Your favorite flea-market finds
Rebecca_at_Lifestyle
Now that summer is almost here, it's time for flea-market shopping. Picking through the piles can seem daunting at first, but once you find what you've been looking for, the work is worth the effort. My favorite flea-market find was a set of old, handwritten postcards from around 1910. I found them unexpectedly while going through a pile of old photos at an antique vendor. On the back were notes written to family and loved ones with photos of various Florida locations. Being a postcard collector, I was thrilled to find these.Share your favorite flea-market finds!
menopausemom
My favorite find is the find of the week. I'm always finding cool stuff at a discoount. I just bought two new kitties. They look l;ike Martha's, by the way. I was thinking I needed to get some carpet and make them a cat tree, when I stopped at a flea market and found everything my new guys need. A cat tree, cat carrier, cat toys, bed, treat holder, little box, etc. for $25.00 total. I was so excited! That was last weekend. Let's see what this weekend brings!
sandiesue51
I really enjoy going to garage and yard sales, living in a small town there are no flee markets here... I found a beautiful tea set, it is my favorite treasure of all.
JoJoZ112
I recently found a small jar, but I don't really know what it was used for exactly. It looks quite old, probably made of bronze, some type of metal, it has a goldish tint to it. On the lid is the word "Sacharrin" in script. I've been trying to do some research as to what it is, but I've had no luck! I found it at a garage sale and bought it from an old woman, I should have asked her what is was used for! If anyone knows anything about this piece, I would love to know! JoJoZ112@msn.com!! I love it!
Suzy Q
One of my most favorite things was found at the Goodwill, not a flea market. I paid $3 for it and it is one of the very same clocks as shown in the lead in to the article on flea markets. My husband was thrilled when he saw it because his grandparents had one just like it years ago.
j.loughry
my boyfriend bought a 1941 international panel truck at a garage sale he never had time to restore it now it is on e-bay i wish i could have seen it restored .
coursey1010
Saccharin has been used to sweeten foods and beverages without calories or carbohydrates for over a century. Its use was considerable during the sugar shortages of the two world wars, particularly in Europe. It was probably used to store saccharin much like a sugar bowl!
pnavada
ebay is an online flee market once you know what you are looking for you can find things from all over the world big or small.
LAlady
My favorite find is a wooden shelf. It has three shelves and only about 6 inches deep. It fits nicely at the end of my hall way. I bought it from an elderly neighbor who had it for years. I love finding good solid wood furniture. It is hard to find good quality new furniture these days.
carlybarly
our best find was at a church rummage sale: it was metal file cabinet but it was locked w/no key! so we bought it for 50 cents! Inside were old (l930's) copies of wills, an old sewing box that had a beautiful l4k finger whatchamacallit (appraised at 30$) and an old paper weight. We had to break the lock but it was fun wondering what was inside!
#EANF#
#EANF#
MIdge625
I collect vintage Barbie dolls and her friends. I found three doll cases at a church rummage sale last year. The cases contained 4 dolls and many original outfits. The clothes were almost like new. I got the items for 200 dollars. The ladies at the sale were so happy that they were going to a collector. This was quite a find for me.
mommyof3boys
My problems is always looking and wanting everything. AND no room to put it anywhere. I see so many good deals, but to small of a home to bring it all in. My greatest find was a little tikes outside toy! I love to collect toys for my children and they play with them, then I can resell and get my money back. A nice recycling circle .
kim in PA
My daughter and I get up really early every Saturday and check the local paper for yard sales. She has a 14 month old son so she looks for baby clothes. I collect old bottles. This is always a special time for just us to get together, stop for breakfast, and plan out our morning! We have found some great buys!
glassgirl956
I've been going to garage sales, yard sales, flea markets for about 20 years. Half my apartment is decorated in Yard Sale. I've found some great stuff. I have an Antique steamer trunk that I bought at a yard sale for 20 dollars and as a matter of fact this computer is sitting on it. I'm also a Carnival Glass collector and I have found some really nice glass at Flea Markets.Was just at a garage sale in Cape May this week-end and picked up a set of China coffee mugs for a dollar, a little victorian dressed stuffed bunny for $1.50, and a set of salt and pepper shakers for 25 cents and a little wooden teddy bear shelf sitter for a dime. How can you go wrong?
