Margie Story is a crafter, a creator and an artist in every sense of the word. Her passion drives her to design, decorate, or adorn all of life's fun little extras and her new shop, Le Boutique So Chic, 2654 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., is a visual representation of her multi-media handiwork.
Story opened her boutique in 2005 on 12th Street and Oklahoma Avenue, but relocated in November 2008 to the more foot traffic-friendly main drag that dots independent retail throughout the Bay View neighborhood.
Defining her shop proves challenging, even for Story. She's got a little bit of everything to offer, 90 percent of which is handmade and one-of-a-kind. It's difficult to know where to look first upon entering the small, but well-organized storefront. The bright pink walls lead your eyes upward to the beautifully historic tin ceiling and the color combination sets the upbeat, feminine mood for the shopping experience.
Near the front, Story's arranged a shelf spotlighting her best sellers. Her fairy plaques, as her customers call them, are cut wood pieces painted and dolled up with cute imagery, inspirational words and sparkles -- the delight of any young, imaginative girl.
Her best friend, Dennis Konkel, does custom woodworking, carving names and designs for gifts and home décor.
"We do custom order anything," Story says. "My motto is, if I can do it, I will do it."
And she does a lot. Aside from her store's collections of funky fiber scarves, dangling light catchers, handmade jewelry (for both men and women), soaps and candles, Story acts as a Renaissance woman in the service department.
She and Konkel run their own DJ and karaoke company for any occasion, plus she is all aspects of wedding planning rolled into one: the colors, the floral arrangements, the cake decorating, the jewelry. All consultations for any service are free.
"I just love the wedding planning," she says. "What so many people don't realize is that once you've got a theme nailed down, your whole wedding comes together. Without a theme, you've just got a hodge-podge of things thrown together."
There seems to be nothing this woman cannot do for you.
An impressive section of Le Boutique So Chic revolves around expecting mothers-to-be and their newborns. One of Story's most prized skills in this capacity is her diaper cake construction. No, it's nothing disgustingly edible; instead, Story's adorable diaper cakes are three-tiered monuments made up of 60 cloth diapers and stuffed with receiving blankets, onesies and tiny baby socks made into corsages for mom. Aww.
Le Boutique So Chic is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
