Father's Day Flea Market

When you can't buy at a flea market, the next best thing is to sell at a flea market. My girlfriend Marie owns a darling framing shop here in Napa and she is also a very accomplished paper design, collage, mixed media artist. With the encouragement of her friends she is now holding classes to teach her paper art skills at the shop. She will also host other artists who will teach classes on various topics in the coming summer months. To help get the word out about her new endeavor she held a flea market in the front of her store with vendors who share her love for what I call "its and bits". I snapped a few pictures of the early morning set up but things literally "heated up" and the camera never came out again. We had such a good time Marie has planned to hold the market again in September. Enjoy ...

These are such darling small "artist packs" that one of the ladies puts together for her mixed media classes.

Another vendor was a costume designer for the ice follies and had some wonderful vintage costumes and dresses at her booth.

Setting up early in the morning, before the heat wave.

Marie's shop sign.  She is located on Main street in downtown Napa

Lots of cool loot and collectables in this booth.

Ice capades fringed gloves.  They were among many wonderfully trimmed costume items.  There were too many fabulous things to choose from

We had a great time and called it quits a little early.  It was 96 degrees and we were all melting and in need of a cold beer.  If you would like more information about Marie's classes sign up for the email and you will receive her class announcements. 

Thanks again for visiting and remember ... things don't have to be perfect to be perfect.

Mary Jane

Random Shots Of Amsterdam

My husband has a job that takes him to all sorts of wonderful places, Amsterdam being one of them.  I have not been to Amsterdam in a million years but I do remember how much I loved it and the people who live there.  I did not get to go on this trip with my husband but he was dutiful in taking pictures of the places he knows I would have spent all day in ... next time

Everyone in Amsterdam rides a bike.  There are bike racks and parking garages just for bicycles everywhere . This was a store my husband stumbled upon on one of his bike trips around the city.  Look at that stunning wall of mirrors.  Just beautiful.

What else would you expect in Amsterdam other than a world class bulb market. 

This picture was taken at the Rembrandt House Museum where Rembrandt lived and painted for nearly twenty years. It is now a museum. Rembrandt purchased the house in 1639 and lived there until he went bankrupt in 1656, when all his belongings were auctioned. Thanks to the detailed inventory and catalogue for the auction, and also some drawings by Rembrandt, the dutch have an unusually good idea of the contents, which has allowed the museum to reconstruct the appearance of the rooms with similar period items.

And of course what a wonderful find ... a record / antique store.  I think this is just a kick in the pants, a little something for everyone.

The houses in Amsterdam are taxed according to the square footage of the footprint of the home so the Dutch built up, not out.  The stairwells and doorways are so narrow each house is equiped with a hook on the exterior of the home and furniture is "hoisted" into the homes.  If you look at the rooftops of each house in this photo you will see the "house hook".  Crazy.

Even the bottled water has a certain flair.  I'm going next time if for nothing else just so I can say I drank some "Eaulala".

Thanks for having a look at Amsterdam with me.

Cheers,

Mary Jane

Flea Market Etiquette

I still have a hard time sleeping the night before a big flea market outing.  With the car gassed up, my sunscreen on, cash in hand and a song in my heart, I head down the highway to "The Point" antiques and collectibles faire in Alameda. One of the best things about going to the same flea market year after year is that you get to know the vendors, their families and after a while you find you have become a part of their lives.  I visited one of my gal pals, Terri at her booth on Sunday only to find she was distraught over the "one that got away" and in this case it was a boat, not a fish !!! Here is a picture of the great piece that slipped through her fingers ...

After a few consoling words from me, Terri and I decided we needed to write a flea market etiquette handbook since the woman that bought this beauty out from under her clearly did not understand how things work at the market. As we veterans know, if you are interested in a piece early in the morning, buy it, don't stand around and "think it over" ... put your money on the table, make it clear the piece is sold and that you are the rightful owner.  One thing I have found helpful is to bring those red "SOLD" tags to the market that have your name and phone number written on them prior to arriving so you can pay for your purchase, tag it and move on. Please let me know if you have any helpful hints for flea market etiquette, I would love to hear them. Sorry Terri, there is another boat waiting for you somewhere, I just know it.

Here are some pictures from other vendors at the market.  I also believe it is a polite gesture to ask a vendor's permission to take photos of their booth before you start snapping away.  I have yet to be denied, some will ask for a business card but most will not and are flattered you like their "store" enough to want to take photos.  If you have a card, leave one and tell them to look for their space in blogosphere.

The following three photos are of my good freind Joslyn's booth.  She is a wizard when it comes to taking vintage fabrics and turning them into true works of art.  This is a girly girls booth, not to be missed.

One of the other things that is so wonderful about the flea market is how easy it is to strike up a conversation with new people.  The following photos are from a booth that is put together by two cousins.  Not only are the girls adorable, their booth is a testament to their passion for their craft. 

The apron on the mannequin is one of their original creations and I am sorry I did not get a picture of the girls with them on ... just darling.  Next time ...  They have a kitschy store name as well, "just cuz creations", does it get much cuter than that?  Good job ladies !!

Here are some other random shots taken along the way.  Enjoy ...

Always remember, things don't have to be perfect to be perfect.

Mary Jane