By AML Publisher
Photos by Belle Vie Photography

Local celiacs and vegans now have the first Philadelphia-area bakery to call their own with Lansdale’s Virago Baking Company.

Walk into Lansdale’s quaint corner Virago Baking Company and the cases are packed with one delicious treat after another: dozens of mouth-watering, generously iced cupcakes, hearty pies, breakfast breads, birthday cakes and more. Seems like any other small town bustling bakery business until you take a close look at the menu. Everything in Regina Mason‘s sensationally successful bakery is gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan. “I knew I wanted to open a bakery in Lansdale, but not your typical concept. There really is no way to compete with the local supermarkets in a traditional bakery model and there is very high demand now for what we offer with food allergies being so prevalent. A bakery for the Philadelphia region that prides itself in offering the same items but made for those dietary restrictions in mind are what we pride ourselves on-and, what can I say, it is working,” explained Mason.

Opening an all natural bakery café catering to vegans and celiacs in 2007 was an astute business move by Mason considering the prevalence of those Americans following a vegan lifestyle or diagnosed with a gluten intolerance-known across the medical industry as celiac disease. Celiacs were not part of mainstream America until these past few years when celebrities like The View’s Elizabeth Hasselbeck became diagnosed and produced a top-selling cookbook. Also thrusting celiac disease into the limelight with numerous appearances on Larry King, Oprah and prime time television-actress Jenny McCarthy who embraced a gluten-free diet for her autistic son.

Virago offers gift boxes, trays, baskets, and cupcake and cookie trays to order and ship across the country for the holiday season.

According to Philadelphia’s National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) and their website celiaccentral.org, over 3 million Americans have celiac disease but only 5% have been correctly diagnosed. Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disease that damages the villi of the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. This means that, essentially, the body is attacking itself every time a person with celiac consumes gluten.

Celiac disease is triggered by consumption of the protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye. When people with celiac disease eat foods containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the finger-like villi of the small intestine. When the villi become damaged, the body is unable to absorb nutrients into the bloodstream, which can lead to malnourishment. Left untreated, people with celiac disease can develop further complications such as other autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, thyroid disease, and cancer.

Yum!

Regina has designated days of the week where Virago only bakes gluten-free. So, there are strict guidelines in place to avoid any cross contamination for those with higher sensitivity to gluten-free particles. In addition, Virago serves a light lunch menu using all natural products. Items such as wraps, salads, soup, quiche and frittata are available as gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian for customers. On Fridays and Saturdays, Virago offers gluten-free pizza by the slice, take & bake or a plain pizza shell.

The good news for local celiacs looking to celebrate the holiday season-Virago Baking Company will ship anywhere across the Delaware Valley (and country) to make sure you have your fair share of holiday treats and sweets. “The goal of my bakery is that we want our baked goods to look just like they would if you walked into a traditional bakery. If you are a celiac, you deserve a beautiful birthday or wedding cake that is gluten-free, looks great and tastes delicious. Dietary restrictions and choices exist and it’s really our job to make our customers excited to have our pies and cakes and enjoy them just as they would if they did not have to watch, or choose, how they eat. We have a lot of customers who buy from us just because they find my baked goods delicious, not because they have a food allergy, restriction or intolerance,” explained Mason.

Virago Baking Company is located at 620 South Broad Street in Lansdale, PA 19446. Their hours of operation are: Tuesday through Friday 7AM to 6PM, Saturday 8AM to 5PM, Sunday 8AM to 1PM. They are closed Mondays. Call: 215-412-7071.

Their website is: www.viragobakingcompany.com

Follow Virago on Twitter at: twitter.com/ViragoBakingCo

Join their Facebook Fan Page to keep up to date with specials and bakery news.

Think you may have celiac disease? Visit celiaccentral.org for a checklist of symptoms and comprehensive information.

Looking for a fun holiday guide for the next few weekends? We have got you covered with six super towns that are pulling out all the stops to entertain and delight the young and old.

The most cherished holiday tradition in Chestnut Hill is its Stag & Doe Nights which will be held on Wednesdays: December 9th, 16th and 23rd. Pictured is a holiday display in Robertson’s Florist.

Chestnut Hill
Holidays on the Hill
December 2nd through December 24th
www.chestnuthill.org

Discover wonderful holiday design ideas this weekend at the Chestnut Hill Holiday House Tour on Saturday, December 5th. Five magnificent homes, each with unique design and architectural styles, will be professionally decorated for the holidays and open from 10 am to 4 pm.

The most cherished holiday tradition in Chestnut Hill is its Stag & Doe Nights which will be held on Wednesdays, December 9th, 16th and 23rd, from 6 to 9 pm. Shops offer evening hours with wine and cheese or cocoa and cookies. Live music, roasting chestnuts, carolers and merriment make the nights come alive with joy and holiday spirit. And everyone looks forward to greeting Santa as he, too, enjoys the fun of Stag & Doe. New this year is Girls Night Out on Wednesday evening, December 2nd from 6 to 9 pm. Participating shops will offer lots of goodies and the ladies can get a head-start on their holiday revelry (and shopping, too).

Chestnut Hill’s highly anticipated Holiday House Tour is Saturday, December 5th from 10am to 4pm. For full info on the tour, visit chestnuthill.org

For a special treat, Santa will be in Chestnut Hill every Sunday from 1 to 4 pm. He has invited all the children to visit him at his gingerbread house and tell him their wishes for Christmas. The Morris Arboretum has a special gift for all children who stop by to see Sant-admission for two children for the price of one with a full-price adult admission to the Arboretum’s 9th Annual Holiday Garden Railway Display. Visitors of all ages will be wowed by a quarter mile of track featuring seven loops and tunnels with fifteen different rail lines and two cable cars. The Garden Railway opens on Friday, November 27th and remains open through January 3rd.

Marshallton
Christmas in Marshallton House Tour
Saturday December 12th, 10am to 4pm

Located just four miles west of West Chester, Marshallton offers a charming Chester County daycation year round. This year’s Christmas in Marshallton House Tour is the perfect reason to experience the town for the first time. The tour benefits the Marshallton United Methodist Church and offers a fun glimpse of unique Victorian homes and buildings decorated for the holiday season. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 the day of the tour. Tickets are available at the church Monday through Thursday from 9am to 1pm. No food, drinks, high heels, smoking or children are permitted on the tour. For more information, call 610-696-5247 or 610-793-0201.

Bah Humbug!
Narberth’s popular Dickens Festival, slated for December 12th, is chocked full of old fashioned fun for the kid in all of us. ©2008 Donald D. Groff

Narberth
The Narberth Dickens Festival
Saturday December 12th, Noon to 4pm
www.narberthonline.com

The Narberth Dickens Festival is a free family event held on a Saturday afternoon every December on the streets of downtown Narberth. This year’s event is from Noon to 4pm on December 12. The event had a modest start in 2006, when the Narberth Business Association (NBA) hired a brass quartet to stroll through town playing holiday music. It was met with such enthusiasm that the NBA expanded the entertainment to create a Dickens themed event, complete with horse and carriage rides, musicians, Christmas carolers, plus Ebenezer Scrooge and all the characters from “A Christmas Carol.” There’s a scavenger hunt for the children, sending them searching high and low for every character in order to win a prize. The 2008 prize was a top hat that was worn all afternoon by hundreds of kids throughout Narberth’s version of 1840’s London.

