There are antique shops, and there are vintage shops, and then there’s Green Lace Lion, a new boutique on the second floor of the Old Mill that not only sells and restores vintage items, but al
by David Kilby
ALLENTOWN — There are antique shops, and there are vintage shops, and then there’s Green Lace Lion, a new boutique on the second floor of the Old Mill that not only sells and restores vintage items, but also finds new, eclectic uses for them.
Owner Ellen Sortore makes mugs with doorknobs as handles and even makes her own paper. But perhaps her most popular work is practicing an almost lost art — reupholstering vintage furniture.
Her shop is filled with examples of her work, and the collection creates a setting that would make for an ideal scene for a movie set in the Victorian era or some reminiscent pastime.
Ms. Sortore’s creativity apparently has led her down many paths. In addition to her shop’s original items, Ms. Sortore also does hairstyling for special occasions such as homecomings, proms, first communions, family reunions and weddings.
Ms. Sortore double-majored in art and equestrian studies. After splitting her time between her artwork and giving horseback riding lessons, she decided to make her Green Lace Lion business in the Old Mill a more full-time endeavor.
At a time when new widgets are at the top of most Christmas lists, Ms. Sortore’s shop has a way of attracting customers who still see the value of authentic craftsmanship. She said she gets a fair amount of business from the Four Seasons gated community in Allentown since many of the residences there have pieces of furniture they’ve been holding on to that need reupholstering.
She shares the second floor with Gypsies, a new boutique and workshop that moved in to the Old Mill at the same time as her, the day before the Fall Harvest Festival a little over a month ago. The grand opening for both shops will be at the Allentown Christmas tree lighting Dec. 7.
However, the shop almost didn’t open at all. After months of waiting for certificates of occupancy, Ms. Sortore was just about to tell the Old Mill’s owner, Corky Danch, that the idea to open shop doesn’t make any sense.
”I got a lot of encouragement from Ericka (O’ Rourke),” owner of the Copper Frog fine arts gallery also in the Old Mill, who told her to just hang in there a little longer, she said.
The festival gave Green Lace Lion and Gypsies the exposure they needed, and they received their certificates of occupancy late in the afternoon the Friday before the festival.
Ms. Sortore is running her business with the help of her sister-in-law, Megan Sortore, who helps out as an administrator and graphic designer for the shop’s website, www.greenlacelion.com.
Ellen Sortore used to work for a different gifts and home decor business, but decided she wanted to do something that allowed her to make use of her art background more directly.
”It hit me that I didn’t want to work for a company, that I wanted to do this on my own,” she said.
As reflected in the shop’s eclectic name, Green Lace Lion challenges people to look at things differently and brings together items that normally aren’t mentioned in the same sentence.
Ms. Sortore also offers art classes for children in grades kindergarten through fifth grade and do-it-yourself project workshops. The workshops offer a different project every week.
The next class Green Lace Lion will be holding is a Christmas gift-making workshop Tuesday evenings, Dec. 3, 10 and 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. Through the class, children can learn to make candles, framed pictures, wood projects, ornaments and other gifts. Each child will have the chance to create up to six gifts as time allows.
For more information and costs, email Ms. Sortore at [email protected].