VIX Emporium

Luscious glycerin soaps and scented soy candles by @thetingoat, just restocked and added to the site! #madeinphilly #handmade #artisansoap #shoplocal #soapmaking

Happy New Year! It's the final weekend to browse the Emporium IRL for a while... after tomorrow, we're going online only till Spring. So if you need a belated holiday gift, or just a treat for yourself, stop by and see what our vintage millinery cabinets hold. During the winter, we'll work on improving the web shop and recataloguing our inventory into one integrated system, as well as reorganizing our physical space. And resting. Orders will be available for shipping, pickup and delivery. See you in April... #shoplocal #brickandmortar #BaltimoreAvenue #giftshop #shopsmall

Current mood. THANK YOU for keeping our business going this year and making us part of your Christmas and holiday season celebrations! We are tired but grateful :) the web site is down for a sec, will reopen Monday with updated/corrected inventory. Meanwhile, visit us any day, 11-4, except xmas & nyd, on #BaltimoreAvenue. Merry Christmas, going to rest now...

Just flew in for a quick update: the process of recataloguing the Emporium is well underway. The first category is the most annoying to organize yet the most essential to our business: CARDS. Cards are our bread and butter, with hundreds to choose from for countless reasons and occasions. I estimate that by the end of this week, I will have finished photographing and listing every single card style into categories on the site. Since each card will be listed individually, you ...will be able to filter them by categories like Birthday, Sympathy, Thank You or Philadelphia. A card that can work for Friendship, Love, Anniversary or Valentine's will be found in all of those categories. For now, it's still the old way, but by next weekend, I'll update when the new setup is live, with new categories and subcategories throughout the shop. Until then, check out these #letterpress note card six packs, perfect to get in touch for any reason, just in from Saturn Press. Back to data entry, see you soon... #stationery #madeinusa #handmade #cardsandletters #snailmail See more

Holiday hours! This week, we're open 11 to 6 Monday through Wednesday, closing at 4 on the Eve. After Christmas, we're open 11-4 daily through January 3 (closed NYD). After that... the physical Emporium will be "closed for repairs" till Spring. After 13 years on #BaltimoreAvenue, we need to take some time after the busy season to recover, rest, recuperate, rejuvenate, replenish, and reorganize. Much of this time will be spent redoing the website and making repairs to our buil...ding. The shop will be open online only during this time. So that's a heads up for anyone with a VIX gift card to spend, stop by soon! (Though you can also use it online, it's less fun.) Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to all of our customers for a great season so far, it's amazing that so many are making the conscious choice to support small and local businesses. It's been a pleasure and an honor to be part of your holiday gift giving traditions this year! ?? #merrychristmas #happyholidays #WestPhilly #WestPhilly #shoplocal See more

Thank you to everyone who has shopped our #smallbusiness this holiday season! I'm sorry that your #usps packages are not arriving in a timely way. The post office is understaffed, overburdened, and majorly delayed, all because of covid. Thanks for being patient. We too are still waiting for several restocks to arrive in the mail. Joey of @usandweart sent us more #badasswomen calendars weeeeeks ago. They finally arrived! Your package will too, eventually. It might take all twelve days of #Christmas, but let's have faith that everyone is doing their best... Anyway the web emporium is now restocked with @thebadasswomen calendars, for pickup, delivery or shipping. #shoplocal #feminist #calendar #2021calendar #portrait #illustration #supporttheusps

The night before is only a week away... Just restocked "not even a #gritty" cards by @exit343 online and in store. #grittyphilly #grittycity #twasthenightbeforechristmas #christmascard #grittyphl #screenprint #handmade #stationery

Card section close-up, with newly added Philly-made boxed holiday cards by @gracefullynoted . That skyline one with Santa's sleigh always sells out, so grab a set soon in the real or virtual Emporium. And we still have some @threetceramics 2021 calendar posters to gift with purchase, though they're more than half gone. Stop by if you need one, because they are too big to fit in most shipping orders. #shoplocal #shopsmall #handmade #WestPhilly #BaltimoreAvenue

