Holiday mode

So since i've gotten home i have unpacked everything, cleaned house and then moved onto holiday stuff. I've got a show coming up next month in New York, Baubles and Bling, so i've been busy working on a few things for that. I've got plenty of jewelry in stock since i am horrible about listing it on etsy (one of these days!), so i've been making a few holiday themed projects. I've been making wreaths using some of the vintage items that i have been collecting for the past few years. So besides that, it's been pretty quiet around here.This weekend, Dillon, his girlfriend, Alana and I are going to the Zombie Walk in Asbury Park. I shall be dressing up as Marilyn Monroe zombie. Cross fingers for warm weather and NO rain! and of course, i shall post pictures of the event, which should be really, really interesting and cool. They are going for the Guiness World Record for the most zombies, so it'll be lots of fun!

after the show is over (Nov. 18th), whatever i didn't sell will be listed in my etsy shoppe.
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also, don't forget about my blog hop that is coming up soon. here are the details from the original post which can be found here:





I wasn't going to introduce the hop til Nov. 1, but decided to do it now for a few reasons. first of all, as i said, top hats are hard to find. if you do come across one that fits you and it is under $60 then snatch it up! (if you see one antiquing, flea market, etc.) But what i was thinking, with Halloween right around the corner, costume top hats are going to be plentiful and using one for the hop is totally acceptable. i've been looking at stores the last few days just to get an idea and i've seen some super inexpensive plastic ones for a few bucks, to a nicer one that was $20. so by letting you know about it now, the better chances you have of finding something to use.

you can also look online, ebay, etsy, costume shops, etc. i've been researching online as well and they are out there. i saw one just yesterday on etsy for $35 (gone today though!) there are some newer ones on ebay for "buy it now" at not so bad prices ($45 ish)- but again, you are welcome to use a costume top hat.

The unveiling, or actual hop, will be Friday, Dec. 3rd ; that gives you 2 months to get ready! i will have a linky set up that morning where you can come to my blog and add your link to your post. i'm doing it that way because it'll be easier not to have to remember if i've emailed you that you are signed up, etc. so the responsibility is up to you to remember to come back and link up. i've told so many people about this hop, so i am hoping it will be a good one and fun! feel free to leave a comment here though, so i can gauge the interest.

Now, the best part! I will be picking a winner for the best in show (prize to be announced later) - so decorate your hats, go over the top, use your imagination and have fun. on your post, i'd really, really like it you also showed us a picture of you in your hats, which is going to help me in the judging. Please ladies, don't be shy, be proud and model your hat! i too will be playing along and decorating another hat - the ideas are flying! think feathers, think fou fou, think dolls, think outlandish!

I will keep posting reminders about the hop and there is a button you can grab for your blog to help remind you. feel free to blog about the hop and get the interest going!

black friday!

i'll be leaving early in the morning and heading over to Summerhouse for black friday. just wanted to post these pictures of my soldered holiday ornaments that i made using vintage images off of holiday cards found at the flea market this year. there's one i really love, so might not be able to sell it! hope you had a lovely day and looking forward to hearing what you did (if anything) on black friday!

it's a beautiful fall day, let's go to the flea market!

I get so much feedback on my blog when i go to the flea market. i hear from you that your flea markets are non existent, sparse, lame, too expensive or plundered. so i think vicariously, it is fun to see what i find at my flea markets. not being a Jersey native, i often complain about living in this state, but i have to secretly confess, that if i were to move out of NJ, i would miss my flea markets! so come along with me today as we go to my favorite junky flea market, Collingswood. to visually get a picture of Collingswood, I like to quote my friend, Steve, a vendor, who told me that he only likes to sell at Collingswood in complete desperation or (you'll love this), when he needs to "flush the toilet". it's kind of gritty, dirty and has some seriously interesting characters. it took me awhile to get comfortable coming here. i made my husband go with me for the longest time as the men tended to creep me out. Now that i am getting to know some of them and am a more recognizable face, i will go alone and not have a thought about it. sit back and enjoy as i decided to post individual pictures in stead of the collage format.
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here's some of the things i look at every time i drive to the flea market.



this lovely row of trees. it has been fun to watch them grow and change with the seasons.
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one of many corn fields in my area. they are drying up now, their summer jobs of supplying delicious "jersey corn" to us has come to an end. for now they will feed the birds until the first frost comes.

