Hell's Kitchen Flea Market

Over the weekend, my husband and I took a trip to NYC for a friend's wedding.  We decided to go a day early to enjoy the city and luckily, we had time to check out the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market.

From the subway stop, it's a short walk through the Fashion District.

This guy told us we were in the right place.

We got there just as they were setting up so it wasn't very crowded and there was a lot to see.  One vendor was selling hardware like hinges and these beautiful old door locks.

I can't help but notice blue and white items because of my mom's dining room so this miniature tea set caught my eye.

There were lots of clothes like this slip from the turn of the century.

Not nearly as old, but this nightgown and robe also caught my eye.  I actually purchased something similar at the D.C. Big Flea last year and brought it with me to wear in NY.  It's nice sleeping in something pretty. 

The same vendor was selling LOTS of hats!  See that little blue one on the left?  It was my only purchase of the day and plan to wear it to my next tea.

An old suitcase with travel labels ...

There was one booth that seemed particularly busy and I squeezed myself in there to see.  I found this beauty there.  It would have been a nice compliment to my similar tea cups, but I have several creamers and had to remind myself of my lack of storage space for more dishes.

So many pretty things ...

In that same booth were these beautiful tea cups ...

... and stacks of silver trays.

Pretty chandeliers a couple of booths down. 

This cup was really interesting.  It had the zodiac symbols on the dish and some other symbols inside.  Made in England.

Music player of some sort.  As you can see from the price, best left to a serious collector, but it still works!

I had to take a picture of this old phone because it was also pretty pricey and my dad has one without a dial and with a fabric covered cord.  I believe his is from the 20s.

Prints from the 1800s ...

Pin-ups from the 1940s ...

And, just because there's always something that you leave behind and later say "I should have gotten that."  Here it is.  A Star Trek pop-up book from the 70s.  Tom and I loved it but we left it behind. 

After the flea market, we took a break in Bryant Park for a while before heading back to our hotel in Tribeca to get ready for the wedding.

We had a really great time in NYC and at the wedding later that day.  The next day, Mother's Day, I was back with my mom and girls.

I grew up in NY and it's been a while since I've been there. I miss it and I'm sad to leave every time I visit but it was nice getaway. 

Back to reality!

Blue Break

My obsession with blue is well known, but for fall, I was hoping for a change of pace in my dining room.  Last year, I stayed with the pale color palette but this year I wanted to try something different.  In July when I was vacationing in New England, I purchased a couple of aprons.  I just took off the first apron I bought and replaced it with this one which I intended for fall.  This was the starting point.

I stared at it for a couple of days before deciding that I wanted orange curtains.  I had to think about it because I wondered how orange would work with blue walls but a simple google search demonstrated that this color combination does exist and I actually like it. 

Out went the green apples on the buffet and in came the pinecone filled cloche and fall hydrangeas which actually have a reddish hue up close.

I picked up the tablecloth from a vintage linen booth at the D.C. Big Flea over the weekend.  Most of the booth was comprised of the usual white and pastel linens which I love, but I found this one at the bottom of a pile and couldn't leave it behind.  I suspect its not vintage, but the colors were exactly what I wanted and I like the rustic quality of it.  The beeswax candles came from a vendor at another booth. 

 



I'm working on my hallway and finally hung my lanterns.  They look beautiful!  I'm doing a little paint touch-up but I'll be sharing that next along with more flea market finds. 

D.C. Big Flea

I went to the D.C. Big Flea several times last year but hadn't managed to squeeze it into my schedule this year until yesterday.  I got there early and strolled up and down the aisles and picked up a couple of things before my meet-up time with Eddie Ross.  

I apologize for the picture quality.  I was in a hurry to leave in the morning with the usual child-created chaos in my house and I forgot my camera.  My phone is the only reason I have pictures at all.  Also, traveling in a pack of 25 through the crowded aisles, I didn't always have the best vantage point, but hopefully, you get the idea here.  I'm actually glad I managed to capture these photos because it helped me remember what he said.

After checking in, we started at one end stopping at booth by booth. Below was one of the first stops at a crystal and glass booth.  Eddie is holding a large bowl that had a separate pedestal.  He spoke about all the uses for the bowl and the pedestal including using the pedestal separately for a flower arrangement.  What was interesting to me was how he said that so many people go to a department store to buy gifts, but you can find so much more beautiful and interesting items at a place like this. 