Malvern
Malvern’s Victorian Christmas
Friday December 4th, Saturday December 5th
malvernbusiness.com

NBC Philadelphia’s Lori Wilson is the emcee for this year’s Victorian Christmas festivities in Malvern. Rain or shine, starting on Friday at 6:15 p.m. in Burke Park, the community will gather to light Malvern’s town tree for the season. The ceremony will be covered live on NBC10 for the sixth year.

Following the tree lighting, there will be musical performances throughout town, strolling street performers, children’s shows, horse and carriage rides, a hay ride and more. Malvern’s shops will also be hosting open houses with refreshments. In addition, the most highly anticipated guest, Santa Claus, will hear the wishes of all the children in the pavilion Friday night. On Saturday at Malvern Federal Savings Bank, Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be welcoming the children from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with plenty of activities and workshops for families to enjoy.

Wayne’s Finer Things will be one of the town’s stores open late for the annual First Friday ‘Wayne Christmas,’ with over a thousand locals expected to attend.

Wayne
Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Old Fashion Christmas
Friday December 4th, Saturday December 5th
waynechristmas.com

The Wayne Hotel is the title sponsor of the Old Fashioned Christmas in Wayne, an annual event presented by the Wayne Business Association (WBA). The two-day community and family celebration begins Friday evening, December 4th with festive caroling and horse drawn carriage rides along North and South Wayne Avenues and culminates with the lighting of the Christmas Tree at the Wayne Train Station. The countdown to the tree lighting, scheduled for 7:30 p.m., will be led by 6ABC Action News Reporter Cathy Gandolfo.

The festivities continue with a parade on Saturday morning, December 5th. Led by Radnor High School’s marching band, Jolly Old Santa will make his way down Lancaster Avenue from the Wayne Acme on a fire truck to the porch of the Wayne Hotel. Wide eyed children and their families will gather on the porch to visit with Santa, while enjoying fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate compliments of the hotel. New this year is the opportunity to contribute to Toys for Tots and on Saturday you are invited to bring a new, unwrapped toy when visiting with Santa on the porch of The Wayne Hotel. Bring your loved ones to celebrate at the Wayne Hotel’s Old fashioned Christmas!

West Chester’s popular Old Fashioned Christmas is in its 30th year.

West Chester
Flavia Old Fashioned Christmas
December 3rd-6th
greaterwestchester.com

Now in its 30th year, the four-day (Thursday through Sunday) celebration features over forty events including theatrical and musical performances, guided walking tours, a holiday craft bazaar and breakfast with Santa. The parade, scheduled for Friday, December 4, begins at a new time, 8 p.m., giving spectators plenty of opportunity to get into the Borough and enjoy all the evening has to offer. Beginning at 5:30pm, many businesses and organizations throughout the downtown will host Holiday Open Houses featuring refreshments and seasonal entertainment. At 7 p.m., the First Annual Jingle Elf Run kicks off at Market and High Streets with a 2-mile run and a 1-mile walk.

The evening culminates with the Old Fashioned Christmas Parade which offers a blend of traditional and new elements. In keeping with West Chester’s small town ambiance, a host of local schools, businesses, volunteer fire companies and service organizations will be represented among the many marching bands, floats and antique vehicles that have become a mainstay of Old Fashioned Christmas. Appearing for the first time will be Radio Disney recording artist, Joey Page; the United States Submarine School Silver Dolphins Drill team from Connecticut; and the Cultural Fraternidad Pachamama Dancers from Maryland. Meteorologists Karen Rogers and Adam Joseph from 6abc Action News will serve as emcees. The parade also features a “Salute to the Military” and, of course, the arrival of Santa Claus.

Shipley Shops is a popular tradition that brings together premier retailers and artists from throughout the United States and attracts customers from within and well beyond the Shipley community. Pictured are stockings from Shops’ vendor Boxwood Linens.

It’s shop till you drop at the Main Line’s premier holiday shopping event, nine weeks before the hectic holiday season descends upon us. And locals don’t have to brave the crowd at nearby malls to find a gift for every person on their list! Shipley Shops, now in its 49th year, kicks off next Wednesday evening with a preview party and runs through Saturday October 24th. The annual popular fundraiser for the school offers Main Liners one fantastic variety of beautiful retail products with vendors from across the Delaware Valley-and across the country.

Shipley Shops features perennial favorites like Bella Casa (fine home accessories), Jacques Ferber’s (luxurious furs and outerwear), Jane Roth (vintage jewelry), Occhio Bags (one-of-a-kind handbags), and Tuyet Jewelry (handcrafted custom jewelry). Some new vendors include The Belted Cow (handcrafted belts designed by artists), Boxwood Linen (fine linen home accessories), KEP Designs (fun and feminine jewelry), The Pink Mink (select collection of personal accessories and home goods), and Sea Bags (custom totes crafted from recycled sails, recently featured in Martha Stewart Living).

Seabags is a New England company who is a first time vendor with Shipley Shops. They will be showcasing their popular line of custom totes and accessories constructed from recycled sails.

Jennifer Irey, Director of Special Programs and Events at Shipley, spearheads the annual event. “Shipley Shops began as a holiday shopping event for the Main Line and 39 years later it has evolved into so much more than just a seasonal experience. Shipley Shops is a shopping experience for the Main Line unlike any other event. We have everything from children’s clothing to men’s apparel, to linens and more. I got all my holiday shopping completed last year at ‘Shops!’ We work hard to have a strong variety of new products, but maintain our companies that have become favorites throughout the years,” explained Irey.

Attendees should be sure to check out Shipley’s Four Corners. Foodies will love Culinary Corner, where they’ll find baking and cooking supplies from Viking Culinary, as well as a selection of gourmet food items and kitchen accessories. Unique crafts, made by Shipley colleagues, can be discovered in the Community Corner. Hungry shoppers can take a break to grab a cup of homemade soup or a sandwich in the Cuisine Corner. Finally, stop by Collectibles Corner, where someone’s donation may become your new treasure.

Tuyet Wong Bracelet: Black Spinel gemstones, Bali sterling silver, fresh water pearl, mother of pearl, Swarovski crystals.

Becky Snyder Fawcett, cofounder of HelpUsAdopt.org and ’88 Shipley alum, is one of the beneficiaries of this year’s event. HelpUsAdopt.org is a national non-profit financial grant program, formed in 2007, which helps couples and individuals with the high costs associated with adoption. HelpusAdopt.org provides up to $15,000 towards adoption expenses to those who qualify. “Adoption is very expensive. It does not matter who you are or where you live-it is very costly period. An average adoption costs $30,000 and that is just the average. My husband and I felt very fortunate when we adopted our son Jake that we wanted to give back to those who would not have this opportunity,” explained Snyder Fawcett.

