Sunday, June 6, 2010

Flea Market Finds

Yesterday was the first day of the first weekend of the month, and for me that means Hazen Flea Market Day.  There is a huge flea market about 1/2 hour beautiful drive away from us.  It's only held the first weekend of every month from May through October.  And around here you can't always depend on the weather for May and October (or the other months for that matter).  But last month the weather was very nice and warm and Bob went with me.  He's just not real patient with me and then tries to talk me out of anything I want.  He finds the beef jerky and fudge stand and then he's ready to go home.  Yesterday Mom was able to go, which is always the preferred company as we both love the same junk. 
It ended up being a very nice day.  It started out cloudy and we thought we may get stuck in rain, but it held off.  Parking is always the first decision to make.  It's a very rural area so there are fields and farms and large lots near by that many of the owners set up on these weekends as parking lots for the flea market and they must make out pretty well.  The $2.00 parking lots are sometimes quite a stroll away and as you get closer the lot prices go up to $5.00.  We pulled into a $3.00 lot and we were actually very close. 

We arrived around 11:15 and it was crowded.  By the time we left about 2:00 this is what the parking lot looked like.  By 2:00 the booths and stands are starting to shut down for the day and then open back up bright and early on Sunday morning.  By Sunday at noon you can get better deals but the good stuff is picked over.
We came prepared with our cash, comfortable shoes, kleenex in case the stinky out house toilet had no toilet paper, and a bottle of water.  A lot of people come with wheeled carts to haul their newly purchsed goodies.  We don't go quite that far, but I did have a Market Bag that I had knit last year and I slung it on my shoulder to see how that would work out. 
It worked out great.  I have a little fabric pocket sewn inside for money, keys and cell phone and then I could carry my other little finds without the bother of a purse and my hands were free.  This was the first time I  found a use for this bag and it was perfect.  Now we did have to take a short little break about halfway into our shopping spree to take a load of larger, heavier items back to the car.  Then we sat for a small lunch break.
We were tempted by the funnel cakes and fried dough but tried to be slightly healthier than that so we settled for a hot dog with sauerkraut and lemonade.  That was the best we could do at a flea market.
After almost 3 hours of up and down the dirty, muddy aisles,
here's what I came away with.


Five pretty, old fashioned hankies at $1 each.  I'm not sure yet what I'm going to do with them but I'll make something out of them or incorporate them into one of my crafts.

This Rada pareing knife on top for $4.50.   These knives are great.  I already had the bigger knife on the bottom with the silver handle, but Bob doesn't like the sandpaper feel of the handle.  I guess they had other complaints on this, so they started making them with the smooth black handle.  I used it last night to cut up chicken and walnuts for a salad.  Perfect.  We also already have the Rada ice cream scoop.  I highly recommend this product. (Un-paid advertisement).

Here's my exciting find for the day.  This 13 piece hot cocoa set including candle stick holders for $12.00 (I already had the candles) It's Royal Court fine china from Japan and the design is "carnation".  The only flaw is the sugar bowl is missing a lid.  But I figure since it's a cocoa set, I would put marshmallows in the sugar bowl and I don't need a lid.  And being pink, I couldn't pass it up.  I have no idea where I'm going to set it yet, but I'll find a place.  We actually do drink cocoa in the winter so I'll really use it.  Won't guests be impressed?

One booth I never miss is the garden booth.  I find something there every visit. This month I found a new flag for beside my driveway going into my under deck sitting area.

All my furniture is white and all the flowers are pink, except for my purple cat mint and some lavender.  So this little flag with the big pink flower that says "Smile" was just what I was looking for.

I still need two more pink flower baskets and the pink flox are just starting to come up in the garden in front.

Last month I got this garden stake with a little blue gazing ball and a metal butterfly on top.
This is in my garden beside my shed.  Mom got one very similar yesterday.
I'll show better pictures of my gardens in a few weeks once the flowers are more in bloom.  We have a very late and short growing season here.  By the 4th of July everything should be looking pretty good.  By the end of August it will start to fade again and the mums go in.

We won't be going to the July flea market.  It falls on the 3rd of July and we'll either be welcoming a brand new granddaughter then or having our annual Fourth of July party here.  Or both.  Either way, we won't have time to fit in a flea market jaunt.  It's too soon to plan on August yet.  Summers go way to fast, don't they?



11 comments:

Karen said...

Nina! Welcome to the Bloggerette Sorority! Oh GIRL! After reading your sidebar and your profile - do we ever have a lot in common! we will be married 30 yers this Sept, and I have two sons - one of whom is named Brandon! But . . . sigh . . . no grandbabies. Not even a DIL! But . . . someday!
I'm so glad you joined. Theresa has just turned into the closest of friends - I love her to death!
We'll see you on the 25th!
Oh! I think July is TOO HOT for the flea market! June is about it for me, and July and August are NOT AN OPTION! :) SO you share what you find and I'll enjoy the ride!
Have a great day!
Karen ~ Some days are diamonds

Melissa Miller said...

How fun! I think I would like this minus the heat Nina. Whew!
I adore the pretty flag and the china set is beautiful.

I wanted to thank you for your great input on one of my recent posts about blogging. I appreciate that very much.

Blessings to you on this nice Sunday. It's lovely here! ~Melissa :)

DJan said...

I just love the tea set, it's perfect for cocoa, or tea, or whatever. Thanks for showing how well your bag worked out, too. I like the idea of the little purse sewn inside. Thanks for the tour!!

Theresa said...

Oh my goodness Nina, I would have loved to be there to shop:) Looks like you got a great load of goodies. I have a thing for hankies and would have bought those in a heartbeat! Love the pink flowers! Welcome to our Sorority, I know you created beauty and can't wait to see what you make! Have a blessed Sunday, hugs!

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Wow, I love your chocolate post set! Great find and great price. Hey we are sorority sisters!!

Snooty Primadona said...

If I could even get my hubby TO GO to a flea market, he'd be the exact same way as your hubby. (I think most are made from pretty much the same mold, LOL!)

You had some really great finds. Now I'm curious as to all the larger items you had to make the trip back to car to drop off. Hmmmm...

Actually, if there were any flea markets here right now, I probably wouldn't go, unless it were a big one inside somewhere. The temps are over a 100 degrees every day last week & looks like no relief in sight... Whew!

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

Wow, you made some great purchases! I can see how this process fuels your creativity and suggests new projects!

Anita@Theycallmejammi said...

Looks like you found some great items. Love the cocoa set. I'm giving you highest marks for being able to walk past the funnel cake with your head held high...that had to take some doing as they smell so good. Come by and visit when you have the chance.

Cheryl said...

That is a wonderful flea market! The ones I end up at are more... um... well... eclectic seems to work...
Stopping by from SITS!

Annette said...

What great finds!!! I'm drooling over the vintage hankies, especially for $1 each!

Lillian Robinson said...

I love the hankies! They would be darling in a quilt!

That bag would come in handy for flea-market shopping. I have a big sling purse I carry a lot. It's not the most fashionable bag I carry, but I can put it over my head and hang it in front of me where it's safe and handy. It holds lots, plus leaves my hands free for Mom or baby, whichever I'm shuttling at the moment.

I think the sand-paper handled knife would be great for wet hands to grip. Plus, you can exfoliate at the same time! LOL

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