We often focus on the blue willow bird necklaces but these earrings made from different pieces of that pattern are lovely in their own right. Today and tomorrow... in pre-pandemic times would have been @westcraftfest at @the_rotunda_philly . We’ve been doing events there for over 14 years, since before our babies when I sold knitted fingerless gloves and Mike only made stained glass jewelry. So much has changed over the years but that show who’s name has changed a few times over the years has been a constant. I compiled a list yesterday of everyone who’s still a working maker with a shop I could find who has done @westcraftfest since the beginning. It was such a labor of love to go back through the years and see all the creativity that’s been shared. That list is on @westcraftfest’s Website. I hope you’ll take a look and share all that wonderful maker goodness. See more

FUN fannypacks just added to the shop! Adjustable size = great gift. Did you know appointments are available to shop on weekends? And that only 2 shopping weekends remain till Christmas? It's fun to browse our shelves (in a socially distanced way of course), or shop online, for not as big but still a pretty good selection, and we'll pull your order and have it ready next day. Thanks for shopping small and local! #shoplocal #shopsmall #handmade

The bad things just keep on happening; bad for fascists and enemies of democracy that is. So excited to see our city turn PA blue this morning! This beautiful blue #badthingshappeninphiladelphia image by @paulcarpenterart sums it up. The 16x20 print is now available in our online Emporium, as well as tees in classic black for youth and adults. Though we are still fighting bad things like police brutality and economic inequality in our city, this is a step in the right direction. Onward. #counteveryvote #dumptrump #resist

This card is saying it all right now! Socially distanced gift and card shopping is in effect, both in the actual and online Emporium. Did you know that our web shop has a "locally made" section? Sarah Ryan's illustrated cards are in there, along with so many other wonderful gifts made close to home. @darby_creek_hair_and_skin_care's products are there too, with newly added balms, bars and bubble baths. The long-lasting shampoo and conditioner bars are particularly amazing. Their products are packaged without plastic whenever possible, and intended for persons of any gender. #localmaker #locallymade #shoplocal #holidaygifts #stockingstuffer

The shop is closed today, Wednesday the 28th. Business as usual just doesn't feel right, so soon after the recent tragic killing of Walter Wallace. Thanks to everyone who contributed to our fund raiser for his family. I will send the proceeds today. Though our fund raiser items are sold out, please consider donating directly to their gofundme, https://gf.me/u/y6gt8t. Also, a nearby decades-long Black-owned business, White Seal Cleaners, suffered damage during the protests Monday night. Please consider donating to their repair fund, cashapp $EliotMcCallum or Venmo @Eliot-McCallum.

The violence needs to end. Our neighborhood is rightfully up in arms today, protesting yet another murder of a Black man by police in America. Today West Philly mourns neighbor Walter Wallace, shot dead by police, in front of his mother. To combat the sadness, which is nothing compared to what Walter's family is feeling, I am making aeriums as a fund raiser and donating the proceeds to the family's GoFundMe, link in bio. Though this may do some small good, what we need is to DEFUND THE POLICE. REDIRECT FUNDS TO NONVIOLENT DE-ESCALATION INITIATIVES AND ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE. And hold the police accountable. Major change is needed. This cannot go on.

Though at our shop, no halls will be decked nor stockings hung before Thanksgiving under ANY circumstances, holiday cards are now available, and even on sale. And, I'm not sorry. Because this year, who knows what will happen, so might as well plan ahead for what you can? Buy 5 holiday cards by any of our local and national makers, and get the 6th free with code HOLIDAY6. There are more in the shop that aren't online too, so stop by before the holiday rush. With capacity limitations in place this year, some shoppers will, regrettably, have to wait outside at busy times. Buy now and eliminate the wait! . . #christmascard #holidaycard #seasonsgreetings #madeinphilly #screenprint #letterpress #printmaking #cardsandletters #madeinusa

Swooning over the amber scent of @darby_creek_hair_and_skin_care's rich hand cream, just added to the online Emporium. With ingredients like kokum butter, olive oil, chamomile, vitamin E, coconut oil and silk protein, this locally made, small batch formula soothes and protects skin from the dryness that colder temperatures can cause. Look for their shampoo & conditioner bars, facial serum, bubble baths and lip balm, in store now and online soon, all with their updated label design. . . #localmaker #madeinpa #bathandbody #smallbatch #shoplocal #skincare