You can feel guilt-free about splurging at Shipley Shops because a portion of every purchase benefits The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr. Pictured: Fashion by Charlotte Brody

Snyder Fawcett is considered a Shipley lifer, having attended kindergarten through twelfth grade. Her presence at Shipley Shops will be tied in with Denise Cox of Denise Cox Designs (denisecoxdesigns.com) who is HelpUsAdopt.org’s jewelry partner, and a friend of Becky’s. Don’t miss the booth hosted by Denise Cox Designs, which is donating 5% of sales to HelpUsAdopt.org (100% if you purchase the signature HelpUsAdopt.org bracelet).

Tuyet Wong (tuyetjewelry.com), a former registered nurse, is a very successful jewelry designer based in Radnor who creates distinctive one-of-a-kind pieces using semi-precious stones and freshwater pearls. Wong is part of the local artists and designers who are Shipley Shops regulars year in and year out. “For me, Shipley Shops defines community service and I feel very strongly about taking my time to help out a great school. Of course The Shipley School is a great Main Line school, with outstanding faculty. But, I enjoy participating each year in Shipley Shops because they are always so supportive of local artists and they have helped to put me on the map with so many of my clients,” explained Wong.

SIX SHIPLEY SHOPS’ VENDORS TO SET YOUR SIGHTS ON:

1) CPC Designs, Wayne, PA
www.cpcdesignsinc.com
Spearheaded by Main Line moms magnificent trio of Caroline Linz, Carrie Grau and Gaby Evers, CPC Designs offers fashion forward mix and match designs(moms choose the fabric and trims) for the customized outfits which includes sundresses, courdoroys and overalls.

2) Seabags, Portland, ME
www.seabags.com
Beach bunnies in attendance at Shipley Shops do not want to pass by Seabags! Since 1999, Seabags has been making customized bags out of recycled sails. Each uber-preppy bag is designed and inspired by the sail itself and all vary in texture and fabric.

3) Charlotte Brody Designs, NYC
www.charlottebrody.com
A first time Shipley Shops participant, Charlotte Brody Designs, out of NYC, offers high quality designs in luxurious fabrics such as Italian cashmere, Scottish tweed, linen and silk.

4) Flee Bags, Chicago
www.fleebags.com
Flee is a boutique brand specializing in oilcloth products and designed exclusively for busy women with “on the fly” lifestyles. The Flee product line utilizes oilcloth, most originally known for tablecloths in the 1950’s, and features carry-alls such as handbags, totes, diaper bags, backpacks, laptop carriers, lunch boxes, coolers…and of course tablecloths & placemats.

5) Boxwood Linen, Mount Pleasant, PA
www.boxwoodlinen.com
Boxwood Linen makes and designs decorative home accessories from 100% linen cloth. Table linens, aprons, pillows, guest towels, sachets and other gift items are meticulously handmade in Bucks County, PA in a variety of colors. Their line bridges the gap between European classics and clean modern design.

6) Polka Dots, Paoli, PA
www.shopatpolkadots.com
The popular Paoli boutique offers fashion forward, affordable, fun clothing and accessories.

The 49th Annual Shipley Shops

Denise Cox Designs will be featuring this bracelet at Shipley Shops. Proceeds benefit the charity Helpusadopt.org, which was founded by Shipley alum Becky Snyder Fawcett.

WHEN: October 22-24, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Thurs. & Fri.
10:00 am – 3:00 pm on Saturday

WHERE:
The Shipley School, Bryn Mawr, PA
Shipley’s Yarnall Gymnasium
The Shipley School
814 Yarrow St. Bryn Mawr, PA

Wednesday, October 21
Preview Party 6:00-9:00 pm, Yarnall Gymnasium
All are welcome, $75 single patron

COST: Admission is $10 on Thursday and Friday.
On Saturday, Family Fun Day, Admission is Free.

Open Bar
Featuring innovative and delicious cocktail fare from Bryce’s Catering
All are welcome to attend this fun and festive evening. It is an opportunity to shop and socialize in a casual and exciting atmosphere! Be one of the first to see (and purchase) unique items from our very exclusive vendors from New York, Maine, Washington, D.C. and local vicinities.

Thursday, October 22
Shops Open 10:00-6:00 pm All are welcome
Lower School Parent Get-Together 12:30-2:30 pm-Gather, socialize, and shop!
Shipley Past Parents Tea 3:00-5:00 pm

Friday, October 23
Shops Open 10:00-6:00 pm All are welcome
Shipley Grandparents Coffee 9:30-10:30 am
Middle School Parent Get-Together 12:00-2:30 pm-Gather, socialize, and shop!
Shipley Alumni Tea 3:00-4:30 pm
Shipley Alumni Cocktail Party 5:00-7:00 pm

Saturday, October 24
All are welcome and admission Saturday October 24th is FREE!
Family Fun Day featuring children’s activities and Cradles to Crayons collection

For more information at www.shipleyschool.org/shipleyshops

Pearl Stationery’s charming line of trick or treat favor boxes, ideal for your chic Halloween party.

Philadelphia native Stephanie H. was invited to a card making class about a year ago with her cousin. It seemed to awaken her child within. Stephanie had a passion for scrapbooking, crafting and paper projects as a little girl—spending hours working her way through stationery kits and playing with stamps, construction paper and embellishments. And, thus, a few weeks after her class, Pearl Stationery-her popular line of high-end custom stationery-was born.

Now thriving on Etsy.com, an online store for artisans, collectors and hand crafters, Stephanie finds inspiration abounds from just her daily life. “I was riding the train into work one day this summer and noticed all the men in their business shirts that looked so crisp-white with the pinstripes. I thought the designs were very intricate and clean and summery, so my mind started thinking. A few weeks later, I put together a set of cards from that one thought. Inspiration can come from anywhere and with stationery, you can really go in so many directions-have fun, be creative,” enthused the young designer.

As part of her fall line, Pearl’s selection includes these autumnal shades accented by charming quotes from well-known authors, like Emily Bronte. “Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.”

Since her launch last year with her incredibly affordable line (over half the price less than any retail or custom stationery store), Stephanie, 23 and a Lansdale native, has prospered with her business [keenly] referred to in short as P.S. or Pearl Stationery. Stephanie is very inspired by the seasons, especially her weekend jaunts down to the Jersey shore. “I found this Martha Stewart anchor punch and I just worked around it, and created something my own. I love the shore, love summer. Handcrafting is back, and Etsy obviously is providing this cool technology to support the resurgence of this industry. People get great delight in sending something handmade and when someone takes the time to send a friend or loved one a card, thank you note…it is special and something that is really appreciated.”

Etsy Site: pearlstationery.etsy.com

Started on Etsy: March 2008

Price Range: $1.50 and up per invitation/item

Sales on Etsy: 90

Email: pearlstationery@yahoo.com

Hometown: Lansdale

Age: 23

High School: North Penn

College: DeSales University

Occupation: Events Editor

Invite your guests in style with Pearl’s understated, yet elegant, Thanksgiving invitations.

