A Thrifty Fifty

I've been somewhat AWOL from blogging these past two months...but with good cause.

Ten years ago, the Yankee and I laid down the mantle of an antiques and collectibles business to devote our time and attention completely to our children. 

Well, we've decided to pick that mantle back up and take our show on the road.

For the weeks that you've not heard much from me, I've been traveling around NC, with my Yankee sweetheart, reestablishing the business. 

And when he and I are not actually in the midst of a show, we're busily buying, repairing, refinishing, creating, and preparing for those shows–often from sunup to sundown. 

Those of you in this business, or one of a similar nature, understand how time consuming such an endeavor is.

I've been taking lots of pictures to share our travels–and our projects–with you, like the ones I took at the Charlotte Metrolina for the Big Classic Show. 

But taking pictures is one thing, while preparing them, and the text, for a post is quite another.

Rather than go back two months, I thought I would start with our most recent activities and sprinkle the others in, here and there, over the next week or so.

Revisiting our old haunts–like Cline's Antiques and Collectibles–in search of treasures to sell (or keep, when they're just to terrific to give up), has been loads of fun. 

Want to see another of our favorite hunting grounds? 

Well, actually, you've already been looking at pics from part of it. 

The gorgeous shrubs and plants shown above are just some of the fabulous finds at the Lexington Flea Market.

I thought I would show you the pretty part of this market first, 'cause the rest ain't so pretty!

Only dumpster-diving, thrift-store-plundering, yard-sale-seeking individuals need attend. 

I think the online blurb describes this place the best:

"Davidson Farmers Livestock & Flea Market. Old Highway 64. Market open all day Tuesday and half day Wednesday. Ample parking. Used merchandise, garage sale items, treasures & trash, farm items, lots of tack, new merchandise, pre-packaged food, clothing, house wares, produce, livestock, pets. Food available, restrooms. Lots of walking."

The highlighted items are what we seek out, but, more often than not, we have to dig through tons of the other items listed, in order to find them. 

But hey...what's a little digging around in the dirt to unearth treasure?  Am I right?!  ; )

There are no fancy-schmancy store fronts here. 

People sell from the shanty-like buildings you see in the images above, and from under tents, beneath the trees and from cars, trucks, vans...and even horse trailers.

Sometimes the best goods are still waiting to be unloaded. 

I'm not the least bit bashful.  So, often, I'll ask if I can poke around in the back of the truck.  Most folks are good-natured about it and let me look. 

After all, they're there to sell.

As I was walking down this particular aisle, something caught my eye, and I knew I would have to go in for a closer look. 

Nope, not the white shelf–although it was cute enough.

And, it was definitely not all this brown, brown, brown furniture!

Look further beyond...to that glorious ocean of blue. 

I'm not a milk glass collector, per se, though I do have a few pieces around the cottage.  But that blue was just the most fabulous shade!  And, yep...I found a treasure there! 

Yet another way that the Yankee and I differ is in our methods of "picking" in an environment like this. 

So, we usually just kiss goodbye at the gate and go our separate ways–only to meet up later with our finds.

If we were pieces of equipment, I'd have to say he's a scanner and I'm a microscope. 

While he's out doing a quick sweep for the bigger pieces, I'm down on the ground scrounging through boxes, buckets, crates, etc. looking for those smaller treasures.

For instance, I spied these soda crates and plastic containers–spilling over with the most wonderful vintage, chippy, rusty, crusty hardware–down on the ground behind loads of larger pieces.

A quick scan would not have unearthed these beauties!

Sometimes the treasure at this market is in plain view–as was the case with all this beautiful jewelry.

Though some of it was displayed in such a way as to accommodate a brief look...

much of it required a bit more plundering than I had time for on this visit.

So, what did my little treasure hunt produce, you're asking?

Three old farm implements–$8.00,

and an awesome assortment of vintage glass, plus two wonderful old pieces of millinery–to be used in future projects that I'll show you later–$8.50.

By the way, remember that ocean of blue I was so crazy over?  I scored this little guy for three bucks–because he had flown the coop...leaving his nest the vendor knew not where. 

I have such special plans for this beautiul blue birdie.  ; )

I also uncovered this quaint cache of country charm–shown in the two photos above–from various spots around the market–$10.00.

This lovely little vintage lamp and shade doesn't offer much to coo about– in her present state...

but I have an idea that will bring out her inner beauty–$3.00.

Without a doubt, these next two finds were the ones I was most delighted to discover.

This incredible vintage cart with its wonderful old time-worn wooden handle and wheels–$10.00.

Even with its imperfections, I think it's just the greatest.

And check this out!

The vendor told me that this is most likely a rack for hanging small game on.

Note the sharp pointy hooks.

OK, so that feature will have to be corrected before it can be used as a coat / hat rack, but it was the unbelieveable patina of this piece that sold me, anyway.

And the price for this awesomely aged aquisition–$10.00.

Grand total for my fabulous flea market finds...$49.50. 

Yes, I know that's not exactly $50.00.  But, what can you buy for fifty cents?

The truth is, at the Lexington Flea Market, fifty cents can buy a treasure–or two–if you've got the time to dig them out.

Now, I'm going to show off all my wonderful vintage thingies at