Sunny window corner, freshly stocked with holiday cards and air plant hangers by @savviestudio. Thanks for your patience with my online order fulfillment, it's been hard to keep up lately with all of the wonderful, affirming web orders (thank you!), and updating items when they run out. Anyway the small air plants are in stock for sure, and the Grittsmas cards, and a few of @thebadasswomen calendars (though they're going quick). I'll add the big plant hangers next. In person shopping is fun and safe too, with plenty of hand sanitizer and only 4 guests at a time. Open till 7 tonight! Thanks! #shoplocal #shopsmall #handmade #holidaygifts

Happy Friday! Our favorite big, bold earrings, these repurposed acrylic and sterling stunners by @zassdesign, are now available in the online Emporium. It's hard to capture in a photo how fabulous that neon pink really is, so feel free to check them out in person. We're open Wednesday through Sunday. . #reducereuserecycle #madeinusa #womanownedbusiness #shoplocal

Thanks to everyone who shopped small this weekend at our little Emporium, and supported so many other small businesses as a result. 4 guests at a time, we had a great weekend. I didn't plan a big cyber Monday thing, but the promo code ONLINE is still good for 10% off many, many items in the online emporium, including many pictured here. There are some more I need to add soon, and the code will be good for those too. Though it's the most fun to browse in the real shop, and it's open 6 days a week, then 7. Off to decorate the window and work on all of that... #shoplocal #shopsmall #smallbizsaturday #cybermonday

Just got in a new jewelry collection by one of our longest longtime vendors @stitchprism, including these porcelain and gold stunners. I'm continually blown away by their design sense and craftspersonship - for instance, each of the little gold dots is formed by punching a tiny straw through the clay. These aren't up on the website but feel free to inquire here, or stop by the shop. Our hours just changed, now Saturdays 10-5 and Sundays 11-3, and 11-6 Wednesday through Friday. . #localartist #ceramicartist #madeinphilly #shoplocal #stitchprism #ceramicjewelry #artisanjewelry

Bubbles, bubbles for toils and troubles... Here are two new locally made #Halloween spooking/soothing bath treats. First, from the cauldron of @darby_creek_hair_and_skin_care, foaming "blood" bath, with organic beet powder and other good-witch ingredients. (More of their potions are coming soon!) Or, rest in peace with a gold-edged coffin #bathbomb, topped with rose petals and a screaming soap skull, handmade by @blissbathbombsphilly. Both make fun and sugar-free gifts for would-be trick-or-treaters, and are available in both the physical and online Emporium. . #trickortreat #goth #bathandbody #shoplocal #madeinphiladelphia #madeinphilly

We recently scored a batch of vintage metal chains, added clasps to both ends, and made mask chains. They're perfect for keeping your face mask (like this one by @ilovehandmadestuff) sanitary and at the ready, if you don't need to wear it continually. Only $10 in the physical and online Emporium. #wearamask #stopthespread #mymaskprotectsyou

#Badthingshappeninphiladelphia tees by @camdenprintworks just added to the online Emporium. Get 'em while they're bad. #shoplocal #whyilovephilly

Just added this earring assortment from @saffroncreations, made of #vintage tin boxes that once held cookies, tea or candy. They're not listed online, but let us know if there's a pair calling your name, and we can send them out to you. Which is your favorite? Mine is the black and silver triangles! #handmadejewelry #artisanjewelry #madeinphilly #madeinphiladelphia #saffroncreations

It's October, and it's a full moon - #candle season is upon us. These 7 oz. soy candles in glass jars by @greenmarketpurveying are $15 each or 3 for $40 in the physical and virtual Emporium. Use to scent your space and keep the darkness at bay, or light up someone's life with a thoughtful gift. #scentedcandle #soycandle #shoplocal #localmaker

Just in, #handmade bandanas by @abracadana.bandanas! Each hand printed, pure cotton square makes a great face covering, headband, neck scarf, gift wrap, dog accessory... there are a hundred other uses. 100% #madeinusa by Mary Helt in Nashville TN. #bandana #mask #facemask #womanownedbusiness #screenprint #printmaker #printmaking