Although the weather cannot decide what season to be in, the flea markets are kicking off for the year. I missed the one day Fiber Expo to kick off the season due to an extremely bad cold back in April. I even swapped to have the day off a month ahead of time! Aaargh!! Remaining positive, I took a CTO day for the first Friday of May hoping for good weather for a 3 day flea market in What Cheer, Iowa. We were blessed with the most beautiful day. It was a fun and relaxing time. I am still somewhat nervous about purchasing much, until we get the studio room underway... But the nervousness evaporated as we walked around! ;)
A large apple basket was a necessity buy. During the Fall season at Farmer Boy's place, I kept having to borrow a basket to tote apples back and forth. Now, I will have my own to haul with. :)
This was hanging on the side of a pick up truck bed. It had some items on top of it. I honestly was surprised that I hadn't seen it on our first walk through. A gentleman looking at it drew my attention to the lovely pattern. Once he left, I went to look it over. The vendor yelled over, "A dollar and it's yours!" I don't have to be told twice and made the deal. The lady selling thought it was maybe an oversized pillowcase... she just wasn't sure. She picked it up at a sale. Upon inspection, done in the next row over, I confirmed it was a large vintage feedsack. Nice bold unwashed colors still stitched up with the old original thread. Couldn't you see an old feedsack dress made out of this one for a toddler? :)
For three dollars, I just couldn't pass up on some glass topped jars. They will come in handy in the studio. I have loads of smalls to store in them.
A lesson in the art of purchasing at a flea market: If you really like an item, don't put it on a list... buy it! There were two sisters looking at these feedsacks. I was slightly disappointed at not getting there first, since green lettering is my favorite. :( But I walked around checking out the other items from the vendor, as both ladies discussed what could be made with them. The vendor finally said to the women that she would do 3 sacks for 6 dollars, since some of them had staining and holes on one side. Wow! Yeah, a few were a little damaged but the print was on both sides and these were huge. The ladies kept talking, then decided they would add them to the list of things to come back for later and walked off. You can see the result of that scenario. I acquired all 5 sacks along with one plain for $12.00. I couldn't have been happier.
Mr. Hollow picked up a vintage tooth pick dispenser, shaped like a Wood Pecker, from the same lady. As he walked ahead of me, the two ladies were cutting back into the booth after deciding they would get the sacks after all.... Ten minutes too late...
It doesn't happen often. The unicorn of the vintage glass Christmas bulbs. You know... The one that I do not have YET in my collection. Will you look at this?
The vendor had two but only one had a cap. I know, I know. I could have used one of my hundred extra caps at home right? But, it was my turn to be stupidly tight. This baby cost me $4.50. I will go with the thought that it adds to the excitement to have "one of one". Well, unless the same vendor has the other one when we go in August! ;)
This was part of the mitigating factor to my tightness. I dropped $12.00 for these Shiny Brite mini icicle ornaments. Holy Toledo!!! They will look so cool on my mini Shiny Brite tree!!
Last but not least... I was looking at street signs for my studio. There was a huge "slow" sign in orange and this "55 speed limit" sign. The lady said she cut me a deal on two. The "slow" sign really wasn't hitting me right, so I went with the one that caught my eye. It makes me think of all the trips I have taken through out my life and the ones to come. Maybe Farmer boy can work his magic and make a cabinet out of it with some barn boards for art supplies... Hmmmm...
All in all, I think it has been a great start to the flea marketing season. I will blank out the horrific cold episode and focus on the positive! Unfortunately for a large group of vendors, this weekend was suppose to be the flea market at the fairgrounds in Pecatonica, Illinois, but our unpredictable weather decided to bless us with an overabundance of rain. I cannot remember ever having 3 days of rain on a Pec weekend. But then, I have never seen a winter and spring like the ones we have had this year. Who knows what the rest of the year will bring?
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