Getting Back to the Flea Market

I decided I really needed to start going back to our monthly local flea market. I’ve missed it…a lot! And frankly over the years, I’ve made some stellar scores here. So last Saturday I was determined to go, have a good time and choose well.

And I did! I strolled, chatted with vendors, honed in on items and bought. At the end I was carrying a bag full of goodies and two pieces of art feeling quite encumbered and starting to sweat!! (I really need to get a mini shopping cart!) The parking situation is pretty tough near this venue now because the city recently took away all the nearby street parking with a bike lane so I parked almost 1/2 mile away.

Was hoping to find some jewelry, but nothing was quite right. Either pieces were priced too high, too new or damaged. And in a funny moment I spotted a vendor selling a unique handmade vase that I had donated this summer to Goodwill! I hope she has better luck with it than I did.

But I did find an eclectic assortment of things.

The brass HMS Victory ship toasting fork is not something I would normally buy, but it was only $2 and I thought, well, why not, but that is precisely the type of thinking I need to get away from! The studio art glass vase is by Dick Slater. Such a cool piece and I’m really happy with it. The striking carved black Madonna and Jesus is likely made from ironwood. I’ve bought from this vendor before and his prices typically leave room for those of us who resell. (I skate by those who have antique-store prices.)

This small lighthouse painting in a big ’70s wood frame was my second purchase of the day. The little painting is signed and dated ’82 but not that well executed. The ’70s carved wood frame is why I bought this.

My priciest purchase was this vintage numbered (26/200) woodblock print by John Sollid featuring Pike Street Market in Seattle likely circa 1970s given the frame style. Sollid is a Washington state artist whose work features Seattle and Pacific Northwest themes. He actually started selling his art in the Pike Street Market back in the ’70s and I’m wondering if this was one of his early pieces.

I love the clean lines and colors of this print, but the light wood frame with poxxed linen isn’t doing it any favors so I might find it a new frame or sell it on it’s own. I negotiated on the price, but later at home doing research realized I still paid a bit more than I should have as a reseller. (Drat!) But it appears to be a scarce image of his so that could help the price.

The vintage/antique lace collar was also from a seller I’ve bought from before. She never brings a lot, but usually has interesting things and prices them modestly. I have gotten some good deals from her over the years. I’m not buying much lace or fabric these days, but I had never seen this lace technique and decided to nab this collar.

I went to my fav lace site, Rook and Raven, to find out what kind of lace this was and low and behold the home page featured an article on this very lace! It’s Belgian princess lace–“hand-assembled lace made up of machine-made netting and hand appliqués made of tapes.” Alrighty then!

Total paid for all my items: $78

No dancing-in-the-street scores, but some interesting items and it was fun shopping there again and I needed some fun!

Wishing you happy hunting,

Karen