars.

We've also introduced a new line of handmade candles made in Lancaster County. These are clean-burning, eco-friendly, with lead-free wicks. They come in glass "canning-style" jars with metal lids. Even as appealing as their scents, is their price in the shop: $6.50!!! Again, we're sampling scents to start out, and plan to add more as we get a feel for what customers like best. Right now, the basic scents are:

• Oatmeal-Raisin Cookie
• Mulberry
• Pears 'N Berries
• Sweet Orange

The seasonal scents for fall include:

• Harvest Spice (a rich cinnamon-scented red candle)
• Pumpkin Spice
• Spicy Mulled Cider

And, for the coming winter seasonal scents, we have:

• Peppermint (an all-white candle smelling just like a candy cane)
• Christmas Berry (a cheery red candle with a cranberry scent)

If all these scents aren't enough, our next shipment of our private label woodwick candles will be arriving by this coming Friday (just in time for the kick-off of the Lancaster County's Best Kept Secrets' Tour!!) These include the following yummy blends:

• Sweet Potato Pie/Pumpkin Cider
• Mocha Java/Caramel Kiss (our all-season favorite!!)
  
  
  

Seasonal Potted Posts

After selling a few of our fall pot posts, we created 4 more for restocking the shop. These seasonal displays are so sweet and colorful, equally festive indoors as on a covered porch. We start with sturdy terra cotta or other heavy weight pottery, fill the pot with a cement mixture and set in the post. When dry, we trim the post with a seasonal garland or ribbon, in this case a fall leaf design. Next, we adorn the post top with a birdhouse that suits the design and hot glue a coordinating bow and miscellaneous ornaments such as scarecrows. Finally, we wind a strand of 35 mini or seed lights through the garland. This time, we also drilled a small hole in the back of the birdhouses to illuminate the topper as well.

We have a new Halloween pot post in the works, which will include a wooden cut-out (hand-sawed by Dad) black cat. We've recently sold one in this design from last year's models. It included a green button & sequin eye with orange and black striped ribbon wound around the post in place of the garland.

We are planning to create similar seasonal potted posts for winter and Christmas and possibly spring next year! Our price makes them easier to buy than make yourself...and, they make great, inexpensive gifts for friends or family.

New Fall Purses Have Arrived!!

We received our fall shipment of Victorian Heart/Bella Taylor bags this week! Many of our customers have been looking for the new fall colors, and we are now fully stocked with several styles and patterns. Our favorite is the "Cocoa Rouge" design which is a quilted pattern in shades of pink, mauve, bronze, and rapsberry. There are brocade and paisley prints blended with a variety of textures all in one!! We have 4 different bag designs in this fabric. (We each snagged one before they made it to the shop!)


There are a couple bags in "Spice" which is also a quilt design in warm shades and textures of green and red. Finally, we have a simple yet classic small tote called the "Ring Around." The solid colors are Mahogany (brown) and Ebony (black).


All purses range in price from $15-$25, so they are not only fashionable but economical as well!

Here is a preview of the new purse displays:

** We are also now on Facebook !! Join us as a "Fan"

Fall Transformations

Fall has officially arrived at Vintage Chic Boutique! We began switching over the summer to fall merchandise Saturday and were able to complete the transformation today at the shop. Several fall products have already gone out the door, so now is the best time to get an early jump on the season ahead. As the weather has cooled this week and kids are returning to school, it seems customers are beginning to search for new products to add autumn colors to their homes.

Here are a few photos:

First in the window display...(small feather wreath, tin pumpkin stars, iron pumpkin carriage candle holder, fall wall basket & cornucopia)

Next, is the main door stand display, which changes with each season. In the center is a glorious feather wreath surrounded by an assortment of fun and classic fall signs (my favorite allows you to select between " Today I'm a good/bad witch"), new corduroy pumpkins, fall hued hobnail votives and message blocks, Halloween garlands and ornaments on the glitter tree.

The wall shelf and mirror's new look (black feather tree, glitter beaded gourd, wreath, flying monkey sign, and autumn garland with seed lights) ...and on the left of the picture you can get a glimpse of our newest creation: a double tea cup lamp with pink silicone bulbs!
And finally, the table and corner redo- complete with "spiderweb lace" tablecloth, fall floral picks and candle rings, "If the boot fits" broom, and our harvest tree.