SCMike
Dear Rebecca_at_Lifestyle, I noticed you are a post card collector. I have some French post cards from the early fifties. Do you know how I could find their value?
NurseNora4u
My recent find this last weekend was a doggie stroller for $8.00.After my purchase,I went to the pet store and their was the same stroller for $169.00 !WOW! Did I save money! I love to go to the flea markets!
trouble
I sell things at flea markets and I get tired of people who want everything free. Last week I had an item on my table and this woman (I won't say lady) asked how much it was. I told her three dollars and she said in a nasty tone. YOU CAN KEEP IT! There was another lady looking at it and I asked her if she would like to have it for $1 and sold it to her. The look on the other woman's face was more than worth any loss.
lance55
In response to "trouble." My girlfriend and I used to do the fleamkt at the Redwood Drive In in SLC UT. We had a similar experience with particular people automatically offering you half of your asking price. On one occaision one of 1/2 pricers asked how much we were asking for an item. I told him twice what we wanted for the item. Another shopper came to our table and asked how much the same item was while the first person was still there. I told them 1/2 of the price I'd quoted. The original shopper said, "Hey, that is half what you told me!" I said "That's right! I know you'd offer me half of what I am asking!"
sweettater
I have 2 favorite flea market finds. 1. A Homer Laughlin Georgian Eggshell serving platter. Have not had any success finding the value or age. 2. The second is a bottle of Dr. Tichenor's Antiseptic It has a picture of confederate soldiers on the front of the box the bottle came in. And the bottle label is signed by G.H. Tichenor, M.D.. The label says it was registered in the U.S. Patent office in 1883. I am still trying to locate the age and value of this one also.
Eklektic
I recently moved from Ohio to Arizona and brought only what my car could handle. I was so worried that I wouldn't have "things" for my new home. I have been in Phoenix for 3 months and my home is not only filled -- but I have already contributed to a friend's yard sale!! There are endless yard/garage sales and the resale and thrift stores here are totally awesome. Some of the things I have come across are amazing. If you travel to this area, get ready to do some heavy-duty shopping!!
finngirl
I buy and sell at flea markets. One year at a Threshing Show in ND, I had some old photos spread out on a table. Most of them were imprinted with the name of an early 1900's photographer from a ND town. When an aquaintance from Minnesota walked by, her husband was looking at the photos and said "Hey, that's my grandpa!" I gave them the photo...flea markets for me aren't about the profits but the connections and the joy they bring!!
green-eyes
Found two treasures, 2 black tall shutters with metal hooks - $5.00 each, and an old wooden cradle doll cradle - using for magazines - and rolls of fabric for $2.00
antiqueone
Sweettater: I found a website that might be helpful to you: http://www.turnersouth.com/southology/article/0,,1475,00.htmlIt tells all about Dr. Tichenor's potion!~Keep on looking!
amateur2knowledgeable
I've done some shopping at flea markets, at home yard sales and even stores that are closing. Some of the greatest things I've gotten were pictures, signed and expensive if purchased at a gallery or framing store. One pictures if of the Philadelphia Zoo, giclee, and autographed. Purchase it for $10.00 with the matting. Gifted it to my wonderful elderly employer and then priced it. The picture itself (w/o matting) comes into at about $110.00 with matting you can add a few more dollars to it. What a great gift to this wonderful man as he is profounding fond of the Zoo and is a lifelong member. Other things I've purchased at home sales were hand carved wood items from Jamaica, signed and dated by an island artist - 7.00. Well worth it.
