Penny for Your Thoughts is my favorite shop in Pasadena. I've said it before: there's no other store like it. Vintage garden items, handmade clothes, old books, jewelry, china--plus coffee, food and free wifi--it's where you go to get a gift for someone who has everything, even if that someone is you.
When I stopped by the other day the store was in an uproar because they were getting new shelves. But I can always find a pretty vignette in this unusual shop. I'd blog about the place more often if I had more ready cash. I did spend some money this visit: got a couple of iron candle sconces for the garden. The thing I love about them besides their charm is that I'll be the only one in town who has them. You can't get anything like them at OSH.
Around the corner from Penny for Your Thoughts another delightful boutique was in a different kind of uproar. In fact, the shelves going into "Penny" came out of Motif, a beautiful gift store that's closing after several years of success. As she rang up my purchase, owner Stephanie Plumb Miller told me, "Nothing negative about this. It's all positive."
Penny for Your Thoughts is at 1365 N. Hill Ave., (626) 798-1631. Motif is at 1389 E. Washington Blvd. (The two stores share the parking lot behind.) Motif is selling off everything, including fixtures, at huge discounts. On September 3rd they had several items left, including Christmas decorations. Call first to see if they're still open, (626) 398-5038.
Update from Susan C, 9/7/10 3:25pm: "I drove by Motif today and the 'closed' sign is in the window."
Thanks, Susan.
29 comments:
Definitely my kind of shop..I love the photo..
I'm glad Motif is closing for happy reasons. Penny for Your Thoughts is somewhere I'd be happy to potter around. Enjoy your new acquisitions, Petrea.
Fun shop to poke around in. I want that snowball!
V
Thanks, Aysegul. I didn't know this was your kind of shop. It's nice to know. :)
Shell, I thought of you while posting the photo. For some reason I guess this is your kind of shop.
Virginia, I think the snowball is soap. Could be a candle. Either way it's something nice.
My kind of place. Lovely photo...
I love those shops that have a little bit of everything.
I love Milly and Penny for Your Thoughts. She is always so great with my little one, and so great at making yummy coffee.
Sad to hear Motif is closing. Really unique gifts there.
Thinking of Penny's for a latte now,
Marcela
Eleonora, I've seen some of your flea market shots and I know you like baubles and beautiful things. At least you photograph them well!
Mark, you'd find this one to your liking.
Hello, Marcela, welcome. What a nice blog you have! Have I spelled Milly's name wrong? If so, let me know and I'll change it in the post.
I live near both those stores, but rarely get in to shop. I'm sorry to hear Motif is closing, but glad Penny for Your Thoughts is going strong. I love how you feature "I Married Adventure" in your photo. I might have to go buy it for the title alone.
"Loves me, loves me not" in the foreground, "I Married Adventure" at the back. Is it just me, or is romance associated with texture, color, patterns, light-catching facets -- the little visual intricacies not usually associated with chrome and straight lines?
Susan, if you buy it I may ask to borrow it.
I can't answer your question, Speeday, but I can tell you that this store is all about "the little visual intricacies."
zzzzzzzz ;)
You've captured a lovely vignette.
I drove by Motif today and the "closed" sign is in the window.
Not Greg's kind of store.
Thanks, Susan. I'll update the post. I'm sorry to see Motif close. I'm glad I got to shop there while they were open. Much silver and gleaming.
Sad to hear about stores closing. Glad Penny is staying open. Looks adorable.
Something tells me Stephanie and Motif will be back soon.
I love that vignette, too, Petrea. And the "snowball" is actually one of those bath salt thingees you drop into your bathwater.
Cute stuff, old books, jewelry, antique and vintage reproduction postcards....hmmmm, sounds familiar.... ; >
I've never stopped the car there (usually too busy heading up to Eaton Canyon with the dog, and it's a busy intersection where I have to keep my eye on the road) but now I know there's a car park at the back, I'll drop by. Could do with a Pasadena shop selling imaginative gift-type things that don't cost a fortune - I usually go to Sierra Madre or South Pasadena for those.
I'm sorry I never visited. From your photo, looks cozy. I like cozy.
No, not my kind of of store. But that's why I like women - they're not like me!
Maybe we should all meet there for coffee sometime. It's cozy/eclectic/hard to explain. Girly but not so frilly you can't touch anything. Girly in a womanly way. Greg would feel out of place but then again, intrigued.
The entrance to the car park is on Washington, the first driveway west of Hill, north side of the street.
I did say "favorite shop in Pasadena." I also have a favorite shop in Altadena. (If I did emoticons, that would be a wink to you, Lori.)
I've got to check out this place. Looks like a great place to find something you had no idea you couldn't live without! (All that and WiFi, too? Yes!)
And it's within easy walking distance of my house!
Wonderful place.
How can Mr. Sweet find anyplace with "I Married Adventure" a snooze!
The magic words are old stuff, coffee, free wi-fi...purrfect. Could even snooze there.
I want to see the sconces
PA, you'll see them eventually. I haven't decided where to hang them yet. They go up with screws.
I might organize a "Penny for Your Thoughts" day this fall for Christmas shopping. We'll see. Greg can come, too. There are chairs to sit in where he can have a snooze.
Coffee, vintage goods, and wifi? Sounds round up my alley.
WOW! And someone just told me to contact Motif for a possible Art Trunk Show... I guess not! :(
Hi Fifi, and thanks for visiting. I guess not Motif. I wish I had suggestions for you but I'm no expert on art trunk shows. But having looked at your website I do suggest you meet Shell Sherree. You two may have some things in common.
http://www.shellsherree.com/
Come to think of it, I'll post that on your blog to make sure you get it.
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