Under the Umbrellas

THE SHOP: Leola’s Vintage Home & Garden, 5219 N. 17th Street, Ozark, 417-581-1366. Open Mon.–Sat., 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun., 1–5 p.m.

ATMOSPHERE: Take one look at the vintage umbrellas dotting the ceiling, and it’s obvious that Leola’s isn’t your ordinary antique store. The warm, friendly greeting I received, combined with relaxing music and a chirping cricket, made me feel like I was shopping in a friend’s house.

KEY PEOPLE: The first thing I said when I met owner Kelli Martin was, “I know you.” She laughed and said the same thing to me. About 15 minutes later I discovered she had owned Rhapsody Blvd., one of my favorite boutiques of the 1980s. What a small world. She now owns Leola’s with her aunts, Judy Cloud and Jan Wells, and her mother, Linda Martin. The business is named for Judy, Jan and Linda’s mother, and Kelli’s grandmother, Leola. The five of us sat down to talk, and I immediately felt like I’d made five new friends. All of them have been in retail for years and really know their stuff.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND: Leola’s is like a fascinating treasure hunt with goodies around every corner. Here, the idea is to recycle and reuse items rather than throw them away. Jan puts it best when she states that most of the items are “repurposed” or changed to make them reusable and new again. Nothing here is wasted. I admired the grapevine around the front of the store and was told it was from Kelli’s yard. The willow branches are also from Linda, Jan and Judy’s yards, and even the dried herbs and florals come from the family.

I’m a sucker for vintage aprons, so it’s no surprise I found several pieces I loved, starting with a navy plaid apron ($5) with “Bennie” stitched across the front in rickrack. I also found a fancy sheer one with lace trim ($7). It almost makes me want to have a dinner party just so I can wear them.

I also can’t resist anything glittery, so I gravitated toward an antique bust form ($65) dripping in recycled vintage jewelry. Debra Oliver takes old pieces and refashions them into one-of-a-kind necklaces. I fancied a rhinestone choker ($30) to wear for holiday parties, but also liked a funky heart and key necklace ($25) to brighten up my casual wear. Her watches ($19) feature delicate vintage handkerchiefs as the bands. So much style for so little money, and it’s all recycled goods.

You might think twice the next time you want to throw away an old tray, frame or trinkets after you see what Kristi Delawder does to them. Using antique photos, felt pieces and a little glitter, she refashions them into works of art. One wall piece ($32) featured ticket stubs, photos and glitter with the statement, “When I’m good, I’m very good. When I’m bad, I’m better.” Not surprisingly, her work sells fast. I also admired her pendants of miniature, framed photos ($15) accented with glitter and type. Very cheeky and cute.

417 VERDICT: Everywhere I looked, Leola’s gave me another surprise. Plan on spending some time absorbing all the exciting goodies they have to offer, but don’t hesitate to buy something when you see it because great things don’t last long. Make the shop a regular stop on your shopping path because no two visits will be alike. If you want to keep up with all the latest happenings at Leola’s, check out the store’s website at leolasantiques.com. Jan even has a blog on the site.