You will find mittens, hats, sweaters, and scarves, handmade in colors both vibrant and subtle. Want the cowgirl/cowboy partner to the iconic lamp from A Christmas Story? It’s here, at this charming, eclectic shop next to Factory Lane Auto Repair. Naomi Calabro has created a place where she and her sister Denice Osofsky can offer their original knitted items when they are not setting up at the more sporadic artisanal craft and farm markets. There’s also “cool junk”, which could be a repurposed coffee table or a vintage toy bowling set that their mother had as a child.
They opened last spring, in an underused space in the building owned by Naomi and her husband, Dominick Calabro. One tempting item is the small shades-of-blue circular rug made by Naomi from recycled Factory Lane Auto Repair t-shirts. Naomi says her husband likes blue t-shirts “because he thinks they don’t show the dirt.” There’s a cabinet handmade by a woodworking friend, which would fit beautifully and usefully in a kitchen, or elsewhere. The shop is full of eye-catching delights.
The Whistle Stop Boutique is open weekdays from 12 pm to 4 pm. If you’d like to stop by on the weekend, call 518 821-9436. Both sisters are in town and would love to let you in to browse.