The Elkhorn Flea Market

In my opinion, there are few flea market experiences that surpass the Elkhorn Flea Market. I am a bit partial since I grew up in Elkhorn, but I have found that this is one of the best flea markets in the country for discovering hidden gems and priced-to-sell finds. It might not be as beautifully curated as Junk Bonanza (by the way, I'm going in September, so stay tuned!), but the digging and the searching always pays off.

One of my favorite booths made an appearance at this month's flea market. The seller finds all sorts of, what he refers to as, "doo-dads," and puts them out on a table for perusal. I love to buy up the pieces for my vintage crafting creations, and I think I easily spent an hour sifting through a pile of tiny treasures.

A couple of my other favorite booths were there as well, including ChiPPy-SHaBBy, which has a plethora of crystal chandeliers and well-loved pieces of furniture, and BlackByrd Primitives, a beautifully-curated booth filled with farmhouse finds.

I also managed to score a gorgeous little sofa table for only $50 (yay, me!). No library card catalog, though. My mother has begun referring to this elusive piece of furniture as my "unicorn."

There were plenty of beautiful things I could've taken home with me, but I settled on the table, the "doo-dads," a globe to cover in chalkboard paint, and a few objects to create vignettes with. If you live in the Midwest, the Elkhorn Flea Market is a junker's must-do.

My table (the find of the day!) along with my globe that I covered in chalkboard paint and a few small items: a number from a baseball scoreboard, a rusty spring, and a silver vase filled with feathered darts.

My "doo-dads" for a wreath I'm going to make.

What's New?

I may be awesome at many things in life, but blogging regularly isn't one of them. I recently thought to myself, What would motivate me to blog more? I thought about this as I wandered around antique stores. And flea markets. And garage sales. And then I had an epiphany.

My blog should focus on what I truly love, the thing that encompasses most of my free time...vintage. Amazing finds, recommendations of places to shop, and photos of treasures I've discovered. You'll be able to join me on my quests, and I'll be writing about a topic that makes me happy.

Although my random musings were pretty great, I have a feeling you'll enjoy my vintage adventures even more. So, on that note, I'd like to talk about a decent antique store I visited today, Originals Mall of Antiques in Oshkosh, Wis. It's a hop, skip, and a jump from my alma mater, Ripon College, and I used to frequent this place in my college days. I even bought a dress for a formal from there.

A little digging was in order, but the finds were worth it. A lot of great painted vintage furniture, and an outdoor area filled with rusted treasures. I particularly loved an old suitcase covered in stickers, perhaps from the 1940's, and a rhinestone tiara that would look perfect atop a ceramic bust. Or, you know, on my head.

Next weekend...Elkhorn Flea Market!