During the summer of 1999, my husband and I stumbled across a space for lease in a charming Victorian in our neighborhood. After years of working in a woman's consignment shop, I imagined my own store in this quaint space.

I envisioned a place for women to meet for conversation, shopping, laughter, and support; a place for the diverse women of our neighborhood and our city to build a community. The shop quickly took off, and we outgrew our space twice. I designed and built an Old World storefront for the shop on my own property.

Through all the changes, my original vision has remained true. Since the first day I peered in the windows of the initial space, I had a dream of a beautiful, peaceful place of refuge where women could come together to sell their treasured belongings to a new set of women, to encourage a type of green recycling, and to be received with kindness and respect.

I've been able to employ my husband and our three daughters and together, with our wonderful employees, we have met and hope to continue to meet, some of the finest women in Portland.