As promised, here are some of the rest of the shots of the Long Beach Fleamarket. There is so much to see! If you have never, or rarely, been to any kind of fleamarket, please don't buy anything right away if it's really expensive. (Unless it's to die for, you LOVE it, and you've always wanted one!) There are a lot of wonderful looking items out there, at various price points. Once you have looked around, or been to a few fleamarkets, you will know what I mean. You will develop a "certain sense" about things. Some things are too good to be true.
Like this great looking column. Looks fabulous. The vendor told me it was antique, from France. It was pretty easy to see, though, that it was made not too long ago, of composite. Those same vendors that are so hard working, and get up before it's human to do so, well, some of them aren't exactly known for a) telling the truth or b) knowing about the things they sell. Most vendors are honest, knowlegeable and delight in sharing what they know about their wares. There are a few whose noses grow as the day gets longer. But you will be able to tell who those are.
I loved these Seltzer Bottles! For some reason I didn't buy any, probably because I was too busy taking the perfect shot for all of you. :) Or maybe they were priced way too high. Either way, there are many people who collect these. This is how you used to make "Egg Cream Soda's" long ago. They are a great decorative item, and actually quite avidly collected.
Once in awhile you can find beautifully hand~made things at a flea market. Like in this booth, this girl has the prettiest, well~made Lavender Sachets. They are just outstandingly beautiful, and she does a great display, too!
Here is one of the things I love, but try not to buy. Silver. This dealer always shows me if she has a piece of wonderful, unusual Silver for me. I have a lot. That's the only reason I don't buy it. These days, it has to be Victorian, and really, really gorgeous for me to plunk down any cash for Silver. We are more than well~equipped chez moi in the Silver Department. So much so, that some of my pieces have to be released from their storage to be used in different ways.
I really loved these huge Urns. But they were way too expensive, even for this "oh, it's for my business" girl. (okay, so once in a while I use that as an excuse!) They are not all that old. This is one area that is very dicey, Garden Antiques. I would only buy things like this from a vendor I trusted, and respected, like this dealer. It's very easy to stick a pair of newish iron Urns in the back yard for a few months, let them rust a bit, and call them "antique"...
I still love all the White Painted Furniture. This piece with the wire fronts was so very cute, loved the metal topped little table on the left, too. But I don't have room, and don't sell that, so pass.
More of those fabulous Bottles. Hopefully next time this vendor will be there, these really are amazingly wonderful, and pretty darn cheap at $3.00 to $5.00 each.
These are Vintage Fenton Perfume Bottles. They are very pretty. I rarely buy glass, although I did buy a pair of Pink Perfume Bottles, which I will show you in a later post. I didn't buy any of these either. pass. They were in perfect condition, though, and well priced.
A sweet Portrait Cabinet Plate. This was an "almost" ~ she is quite beautiful. Priced to sell, but I passed her up any way. The minute I put her down, someone else took her, so she has a new home, don't worry!
These Glass Pulls are mostly new. But look at those candy colors! If you have a dresser or cabinets to dress up, this is the place to look for these vintage or vintage looking drawer and door pulls. (write how many you need in that little notebook!)
There are boxes and boxes of serious Rhinestone Bling here. Pins, Bracelets, Earrings, you name it. I would love to sift through these one time, but my lovely assistant, Mr. FGH, gets a glazed and panicked look in his eyes when I stop here. So I don't.
Some vendors specialize in a theme. Like Roses ~ my favorite. This vendor has everything from Rose Dishes, to Rose Hankies to Rose Books. Love her booth. Didn't buy anything this time.
I also love the booths that sort of don't have a theme. Like this one. This vendor sets up an interesting display each month, using whatever colors and things she has. One month she may have primary colors, like this above, the next month she might bring all pastels. I probably should have asked about the large metal basket, but I think I might still have one or two in storage. (hoping Mr. FGH doesn't read this!)
Loved these vintage Metal Lanterns, how great would these be on posts in your garden? Not too old, probably mid-century, and I would replace that gold glass, but these would make a great statement. Even though they are not too old, expect to pay a bit for these, as they are huge. Totally worth it if you have "the vision."
Linens are in abundance at all flea markets. I look for drop~dead gorgeous, and there can't be any holes, or stains. A tiny spot is okay, if the cloth is really old, or the colors and theme are extremely desirable. (Think Pink Roses, Barkcloth, Cherries, Pansies etc.)
There were quite a few Mannequins. These are all pretty new, so I didn't buy any. But if you wanted to paint them, any one of these girls would be quite lovely, and you should be able to buy one for under $50.00.
Vintage Paper Nut Cups. Sigh. This is one of my ultimate weaknesses. Vintage and Antique Paper. If there had been more of the Pink ones, they would be piled up on my desk in my office, right now. Yellow is not a color I can sell, or love, personally. It is not in my color "palette"~ that is one thing that is very helpful, to know what your color palette is. This rules out many wonderful things that you want to, but should not, buy.
These vintage French Style Chairs are in my color pallete. But I don't need them, and they would need extensive repair and upholstery. If I needed them, I would have bought them, though. They were amazingly comfortable!
These Wicker Purses were so cute! If the fruits were Velvet instead of Plastic, they might have gone home with me. Or if they were Red and Pink Velvet Strawberries. But not Plastic. Sorry.
I took this photo to show how savvy this vendor is! It was a boiling hot day. He sold inexpensive Hats and Parasols. By the time I left a few hours later, almost all the hats and quite a few parasols had sold. :)
I love vintage Religous Artifacts. This dealer always has a bunch from Mexico. Once in a while he has some real antique ones. This is an area of collecting (and buying) very much like the Garden Antiques. You have to either love it, or know what it is to pay the big bucks. This dealer has fair prices, and he will tell you truthfully about each item, and I always stop in to see what's new.
A sweet Chair, loved the Pink Petit Point upholstery. My guess is no one bought her yet by the time I took her photo because she is rather "angular", and those tacks. Poor thing, she can't help it she is not more curvy. Hope someone still loved her enough to take her home.
ack! More of that Vintage Ephemera (paper) I love. Great Brides and Grooms, mid-century, so not old enough for me, but very very cute! If I were having any kind of Wedding Shower this year I would have bought these.
There are racks and racks of Vintage Clothes. I pulled this vintage 1950's Prom Dress out of the rack to take her photo. She is still amazing, no? Every single Light Blue Tulle piece was in place. Love this! But I already have a Lavender one hanging off a peg rack in my office. So had to pass. Not without a twinge, though.
A few spaces I passed, but liked enough to share with you. I didn't even really give more than a flash~look to these, although this vendor artfully displayed everything. Not really my palette, though, and not old enough.
These vintage Metal Chairs are not even close to anything I want, buy or usually am drawn to. But I loved these! I am sure that these were snapped up by a young couple who are really into Mid-Century for their home.
A pair of large Cherubs. Cherubs are one of things on my "always" list, but these, though cute, are not old enough, and composite. (Okay, I'll admit it, I'm a cherub snob) I bet these were sold though, because if you wanted to paint these white, or not, they make a great statement in your home or garden.
Okay, that's it for today. Next time, I'll show off a few things I bought. In the meantime, I wish you a very happy July 4th weekend! I'm going to be on a backyard vacation for the next few days.
ps. I met four people who read this blog last Sunday. It's so fun to meet all of you! :)