A Sale Down Under: An Etsy customer from Australia recently a placed an order with Pearl Stationery. “That really made me excited to think someone in Australia, on the other side of the world, appreciates my stationery and will be using it to send thank you notes to their friends! It’s pretty cool,” said Stephanie.

Attention to Detail: Every piece of Pearl Stationery is handmade and created by Stephanie herself-every ribbon is hand tied, every embellishment glued by hand, every stamp perfectly centered and placed on her invitations, every piece of paper meticulously handled when it comes off the printer. “I am very careful and precise with all my products; it is my name behind it. It’s time consuming but that is what my customers expect and appreciate.”

Spook-tackular Selection: Halloween parties are right around the corner, and Pearl Stationery has created the coolest invites around. Wow your guests with the shabby chic look of Pearl’s classic-meets-contemporary Trick or Treat invitation. The original design is custom printed with hi-definition ink on smooth pumpkin orange cardstock & hand-embellished with mini Swarovski crystals. Pearl’s line comes with a matching black linen envelope. Stephanie recommends writing the recipient’s address on the front using a white gel pen (not included) for a chic look. $2.50 per, 5 x 7. Visit Pearl Stationery.

Etsy Love: “I am always amazed by the talent on Etsy, I find myself getting caught up in the photography, the pottery—really everything. Etsy gives me, as a handcrafter, this awesome appreciation for people with so many levels of talent.”

Seaside Heights: Pearl’s seasonal lines are just what Main Liners and consumers alike, who appreciate a creative eye and great value, are looking for. Her summer barbeque and nautical-themed party invites are simple, clean, and preppy and have wide appeal.

Send seasonal sentiments this fall with this series of greeting cards, hand stamped inside in chocolate ink with the greeting “Warmest Wishes.”

Publisher’s Picks: We can hardly wait for Turkey Day here at AML, one of our favorite holidays. So, we are ordering Pearl’s Rustic Leaf Table Setting Set-an adorable Menu and Place Card Duo for Thanksgiving Dinner. The holiday line boasts ever-so-slightly distressed edges and chocolate brown ink on smooth ivory stock card. It is not only chic but super affordable, one menu and one place setting is only $1.50 for the pair!). Visit Pearl Stationery.

Bridal Bliss: Stephanie’s customized wedding invitations are one part of her booming Etsy-based business. One of her favorite brides had a Hawaiian-themed wedding with a magenta and black color scheme. “I did not want something in your face ‘Hawaiian’, it was very fun to work with a cool, contemporary color theme of black and hot pink and make it work in a sophisticated fashion,” explained Stephanie.

My Best Friend’s Wedding: Stephanie’s best friend is getting married in July 2010, so she is working closely with her for an elegant, custom invite. She will work with local brides within the greater Philadelphia region to develop stunning, yet affordable, wedding stationery. “I really enjoy working with brides and having that one-on-one interaction. They take their invitations very seriously so it’s a rewarding creative process for me.”

In The Works: Pearl Stationery can provide Save the Date cards, Holy Communion invites, bridal and baby shower invitations and more. Stephanie will be expanding the line to include other selections this fall, due to customer request, including some custom family party invites for Yours Truly!

A full selection of Pearl Stationery’s custom stationery and invitations, from wedding to holiday themes, baby announcements and more can be found on her Etsy site at http://pearlstationery.com. To inquire about custom orders, email: pearlstationery@yahoo.com.

Know a great Etsy vendor that’s based in the Delaware Valley? Send us their link for consideration for our Etsy Phavorites series. Contact: info@aroundmainline.com

The Blue Horse Boutique has revitalized a part of Wayne’s bustling retail row, a popular stretch of stores along Lancaster Avenue.

Chicago has its Magnificent Mile-one of the most desirable mecccas of shopping real estate in the world. For the Main Line’s top shopping town, Wayne, the highly coveted strip of shops along East Lancaster Avenue is known as ‘Retail Row.’ The stretch of stores, packed daily with moms, couples and Radnor Middle school students, starts with the GAP and ends with Liz Ayerle’s popular women’s boutique, Fresh Ayer (freshayer.com). It is considered the hottest, and priciest, piece of retail property for local developers.

This summer Main Liners were abuzz when a colorful and chic new boutique opened its doors on the ‘Row.’ And, the name and royal blue horse logo had a very familiar look. The Blue Horse Boutique evolved from the success of the popular Devon Hill Boutique, located in the Devon Hill BMW dealership. The boutique resonated so well with customers who were waiting in the service department, or just stopping on through, that the owners felt it was due time for a retail space on the Main Line.

The boutique is bright and spacious—and absolutely chocked full of one great gift after another. From kids’ toys to designer jewelry, hand-painted bar ware, shaving kits for men, funky fashion accessories and more it is a shopper’s dream come true. “We work very hard to find things that are different, that you cannot find everywhere. We want this store to be different than any other shop on the Main Line. What will drive Blue Horse is a unique selection, and that will make for an intriguing visit and experience for our customers each time they step through the door,” explained Courtney Davis, Blue Horse manager.

The boutique’s sprawling and colorful space can be rented out for baby showers, cocktail parties and private events.

Blue Horse owner Amanda Wetherill Holmes explained how the concept for the Wayne locale evolved from a booming retail space at Devon Hill. “We originally had the BMW product line in the boutique at the dealership (to start out) and we did well. So, we decided to add retail items to the store to grow the interest and inventory and it just took off. People would come to the boutique to shop-many who did not have BMWS, were not looking to have their car serviced. That’s when it clicked that we had done a good job with our product selection-so it just made sense for us to grow beyond the original concept.”

“Our goal is to be a destination for funky and cool, fun things,” explained store manager Courtney Davis. The boutique offers a wide selection of handbags, pet trinkets, jewelry, children’s toys, hostess gifts, accessories and more.

Wetherill Holmes’ skill for purchasing interesting merchandise that has a distinct Main Line appeal is no stroke of luck. Her family has owned and operated Devon Hill BMW for decades, so she understands the local consumer. In addition, Blue Horse was inspired by one of Amanda’s favorite retail gift shops-the now defunct national chain Blue Tulip. “I think there has been a void since Blue Tulip closed. It was one of my favorite local gift shops to stop in! So, I had that in my mind when I was searching for a location to open our first Blue Horse outside the dealership. First and foremost, we wanted a great space on the Main Line, we love Wayne. I came right in here and looked at Courtney and said, ‘Yes, this is it.’ Plus, I love green and bright colors; it creates a fun atmosphere for our customers. So, we took this opportunity and ran with it,” explained Holmes.

Formerly occupied by the antique store Age of Content, the space had been vacant for several months and was in dire need of a facelift. On June 18th Blue Horse opened with the anticipation of a fun, fresh retail space. Bright colorful walls, and eclectic selection of gifts and cute pick me ups (sterling designer jewelry, sunflower yellow enamel stack bracelets, cute preppy silk purses with seasonally appropriate designs, hand painted one-of-a-kind picture frames courtesy of Davis) make it a great quick stop for a hostess gift or a pick-me-up. “We’ve had so many people pop in and say ‘We are so glad you are here, it’s so refreshing. Wayne needed this,’” said Wetherill Holmes.