** Note for our local customers: we will be open late (until the fireworks show at 9:00) this Friday, Sept. 4 during the Blue Ball Car Cruise event across the street at the Fire Co.

New/Old Wooden Accent Furniture

We have added a few new solid wood furniture pieces to the shop this week. All of them are actually old accent pieces, and we have them currently listed on Lancaster, PA Craigslist. The first is my personal favorite, since it's painted in my favorite color, a soft shade of lavender. This magazine rack was given a fresh lease with a single coat of primer and the lovely lavender paint. The curvy lines and side diamond cut-out design make it a truly pretty stand. Suggestions for use: child's room/nursery with a lamp on top and prized big books on the bottom shelf; holding magazines in a bathroom or living room; housing cookbooks in a kitchen or dining room and a small appliannce on top; phone books and phone/answering machine.

Buyer's beware: If someone doesn't snag this beauty, and I'm left to look at it too long, it might be forced to come back home to me!! I have purple and lavender throughout my home, so it would definitely fit in many spots. The small size (22 3/4" high x 22" long x 11" wide) makes it an easy piece to grace even small spaces.

The next piece is just as adorable. This wooden vintage youth chair is decked out in its original (now gloriously chippy) cream paint and rose decal/print on the back of the chair. The arms are metal and the whole thing stands 34" high. Imagine it with a sweet teddy bear or Raggedy Anne sitting on this chair...too cute and so hard to find.

The final inclusion is this pair of vintage dark wood end tables/night stands. Again, the intricate detailing and curved lines make the set truly unique. They could be painted to match your decor or stained. Two bottom shelves add to the practical storage side. (Sorry about the shadows in the pictures below, not that I can really complain about the sunshine!)

Bella Taylor

In June, we introduced Bella Taylor bags at the shop. These are quite practical yet lovely and stylish bags that we are bringing to our customers for a great value. Can't beat that combo! I have to add that we had them before some of our competitors, and our prices are much more reasonable. We checked, and were quite pleased to see that our little boutique is far better priced. It's often tough for us to compete with the bigger places since they buy in higher bulk than we are able to or may be a retail outlet for wholesalers that we shop at as well. Of course, they don't have our signature craft pieces or our thrifty vintage finds. We are the best of all three worlds!! (a bit biased of a comment, but quoted by customers.) Dare to compare!

To preview design details, browse our website under the Purses & Totes category. You'll find the specific dimensions and special features (pockets, etc.) of each style as well as pattern close-up photos.

There are shoppers, daily totes, small wallet-style purses for quick trips, mini backpacks, and even fashionable lunch bags. All have lots of storage pockets to keep you organized and most include coordinating beaded tassles for extra pizzazz. The new cell pockets are popular, as they are basically hidden yet outside, making it easy to locate your phone quickly and easily!!


"Sunkiss" pattern: (great for all seasons)

" Vintage Chic" pattern: (spring, summer, fall)

" Hollywood Beach" pattern: (summer-worthy)

Also from this same vendor, Victorian Heart, you'll find these adorable pillows currently in the shop. These are in the "Wellesley" pattern (stripes & quilted floral) which also have matching/coordinating valances.

We're a Best Kept Secret!!

Vintage Chic Boutique has been selected to be in the Fall '09

Lancaster County's Best Kept Secrets Tour

Dates: Oct. 9-24 (9:00-5:00 daily Mon. thru Sat.)

Tour bags are now available for purchase/pick up in our shop. Cost is $6 per bag/tour participant ($1 of each bag goes to Clare House, a Lancaster-based women's charity providing temporary housing to homeless women and children as well as life skills programs leading to their self-sufficiency. The remaining money goes to advertising/promoting the tour).