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our local fresh farmer's market; a dying breed.
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the Canadian geese flying around. they are noisy and annoying; yet when you see them flying like this in their vast numbers, honking away, it takes my breath away. i wonder if they are psyched to be heading to a warmer climate or what?

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the infamous sign for Collingswood. this is the new and improved sign. not sure the image of the gentleman got any better. he looks like a cross between farmer john an an alien with a potatoe face.

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let's talk about "flea market attire" during winter hours. it is COLD and WINDY at Collingswood! got your checklist?



here's my stay warm uniform: sensible shoes, warm socks and leg warmers, check!
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cute shopping cart to hold wares, check! got this one at Marshall's for $19.99. (give up the notion that you can carry it all, because you never know what you will find and it helps prevent constants trips back and forth to the car. (record set this summer of making my husband cart stuff to the car - 6 times!)
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warm pair of gloves, check! the hands don't work well doling out cash when they are frozen!

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cool hat, very long scarf to wrap around neck and face, over sized sunglasses, chapstick and cute coat (from Daffy's, NYC!) under coat, yet another lightweight zippered nylon jacket, check! (attitude byob!) also, carry a purse that you can wear across your chest -easier access to the $ and keeps your hand free.
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CAST OF CHARACTERS:



get to know your vendors, check! this is Phillip - he knows i like working with costume jewelry, so he'll bring out stuff for me to see. he also plays Irish music and tells really bad jokes, but we love him. there is a hierarchy to these guys selling at the flea market. Phillip is on the higher end of the spectrum and i love going through his stuff. other characters a bit lower on the chain include: Dependable Don, Vinnie & John, Vic and a few of the other junk guys that i haven't quite wanted to ask their names yet (but jeff and i have nicknames for)!

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Collingswood wares

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LOVE these!
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Oh, look who i spy? it's Joanna (Summerhouse girls from Country Living Fair and one of her sons). Naively i think maybe her mom, Kathe, isn't there and i ask, "where is your mom?"
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Oh there she is! she immediately pulls out a cool find, which she knows i will appreciate (we are kindred souls) - old doll body parts!
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down what i call, "Junk Alley" - Dependable Don's terrority..... this is a "digger's delight". be prepared to scrounge through disgusting boxes which are sometimes really wet from sitting out in the rain. (gross). sometimes he has a helper named "Mikey" who jeff and i have nicknamed, "Kid Rock" (strong resemblance!). recently i found that Kid and i both collect Fedora hats. who knew we'd have so much in common. sadly, Kid was off today because a pic of it him would have been cool with his rockin 80's glasses and stringy, long, blonde hair!
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as seen around Collingswood - an oversized Gumby doll - i got that "look" from the vendor when i asked her if i could take this picture.... 'nuf said about her!

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remember my empty shopping cart when i began? well, i scored big in Dependable Don's section with a bunch of vintage Christmas stuff (and some vintage Easter) i love that stuff and am buying it all up. what for? not sure yet! wait tell i tell you what he charged me for all that stuff.
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this was what i got from Phillip
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loot of vintage Christmas, Easter and super cool vintage, NEVER USED cosmetic case - wait for it, wait for it, wait for it - $5! (and i didn't even post all the pictures!)
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and how about these? are they absolutely the bomb? vintage dance/costume attire for a little girl -so sweet. the detail and materials used are unbelievable. how much were these beauties? now don't be mad, but i took them from the FREE table.