saturday morning vintage

mail exchange project - round 2.

If you missed it the first time, you can find more information on this mail exchange project and the first round of packages on this post.  The creativity continued with the second round of packages!

 

I was really busy during the second round of this mail exchange project and goofed.  I put together my packages and then realized I never took a picture of the contents!  Oops.  Each package had a mini mixed paper journal with a flashcard cover and glassine envelope with ephemera to embellish.  I kept the packaging simple, but wish I had taken a picture because I had some fun with string and liked the final results.  I'll have to play with some more string on a package and share it another time.

 

This charming package came from Jamie of A Pair of Pears.  I love the idea of including a small food item (tea, in this case) and pairing it with a coordinating recipe (for scones, in this case).

 

Emma from Our Paper Shop sent this fun pile of papers.  I will, without question, be copying the handmade fringe / streamers idea!

 

 

Katy from K is for Calligraphy outdid herself with this box full of goodies.  The painted box glows in the dark(!) and came with a "Made in Calif" stamp and vintage postcard from my town.  I'm a sucker for personal touches like those.

 

 

Danni of Oh, Hello Friend used office supplies to package a bunch of fun stationery.  She folded a large Inter-Department envelope in half and sewed around the edges.  Another great idea to try out!

 

Dawn from Cut, Paper, Paste is missing this round because she's busy with a big move.  Awesome inspiration from Dawn will be back for the next (and final) round.

 

Thanks again to all of these sweet and creative women for making checking the mail really, really fun!

 

 

shop update.

[airmail envelopes, vintage postcards, travel journal]

 

[red office supplies, pencils & paint brushes, ephemera collection]

 

[utah pack, new york pack, new jersey pack]

 

[large grab bag, receipt & forms, spring pack]

 

Out of the blue I came up with a goal of reaching 100 products for sale in my shop.  That was last week when my shop had around 60 products.  I was busy this past week making, photographing, and listing.  I'm still not to 100, but did break the 90 mark.  Some of my favorite new additions are the travel journals, state paper packs, and these vintage stamps.  Some past favorites have also been restocked.  Hope you'll stop by whenever you have a free minute or two!

affordable finds.

$5 and Under

[1] ParrottDesignStudio, [2] HeyYoYo, [3] ThePaperedCrown, [4] anythinggoeshere

 

$10 and Under

[1] PinkPinkPeony, [2] ReadyGo, [3] Modred12, [4] portalsandprisms

 

$20 and Under

[1] rougeandwhimsy, [2] BlissfulCASE, [3] LemonSweetJewelry, [4] CoutureByAyca

navigating the flea market.

What?

Sometimes called a swap meet, a flea market is where a bunch of vendors gather to sell their goods.

Who?

The type of vendors and what they have for sale varies greatly from flea market to flea market. Some flea markets focus mainly on discounted new merchandise, while others only allow vintage and antique goods. You’ll also probably come upon plenty of used products from vendors cleaning out their house and garage. Most flea markets have a mix of new, vintage, and used.

Where?

It can be a little difficult to find local flea markets if you’re new to an area or just never been. One of the best websites to locate flea markets in your area is www.keysfleamarkt.com. It lists flea markets by state, along with the approximate number of vendors and type of merchandise available. Also ask around at your favorite thrift store; they may be able to tell you about their favorite flea market. If neither of those works, try checking out your local drive in movie theater or concert venue. These places usually have large parking lots that are ideal for flea markets. All of the flea markets I’ve been to have been held in a parking lot at either a drive in movie theater or concert venue!

When?

Nearly all flea markets are held on the weekend, usually on Sunday. Most start early in the morning (7-8am) and end in the early afternoon (2-3pm). In general you’ll find a better selection if you arrive early. However, some vendors may be less likely to negotiate in the morning. It’s up to you to decide what’s more important – price or selection. Other things to consider when deciding what time to arrive – weather, crowds and parking, and admission price. Some of the more popular flea markets, like the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena, charge more for early admission.

How?

• Come prepared. Unlike a department store, you cannot come back the next day so you need to be ready to purchase on the spot. Bring any important measurements and a small measuring tape. Also consider bringing a paint or color swatch if you’re working with a hard to coordinate color. Most vendors only accept cash, so save up your small bills (which vendors really appreciate!) or stop by the ATM on your way.  Other essentials – a bag to carry your finds, comfy shoes for plenty of walking, and a friend to keep you company! 

• Keep your eyes open and be ready to dig. Shopping at a flea market can be a little overwhelming simply because of the large amount of stuff, and that stuff is often less than organized. Be sure to scan all of the booths, even those that don’t seem to fit your style or what you’re looking for. Be willing to dig through boxes and always check out the sale tables! You’ll have to go through a lot of junk, but you’ll also probably find a treasure or two and at a great price.

• Inspect, and then inspect again. Most vendors don’t allow returns, so make sure to check out the merchandise before making a purchase. Look for any stains, rips, or tears. Check for any missing pieces. Test out any drawers or other moving parts. Something may seem like a good deal until you take a closer look and see it’s about to fall apart!

• Haggle! The flea market is one of the few places it’s appropriate, and even expected, to ask for a lower price. Of course be polite when asking. A vendor is going to be less likely to accept a lower price if you offend them by point out all of the product’s flaws. You’ll have the best luck negotiating a better price if you’re purchasing more than one item or it’s near the end of the day. Nobody likes having to pack up and haul their stuff back home!

Why?
Flea market shopping is not for everyone. You might have to go back a few times before finding what you’re looking for. And when you do find it, it might be at the bottom of a box that was stored in an attic for 30 years and needs a good cleaning. Personally I go to the flea market to pick up unusual and affordable vintage finds, and enjoy spending some time outside at the same time. Perhaps you feel the same way.

 

mail exchange project - round 1.

Checking my mail has become a lot more exciting ever since packages started arriving from a mail exchange I'm participating in with a bunch of really talented women.  The mail exchange project was coordinated by Danni of Oh, Hello Friend.  There are six of us involved and we're exchanging three rounds of fun packages.

There are no rules on what kind of package to send - just something that would make your day to find in your mailbox!  For the first round, I used empty Dennison label boxes.  I filled each with lots of little vintage goodies - stamps, labels, BINGO markers, and game tiles.  I used my typewriter to type out each recipient's name on a red label, added a gold foil starburst and metal number, and tied it all up with some string.  I also used my typewriter to type out each recipient's address and gathered a mix of new and vintage stamps to send of each package!

I forced myself to not open any of the packages I received until all of them had arrived.  My patience paid off and I had a fun afternoon opening and photographing all of the awesome packages!

Danni of Oh, Hello Friend sent an envelope filled with the most wonderful papers - BINGO card, labels, envelopes, and more.  I loved how she finished it off with the brass stencil and gold flower.

This adorable handmade pin came from Jamie of A Pair of Pears.  The sentiment is perfect, and the card it came on was super cute (including the back!).

Who knew wrapping with newspaper and comics could look so neat?  Katy from K is for Calligraphy put together this stunning package that held a notebook made from a vintage book and pretty papers.  For the record, I'm completely jealous of her calligraphy skills.  Amazing.

This collection of cute papers came from Emma of Our Paper Shop.  I always love black and white polka dots and teal!

Dawn from Cut, Paper, Paste shared a bit of her outstanding ephemera collection with each of us.  I spent plenty of time examining each ticket, label, and price tag.

 

Thanks so much to Danni, Jamie, Katy, Emma, and Dawn for the time and genorsity that went into the packages!  I appreciated each and every one of them.  I'll be sharing packages from Round 2 soon!