I’m really going to talk your ears off this week. I have Kane County flea market goodies to show off today. Then Thursday I’ll be posting about some Japanese sewing (and food) that I’ve gone gaga over. For Friday I’ll show you the 2 dozen fabric brooches I made up while playing around over the weekend with tips on how ot make them, and I’m also writing a post on some yarn fabric creations I’m playing around with. And as SOON as Wisconsin gives me some sunshine, I’ll photo shoot the new studio since it’s looking pretty good these days. (Even the husband came in last night to gush on how well the room is turning out)
I just love scary baby dolls. There’s something poignant about them.
But on with today’s post…The Kane County Flea Market in St. Charles, Illinois is said to be one of the larger flea markets that still specializes in antiques and collectibles. I’ve been staying away from thrift stores just to save my money for Kane County. They are open once a month from March through December, so this was the first market of the year.
It was SUPER crowded when we got there around 1:00 PM (an hour after they opened). Shoulder to shoulder people. It’s like those termite swarms in cartoons!! They come in, buy all the good stuff, then they’re gone a couple hours later and the place is empty. So I couldn’t take many photos because of the crowds. I managed to get a few booths and their displays.
Vintage purses and home decorating…
I liked these wooden table legs on the ground, but they were $15 each! Crazy high prices for junk.
Of course there are booths where people fix up vintage and junk, then sell it all pretty and shabby chic like this booth…(that’s me wearing the hat in the mirror taking the photo, kinda neat how that turned out.)
Here’s an old spinning wheel which I think was marked at $65, so you could haggle it cheaper. I want to learn spinning fibers like my sister Lynda. Or I would like to have this just sitting around, looking cool in my house. Then I could say “why yes, I am a fiber artist” and people would be all “wow, that’s so cool”
There was really only one booth that snagged my attention and I bought most of my stuff from her. She had vintage sewing items, linens, and other girly home economics things (like vintage tupperware).
So let’s finally get to the part about what I bought to take home with me. There are about 9 yards of lace and trim here, along with a rhinestone buckle (maybe for that rhinestone cowgirl outfit I dream of?)
More wooden spools that I like to display in jars around my studio. I think I’m done collecting these now. I have enough.
I loved this metal belt and thought it would be better taken apart so I can use the links for other projects.
More vintage buttons, this time with some rhinestones and some rust. Those rusty buttons are very crusty curmudgeons. You should hear the things they said to me when I took this photo. Curmudgeons, indeed.
And of course I bought some fabric-y stuff. A little bit of vintage pink cottons…
A couple of flour sacks and a salt sack. In all my thrifting I never find this stuff, but have always wanted to play with these textiles in a fabric collage or incorporate them into a larger project.
Speaking of kitchen things, my last 2 treasures were vintage aprons. There is a sheer white, dainty one…
And this purple, white and green apron with these ladies printed on it. The ladies caught my eye and I knew I needed this for something, someday.
And that winds down my treasure hunting at the Kane County Flea Market. I spent around $40 on merchandise which seemed a little higher than what I usually pay at thrift stores and antique malls, but it was also stuff I don’t usually find very easily.
After we left the flea market, my daughter and I stopped at the Mitsuwa Japanese mega-market in Arlington Height, IL for some exotic groceries. I got more than groceries, I discovered Japanese sewing magazines! But you’ll have to check back tomorrow for that blog post. (I’m so excited about the Japanese stuff! My voice gets all high pitched when I talk about it and the dog comes running like I’ve turned into some high pitch dog whistle or something. My family is making fun of me.)
March 10th, 2010 at 11:01 am
Does the Japanese market have books? On embroidery?
The box of buttons is great. I like the colored plastic ones best. We really like the same sorts of things, because that booth with the vintage linens would have been a favortie for me as well. The bag of colorful crochet cotton would have gone home with me!
The wheel is a castle style. You’d just have to try it out, but $65 for a working wheel is a really good deal. The crocks & green spools are great, too. It looks like a really fun place.
March 10th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
I liked your imaginary conversation about being a fiber artist. My first job was apprenticing for a felted wool hatmaker – this is probably the point where “fiber artist” entered my vocabulary.
We can dream, can’t we?
: )
March 11th, 2010 at 9:28 am
Hi Charissa,
That was One of my many imaginary conversations, which is why I blog
Wool hat felting seems complicated, lots of expensive equipment involved in that, right?
March 11th, 2010 at 11:10 am
This is good. Just yesterday I was telling one of my girlfriends that I need to plan a trip up to see you next year if possible so that we can go to the big quilt show in Chicago (it’s in April). If the timing is right we could take in the flea market while I’m there! 8:-)
March 12th, 2010 at 12:56 am
Oh, you are a woman after my own heart. Thanks for sharing.
March 13th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Brenda – even if the quilt show is not the first weekend of April for Kane county, there is a weekly flea market near the airport in Rosemont – same location as the quilt show, and they have decent stuff from what I hear.
March 26th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Oh…in that lace you have two kinds that are no longer made that are used in vintage tatting patterns! And of course my mind is going blank but I have a bit of the kind on the left that someone gave me. I want some of what is on the right….I think it is called “turtle braid”. Oh, the one on the left is coronet cord/braid.(spelling might be wrong) Do you know how hard those are to find these days???? Lucky you! I like the buttons and aprons too. Hmmmm…over 3 hours to get there….it would have to be an overnight road trip! What fun though!