Denise-in-Englewood
I love our Goodwills down here in SW Fl. Having come from the Wash DC area, I had never seen Goodwill stores like the ones here. My favorite find? I have collected a fabu set of copper clad Revere Ware. After years of T-fal and Visions cookware I feel like I have died and gone to heaven....with Emeril! Oh, and the great old furniture. I love to paint it bright color ala Maine Cottage.
snookie
My favorite find was at a thrift store about 20 years ago. I got a "guide book" to Paris, copyright 1906. It is beautiful and full of advertisements and even a fold out map of the city. Very, very cool and in mint condition!
Taron
My greatest find was at a local Christian thrift store. Our family doesnt have a lot of money, so when I found a beautiful white gown (this one http://www.jimhjelmvisions.com/jim_vis/display_dress.php?imageno=1134&multimatch=x ) I had hope. I also liked this green gown near it. My mom and I asked a worker about the 2 dresses, and he gave us them both for only $24! I drycleaned the white one, and fixed a few seams, looked it up online and found out it was actually a designer wedding gown for over $1000!! Yay thrift stores! I wore it to prom and everyone loved it, asking me where I got it...but thats my little secret! :)
aesthetikara
almost everything i own is thrifted. last week i had a strong urge to go to the local salvation army. as thrift luck would have it, we found a haywood wakefield table and 6 chairs waiting for us. great condition and only 60.00. just perfect in our kitchen remodel. my favorite finds are designer vintage clothing, leathers, rhinestone jewelry and beads. great scores: two rosewood knoll end tables, set of 12 tiki mugs, hermes hat, vintage children's clothes, teak danish modern dining room set w/ 6 chairs.
minty
I love to read about everyone's fabulous finds. I also live in SW FL. My home is mostly flea market, garage sale, Goodwill, Salvation Army, and consignment shop, except for a few pieces. I am complimented repeatedly about my decor. Goes to show you that thrift shopping is smart! My favorite find (hard to choose) must be my twin raspberry velvet armchairs circa 1940's Art Deco - both for $80, in mint condition.
rikki
I am a avid garage sale shopper and have bought several items to resell on Ebay. I purchased a new bathing suit with the tags for 25 cents. It resold for $38. A vintage decorative plate cost $2 and it sold for $78.
anniecat
i am an avid thrift/garage sale/dumpster shopper. best buy lately at value village is a full-length,red, very fine wool dress coat by HARVE BENARD that fits me perfectly---got it for .99!!! cost me $15 to clean it but such a bargain.
decor42
My favorite find came from my local VOA. I go there every Tuesday and always find something to bring home. This particular day I found a wooden chair with an upholstered seat that had some nice detail to it. It reminded me of a piece of office or conferance room furniture and was modern in style. Modern is not my style but something attracted me to the chair and I immediatley envisioned many places that I could use it in as a filler. The price was right for $1.99 I took the chair up to the register and realized that my son wasnt behind me. I went back 2 aisles and there he was sitting on the chairs mate playing with a toy. I grabbed this chair as well. When I got home I began cleaning the chairs. I turned one over and saw a designer manufacturers plate. Knoll Studio 1990 signed by Ricchio. Being an avid ebayer I began my search there. The cheapest item under this heading was a clear lucite womb chair and was starting at $199. My heart fluttered thinking I may have something of value. I searched and found the CO's official site. The chairs that I have are called the Ricchio chair, still in production and depending on the type of material they are currently being sold anywhere from $837 to $1327. Yipee.
lovetoshop
i find my best deals at antique stores, belive it or not. one time, i think the antique dealer was tired of dealing with an old table that was very elegant, I don't know why. maybe was on consignment and owner disappeared. it is a very intricately carved library table in mahogany, some minor damage, fabulous -- $25. another time i found a book at an antique shop for $3 that was selling on the internet for $100. it was a first edition of a book by the guy that wrote Robin Hood stories - - also illustrated by him, but i forget the name right now, and i'm not at home. it is really interesting. some antique stores, believe it or not, especially in small town Texas, have good prices. course you have to look for 'em.