September 14, 2008

Flea, glorious flea.

Well yesterday I hit a doozy of a flea.

My brother was staying overnight and when we rolled out of bed (dirty
stay outs) we rolled over to the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society Flea Market. My expectations for the flea were low, but I love that my brother didn't even bat an eyelid when I asked if he wanted to go. In fact, we flea quite well together...I can't think of a better person to hit the asphalt with.

Things started out looking unpromising. While I was pretty happy with the antique postcards I snapped up at the first table we actually stopped at...


...I was feeling a little down when the bro walked away with 20 postcards for the same price as my five just two tables away. D'oh! At the brother's "jackpot table" I admired a dainty rocking chair, and bought an
old green glass insulator (which has no use whatsoever but I've always loved these things) for $3. When I got home it joined my kitchen window vignette.


While my brother stayed at the table to patiently sift through a huge box of postcards, I meandered around. And that's when the magic happened.

It was later in the day so the Historic Society marked their table down substantially -- everything you could stuff in a bag for $1. I looked around at the table and figured that may be impossible...five hours in to the day, it was pretty picked over. But I poked around and pulled a box out from under the table. And, oh happy day, there was a box filled with vintage Christmas balls. I bought a bag and started scooping them in, only to quickly be boxed out by a nimble, well dressed woman eager to add to her busting-at-the-seams grocery bag. Had I not been hot and a little dehydrated, I might have had it in me to fight back. But truth be told I didn't need any of these ornaments so no big whoop. Here's what my bag looked like when I walked away:



Not too bad for a buck, right? Look inside...

They'll be piled up in a big glass apothecary jar that's holding seashells right now. I also stuffed these two lovely and delicate vintage floral pieces in the bag.


I mean, they were practically free (they were part of the "everything in a bag for a buck" deal). I'll likely use them as gift tags. They're a good size, so will dress up a package pretty nicely:


After my buck bag victory, I went to look for my brother and spied a covered glass cake dish. For $3! Quicker than I could say, "I'll take it!" that bad boy was bubble wrapped and tucked under my arm. I think it's a deal, and will be great for cupcakes and cookies, and maybe even mini pumpkins for a festive Halloween display:


The brother tipped me off to a vendor selling some vintage New Jersey bottles (the ones in my kitchen window are all NJ-based). I honed in on three small pharmacy bottles ($1 each) from my great state, which I'll put in the downstairs powder room. In the future, we're hoping to give the loo a "make under," so these will look great on the future vintage looking sink. Whenever it is that we get to that.


I was pretty much loaded down like a pack mule at this point, so we started to head out. I walked past that rocking chair that I had my eye on earlier (at the table I bought my insulator from), sort of strategically to see if the guy would come down on the price. It's a wee little chair, and we are not wee little people so I'm not sure I really need it (do I really need any of this stuff? Suze Orman would have my head.). But I figured I'd see what his "end of day" offer was (I'm not a haggler, so the haggle has to come to me. I know this is a little backwards but I'm just not good at asking people to knock money of their prices.). And when he said I could have it for $15 (!) that, too, got tucked under my arm. Check it out:


It is a bit small...here's a photo of it near a bed for scale...

...so it might wind up going to a friend with a little girl. But it's in fabulous shape (from the 1930s, I think -- and it has been re-caned) so I know it will find a great home, if not mine.

Final tally:

Assorted old postcards: $10 (Budget buster. Alas.)

Bag of glass ornaments and vintage floral pieces: $1

Insulator: $3

Cake dish: $3

Pharmacy bottles: $1 each ($3 total)

Rocking chair: $15

TOTAL: $35

Euphoric drive home: Priceless.

33 comments:

MauritaMason said...

Ahhh. I gave up "feas" years ago. Your post leaves me wondering why.

MauritaMason said...

oops, I meant fleas, of course. The "feas" have never stopped.

Mary-Laure said...

So many wonderful finds! I'd love to have a glass cake dish like that one (not that cakes last very long around me...)

Unknown said...

What wonderful finds! Those flowers would be perfect for a baby shower gift and I really like that rocking chair!

Unknown said...

Hi
You got some wonderful buys! That rocker looks great for the price.

