Since shopping has been so bad lately (see my last post if you want to read more of me whining and crying about it, because really, why wouldn’t you?), I decided to make the 45 minute trip out to the Springfield Extravaganza Antique Show & Flea Market. I went on Sunday, hoping to score some last day deals.
First off I have to say, I am a terrible blogger – I was so focused on finding STUFF that I never stopped to take any photos. I was running all over searching out the 50% off tables, the $5 tables, the $3 tables, the $1 tables… you get the idea. The show is HUGE – I was there for about 4 hours and didn’t see it all – not even close.
I didn’t come home with much. Prices are generally high – so even when stuff is discounted, there isn’t much meat left on the proverbial bone for me to be able to buy stuff to list in my shops. Plus I was focusing on smalls, because I had to park way out in a field – I didn’t want to be lugging large / heavy / awkward items around the show, or back and forth to my van.
This is where I have to admit to being not just a terrible blogger, but a terrible flea market shopper as well:
#1 – I own a wheeled cart that I could have taken with me. But, I forgot that I own said wheeled cart, and left it at home.
#2 – I broke 3 items (a little deer planter, and two little made in Norway vases) while I was shopping because I dropped my bag.
I blame all this on being a relative show shopping amateur (obviously) since I mostly shop estate sales and yard sales… Still, maybe next time I will remember my mistakes and do better. Maybe?
OK, let’s check out what I came home with, then I’ll talk about the trends that I managed to notice…
Pringles Duffle Bag
Vintage Autograph Book
Owl Bank
Brass Dancer Figurine
Pink Tall Cat Vase
Hull Baby Boy Planter
Vintage Autograph Album
THE TRENDS
Farmhouse Chic – It’s not really as frilly as Shabby Chic, or as basic as Primitive, it’s kind of somewhere in between.
One Note Dealers – there were a LOT of booths that were dedicated to one type of thing. I saw a vintage fans booth, a vintage Pyrex and Corning Ware booth, a vintage lamps booth, a couple vintage cast iron booths, several booths that were all vintage glassware… You get the idea. Since most dealers have a variety of items, these niche dealers kind of stuck out as you were walking by, which I guess is an advantage at such a big show.
Upcycling – Giving vintage items a makeover is still going strong. I didn’t spend a lot of time looking at any of it though.
WHAT WAS MISSING
Industrial – In past years this was a big chunk of the show. Not so much this time, with the exception of metal sign letters… There were a lot of those.
Mid-Century Modern – This has always been the case with this show, the mid-century focused dealers are few and far between, and 60’s and 70’s items are especially hard to come by.
People Buying Globes – I am apparently not alone in being “over” globes. I saw a TON of them, in fact it seemed like every other dealer had at least one – but they weren’t selling, just sitting there on the last day of the show looking sad.
Overall I had a good time, maybe I’ll go again next year… With my cart! And my camera! ;)
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I got one of those vintage-style market totes for estate sale/flea market shopping and I keep it in my car. It folds up when not in use!