'Butterfly' spreading its wings with Chestnut Hill gift-seekers

by PAT STOKES

To walk into the Happy Butterfly is to become immediately surrounded by history, friendship, love and the tradition of careful handwork. You meet a woman whose dream it is to help customers find just the right present, and to wrap it to reflect them. Ginny Ashenfelter, a lady with a huge heart of gold, started this shop in 1983.

Ginny met Charley Robertson's daughter, Carole, at a party one evening. These two, both creative, found mutual fascination in making gifty things, which they sold at Marty Smith's store. For Ginny, that was the seed idea that sparked the start-up of a shop.

Beginning in a small room behind the present location in the Community Center Building at 8419 Germantown Ave., the business took off right away. People asked for handmade baby clothes. Ginny somehow found crafters to produce them. She still works with many of those early artisans, knows their life stories and loves them like family.

Lew Ashenfelter, Ginny's husband, was working for a lumber brokerage firm then, but he found time to help organize the Butterfly in those early days, and has continued to play a major role in its operation, even putting in time behind the counter several days a week.

Anyone who has lived on the Hill for a while knows and loves the Happy Butterfly for its huge, varied selection of gifts for infants, toddlers and young children, plus a few goodies for grownups. The leading lights in this collection are the famous hard-to-find hand-smocked dresses for little girls. Sweet and adorable are the only suitable adjectives for those. Next, handmade little sweaters that make grandmas positively drool, they're so cute, just right to tuck into a suitcase when visiting a young family in Florida or California.

Then to the Raggedys: Ann, Andy and, since August, gray-haired Raggedy Aunt Elsie (lovable-huggable) made by "Winnie," who is 80 years old. Aunt Elsie is based on a real Aunt Elsie who had three husbands, now all deceased. There is a similar story behind almost every lovingly made article in the shop.

The new hot item is the poncho for kids in soft fleece, with scarves and purses to match. A little girl and her mom came in while I was there, tried them on and of course bought one. The little girl was very pleased. (Super Christmas idea.) Mustn't forget the T-shirts and sweatshirts, aprons and tote bags painted with local landmarks. Great take-back-home mementos of Chestnut Hill for visitors.

More: Handmade crib quilts in pretty pastel block designs. Fabric placemats in colorful pints, made to last. Little tie-on-your-belt towels for the cook; and, guaranteed for a laugh, aprons for detergent bottles (!) to dress up the sink or lighten up the laundry scene. Mustn't forget the outstanding wooden dollhouses, doll beds, alphabet blocks and other wooden toys everyone searches for.

Now for the truly awesome and spectacular collectible, you must see the glass ornament balls which are somehow miraculously painted inside with local historic motifs: Chestnut Hill buildings, Art Museum, the 23 Trolley, McNally's, etc., etc., and schools, Penn Charter, Norwood, Springside, etc. Terrific on the tree, in a stand or on a desk.

While I take notes, Ginny is wrapping a gift. I think she likes this task best; when she makes the gift, the paper, box and ribbon all combine to create a work of art on its own. Purring happily, she says, "My gift to my customers, a labor of love."

Hours: Mon. - Sat., 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Sun. 12 Noon - 5 p.m. 215-248-3733. See you on the Avenue.