Costume art
December 14, 2012 § 2 Comments
My pictures here stink. I bought 54 discs from Pakistan. I was told they came off of belly dancing costumes. They winged their way to me sifting bits of exotic dirt and smelling of tea and herbs. I completely love these things. I bought a multiple of 9 so I could frame them nine at a time, but ended up pinning them in a line across my whole bedroom wall. I think a giant poster shape would be a better display when we move. They are made of glass and stone beads and heavy wool. They have cracked little mirrors and strings sticking out. Each is intricate and so bright. My favorite is the middle picture, middle disc; yellow ring and orange diamonds.
Flea market finds
August 16, 2012 § Leave a Comment
For my second trip to Mile High this summer, I got a blissful few hours of solitude and a selection of fun finds. A few more wooden hangers for the closet. $2. Some day I will have enough to get rid of the plastic ones.
A dollar fan. How to bring joy to a 6 year old in two seconds flat.
$1 for this set of stamps. Still in the $16 packaging. Endlessly useful for school and creative activities.
Keens, always the keens. Little ones for the little one. $4.
We have been on the lookout for trains. The 4 year old turns five soon and this will be his gift. This box is huge! And very full of train building fun for years to come. $20.
And 3 vintage Fisher Price play stages. I had these. I loved these! $13. The car elevator still goes up and the school bell still rings. Now I’m in the market for the little cars and people.
Flea market
April 21, 2012 § 1 Comment
We went to the Mile High Marketplace today north of Denver. It is large, it is well marketed, it is not at all chic, it is very fun. A great sunny spring activity. We found some sunburn, a mile or so of cheap and ugly plastic goods, kettle corn and turkey legs. I think I’d classify Mile High as more of a tourist trap than either the new vintage goods marketplaces or the old-fashioned junk tables of southern flea markets.
For thrifty buying, the most impressive selection is from the acres of tools available.
I wish I had taken a photo of the 4 foot Cinderella pinata. I can just picture a bunch of kids bashing the princess with sticks.
Here is our small trove. Finger bananas $2. Bolo tie $1. Rake for a friend (see this project). Bags of roasted chilis $6. I think that is my favorite part of the market. The rolling barrels of roasting chili peppers and their smell wafting strongly. It is uniquely Colorado to me. Old fishing lures $4. Basket $20.
I’m delighted with the lures. I’ve considered so many times buying this perfect collection of lures from my pinterest “to buy” board. But hopefully I can build my own display at a lesser cost.
And the basket. Kind of steep for a flea market. But I’ve bought some of them full price and this was a deal. I love these guys. They are made in Ghana and sturdy and moldable and beautiful.
I really wanted to find old outdoor faucet knobs, but no luck. Here is my inspiration.
I bought them for the bones
April 16, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Two items to stash and finish off later. A little owl trivet, very common. And a huge lamp shade, the bones of which will show up again here someday. $.99 and $5.