The friendly staff of Blue Horse: pictured l to r owner Amanda Wetherill Holmes, Vince Picciotti and manager Courtney Davis. The store will have an official grand opening celebration this weekend starting Thursday Sept 24th through Sunday September 27th.

The Blue Horse Club is a special customer promotion the boutique is offering-which rewards loyal shoppers. Once a member of the club reaches $1,000 in purchases, they receive 10% off each purchase for the remainder of the year-ending June 2010. In addition, the first shopper through the doors of The Blue Horse Boutique at 10 a.m. each day will receive 20% off the purchase of their choice! The store will have an official grand opening this weekend starting Thursday Sept 24th through Sunday September 20th. “Our philosophy is to revive this piece of real estate and work together with our neighboring shops. That makes the most sense and will benefit both of us. We are looking forward to a great fall and holiday season in downtown Wayne, the Main Line’s top shopping destination,” enthused Wetherill Holmes.

THE BLUE HORSE BOUTIQUE GRAND OPENING FOUR DAY CELEBRATION!
THURSDAY SEPT 24TH THROUGH SUNDAY SEPT 27TH
10-7 Thursday, 12-5 Sunday

Celebrate in style at Blue Horse Boutique this weekend as they will have a festive atmosphere for their customers complete with store specials, raffles, complimentary food, drinks and more!

Blue Horse Boutique is located at 118 East Lancaster Avenue in Wayne, PA. You can join their fan page on Facebook for more information. Their website, bluehorseboutique.com, is pending. Hours of operation are Mon-Sat 10-7pm and Sundays 12-5pm. To contact the store directly call: 484-654-1245 or 610-254-BLUE or email cdavis@devonhill.com.

Amber Resin and Glass Necklace, $55.
Peel’s pieces are all one-of-a-kind, handcrafted works of art using some of the earth’s most gorgeous gemstones.

Artist Krista Peel is a self-proclaimed “rock fanatic.” Peel grew up surrounded by the picturesque plains of Cheyenne, Wyoming where her childhood days were spent appreciating the undisturbed elements of nature. “It was very serene, and as a child in a rural area I was surrounded by these intricate rocks and stones. There were not the distractions children have today, so I developed a very keen sense of the land around me and nature,” explained Peel.

Fast forward to 2009 and Peel is one of the most successful Philadelphia-based jewelry lines showcased on Etsy.com, the world’s largest online marketplace for designers and artists. That’s quite an accomplishment considering the tens of thousands of designers from the Delaware Valley who showcase their wares on the site. “Etsy allows me to have an audience that I can interact with. It really is a friendly community, a positive environment of artists that all support each other. And, looking around at the company of awesome talent on Etsy is so inspiring for me to keep producing beautiful pieces. Whenever you are in a situation like that (as a designer) there is nowhere to go but up. Etsy has been just great.”

Castaway
Peel discovered these beautiful shell fragments recently at the Jersey shore and converted them into one-of-a-kind wonderfully dimensional earrings, a perfect complement (and conversation piece) to any summer outfit, $25.

Gem lovers will be salivating as they peruse Peel’s collection (kristapeel.etsy.com) and her crisp cornucopia of semi precious gemstones and vintage materials. Among the dizzying-and delightful-choices of materials that are mounted on silver and gold wires: amber, blue chalcedony, moonstones, opalite, green quartz, dark brown freshwater pearls, pale green jade, smokey quartz, lava rocks, rainbow flash labradorite, apricot moonstone, lapis lazuli, vintage salmon acrylic, Botswanan agate, milky white sea glass…and more. “It’s always evolving what I design with, what I gravitate towards and how I find my materials. I started out in bead shops looking around at the endless possibilities-after a course of time some stones appeal to me more than others. I just found micah and a slew of quartz rocks on my mother’s property in Delaware. So, this morning I already researched how to take raw materials and translate them into beads,” explained Peel.

Howlite dyed large yellow turquoise nuggets on silver hand formed earwires, $27.

Etsy Site: kristapeel.etsy.com

Started on Etsy: May 2007

Price Range: $19 and up

Sales on Etsy: 275

Website: kristapeel.com

Hometown: Cheyenne, Wyoming

Current Residence: West Philadelphia

Age: 35

Education: Art Institute of Chicago

Current Favorite Gem: Crab Fire Agate

Publisher’s Pick: Agate and Vintage Lucite Nuggets Necklace, which boasts tones of chestnut, cinnamon and beige, is the ideal fall statement piece for your wardrobe-$75

Favorite Etsy Sites: dressgreen.etsy.com, dikua.etsy.com, spartasoap.etsy.com, lolabags.etsy.com, jennanewton.etsy.com, threesistersink.etsy.com

Favorite Etsy Shopping Feature: Peel loves the Time Machine 2 feature on Etsy, where shoppers can browse very quickly over recently listed, about to expire, or recently sold items. “I visit and browse there all the time!”

Favorite Philly Coffee Shop: Satellite Cafe, 50th & Baltimore

Favorite Place to Dine in West Philly: Vientiane Cafe

Last Etsy Purchase: Peel and her husband Zak purchased their wedding rings from Etsy jewelry designer Zoe and Doyle (ZoeAndDoyle.etsy.com)

Design Philosophy: “I really want my pieces to be these small, sculptural objects that are unique and beautiful and simple. And, with my jewelry, it is also about the touch and feel of the gems, the material, the antique resin or sea glass.”

Design Crush: Jonathan Adler (www.jonathanadler.com)

First Job: Helping her father who was a renowned taxidermist in Cheyenne. “My dad would ask me to go out and gather grass and elements for the animal so it was mounted correctly. I think that really forced me to study nature and this intricate world inside a world, and the details it offers. Wyoming has such a neat geology. There’s no doubt that shaped my view of nature and the art it offers.”

Huge nuggets of green gaspeite turquoise and multi-toned botswana agate faceted beads hang on silver wire, 17" long, with a handmade silver clasp, $85.

Hitting the Books: Peel has a voracious appetite for literature that explores the history of rock formations.

Future Plans: “I feel like recently I have just gotten my (artistic) voice, and I’m ready to extend my line beyond earrings to necklaces and other pieces. Ideally, I would like to evolve into interior design as well.”

Backyard Find: The collection of quartz materials recently discovered in her mother’s Delaware backyard will someday be transformed into beautiful and unique pieces for Peel’s ever-evolving line.

Pet Project: Peel and her husband Zak Starer, a video tech at Moore College of Art, started a groundbreaking program for visiting artists called PhiladelphiaArtHotel.org. In the beginning of July, the art hotel (currently their home in West Philly) welcomed its first artist to its residency program for about a week’s stay. Having a designated period of time where artists can focus on their work can be crucial for their creative process. By the end of ’09, there will be a new building and locale for the visiting artists. “If, through the hotel program, Zak and I can enrich the art community each and every day, that will be one of the most rewarding personal ventures and a dream come true,” enthused Peel.

