Magpie Alley

Magpie Alley Antiques & oddities, vintage records, vintage clothing, shiny objects. Cool stuff galore. Things you never thought you’d see.

Antiques, oddities, vintage records, cashmere, cool stuff, shiny objects galore!

05/27/2026

RIP Sonny Rollins, giant of the Jazz Saxophone. 1930-2026. ❤️

05/19/2026

I seem to have found my way to the flea market at Saint-Ouen in Paris, just as it’s reopening after a heavy rain. What a dazzling candy shop for me! It’s possible some lovely little morsels will make it home to Magpie Alley…

Cinderella showed up for these fabulous Strawberry Shortcake heels! (I’ve been waiting to see who would walk through the...
05/07/2026

Cinderella showed up for these fabulous Strawberry Shortcake heels! (I’ve been waiting to see who would walk through the door…) Bubblegum pink with red and green trimmings and red and white polka dot interiors. Rose from Burien is the new lucky owner ❤️

I always love seeing the other Amanda! She’s just back from Africa and came in for one of my Port Townsend tea towels; b...
05/02/2026

I always love seeing the other Amanda! She’s just back from Africa and came in for one of my Port Townsend tea towels; but as she tried to leave, this big red sun hat pounced on her and wouldn’t let go. I’ve seen Amanda in some mighty fine hats over the last thirty years so this one will be in good company. ❤️

Miya, Jaeda and Lilu from the Seattle area, here for the Victorian festival. Jaeda will be modeling in the Victorian fas...
04/25/2026

Miya, Jaeda and Lilu from the Seattle area, here for the Victorian festival. Jaeda will be modeling in the Victorian fashion show in the American Legion Hall at 3pm tomorrow!

Port Townsend’s annual Victorian Festival is upon us! It should be a grand weekend of ladies and gentlemen promenading i...
04/24/2026

Port Townsend’s annual Victorian Festival is upon us! It should be a grand weekend of ladies and gentlemen promenading in their finery. Here to kick things off are Patricia and Leckey from the Isle of Whidbey.
Have a great weekend everybody!

Jonathon said he has a thing for knives and also for drinking. He had had a few when he stopped in at the end of March t...
04/24/2026

Jonathon said he has a thing for knives and also for drinking. He had had a few when he stopped in at the end of March to look at a WWll dagger in our knife collection. He wanted it but said he couldn’t get the money for a few days. I said I didn’t like to hold things but he insisted he would be back with the money on Thursday. I finally relented but said I’d need his phone number. By then a pair of women were standing behind him in line waiting to make a purchase. Before giving me his number Jonathon made a theatrical gesture towards them and said loudly that he didn’t want them to start calling him if they overheard his number. He then slowly shouted his number at me adding “and I’m SINGLE!” The women chuckled and Jonathan headed out the door promising to come back on Thursday. One of the women then asked me the cost of the knife he wanted. I told her it was $28 and she said she wanted to buy it for him. I was surprised and asked if she was sure and she said yes—that he seemed to want it so badly and might not have the money. So I charged her for the knife and put it on hold for Jonathan. Thursday came and went — no Jonathon. The number he had left didn’t work. I figured I would give him a month to show up before refunding the mystery woman who had paid for his knife. Finally, a month later, in strolled Jonathan. He apologized that he hadn’t come sooner, but he just didn’t have the money. He said if I still had it he’d like to look at it again. I got it out of the back room and he looked it over, let out a big sigh and said he really wanted it, but he didn’t think he should buy it. That’s when I told him the women behind him that day had bought it for him as a gift. He stared at me in disbelief, but I insisted it was true. He stumbled two steps backwards, let out an impressive string of expletives and then started to cry. He said no one had ever done something that nice for him in his life. He had a lot to say about it all.
It was such an honor to witness this wonderful act of human kindness from a stranger. Thank you, to the amazing woman who decided to share joy. ❤️

04/21/2026

Joleen, from Stanwood, came in with her family today. Between them, they have quite a collection of vintage sock monkeys, many with little handmade outfits. The Magpie monkey, (“as-is” as he is), has just hit the jackpot with his new home full of buddies. And Joleen said she’s going to make him a hat to start with. ❤️

Clara was in the shop months ago and bought one of my favorite dresses, a ballet-pink 1930’s rayon gown, all bias-cut fo...
04/14/2026

Clara was in the shop months ago and bought one of my favorite dresses, a ballet-pink 1930’s rayon gown, all bias-cut for a “poured on” fit. I wasn’t there the day she bought it so was sad to miss seeing it on her, but then she sent this great photo! Wow. I think the dress is BEAMING to have found its perfect person! ❤️
Pairs well with oysters on the half shell.

Last week I was chatting with a customer in the shop and I noticed two young people hovering near the counter, looking ...
04/10/2026

Last week I was chatting with a customer in the shop and I noticed two young people hovering near the counter, looking at me. I asked if they had a question and they approached to the desk a bit timidly and said they just wanted to know what had happened to the MAN mannequin that was usually in the front window. I told them he was just in the back room on a break and they got all bubbly, exclaiming, their enormous relief — they had been so afraid that I might’ve gotten rid of him. I said oh, “I would never get rid of Chad —“ at which point, they erupted with delighted laughter, and exclaimed “CHAD, his name is CHAD!!” I asked if they’d like to see him because I thought he’d be touched to know that someone missed him. They were thrilled at the suggestion and followed me into the chaotic back room to say hello to him. He was standing there, handsome and shirtless, and wearing his Easter bunny ears; a bit aloof, as usual, but I do think he enjoyed the attention. His fans were quite beside themselves, posing for pictures with Chad for their third friend who wasn’t with them that day. As soon as they left, I wished so much I had asked them to share one of the photos with me so I could share it with you, but the story alone will have to do. It was certainly a wonderful highlight of my day! ❤️

Address

835 Water Street
Port Townsend, WA
98368

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 5pm
Thursday 11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

(360) 531-2151

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