American Flea Market

                                  American Flea Market

Whoever said money can't buy happiness 

simply didn't know where to go shopping.  ~Bo Derek

    

     Albert Lafarge wrote that one of the first American flea markets began in 1873 on the Monday Trade Days in Canton, Texas.  The market still thrives today, attracting vendors selling new merchandise, art, funky junk, vintage and more.  It's a buyers paradise!  
    After moving to Texas, I was fortunate to experience a Monday trade day and wow was I surprised.  There were hundreds of booths.  I mean hundreds.  Why I was wearing cowboy boots, i'll never know.  I could barely get through half the market.  Tired soles lead me to a lemonade stand and there I sat.  Without a purchase in hand I vowed to return.

    I wasn't ready to give up.  I tried my luck at another popular venue in Fort Worth.  The Saturday and Sunday flea market in downtown.  The market is set in cattle barn #1 at the Will Rogers Center.  It is on a much smaller scale, with just a few rows of vendors.  They offer jewelry, vintage toys, junk and old dolls, which happens to be my daughter's favorite stuff.  There are plenty of doo-dads for everyone. 

    With popular shows like American Pickers and Antique Road Show, you can't help but want in on a good deal.  With the new trend of repursing vintage stuff, a flea market is a great place to start without braking the bank.  Happy Picking!

Camera Obscura

Camera Obscura

"Often while traveling with a camera we arrive just as the sun slips over the horizon of a moment too late to expose film, only time enough to expose our hearts."-Minor White

     

     When I discovered this darling Brownie Holiday Flash camera at an estate sale, I couldn't resist paying a couple bucks for it. I thought it would make a nice addition to my etsy shop, but then after holding this rare beauty in my hands, well I couldn't part with it.  The collector in me just wouldn't let it go!  
      It is now nestled atop some old books and knickknacks on a shelf collecting dust, but not for long.  I am so excited to purchase a roll of 127 film and take a couple shots.  If only I could find a frozen roll of film for this camera that someone may have forgotten about!  Unfortunately, the film was discontinued about ten years ago and finding a roll of film for sale is rare.    

     

     Kodak introduced the Holiday Flash in 1952 and discontinued the model in 1962.  I can't image why?  Back in the day, this camera cost $5.00.  I just love it.  The size is so compact, light weight and frankly darn cute. 
     There is nothing to compare the feeling you get when you load a roll of film in a camera, advancing it and then clicking the shutter.   The anticipation of not knowing whether you captured the perfect shot; well that is a magical moment.  Our modern day digital cameras offer us instant gratification, but there is nothing like a little vintage to remind us how we got here!  This little brownie beauty is staying with me.  I'm counting on a roll of 127 film to magically appear!

Nostalgia

Nostalgia

     For many of us, we are drawn to vintage things because it reminds us of the past.  There is a bit of nostalgia that grabs hold of you and won't let go.  You can't live with out that piece of jewelry, or maybe it's a similar painting your grandmother had.  Seeing the object triggers a memory and you fall in love with it.  For a collector, there lies one of the beauties in collecting.  Walter Benjamin once said,

“Every passion borders on the chaotic, but the collector's passion borders on the chaos of memories.”

― Walter Benjamin 

This chaos of memory that Benjamin talked about may hold true for a vintage collector.  For myself it does.  I often fall in love with something "kitsch" because it conjures a childhood memory and with it comes a desire to acquire the object.  Now, Walter Benjamin may not have meant for his chaos to be expressed as a desire to acquire something based on one's memory, but for the sake of this blog post I will leave it as such.  

Which brings me to the topic of  my post.  Today, I celebrate my 40th birthday.  A celebration so epic that it comes with a whole lot of passion, chaos and well baggage.  With all my personal baggage comes forth the beauty of my collection.  Each of the pieces I am sharing with you today have been given to me as a birthday gift.

My husband just gave me this for my 40^th. This painting is by an unknown artist Reynold.  I know what you’re thinking; it's a Lee Reynolds!  Sadly, it’s not.  I absolutely love it anyway.  The simplicity of the birds against the chaotic background of texture drew me right in.  It measures 41"x 41" in a thick teak frame.  This painting was purchased in Austin Texas. 

This is my first piece of mid century art.  I purchased it in San Diego several years ago.   This is a lovely Jere 69' enamel and metal wall sculpture.  Need I say more..

Lastly, this is a striking woven wall hanging with a gorgeous hand painted tree.  It measures 62" long.  If only you could see in in person.  This painting is as stunning as it is big.  There is something really magical about the movement of the tree that the artist was able to capture.  The artist is unknown.  It was purchased in San Diego.  

Many thanks for those of you that check out my blog today.  May you have as much passion in collecting mid century art and furniture as I do.  Don't forget to "Top off your day with a little vintage".