A full collection of Krista Peel’s designs can be found on Etsy.com at kristapeel.etsy.com. Her other sites include kristapeel.com and philadelphiaarthotel.org. To contact Krista directly email: kristapeel@gmail.com

Know a great Etsy vendor that’s based in the Delaware Valley? Send us their link for consideration for our Etsy Phavorites series. Contact: info@aroundmainline.com

When it comes to boozing it up at the airport, one is hard pressed to find a drink more exotic than Sam Adams or an atmosphere more appealing than a brightly lit bar fit with CNN-blaring TVs and a 70-year old bartender serving out of plastic cups. But Vino Volo has been changing all that. The airport wine bar chain debuted in 2005 at Washington DC’s Dulles International Airport and has since opened a number of locations around the country. Vino Volo (derived from “wine flight” in Italian) was so successful when it opened in the B/C Concourse of the Philadelphia International Airport in May 2008 that it opened a second Philly location at the D/E Connector.

[CLICK HERE TO READ MORE]

Hark The Herald Angels Sing!
Deanna Muth’s great sense of style makes The Pear Tree an irresistible shopping adventure.

Two years ago, Deanna Muth and her husband Thom were about to become empty nesters as their youngest child and only daughter, Andrea, was heading off to Penn State. Muth was facing that question that so many women have–after raising a family and sacrificing a second career, what will fill the next period of her life? The mother of three to Michael, 24, Bobby 23, and Andrea, now 20, was searching for a new creative outlet.

During a steamy August heat wave in the summer of 2006, Muth had a restless night with a dream containing the vivid image of a pear tree. It did not register with her at the time what it meant or represented, but it remained clearly burned in her memory. Two weeks later, feeling down in the dumps, Muth was walking out of Wayne’s Great American Pub with her husband and noticed an empty retail space across the street. “It was a total dump–just a real pit! Really, there was nothing appealing to the building except for the location which was on the corner of North Wayne Avenue directly across from the train station and facing [the busy] restaurant row. I peeked through the windows, turned to my husband and said, ‘What do you think? Could this be something I could sink my teeth into?’ We talked it over when we got home and he encouraged me to go for it. So, it was not long after that the wheels were in motion for me to open my own Main Line store,” recalled Muth.

A vintage children’s wagon brimming with holiday accents is a charming touch to welcome in passersby.

With a background in marketing and an eye for sophisticated home décor and upscale boutique items that would appeal to the Main Line shopper, Muth, a Broomall native, signed a lease in October of 2006 and opened The Pear Tree the following spring. She knew she needed to build a strong brand around the store name so she quickly scheduled a trip to New York City with a good friend who had a graphic design studio. “I told her the name of the shop and said nothing more. When I went back to review her designs, the image I had dreamt up a few months earlier was her exact sketch! It was a strange feeling, but The Pear Tree has been a spiritual journey. This is something that I have put my heart into,” said Muth.

Now, two years later the store is one of the most popular boutiques on the Main Line. This season its perfectly decorated with elegant holiday accents and a beautiful selection of
hostess gifts. Muth acknowledges that her inventory has been thoughtfully planned out. “It is really important to have the balance of great gifts and unique, locally produced items. I recognize so much talent in this area and I love welcoming local artists into my store to present their work, whether it’s their jewelry or paintings or pottery. We are open to seeing a variety because that is what our clients respond to, not just a store filled with catalogued items. Although, we do have some beautiful products from vendors we carry on a regular basis. As the owner, I want my customers to feel they can browse and enjoy our store and not feel pressured to buy…just enjoy the beautiful things we carry and the atmosphere we offer,” said Muth.

Ole Kris Kringle and many other festive decorations delight at The Pear Tree in Wayne.

A Jersey beach lover, Muth was also inspired by her summers at her house in Stone Harbor where she worked several years ago in a popular store called The Frog and Toad Shoppe (www.frogandtoadshop.com). Those summer vacations have become fewer and farther between with a bustling Main Line business. “I spend all my waking hours here and I would not trade it for the world. It keeps me busy and fulfilled to offer affordable beautiful gifts and make new friends with customers who walk through the door. This shop is a combination of all the shops that I miss that are no longer in existence on the Main Line,” Muth said.

For the holiday season, The Pear Tree has something for everyone at every price point, including pine-scented Trapp Candles, hand-blown German ornaments, $5 glass snowflakes, cleverly hand-crafted Santas, and charming Hanukkah accents. A superb selection of inventory and keen sense of style won The Pear Tree Philadelphia Magazine’s 2008 Best of Philly Hostess Gifts. Looking back, Muth reflects on a mid summer night’s dream that has turned into a terrific Main Line boutique and fulfilling career.

“I am here in this place, in this building, because I needed a new creative outlet. The Pear Tree to me exemplifies the art of saying thank you, a place where I can help you say to a friend, a loved one, a wife or girlfriend or perhaps someone in need of a pick me up, ‘I love you, I was thinking of you and here is a beautiful gift just for you.’ And what better gift can I offer through my store than the sentiment of gratitude? I can’t think of a more fulfilling dream.”

The Pear Tree is located at 133 North Wayne Avenue in Wayne, PA. The store is open Sundays 12-4pm, Mondays through Thursdays 10-6pm, Fridays 10-7:30pm and Saturdays 10-6pm. For more information contact Deanna Muth at The Pear Tree: 610-688-7202.

Main Line Mom, Minority Business Entrepreneur and QVC Model Monica Walker Miraglilo Talks Business, Babies and Beyond.

Fill-a-Pillow CEO Monica Walker Miraglilo

I am flying down Route 30 in Bryn Mawr at 6pm on a Friday evening in mid-September, hastily buckling my seatbelt in the passenger seat of Monica Miraglilo’s sleek SUV. It’s a great night, about 70 degrees, sunny with the perfect hint of fall in the air and every Mercedes, Lexus and BMW on Lancaster Avenue has somewhere fabulous to be. So we are weaving and moving and Monica is being Monica as I will soon learn: the multitasking machine is shifting into high gear as Miraglilo answers text messages and makes phone calls simultaneously. I’m trying to figure out when exactly in my sudden adventure we will find a good time to talk.

Monica and I have been scheduling and rescheduling our thirty-minute interview for weeks—I’ve been swamped with writing assignments and work, Monica has been juggling her two full time jobs, two young children and a steady social life with husband Michael, an insurance executive. But, now here we are, and before I know it, we are back on Route 30 headed east at fifty percent of the previous speed and I’m no longer looking in the rear view waiting for ‘those guys’ with their red flashing lights. Phew! Did I mention this is an interview not a roller coaster ride?!

Monica Walker Miraglilo has been a QVC model for sixteen years, on a shopping channel that boasts 7 billion in net sales in 2007. When Miraglilo is strategically poised on the home shopping channel’s set, her stunning looks are broadcast to more than 166 million cable and satellite homes worldwide. It seems like such a glamorous life—wearing designer duds from the likes of Bradley Bayou and Chloe Dao, modeling eighteen karat Italian gold and Kenneth Jay Lane pearls, hob-knobbing with the slew of celebrities that walk through the doors of the West Chester headquarters. But while millions know her as one of the longest on-air names and faces on set, most don’t know anything about her.