Details: The 3rd season of the Lancaster County's Best Kept Secrets Tour will feature shopping, food, and fun to support (and get great deals from) local small businesses. While the tour list is part of the secret, the following types of businesses will be included: home furnishings, gift stores, garden/florists, nurseries, farmer's markets, clothing boutiques, farms with crafts, cafes, restaurants, a winery, a pottery store, art galleries, antique shops, and a few speciality businesses. Games, prizes, events, demonstrations/classes, special discounts, and door prizes are available only to tour-goers. Simply bring or wear your included tour bracelet to participate. Please note: only those with a bracelet will be able to earn tickets and prizes, attend special events, and receive discounts.

Perks: Within each tour bag, you'll receive coupons and promotional items from each of the 35 participating businesses, a map and tour guide with detailed descriptions of each business (all within 15 mins. of the next). The bag contents, alone, will more than return your $6 investment!

You will receive a game ticket upon visiting each business on the tour and an additional ticket for each place you make a purchase. These tickets will enter you into the Shop & Win Game which will culminate in a drawing on November 10th for spectacular gift collections. Each business is donating a gift valued at $15 or more! Three combined prizes will be awarded with a total value of $1,000!

*Plan to get your tour bags early, as only the first 2,000 participants will receive the bags with promotional items. After 2,000 bags are sold, customers will still get all the materials and perks minus the promotional items in the bags. Anticipation for this now quite popular event is high, and bags are expected to sell out early.

Cobalt Depression Glass Collection

This past Saturday, we finally opened up one of the two boxes of Cobalt Blue Depression Glassware that we've had for over a month now. We were able to clean, research, tag, and display the pieces shown in the above photo. The looking up (in collectible books and online) part is what led to the procrastination. It seems as if there are so many patterns of Depression Glass that you can spend an hour trying to identify a few pieces. Luckily, the following patterns were fairly easy to identify. We listed the found value on the back of the price tags, along with the resources. These items are a higher price range than our general vintage dishware in the shop, but we are still able to offer our customers a considerable bargain for these collectibles.

The first ice pail is in "Windmill" pattern.

Then, there is the "Ships or Sailboat" ice tub, below, along with matching ice tea pitcher, and 5 tumblers.

The vase collection includes the following 6 pieces in varying sizes and styles.

Cobalt Depression Glass was primarily produced in the early 1930's up to the early 1940's. Many of the designs were produced by the Hazel Atlas Company, including the "Ships" in our collection.

There are more pieces from this collection to be added to this display in the shop...but that remains for another day (or few weeks)! Look for mixing bowls (most valuable of pieces) and dinnerware sets when(ever) we get to them!!

***8/17/09 update: We've added the bulk of the remaining pieces to the cobalt glassware collection this past Sat. Here is the now-two-shelf-display:

White Milk Glass Collecting

This week we're featuring vintage white milk glass items. We recently pulled our current offerings together on the windowsill and are displaying them as a grouping. White milk glassware makes a gorgeous collection perfectly fitting to Shabby Chic, Vintage, Cottage, French Country and Victorian decor. Remember: 3 of anything makes a collection! Add to your own findings or start a new collection. Consider displaying on a hutch, shelf, mantel, windowsill or cabinet. For contrast or a splash of color, add florals or colored doilies under your white glassware.

White Hobnail Milkglass collection:

- vase

-2 votive cups

~Pair of white hobnail lamps with white marble base (awaiting pretty shades)

~White Hobnail Pots (set of 2 small, 1 medium....place marbles or pebbles in base for drainage and plant houseplants such as African Violets)

White Milkglass Pedestal Bowls/Compotes -these dishes are great for candy or nuts in the kitchen; small soaps or bath beads in a powder room; potpourri and/or tea light candles in the living room; a vessel to catch loose change or keys when you come home; or showcasing small collections of shells, marbles, or buttons. We lace ribbon through the rim to coordinate with displays or season. They are easy to switch out for holidays or room decor.

Wardrobe & Vanity Set

We hit the jackpot this weekend, having found these 2 antique furniture pieces at a moving sale. The funny thing is that the people who sold them to us were just as excited to get rid of them as we were to buy them! I'm so glad we actually got out early enough to get first dibs on these babies. Nothing was priced at the sale, which generally means the owners expect high prices but may very well drop them as the days wears on. Knowing everything was listed in the newspaper as needing to go, we thought we'd give it a chance and find out what they were asking before the opportunity passed. Both were reasonable enough to not pass up. Even more amazing, we fit everything in the back of the Escape! The owners even helped to load them! Can't beat that! We tend to surprise quite a few people in how much we can pack inside a vehicle!! Mom has a natural talent for packing. It's an artform!

