It’s been a mighty long winter, and thinking about going to the season’s first Burlington Antiques Show yesterday made me giddy all last week. How I’ve missed the funky, found, surprise-around-every-corner nature of outdoor vintage markets.
Despite annoying wind and serious mud, it was a great, great show. Laura (my sister) and I are flea market junkies, and my kids are still little enough that I can cart them around in strollers. My brother-in-law, Mike (Laura’s husband) decided to come too (he’s a fool for glassware and random kitsch) and I even convinced my husband, Allen, to come. When I saw the mud and felt the wind, I started to second-guess my choice to bring the kiddies. But it warmed and turned out pretty super-tacular in the end.
The main thing Allen and I were looking for was a new kitchen table. I bought one at the Springfield Antiques Show & Flea Market last year, and I’ve written about it here. As much as I love the 40s/50s metal table, it’s just too narrow (especially now that we have two kids). Allen spotted this fabulous Heywood Wakefield original, and I got that stirring feeling in my gut like this was probably going to be The Table. After checking out its features (it folds down super small, perfect for our kitchen), and doing a little bargaining (I love bargaining), we snatched it up for $200. (You can find the vintage stuff at markets like this one, but the Heywood Wakefield name was a bought, and the current company makes new furniture in the spirit of the vintage stuff).
Despite annoying wind and serious mud, it was a great, great show. Laura (my sister) and I are flea market junkies, and my kids are still little enough that I can cart them around in strollers. My brother-in-law, Mike (Laura’s husband) decided to come too (he’s a fool for glassware and random kitsch) and I even convinced my husband, Allen, to come. When I saw the mud and felt the wind, I started to second-guess my choice to bring the kiddies. But it warmed and turned out pretty super-tacular in the end.
The main thing Allen and I were looking for was a new kitchen table. I bought one at the Springfield Antiques Show & Flea Market last year, and I’ve written about it here. As much as I love the 40s/50s metal table, it’s just too narrow (especially now that we have two kids). Allen spotted this fabulous Heywood Wakefield original, and I got that stirring feeling in my gut like this was probably going to be The Table. After checking out its features (it folds down super small, perfect for our kitchen), and doing a little bargaining (I love bargaining), we snatched it up for $200. (You can find the vintage stuff at markets like this one, but the Heywood Wakefield name was a bought, and the current company makes new furniture in the spirit of the vintage stuff).
We should have bought this super cool mid-century chair too. Ah well.
I was also searching for pretty pieces of vintage china to make a three-tiered serving piece I saw on the back page of ReadyMade from a few months ago (I actually got the idea sometime around 4 am on Sunday morning, when I was up with a miserable, teething Georgia). Various plates and pieces charmed me, but I wound up opting for cheap, and got two lovely plates for $2 each (you can one--the middle bottom one with blue around the edges), plus one of the candlesticks to use as a spacer. Just need one more plate and one more candlestick.
At another booth, I found a couple of feedsacks, as well as this random oil painting from the 80s ($50 for all of it). It’s signed by an artist, but not by anyone famous. I’ve decided the story is that the artist was probably a mom who wanted to start painting and took some art classes at the local studio once her kids were in school, and she painted all the scenes that had been trapped in her head. I just couldn’t walk away from it. I think I’m going to hang it in my bedroom. (I forgot to take a pic of it at the market, so I just took one outside now.)
I bought the two pink ones.
Laura and I also bought a cart on wheels (we always see people wheeling these carts around and just happened to see one at the exact right moment that we were both thinking we needed one). $18 well spent (sort of wish I had bought the quilt that was sitting on it now).
Can I just say that I can’t believe how well Max and Georgia behaved the entire time? Allen and I really are lucky to have such portable kiddos.
The child will NOT leave shoes on.
Speaking of kiddos, Max could really us this . . .
Although he'd probably rather have these . . .
I already bought a bunch of outdoor furniture at Springfield a few years ago. But man, I was definitely tempted by the goodies there. Fun stuff for the garden, too.
Lots of antique sewing tables, accessories, and quilts . . .
And, of course, lovely kitsch everywhere. The kitsch is what makes it, truly.
Our group, taking a quick break.
I’m already thinking about coming back next month, and about Springfield! I still need a good bench for the garden and a small table that can function as an art table for the kids. And maybe some vintage toys that aren’t too expensive (and don’t look too hazardous for a toddler who still wants to put everything in his mouth). And that other plate and candlestick for my 3-tiered masterpiece. And pretty much whatever else calls to me
Oh, and we’ve already eaten our first meal at the new table. I love that hundreds of meals have probably been enjoyed at this table. Discussions, stories, arguments, jokes, tears, big announcements—they’re all part of our table’s history.
That’s why I love vintage.
Oh, and we’ve already eaten our first meal at the new table. I love that hundreds of meals have probably been enjoyed at this table. Discussions, stories, arguments, jokes, tears, big announcements—they’re all part of our table’s history.
That’s why I love vintage.
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