Beautiful and bright, and mom to a two-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter, Miraglilo is hardly basking in her local celebrity status or resting on her success with QVC. Instead, since 2005, ‘Monica,’ as millions of viewers know her, has been steadily building a unique brand of her own with a successful company, Fill-a-Pillow (www.fillapillow.com). The Haverford store is full of fabulous fabrics and trims that allow Main Liners to build and design customized pillows and linens or young girls to host their own Fill-a-Pillow parties. In less than three years, the 40-year-old’s entrepreneurial spirit, undisputed work ethic and dynamic personality have made a success of the startup business. After a series of short errands that evening in September, I was able to sit down with Monica in her cozy boutique, located a stone’s throw away from Haverford Station. I was curious to find out from a woman who seemed to have it all what inspired her to take on the task of becoming a successful entrepreneur.

AroundMainLine: Ok, let’s start from the beginning in the fall of 2005. Where did you get this idea to start a company based on customizing and building pillows?

Monica Walker Miraglilo: Well, I was working on trying to open up a business with my husband and we were considering opening a Build-a-Bear on the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey. And, we went there one evening and we found out there was already one there and we were kinda bummed out. But, my husband said we would think of something else. At that time, I had started doing some home decorating and interior design consulting on the side. And then I started to give my clients a thank you pillow when the job was completed. It was very creative—I made them out of vintage scarves that complimented their décor.

So, when we brainstormed further my husband said, ‘Why don’t we take that Build-A-Bear concept one step further and make it into a custom pillow company?’ And I said, ‘Yep, that’s it that is genius!’ So, I slept on it, dreamed about it, researched it to see if anyone else was doing it and nobody was. I didn’t tell my husband I was running with this. I thought about it further, and thought–with the way Americans are into instant gratification, it would be a big hit to be able to give someone a custom pillow in one day.

So, six months later I came to my husband and said ‘Guess what honey, I found a location, got incorporated, have my logo and design, did all the paperwork…I did it!’ And he said, ‘I was kidding about the pillow thing!’ At that point, it was too late to look back because I was serious about doing this and moving forward. So, I did.

Fill-a-Pillow’s Creative Interiors,
Haverford Station, PA

AML: That’s true focus and purpose. So, since the store has taken off, what other areas are you branching out with in the same idea/concept?

MWM: Our motto is ‘If we can fill it, we can do it.’ That has created some exciting new areas for Fill-a-Pillow and what we can do. Now we do bedding, we do window treatments, outdoor cushions, linens, pet cushions and pillows, wine bags, holiday stockings, you name it. One of our most successful pillows is a secret pillow–some gentlemen have bought them as a way to hide the ring and propose to their fiancé. We are starting to do home parties, where we come to your home and do a vintage pillow party with girlfriends. Those have been a huge hit because it is something different and fun and engages everyone to interact and be creative themselves. I think it brings out people’s own taste and talent and that’s something anyone of any age can enjoy.

AML: What it’s like to work as a QVC Model?

MWM: It’s great, I love it—it’s a fantastic company of course. But, people probably don’t realize how many hours we (QVC models) work. A lot of times I work overnight shifts and then come into the store straight from QVC and have not had any sleep and I have a full day of work ahead of me. The customers don’t know I’ve been up all night at the studio and they expect bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and an owner who is on point. Meanwhile, I’m so exhausted because I have a full work day ahead of me and a family to go home to be a good mom and wife for. But, my family is my support system and they make it all worth it. Without my husband and children, I would not get through the day.

AML: Honestly, if I turn on QVC and see you on air it seems like you are just hanging out modeling the jewelry, hair and makeup professionally done to the tee, smiling without a care in the world—piece of cake, no?

MWM: Not exactly! I can’t tell you how many times my mind is racing. I might be sitting there doing a jewelry show smiling and modeling but I am thinking about when or how my kids are going to get picked up from school, who needs what fabric at the store, what accounting works needs to be completed for Fill-a-Pillow, where my husband and I are going that weekend, what I need to make for dinner tonight. It is a hundred and one things all at once. I don’t have time to relax and kick back because as soon as I am out the door from QVC…it’s on.

AML: What advice can you give other female entrepreneurs–women who have an idea and are thinking about starting their own business?

MWM: You can’t be everything in this business. You have to designate jobs to other people in order to succeed. That’s the biggest thing I’ve learned now, two and a half years down the line. If you don’t do that, you can wear yourself out and lose your enthusiasm because you are taking on too much. But, my big advice is, if you have an idea and you believe in it, GO FOR IT! Do not wait for someone else to do it, just do it.

And if you try it and it doesn’t go as planned, oh well, no one is going to look down on you because you had the guts to try something different and you took a chance. I took a chance and look what it is now. I took a risk. My husband kept telling me that he was joking about the whole idea. And, granted, my business from the start was based on a unique idea and a dream, something I envisioned for myself. The very first day I opened up my store, I took a deep breath and propped open the front door and hoped someone would walk through. I was persistent and consistent from the start and never looked back. This business is an extension of me.

AML: That’s great advice, well stated. One thing I wanted to touch on that I know we chatted about before this interview is the fact that you are one of only a few minority entrepreneurs on the Main Line. Why do you think that is, where are all the minority business owners in the western suburbs of Philadelphia?

MWM: What you are saying is so true, I’m really not sure why there are not more minority business owners on the Main Line. But, I never really think about it from my own personal perspective. But, if we are going to be totally honest here–sometimes it is brought to my attention (in a nice way) by my customers who will say, ‘So you own this business, a beautiful black girl like yourself?’ And I know they mean well and they are just curious and also trying to be politically correct in some fashion. So, I just smile and tell them yes, I am the owner and creator of Fill-a-Pillow and yes this is my store. I just want to make an impression as a successful businessperson as me, Monica, myself—instead of ‘Monica, the African-American business owner.’ I want to be the successful entrepreneur and want everyone to view my business that way. At the same time, I do embrace the opportunity to inspire other young women of all backgrounds to open up their own business and be an opportunist and that’s what I want to focus on.

AML: Honestly Monica, I think you are inspiring and enlightening to many people and you do not even know it. The way you carry yourself, your enthusiasm for what you are doing and you are so genuine and nice. I bet you’re making a difference and breaking down social barriers–big and small–every day and not even knowing it. In fact, I’d bet on it.

MWM: That is very nice of you to say! This is a good question, a good topic and I am very glad you brought it up. Many people would not want to ask me about being a minority business owner on the Main Line because, well, they just wouldn’t want to ask that question and talk about ‘it.’ I don’t know if I even know how to answer it the best way I should but it is hanging out there as an important topic and I’m glad we discussed it. Thank you.

AML: Me too Monica, I was personally curious and wanted to know. Thank you as well. Changing focus, do people ever say to you, ‘Come on, this is a pillow company, what is the big deal?’ Because they don’t see a great business model, they can’t appreciate the creativity and guts involved in a venture such as Fill-a-Pillow. You know, I just love Donny Deutsch on CNBC, I’m a huge fan of his show “The Big Idea” and something he says on his website is ‘Creativity is the greatest form of commerce.’ I just love that.