The vanity has a beveled tri-fold mirror and matching bench. There are 2 drawers with original pulls. Measures 33 1/2" long x 18" wide x 30" high (55" high to mirror back). The stool measures 17 1/2" high x 22 3/4" wide. Currently available in our shop and just listed on Lancaster, PA Craigslist @ http://lancaster.craigslist.org/fud/1283708199.html

The wardrobe/dresser measures 33 1/2" long x 32 1/2" wide x 49" high (with back edging 54 1/2" high). There are 2 full lower drawers. The double door at top open to 3 additional drawers (could be removed to use an entertainment armoire). Also would work nicely as a linen or china buffet cabinet. Craigslist posting @ http://lancaster.craigslist.org/fud/1283736955.html

Of course, if I had these pieces for myself...I'd love to see them coated in a luscious coat of cream or white paint and glass knobs. Some people cringe at the thought of painting natural wood (my husband being one of them), so we decided to bring the 2 newcombers to the shop and offer them at reasonable prices for our customers. We'll let them decide what to do with them: use as-is or cottage-ize them! If they don't move in a few months, we may opt to update them. We'll see what happens. The set is currently on our porch outside the boutique as there is no space available inside. Packing items for display is also an artform if not a challenge!

Creating a Beach Cottage Feel with Shells

In the boutique, we have a beach cottage theme going on for our seasonal display which will hopefully spark some ideas for your own homes. Here are several snapshots of different pieces that are both simplistic and creative ways to decorate with shells and common all-season objects.

1. Glass terrarium - add a bed of sand, shells, beach pebbles, driftwood, sea glass, etc.

2. Vintage vanity mirror/tray (this one we painted a pale cottage blue) with mosaic glass votive cups and scattered shells.

3. Shells tousled along a lamp base.

4. Shell-tied votive cups atop another vintage vanity mirror

5. Dress up the garden (or inside) with shells inside a birdbath.

Glass Tealight Diplays: Limitlessly Awesome

We picked up a few new glass tealight holder cylinders that allow lots of creativity. They are basically a blank, glass slate which you place tealight candles. The first style come in three sizes, 5", 7", and 9" tall. Each has a separate glass candle cup which sits securely into the top of the cylinder. The beauty is that both can be filled with whatever your heart delights...or the mood strikes...or the season calls for!

We filled the tall one with sand and shells (not as full as I would make it if using it in my home, but just enough for customers to get the concept in the shop). We placed sand in the tealight cup as well to continue the theme and allow the candle to fit snuggly in place. To expand the whole beachy look, you could add small pieces of driftwood, sand pebbles, sea glass, and/or starfish. This makes a great spot to display mementos from a vacation (in any environment).

The second cylinder is filled with buttons in complementary shades. Again, we placed some in the base and in the tealight cup to complete the look.

The third cylinder is filled with tiny rosebuds. Any type of potourri, faux flowers or dried snippets from your garden (lavender would be awesome) would work just as well.

What ideas do you have?? I'm thinking: small vintage glass balls and tinsel for Christmas, candy corn for Halloween, conversation hearts for Valentine's....

I have to say, I bought one of these from a PartyLite show a month or so ago. It was wayyyy over-priced and, unfortunately, the candle cup didn't even sit level. Since it was not exactly stable, my daughter accidently knocked it over and shattered the base. With VCB prices (1/4 of what the PartyLite versions cost), you can afford to buy several. They look great individually or in a grouping of the three sizes. They also make awesome gifts and can be customized for any occasion or event. They truy are limitlessly awesome!!

The other glass tealight display is pictured below. This has a tube-like cylinder that sits horizontally on a tabletop. There are tiny feet to support the base and slots to hold five tealight candles. Again, the creative factor is limitless and versatile enough to change it up on a whim. Since we're in the full beach cottage mode these days, we filled our sample with a collection of pretty shells.