Talking about vintage quilts.  Eddie mentioned the current issue of Woman's Day, which he is now a contributor to, having a whole section on vintage quilts.  I need to pick this up!

Here he discussed making vintage scarves into pillows like he's shown on his blog. You would never think you could do something so pretty looking at how the scarves hang here.

He spoke about mixing dishes at a table and how you don't always need to have a perfectly matched set.  Mixing dishes makes it more interesting and less like sitting at a "table at Macy's".  I totally loved all these turkey platters.  So beautiful ...

Eddie spoke here about postcards and old bonds which can be blown up with a photo copier then used as gift wrap and other uses.  There was also a vintage map booth where he mentioned copying a map and using it to wallpaper a ceiling.

Really nice chairs ... Easy to update with paint and new fabric.  I didn't get a photo, but there was also an upholstered chair he discussed.  He said that stripping off the old upholstery and painting it before taking it to the upholsterer saves money.  I definitely need to keep that in mind before I take a chair of my own that needs to be reupholstered. 

My explanation and photos don't do justice to the whole experience.  There was a lot more than I can share here.  I love the flea market and like to go just to find things that catch my eye.  However, it was even more fun touring it with someone who has so much knowledge and experience for a couple of hours.  Eddie was also willing to help hunt for anything anyone in the group was looking for in particular.  I would absolutely do it again if he returns.  If you get the chance to go on one of these trips, I highly recommend it.  And, Eddie and Jaithan are truly the nicest people you'll meet.  I'm really glad I had the opportunity.

Oh, and of course, I'll be sharing the items I picked up shortly!

September Flea Market - Part II

This is my favorite find from my flea market trip on Saturday. A vintage wood and wire birdcage (that still needs a serious cleaning).

When I saw it, I thought it was beautiful, but I'm cheap and the price was more than I'd normally pay for anything like that. I walked away planning to return, but only made it a few feet before I turned around and went back. I have always wanted one. I loved this one and I just couldn't leave it to chance. It still has the perch and water/food trays inside. The paint is chipping quite a bit. I've mentioned before that I love chippy paint, but having little ones that put everything in their mouths I worry about lead. I'm hoping I can scrape off the loose paint and not have to paint it since I love the finish - especially the little blue highlights.

I think the same one is here on eBay for nearly double what I paid (before adding shipping!). That one includes the stand but that's not something I wanted. The tag on mine said it was Moroccan while the one on eBay says its Japanese. Who knows where its really from? What matters to me is that I love how it looks in my living room.

September Flea Market Part I ...

The flea market was about half the size it was the first time I went back in March. I wonder if it always gets smaller and smaller as the year goes on. Anyway, at first, I wondered if I'd find much and didn't see a lot initially. I always have fun looking though. While a lot of the things people sell are things that wouldn't fit in my home, they have such great stuff. I like looking at vintage clothes, hats, chandeliers, purses, tins, dishes, jewelry, furniture, and prints to name a few even though I haven't purchased any of those things in my visits (yet).

One of the first things I came across ... more Crown jars. This was the same person I'd purchased from the last time I was at the flea market, but there were FAR fewer jars this time. I snatched up 4 more at $1.50 each so now I have 6.

I actually bought several books this time around. I've mentioned before how much I love childrens pocket books and I happened to find a Peter Rabbit book from 1935 for $6.

When I first approached that booth and started browsing completely oblivious to what was around me, I overheard "I'm Eddie Ross." I looked up and there he was a few feet away talking to the person running the booth. So fun to see someone so well known in person. He was gone a minute later but he seems so genuine and nice.

I also got a Halloween postcard ($12) and 3 Edgar Allen Poe books ($7 each).

Who doesn't love Edgar Allen Poe? I also loved the black bindings and thought they would not only be great to read but would be nice to have out for Halloween. Interesting thing about the postcard ... In the slot marked Halloween was a marker that said "please ask for Halloween" so I asked the man in the booth. Apparently, they aren't very common so they tend to "walk away". He had one with a European couple that was so beautiful and I really would have loved to buy it, but after my last experience losing a card, I just couldn't do it for $30.

I'll share my favorite purchase later this week!

See more finds over on Southern Hospitality!

We just got back from apple picking ...


Pie tonight!