ometimes following your own dream leads to making dreams come true for others.

That's a discovery made by Jody Kellner of Tamaqua when she decided to continue and expand her family's business, Tink's Antiques. Once located at 321 Pine St. in Tamaqua, the antique business, which has been in the Kellner family for more than 40 years, is now located at 28 S. Railroad St. in Tamaqua.Kellner was looking for a bigger business venue when the Railroad Street property suddenly became available. It was much larger than she needed at the time to showcase her wares, but she and husband Bill Vacula decided to use one floor for their personal living space and adapt the other floors as time and money allowed.While preparing the first floor of their new home as an antique shop, Kellner also was an avid supporter of the Tamaqua Community Art Center. It was there she reconnected with high school friends Amy Mogish and Heather Sinn Wenzel. The three women were each balancing full-time jobs with their creative passions. For Kellner, it's antiques; Mogish is an artist; and Sinn Wenzel creates handcrafted jewelry. An offhand comment about pursuing and displaying their passions led to a brainstorming session and the creation of Tamaqua's first and only business incubator for women."I wasn't planning on opening a co-op/consignment shop, but everything just fell together so quickly and easily," remembers Kellner. "It's like it was meant to be. Everything came together effortlessly."It didn't take long for other women to see the benefits of joining such a community. And, just one short year later, there are 12 businesses, all owned by women, featured throughout the first floor of the former industrial building. Soon, the business will be expanding to the second floor, a testament to the dedication and commitment of all involved (especially Vacula, who does all the handyman work in his spare time and is "the man who makes Peter Pan fly").Mogish notes the success of the enterprise is due "to everyone working together for the common good. We have a free flow exchange of ideas."Linda Yulanavage became involved in the project when she was the former executive director of the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce. Yulanavage helped set up the Tink's Antiques grand opening, then became more involved once she retired, restarting her Sweet Treats baking business. "Part of the reason this works so well is everyone is committed to each other's success, especially Jody."Holding it all together is Jillian Leader, who works the behind the scenes details - putting together fliers, newsletters, updating the Facebook page and online and eBay sales. Leader says the group is constantly "learning from each other. Our first Ladies Night attracted about 60 people (two of whom were men) and led to more women bringing us their passions."Antiques businessKellner has been deeply involved in the antiques business for all of her life, starting out by helping her parents, Charlie and Helene "Tink" Kellner. She stepped up her involvement after her mother died in 2011, then took total control when her father passed away at the end of 2012.The Kellners were also the operators of the former Ruben's Market, which was located across Pine Street from their antique shop. Memories of those early years, and the penny candy display case, led to the addition of a penny candy corner in the new shop. "The penny candy case is my favorite memory from the market days. When we were discussing new ideas for the building, I had this tug of nostalgia and said let's do it and make memories for today's children" Kellner said.The shop offers a wide variety of antiques, primitives and collectibles and is billed as "Buying a Piece of the Past, from one piece to entire estates."It is also the area's exclusive outlet for Sweet Pickins Milk Paint, which is specially designed for vintage furniture.TinkersThe other entrepreneurs located within the building, which the ladies refer to as "Tinkers," are mostly consignment shops, although each business owner does spend some time there and many offer classes.Mogish is known as the "Pencilin' Peddler" from her time holding classes at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center. Her "Havtahavs" custom artwork can be found in every nook and cranny of the building. She also conducts classes at the antiques shop.Sinn Wenzel's business is known as "Sinnful Creations." She specializes in unique earrings and has branched out into specialty bracelets.Yulanavage's Sweet Treats offers cake, candy and dessert for all occasions. She also designs and sets up candy buffets for special events.Cindy Miller and Sue Bonner are the owners of the Summershanty Fiber Arts Center, which caters to knitters and crocheters of all levels. They also offer classes.Trina Shellhammer is the owner of the Green Snail, a business that upcycles fabric into bowls and decorative crafts.Kathy Kropp fashions jewelry out of fabric and creates custom, handcrafted cards.Cheryl Popeck has a business with a clever name, the Dirty Sailor Soap Company, which offers soaps, lotions, bath fizzles and scrubs.Shelly Babinchak works with fabric and designs quilted windows.Kim Morgans and the Nothing Fancy Bakery offers a full line of baked goods, personal and full-sized.Judi Musselman offers Maisey's Pup Products, a line of all natural treats for man's, and woman's, best friends.And then there are the flower and vegetable plants, potted in vintage containers, supplied by the ladies at the East End Market of Tamaqua.The tinkers at Tink's Antiques are all different, but have two things in common, a passion for life and a desire to help each other and the community.Tink's Antiques in Tamaqua has new hours.The facility is open Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Tink's is currently involved in a Facebook giveaway promotion featuring an antique pressed back chair, a stoneware crock, vintage American flag and apple cinnamon candle with candle ring.For more information, call 570-449-2094 or visit online at

www.tinksantiques.com or on Facebook.