MWM: I actually tried to contact Donny Deutsch not that long ago and he didn’t return my email. I’m sure he gets thousands if not tens of thousands of requests, though…maybe I should send him a picture pillow of himself and he would respond?

I did that for Paula Abdul and she called me to thank me and then she ordered a dozen customized pillows for her friends! She was so nice, I was impressed she personally called me to talk — it was very nice of her and she was very encouraging of my business.

AML: That’s cool that Paula reached out. As far as Donny…well, hello–did you send him a picture of yourself Monica? Because you know if you watch the show as much as I do, he loves beautiful, successful women. Maybe you should try again! Anyway, the pillow thing…is not just about choosing a pretty fabric and putting a pillow on your couch, right?

Stocking Stuffers
Fill-a-Pillow, Haverford Station, PA

MWM: It’s not. This is not the store you walk into and order ten pillows for your daybed and we hand them to you and you leave. You have to do the work when you come here, we have the fabrics and custom pillow capabilities and certainly we can help you out, that is what we do! But Fill-a-Pillow is for you to become the creator and the designer of what you want. That can mean a five year-old little girl makes a pillow for her grandmom for her birthday or a woman can come in here (with her own interior designer on hand) and we can help advise them on the best fabrics and pillows and everything in between. We make it for you, yes, usually that exact same day. We can help you but you have to create and design your own. It’s all here for you to choose from. That’s the best part of Fill-a-Pillow and that is why I love my store and my customers.

AML: So, wait, I so get this now, its all coming together for me! You created a company out of your own gifts and creative spirit and that store in itself is inspiring people, especially women, to empower themselves—make their own pillows, use their minds and embrace their talents. It’s not about making a pillow; it’s about knowing or figuring out what you want and putting it together on your own. It’s just like you have done with your store and business model. That’s pretty awesome!

MWM: (Clapping and laughing with me) I never thought of it like that, wow. This is really such a neat moment that you put that together, I have chills! You are so right. My business and my vision for what I am creating and now doing have come full circle. I so get it now too. This is incredible, I love it!

Fill-a-Pillow is located at 403 Berkley Road in Haverford Station, PA and is open Monday through Friday 10am to 5pm. Saturdays the store is open by appointment and Sundays are reserved for private parties. For more information about parties, showers and the store hours call 610-649-5040. Email: info@fillapillow.com.

Downtown Wayne dips its little toe into the big ‘pond’ of First Fridays

First Fridays in Wayne Begin October 3rd
Anthony Wayne Theater

Wayne seems like a natural fit for the wave of First Fridays that have sprung up in the last few years in the Philadelphia suburban region. And that is exactly what a group of Main Line business owners, some of the most active members of the Wayne Business Association, were thinking when they decided to organize the inaugural First Friday this October 3rd. “First Fridays just came out of the fact that the downtown merchants here in Wayne, especially the newer merchants, were getting together to think of new ideas to bring more local support of our small businesses and bring the community together,’ First Friday cofounder Liz Ayerle of Wayne Boutique Fresh Ayer said. “Wayne has such a great nucleus. There is such a neat flow and vibe up and down Lancaster and North Wayne Avenue. So, we got together and thought, ‘Why not take advantage of this and make one great night of shopping and dining where we can make ourselves available for the public?’ It’s convenient for those who work late and don’t always have a chance to browse our stores and we are going to make it fun for everyone and do it in our own signature way,’’ Ayerle enthused. The Wayne merchants had been inspired by some other local and successful First Fridays, which act as a night time block party in essence, include First Fridays in Phoenixville and First Friday Main Line (www.firstfridaymainline.com) which is a an arts and cultural night organized by 30 businesses in Bryn Mawr, Haverford and Ardmore

Fresh Ayer

Ayerle says Wayne’s First Fridays should also be considered a ‘green event’ since they are encouraging everyone to walk instead of driving into downtown Wayne and those considering a night in the city (or even those coming to the Main Line from the city and taking the R5) to stay and support local. The merchants are cleverly promoting their First Friday with the motto ‘Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: Walk around Wayne.’ Ayerle will have a Mimosa art reception highlighting local quilting and fiber artist Trina Mansfield (www.trinamansfield.com) who creates pictorial quilts. Mansfield’s unique works are currently featured in Fresh Ayer’s colorful window display.

Zeke Sieglaff, Tory Sieglaff and Beau Moffitt
The Friendly Staff at Out There Outfitters

In addition to Ayerle’s efforts, the owners and staff of Wayne’s newest unique outdoor lifestyle store, Out There Outfitters (www.outthereoutfitters.com), are spearheading the night of activities. Outfitters employee and co-organizer of the inaugural event, Sarah Hamilton, has paired up with Ayerle working diligently in the last few weeks to bring a high level of local anticipation. Outfitters owner Zeke Sieglaff is offering a storewide 10% discount for the event and says those coming to Wayne on Friday can expect a party-like, dynamic atmosphere all over the town and especially inside his store. “We will have our doors open and can’t wait to host the families and kids who come to First Friday. We think it’s a great idea, makes a lot of sense and the Main Liners will enjoy what we have to offer with lots of food and beverages for everyone,” Sieglaff said. Outfitters has an array of upscale active outerwear for kid’s and families and fits in well with the kid-friendly theme of the night. Other activities include a beer tasting at Wayne beer distributor The Beer Yard (www.beeryard.com), wandering musicians and special store surprises.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: Walk Around Wayne
The Pear Tree, North Wayne Avenue

Despite weeks of long hours and meetings, Ayerle says all the work and preparation has been well worth it because the night has ignited a new level of excitement and community within the local business owners. “A bunch of the stores are going out of their way to do something cool and exciting. One thing we really emphasized to the merchants is that this inaugural event is really what you make of it. October 3rd will set the stage for the other nights we have planned in November and December. And, everyone seems to be determined to be making it into a fabulous event and stepping up to the plate!” It seems like First Fridays in Wayne are destined to be a homerun.

First Fridays in Wayne, one of the Main Line’s most sidewalk friendly towns, will begin on October 3rd from 5-9pm and continue through December.

(logo design by Two Paperdolls, LLC, Wayne, PA)

Fresh Ayer (www.freshayer.com)
Out There OutFitters (www.outthereoutfitters.com)
The Beer Yard (www.beeryard.com)
Competitive Edge Lacrosse, 21 West Avenue Wayne, PA 610-293-9772
Katy Did (www.katydidpa.com)
Margaret Kuo’s Restaurant (www.margaretkuos.com)
Argus Printing, 168 East Lancaster Avenue Wayne, PA 610-687-0411
Oxford Circus Toys (www.oxfordcircustoys.com)
The Antique Store in Wayne (www.theantiquestoreltd.com)
The Mustard Seed, 150 East Lancaster Avenue Wayne, PA 610-293-9393
The Pear Tree, 133 North Wayne Avenue Wayne, PA 610-688-7202
Hand Made in Brazil, 121 North Wayne Avenue Wayne, PA 610-688-0890