I dressed differently,

thought differently,

and just looked at life in a DiFFerEnT way. You could say I was a modern kind of gal. It often got me into trouble though -- sometimes I was too far ahead of the parade to even be in it! That's not always good. Slowing down has been a learning experience for me.

Where did the name for the store come from? When I was a high school I was the official "office messenger" and my task was to carry the daily announcements to all of the home rooms first thing in the morning (after we mimeographed them; remember those anyone?). I would get all dolled up in my best, radical outfit every day and make grand entrances into all of the classrooms. The boys started singing "Penny Lane" to me because my nickname was Penny. So it stayed with me. My yearbook was even signed "To Penny Lane" by the whole class. So it was a proper fit, don't you think? Anyway, I feel like a Penny Lane. In Brighton, England, there is a winding road of unique shops called The Lanes, and I like to think I have combined my store name with the idea of The Lanes.  >Voila!<  Penny Lane Shops!

A bricks-and-mortar shop can be fun, but as proprietor, I also needed to spend time looking for the great things we carried, which took me away from of the shop. So this proprietor decided to go completely virtual. Now I can reach people from all over the world. I can show everything I have in one place and do more treasure hunting! Already I have struck up friendships with people from Australia, Malaysia, France and throughout the U.S. Isn't it wonderful what the internet has done for us all?

But then, you say, what about the touch-and-feel aspect of shopping? I know. I'm one of those, too. I like to feel the texture and smell the leathers of old furniture. It's a trade-off, I guess. I still have some of my furniture on display in a few antique malls around the Virginia/D.C. area, and I am holding monthly warehouse sales in Charlottesville, Virginia. Check my Links page for more information. I've also worked to ensure that my website brings you the most vivid images of the items, along with complete, informative, and captivating descriptions. You'll feel like we're standing side-by-side exploring my latest discovery!

I have been asked if I'm an interior decorator. No, not exactly. My background has been in the fashion industry. I think fashion and art are closely related. I have studied color extensively and have a passion for paint. My style is eclectic, comfortable, sensible, and whimsical, mixing the old with the new. Go figure. It's not for everyone, but I think it's heaven. I love repurposing and refashioning something that might be discarded into an object becomes new and useful. I am hard at work on my own handmade line. Keep watching my site for my first showing this Fall, 2008.

My children are (somewhat) grown. Husband Joe just retired, the boys, Charles and Robert, both gifted musicians working on their craft of songwriting and playing, live in Philadelphia and Northern California, respectively. We maintain a home in the Northern Neck of Virginia and Charlottesville, Virginia, where I hold the warehouse sales, just around the corner from the home of Thomas Jefferson and the fabulous University of Virginia. You've probably read about this being the best place to live.

#1) My big goal for this year is to set up a **professional art studio** where I can find stuff!

So play around with my site. You'll find a whole array of ideas for home décor, gift ideas, decorating ideas on my blog and just plain eye candy.

Penny