The First Flea!

Hi! I got an unexpected treat today---the outdoor flea market opened early!
Usually it opens the first weekend of April, but that will be Easter Sunday and Passover so the organizations that sponsor the flea are observing their holidays: no flea. Instead the market opened today! I'd been watching the market website and no date was yet announced, but late last night I had the idea to to try the Lions Club site and there it was---March 29, Opening Day!

crapola under the LIRR train trestle. Yay!

Of course it was still snowing last night. And today when I got up early with Mo the temp was 27* with a 17* windchill. Not very Flea. We went back to sleep. But later it was so sunny and bright, though cold, that I decided to drive over and check things out.
A good dealer turnout!

Even the hot dog man was there.

This dealer had the best treasures by far, I saw so many things I wanted on his tables.

The bright sun made it hard to take photos. He had a wonderful green fishing float.

A shabby , rusty, white painted Eagle, for quilt applique inspiration. Note how his ribbon wraps around his wings and flutters out to the sides! I think he was a doorknocker.

And these cool letters.

A sign with "my name" [my etsy  /eBay seller name] on it!

And he had this big collection of perhaps-vintage chocolate molds! (They were very shiny.[?] ) Really great figures. I didn't get pictures of the hen or the cat or the bunny with a basket cart that I wanted.

Even the tin box with the small molds was great.

They were VERY expensive. And since I hadn't planned ahead I had very little cash. I couldn't afford any of the larger figural molds.

But how could I pass up chocolate hearts? I always buy heart molds, tin or wood, or cooky cutters.

And we haggled a bit so I could bring home a bunny or two.

These are the little molds for foil wrapped chocolates probably. See how shiny they are? i'd hate to pay collector prices if they're recent and I could buy them at the kitchen supply store for .99 cents

outside

inside

I thought this bun had a basket but now I'm gonna guess a bunch of carrots?
Back home I dug out my two partial Easter molds. Both are eggs. A running rabbit and a rooster. They came with a batch of tin cooky cutters, I've had them for years.

So now I have a little collection going!

For now I just put them in a mulberry Staffordshire dish, to enjoy.

In retrospect I should have bought ALL his molds, as besides Easter motifs he had wonderful Santas and a large, standing, 3-D turkey. I think I could have bought them all for about 200.oo, though the man was a bit grumpy [long cold day?] and wasn't very much of a bargainer guy.

I told him maybe next time. Because now I really really want the Santas! Think how cute they'll be on a tiny Christmas tree in my kitchen next winter.

At another booth I bought a few utensils.

A very large scalloped spoon, what I call a mashed potato serving spoon. I'll use it to scoop up my lavender filling for my sachets. (The new batch will be lavender with lemon verbena and bergamot! So springtime-y and sweet!)

And a knife to experiment with, maybe the handle can work for another velvet strawberry pincushion?

Besides the molds: What Didn't I Buy ?[ sometimes my favorite part,lol]:
-a blue and white transferware plate, Bicentennial, flower border with monuments/ buildings and Revolutionary War soldiers marching with an American flag. Oddly with many stars. From 1976, of course.  English.
-And a vintage souvenir plate, pink lustre glazed china with pierced rim and tacky map of Cape Cod! I loved it!
My mother's spirit whispered in my ear, "Absolutely not!"
Then she added, "And don't buy the Land's End or Chico's pink capris either! Grown up women do not wear pink pants!".
(''Maaaa! Not now!")

I had to hustle home because I hadn't made a playdate for Mo. He was miffed. We took a long walk and visited the koi pond. It's been frozen solid, but a patch melted and there they were! The big orange koi, swimming happily under the ice.

Do they, what?--hibernate? I was so happy to see them. Mo was not impressed.

Sooo...whatd'ya think? Get the molds next time? Sell the dupes, extras, and  oddballs on eBay? $$$?

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

Shellseeker

Hello, hello! I hope you had a wonderful week?

It's grey and gloomy here but when I looked out at the beach the other morning I saw---The Invasion of the Giant Trucks had begun.

Yes the local road crews [somewhat prematurely, as we are expecting snow or sleet tomorrow] have removed their overused snowplows and replaced them with their shovel and/ or sand rake blades. All beach grooming must be finished by April 1st when the piping plovers arrive and begin nesting.

I watched the guy who does our beach as he energetically shovelled sand in and out of the dunes. These guys always look like they're having so much fun. They begin at dawn, lights blazing, diesel engines fuming. Shorebirds fluttering in distress.

I suddenly realised that, if I wanted large white clam shells for my shell strings, I better hustle out with my collection bag to stock up. The sand rakes remove all but the tiniest shells and beach treasure. Kinda sad.

I brought home a good haul though. The biggest clams are larger than my hand, maybe 7-8" across.

I didn't find any good lobster pot rope however. And I was appalled to find out at the local marine supply store that ''cordage'' whether nylon, cotton, hemp, or polyester, is very expensive! I'll have to work harder to save what I see on the beach. Often I just pick it up for the recycle bin.

I love making my shell strings! Whelk shells are rare and I only make one a year at the most, but large clamshells are there for the taking after a winter of storms and high tides.

 I am thinking of selling them in my etsy shop.

Yes I know my friends cringe when they're blessed with a shell string gift, but if people will buy those driftwood strings I've seen, who knows?  Usually they hang from the eaves of the house, on my deck, but I bring them indoors in the winter to protect my windows in a gale.

Mo of course found the clams quite interesting.

They come from the beach ocean-washed and scrubbed pristine white by the sand and wind, but they must retain an interesting smell that attracts Mo. He'll gnaw on them like bones if not scolded away.

ribbon reel I see, not a clam after all.
Poor Mo, gets blamed for everything.

Back home my pockets produced useful finds: The first ''cash find'' of the year, a nickel;  a heavy rusty weight for a shell string's end, a purple toy starfish. I also have a little blue boat to use, and lah di dah, an iridescent glass sanddollar.

Drilling and knot tying is a fun break from sewing!

love

lizzy 

gone to the beach