What's Hot, What's Not

After my recent visit to the flea market, I took notes on what I saw people leaving with and what seemed to be selling in general. Here's what I saw in baskets, on dollies and under arms.

This sign received so much attention and was snapped up right after I took the photo.

Industrial- Wire locker baskets, stools, signage, dress forms, small metal file drawers and large carts sold as entertainment centers.

This draftsman stool is similar to the ones that seemed popular that day.

Mid-Century Modern Home Furnishings



Vintage suitcases from the 40's to the 60's: From the striped to floral to the mod orange & pink.


Vintage clothing...probably THE most popular selling item with the 18-30 year olds.

Farm Primitives- Tractor seats, Tools & sun shape disks and gears. The creative ones will take their parts and may come up with something like this!


Also saw lots of architectural pieces, wooden crates, boxes and printer drawers being sold.

I love this printer drawer turned jewelry display.

Bird cages, vintage colored glass bottles, vintage jewelry and unusual lucite chandeliers...all the rage.

What people seemed to be passing by- Depression glassware, pretty china, dishes, figurines, linens and newly painted furniture.

Funny how things that were once popular are now passed over but that's the way it's always been I guess. It also seemed that there were many more younger shoppers out...or am I just getting old? Don't answer that! These younger buyers seemed to be drawn to what Mom might have had used in the 60's & 70's..not what their Grandmother had in the 40's-50's. Although I did see 2 young men buying a primitive folding washstand that didn't even have the galvanized tubs. I think I overheard some talk about turning it into a coffee table. You would have thought they found gold they were so excited! I remember a few years ago, no one would look twice at one in an antique mall. I also remember previewing an estate sale 10 years ago at a home that was completely furnished with 1950-60 furniture. I left without purchasing a thing because it wasn't what I was looking for. I would give anything to turn back the clock on that one! I think they even left the plastic on one of the sofas.

My next post will be my flea market purchases.

So if you are a collector or seller, what are you on the lookout for?

Rose Bowl Fun

A trip to The Rose Bowl in Pasadena is always fun, but also very tiring. Five hours of walking and we still didn't see it all! We came home with some goodies so I can't complain too much. Here are some things that I would have LOVED to bring home, but didn't.


This piece would be the ultimate DREAM piece for a shop. I think I would make it into a counter and hang the mirror on the wall behind it..AMAZING, but it was out of my price range and I wouldn't have a spot for it right now...so I'll just have to DREAM about it.



When my daughter saw this, she swore it would fit in the back of the car, but I think that would have meant one of us would have to stay in Pasadena. It was probably the prettiest little dresser I've ever seen.

This was awesome. The stand had a foot pedal which would raise & lower the mannequin. We both wanted this too, but it was $650.

And then...there's always the strange. This chair received lots of looks.

Industrial seems too have taken over. Every aisle had something industrial and this space had quite a selection of entertainment stands. This was just one. Industrial items were THE hottest items selling today.

If we had a need for bar stools, I would have somehow tied these to the roof of the car. :)

An old Coca-Cola cart. Cool, but not sure what I'd do with it!

I have a weakness for children's furniture and this little pink set was adorable.

I have never see so many grain sacks in one space!

This would be the most awesome shop display piece for jewelry!
It was from the 1800's and very expensive.

21

Having a child turning 21 makes one stop and think. It really doesn't seem like yesterday that she was taking her first steps, but time does seem to pass much quicker the older I get. Love my girl for so many reasons. She's strong, intelligent, independent and definitely has a mind of her own. She has had a few curve balls thrown her way at a young age, and I'm proud of the way she has handled herself. She's a homebody, and I have the feeling she'll be around for awhile. And I'm okay with that. We're two peas in a pod..going junking together every chance we get. Yes, she inherited the collecting gene and was recently bitten with the entrepreneur bug. Selling on eTsy has been an exciting new adventure for her. I'm just a wee bit proud that she has an eye for finding clothing and accessories to list in her online eTsy store. She even sold this beautiful Italian Maxi dress last week to an actress in LA..she was so excited and I was so happy for her :) So hard for her to let go of some pieces like this, but she's learning that this is the the way it is when you are a finder and not a keeper. Although on peek in her closet and I'm beginning to wonder..

So for her 21st birthday, she doesn't want much. Just a trip to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena to do some treasure hunting. Wish us luck! But first, it's out to lunch and dinner on Saturday for that very first celebratory drink. I'm sure she'll proudly display that I.D. when asked.

It's Coming Along...

Last year, I posted about this old house which is next door to our home. Well..my wish came true. Not my first wish to OWN this baby... but my wish that someone would buy it and restore it.


They have been working on it for months, but it will be a few more months before it's ready for the new owners. They have removed the chain link fencing and replaced it with iron and brick. I can't wait to see it completed! It's going to be so wonderful to look next door and see her in all her glory!

3 Good Reasons

We didn't go looking for a settee...

but when you come across something as CUTE as this, how can two girls resist?

And besides...she gave me 3 good reasons to buy it.

#1 It's her birthday next month, and this can be...her birthday present! :)
#2 She's tired of sitting on her bed to read and to watch television.
#3 It's just so darn adorable and we'd surely never find another in this color.

Purchased at Vignettes in Ocean Beach, one of our VERY favorite stores in the whole wide world!

A Mini Vacation

I just can't let an entire month slip by without a post! As many of my close friends know, I post fairly often at my shop blog, so it leaves little time for this one...and I miss it! The New Year is going well..we've had some amazing weather and with the birds singing outside my window, it feels like Spring. Sorry to those in freezing temps! :(

I wish I could say I've been vacationing on some faraway exotic island, but that's not the case! I don't even remember the last vacation I had, but I think it was when our daughter was 4 or 5..and she's almost 21 now. Yikes! I feel OLD and deprived! lol... I think my News Year resolution will be to plan a vacation. I do travel over this bridge at least 4 days a week to my shop on Coronado Island. I guess I can say it's " a mini vacation." Once I get off the bridge and hit land, I travel about 6 blocks to the left to reach my destination. If you are ever in San Diego, head over the bridge. There is a lot to see and a beautiful beach to enjoy.

Ho Ho Ho! It's Me, Silly

I love this old papier mache Santa face and we have had a holiday tradition the last 8 years. It involves the Santa mask, me, and everyone's favorite pug, Ms. Sophie.

Each year, Santa makes his first appearance outside our family room window after we put up our tree. He,(that would be ME) knocks on the window and up pops the Santa head yelling Ho-Ho-Ho!

Our pug, Ms. Sophie, barks and runs around the sofa. It's all in fun..no animals are harmed during these fun & games. When I come inside, she wags her tail an all is forgotten..until I say Ho-Ho-Ho again...lol We have to hide him in the closet. She won't let up until he's out of sight!

I think this little ritual stems from an experience I had during my childhood. When I was around 5 or 6 years of age, my parents had one of these Santa masks. My brother or Father (I think they took turns) would go outside and pop the Santa head up in our kitchen window. My Mom would say that we need to get to bed because Santa is checking to see if we are asleep. Good times!

So we are in the home stretch with only a few days of shopping left! I took the easy route this year and purchased gift cards and a popular item from the shop. Hope everyone has the merriest of holidays...see you next year!

Love Her...

..from head

..to tail

Ms. Sophie will be turning 11 soon...

This is how she spends most of her day..in her favorite chair.

Life is still crazy busy and I have neglected this blog, I know...
You can still check in at my shop blog if you like!
Hope everyone is having a great December...the year is almost over!