Cranedesignforbetterliving wants to promote a local, independent shop in your area, so tell us about your favorite shop and you could be eligible to win a $75 gift certificate. To win a $75 gift certificate to a local and independently owned shop favorite in a location close to you, please enter our raffle at the end of this blog post.
ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SHOPS
JUDY MAXWELL HOME
A vintage commercial scale sits on a table near the entrance of Chicago’s Judy Maxwell Home
Judy Maxwell Home is definitely a favorite of Cranedesignforbetterliving. Located at 1151 N. State Street in Chicago, the shop is a cross between a vintage den and an artist friend’s living room.
Under Dorian Allworthy’s painting of the guitarist, a Russian samovar is brewing an exotic tea for Judy Maxwell’s guests.
Tea is always being brewed Judy Maxwell Home in a Russian samovar (check out the South African Rooiboos) and a welcoming configuration of comfy chairs beg one to come inside.
A table of timeless treasures at Judy Maxwell — notice the Crane drop humidifer lurking in the background
“Your home and the gifts you give should be personal, memorable and representative of you,” says shopkeeper Scott Goehring who pours us a cup of tea. “It should be filled with objects that mean something and say something about you”.
Shopkeeper Scott Goehring adds to the charm of Judy Maxwell. He will serve you tea and bring his favorite items to you while you relax.
A VARIETY OF PRICE POINTS AT JUDY MAXWELL
Judy Maxwell sells the “objects of our journey”; which is also the shop’s motto and ethos. They believe that decorating one’s home should be a life-long process and pleasure. The items in their shop provide customers with unusual, one-of-a-kind pieces that are available at a variety of price points.
A melange of pencils
“Because beauty doesn’t always have to be expensive,” says Scott as he unlatches the door of an apothecary cabinet full of hairbrushes and combs from the Mason Pearson company, an English brushmaker who has been making brushes since 1885. You can choose between boar bristle or nylon.
Mason Pearson Brush company has been making hairbrushes in England since 1885.
THINGS TO COVET
Vintage kimono fabric
Spools of burlap string with scissors. Great for tying up packages.
Artist Pamela Paulsrud’s altered books.
THE JM LABEL – 50s-inspired bloomers and lingerie
The JM label is made up of never-worn negligees from the 1950s.
Judy Maxwell curates a line of vintage-inspired bloomers that are made with the JM label. Also on the JM label are refurbished, never-been-worn, American-made nightgowns from the 50s — probably inspired by the movie “What’s Up Doc?” where the name Judy Maxwell is derived. Which reminds me — I haven’t told you why the store is named Judy Maxwell.
WHO IS JUDY MAXWELL?
Judy Maxwell is Barbra Streisand’s character from the 1972 screwball movie “What’s Up Doc?” The owner’s favorite movie in the whole world.
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- Barbara Streisand plays Judy Maxwell in Peter Bogdanovich’s 1972 film “What’s Up Doc”
Judy Maxwell is a place that will give you a dose of elegant, but not too stuffy, charm. It’s a shop where you can buy something as a gift and the recipient will love you forever, or something for yourself that you’ll treasure for years to come. Please visit the Judy Maxwell Home website.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL, INDEPENDENT SHOP? TELL US BY ENTERING THE RAFFLE BELOW AND YOU MIGHT WIN!
Keep in mind that this raffle giveaway is meant to promote local and independently owned shops. Please do NOT enter big box or large retail stores. Thanks and shop local!