Coming Full Circle with Madge

Back in February 2012 there was a modest goal: Clean out a closet full of vintage treasures. Who knew then where that one item on my to-do list would take me?

I grew up vintage. Some of my earliest memories were of my mom and me climbing up the stairs of the old Salvation Army store in downtown Wichita, Kansas. The sixth floor was where all the furniture was located. She’d find a sorry old couch or chair, take it home, rework it and put it in a place of honor in our ranch-style home. Later in the 70s, we would haunt flea markets and a used clothing store for buys on clothes, hats and costume jewelry. My mom had great style and I learned a lot about what and what not to buy. She taught me how to pick pieces that would stand the test of time. When my wedding date arrived, the something old part was easy.

Those vintage-shopping habits carried over to my own family. My husband was none too pleased when I implored him to rent van and drive for over four hours to meet a delivery truck on I95. He failed grasp my “deal of the century”- two sofas I purchased for $75.00 on a trip to Miami. Of course my mom was with me in Miami and I admit we didn’t put a lot of thought about how were going to get those sofas back to Atlanta. Poor Mr. Madge that was just one of many “deals of the century” to come. Still have those infamous couches!

My mom passed away much too young in December 2000. Losing her meant losing my best friend and my partner in crime. Shopping for and wearing all of those wonderful vintage finds was too hard without her. So into the closet they went and I put that part of my life away.

The beginning of 2012 found me sorting through our house for a garage sale. I took a deep breath and opened that closet and went through all the wonderful hats, jewelry and clothes that were stored there. I decided to open an Etsy shop. If I wasn’t going to wear any of it I wanted all these beautiful things to have good homes. What was the point in owning it if not to wear it?

I named my shop Madge’s Hatbox after my maternal grandmother who was a milliner. Well the shop took off and with it I rediscovered my love of vintage – the uniqueness, affordability, quality and style. I regained that joyful feeling of discovering a fabulous pair of earrings or the perfect side table and realizing you are part of the chain of people who have cherished that piece. The reason I love vintage? There’s always a story. I recently opened this second shop, Madge @Home, specializing in vintage home goods.

To share my passion for vintage style I started my blog, www.madgeshatbox.com in April, 2012 . A passing remark by my aunt opened up a whole new chapter – a journey of discovery to connect the dots in the story of Ora Madge Beals Meredith. A young woman who traveled alone from Kansas to Scooba Mississippi in 1917 to open a hat shop. Needless to say, it's been one wild ride.

Thanks to the wonderful network of vintage buyers and sellers on Etsy I have found a new home and new vintage friends. Now that Madge’s Hatbox is here to stay I am happy to present my latest store: Madge @Home featuring fabulous vintage for your home.

Please check out my original shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MadgesHatBox

A curated collection of hats, jewelry, fashion and home goods at my. My heart is in every piece. Mom and Madge would be so proud.

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