182/366: Sunday Morn with My Pops

The first Sunday of the month is my favorite Sunday.

It means Flea Market with my dad!  We go early.  Real early.  I like it that way.

We are home around 10 if we go slow, or 9:15 when we focus.  I've talked about the flea market here, and although neither of the boys were interested today, it was still a learning experience.

Each time I go, I learn more about decoys.  One can never know enough about decoys.  You never know when it will come in handy.  Hunting, Jeopardy, Trivial Pursuit...useless knowledge to impress a neighbor.

I got a couple things for the Etsy shop and a couple things for the boys.

But, more importantly, some quality time with my Pops.

126/366: 3rd Generation Picker

This morning, at 6:20, I was waking up the Big Boy to join me in my favorite summer pastime with my Dad. Flea Market: speed style.

The first Sunday of each month, the flea market features Garage Sale tables. Dad works Sundays at 10:00 am, so we arrive early and don't dilly dally. We spend less time at a dealers table than we would a person just selling personal items.

After Big Boy finally woke up and came downstairs, he sat for a bit, then "I think I am going back to bed. I'll go another time."

I was saddened, until not a minute late, "Okay, I want to go."

We reminded each other of what we were looking for and walked. For my Dad: decoys, bottle stoppers with hand carved moving people on them, granite ware, Indian stuff and old guns. For me: something medicinal for inspiration in preparation for Tom's Graduation. And for Big Boy: metal- anything metal, nothing plastic.

BB was getting bored, until we spied a box of old nuts and bolts and screws and hinges. He asked the seller how much for a couple pieces, 25 cents. BB broke the ice! And he was ready for the next table.

It was a great morning, we had fun and we were all successful. Dad found two decoys at $5 each (unheard of), a shorebird to use in a still life for his students and a bottle stopper. I purchased an old wooden mortar and pestle.

As for Big Boy, he got three bolts (one of which is "golden"), four washers, two keys, three door pulls, one token and one small rusty C clamp.

It was a great day, Big Boy is our good luck charm and he better beware, I'll be dragging him out of bed next month.

Orange in the Middle

Growing up, my mom was always trying to get me to wear something bright or with a print. I gravitated, still do, to the solid colors, usually black, white or grey. More specifically, v-neck t-shirts. I really need to get out of that style, but it makes me comfortable and happy. I am slowly accepting brighter colors into my closet.

When I was pregnant with Sam, Tom and I were looking for baby room colors. As you could guess, I am not a pastel kind of girl. So, we went with orange. Bright orange. With lime, purple and red accents. I loved it. It was just like this spool in the center.

I found these on my last flea market trip with Kelly. I have always wished I had wooden spools to look at. That same lady we got some great fabrics from had a large bag for $3.00. I snagged them for display and fun, but I have used three different colors already. The multitude of colors have surely come in handy.

Big News! I only have one more to-do on my September list. To work on my linen blanquilt. I have had it 'almost done' for some time and tomorrow I will start embellishing. I don't remember challenging myself to be less of a procrastinator, how can this be...?

Also...I am planning a GIVEAWAY!!! My next post will have the details. Please pass this on to your friends, post a note in your blog and please, stay tuned.

A Member of Dat Leetle German Band

No buyers remorse here.

I bought these cuties at the flea market. Sounds simple, right? Let's back up. One Sunday, I went with my Dad to the flea market and we were slightly (extremely) discouraged by the lack of vendors. It was a day filled with threats of rain, but the weather forecasts were definitely wrong. I spied a trike with these giant wheels that were rubber, a sliding seat to conform to the riders leg length, and a red metal frame that was simply classic. But, I didn't buy it. I walked by it four times. All the while, hearing Tom's voice say, "Where are you going to store it? Summer is over. We need another toy?" And that is what made me say no.

I regretted it for a week. Kelly (Tom's cousin) was visiting for the weekend and we went the following Sunday to the same flea market. Better weather brings many more vendors. We were pleasantly surprised at the re-birth of the flea market. We found a great lady with boxes of fabric and supplies and some old coat weight quilts. Kelly found a cobra (?) purse that she knew was worth way more than what was asked and an old weaving in white and navy blue. It was beautiful. After dropping our recent purchases at the car, we walked. I found some cars for the boys (not old, but NASCAR cars that I know they would love) and then spotted these gems.

Maybe it was the red frames. Maybe it was the round bellies. Either way, I knew they needed to be mine. BUT, I walked away. Away, but toward the seller with that trike. I just couldn't get it out of my mind. Once I realized it was sold, I went back to my portly men and offered $8 for the pair.

Accepted.

Satisfied.

Now, where to hang them?

p.s. I wish I knew more about them. I tried to look them up, with no luck. If you know a good resource or know anything about them or the illustrator - please let me know. I believe the name is Bernard Hall.

Etsy Challenge

Dear Friends,

At noon today, my blanquilt will be entered into a fun little challenge on this new Etsy Challenge Blog. I am told it will be in the needlework section, so please, take a couple minutes and vote for me!

We had a good weekend (well, not really, trying to be positive). I did get a couple purses made, now they just need some jewels to spice them up. I am going to try to sew a zipper into a felted purse. Depending on the results, this could be WeaverGirlGuz's first giveaway. I mean, if it is free, you can handle a little miss-stitching, right? I need to practice somewhere! I found some of my first felting tries from last fall and cut them up, maybe I can use them for some other little things.

Sunday morning, I went to Antique World's Flea Market with my Dad. It was shocking to see how few tables were out. There were threats of rain all day and thunderstorms in the afternoon,(we got out the backyard pool and were splashing in the sun at 2 pm)so maybe that is the main reason. Any way, having a little "non-buyers remorse". There was an adorable tricycle with big air filled wheels that I think the boys would have loved. It was reasonable, but I thought Tom would be mad that there was one other item we needed to store over the winter so that we could get the cars into the garage. I should have got it and stored it at a friends house in the winter. Still thinking about it...maybe it will be there next weekend. I did find a couple old wooden puzzles for the boys and a couple pins/jewels for some purses. Would have been great if there were more tables. I hope this isn't the beginning of the end of antique/flea markets.

Ending this post with words from the boys.

Big Boy's words: "Mom, every time I look at you, you are making another purse. Why don't you just stop and take a break?"

Little Man's words: "Mom, play with your yarn."