It gives me a 'high' too when I get lots of great bargains like this!
diane

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Oh, oh! Laura...you did SO good! I love the glass bottles AND that little rocking chair. Precious! I hope you find a place to keep it, it's too cute & what a great price. Oh, and i'm with ya on the Christmas ornaments. I'd have been stuffing away too. Love that deal, everything that fits in a bag for $1.

You had a fun weekend too!

Rhoda

Free Art Printables said...

GREAT finds. I love the rocker, it's in great shape!

Jenni said...

I love everything! The cake holder was a great find, and the ornaments are beautiful! You got a great deal on the rocking chair, too! So cute! :)

Have a great rest of your weekend! :)

beachy in the burbs said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE everything! Especially the NJ bottles! :) I just spent a fun weekend visiting with my fam' in Jersey and miss my home Garden State!

I also adore those Christmas balls - they remind me of the ones my Grandparents always had on their tree.

heidi said...

I covet thy bottles, Ms. Laura!

Ms. Tee said...

Oh my goodness! I can't believe all you found. And the Christmas ornaments?! I'm soooo jealous! :)

littlebyrd said...

Oh fun! I love hearing about this stuff! You got a great deal on the $1 bag - wow! I like your ideas for what you are going to do with it.And the chair is gorgeous.

Lauren said...

Great finds! Love the bottles. It's so much fun, isn't it? Saturday was the town wide yard sales in Metuchen and I spent $26.00 total and came home with my CRV packed.

Tina said...

Nice flea finds. I'm a bit jeolous. I haven't had a good jackpot day like that in a while.
Thanks for sharing
T

Mika said...

Oh wow! Look at all the fun things you found. :)

Here, There, Elsewhere... and more said...

Wow! I love those bottles - they're quite rare in Europe, lucky you, I find it more and more difficult to find them her..:)

Unknown said...

I am grinning ear to ear for you! WOW!!!

Blessings - Debbie

please sir said...

FUN - I love all your purchases! The glasses are my favorite - they look great next to the window.

Fifi Flowers said...

WOW... FAB finds! How fun... I haven't been to the flea market in toooooo long! Must make a trip! Don't tell Suze!

Anonymous said...

that was a boom boom for sure!

i cannot even begin to tell you how envious I am of the bag, I need those baubles, lol

Sarah

Jean Martha said...

great scores!!!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Girl, you are the queen with that total! What great stuff at great prices! The postcards you nabbed are so nifty I wouldn't be beating myself up over their prices. No mam. Neat, neat spoils from the flea. Thanks for sharing. :-)

Sheila

Claire, said...

WHAT!!
Lucky girl!!

Anonymous said...

What great finds!

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

Great finds!
I really love the blue in the bottles. I can't wait to see what you do with it all!

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

Great finds! I love vintage postcards and old Christmas ornaments, too. That rocking chair is fab! -Julia

Empty Nest Full Life said...

Everything is beautiful, but the vintage ornaments, chair and cake dish(major bargain) were my favorites. What a wonderful brother. Jackie

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Laura, I was there at the start of the flea market. I also thought it was pretty good...not Ocean Grove good, but not disappointing. Did you know that both Red Bank and Oceanport are having town wide garage sales this weekend? I am hyperventilating! Susan

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

Oh, Susan!! I did hear about the town-wide Red Bank sale and promptly forgot! Thanks for the reminder...I must try to get there!!

Thanks to everyone for your amazing comments on my BAHR-GINS. I am loving them all...and loving you all for caring! :-) Work has been kicking my tush so I'm hoping to be back to my blog more regularly VERY soon.

Many thanks, bloggy friends!
xo,
Laura

Thrifty Cents said...

Wow! I'm loving your finds! Too bad I can't go thrifting with you, but then again, we'd probably end up fighting each other for the goodies we find! Thanks for sharing!

pve design said...

Wow, looks like you scored!
I mean how did you ever live without all those great finds? (especially in this current economic time!)

Anonymous said...

I love those insulators too. I don't have one - yet. They're just so cool looking.

Score on the Christmas ornaments! And that chair!

I haven't been to a flea market in forever. I miss them.

dee said...

OMG SO much eye candy! I need to get back into flea markets. Fall is the perfect time.

And, btw, thank you SO much for your sweet comments, Laura. Seriously. Thank you:)