What a Weekend!
Hello all,
Thank you to everyone who came in this weekend! Ever since the wonderful Washington Post article came out we have been reallly busy. What a tremendously positive response we got to the story. Thank you for all your kind words. I’m so glad you liked it!
Now that the whirlwind weekend is over, I have a chance to tell you about the story. Every year around Memorial Day Luckett’s General Store has a fun, fantastic flea market. I remember my first one, it was five years ago and I was about a week post partum after having my first child. My friend, Lisa, had her first booth and what was potentially the start of a new career. I wanted to be there to support her, so I left Will at home with my husband and off Mom and I went. Ever since, I’ve been hooked! It’s exactly what I think fleaing is all about - great vendors with great prices, a local band playing James Taylor and Van Morrison, fair food and kettle corn. And, perfect Spring weather. To me it just doesn’t get better than that.
So. Knowing this flea market was coming up I thought it would be fun to invite Terri to join me. She came into the store just after Christmas and we really hit it off. We’re kindred spirits with a similar love for all things old and Hable Construction. I asked her if she would be interested in joining me, she ran it past her editors and they agreed. So off to Lucketts we went…
What a great day it was! After a little miscommunication about the location of the “front entrance” we found each other and set out shopping. Len Spoden, the photographer extraordinaire, followed us around for almost the entire day. Let me just say, he was lovely. What a sweet, patient man. My mom was really nervous about this and wasn’t sure she wanted to have her picture taken. But once we met Len we were immediately put at ease. He was completely unobtrusive and you didn’t even know you were getting your picture taken. He was truly wonderful. And extremely talented. My mom looks great in all of the pictures! Mine are okay, but that’s not Len’s fault. If you catch my drift.
As soon as our little gourp walked in the gates we were buying. I have to tell you that I was not the only one buying. Terri managed to find a few pieces herself. She bought the most incredible tray, two french chairs with the coolest vintage homespun upholstery and a sweet demi lune table. I was secretly kicking myself for not seeing the tray first. It was REALLY cool. She asked another friend of hers who was at the flea to take home the table and I was more than a little impressed that she got the rest in her Mini Cooper. Now that’s power fleaing!
In the story Terri mentions a great old wire laundry basket. It’s the one that got away. This is a really good lesson for everyone - veterans and novices alike. One that I hate to relearn every now and again. We were standing there chatting and waiting patiently for the vendor to finish with her customers. I was enjoying our conversation about what we would each do with the basket and therefore was not in a rush. Besides, I had taken the ticket off the basket so therefore thought I was safe. Boy was I wrong. When I was finally able to get the vendor’s attention and ask her if that was her best price for the basket, she informed me that the woman who had been standing next to me just bought it. But I had the tag!!!! To me, the unwritten rule is if you pull the tag you intend on buying it. And, I intended on buying it - no matter what her best price. I would love to hear your opinion on this one. For some reason it just seemed unfair. Am I wrong? Quite clearly I’m still stinging from that one.
After that let down, my spirit a little crushed we moved on. At the next booth… I spotted it. The bread cart on wheels. It was magnificent! I know to most of you that sounds ridiculous, but to me this piece is just so special. This is one of those pieces that I love. It was at one time purely functional. It hauled freshly baked bread in Buffalo, NY from bakery to store and that was it. Now, it takes on a whole new function. The warm patina, the graphic letters and numbers and the wheels (God, help me I love the wheels!) add character to whatever room I put this in. Whether it’s in the kitchen for recycling, the bathroom for towels, the playroom for toys or my office at the store, it’s current home, for merchandise that needs to go out on the floor it adds charm and history. This piece goes down as one of my all time favorites and will always remind me of a really special day. Come by the store some time and I’ll show it to you.
After much antiquing and kettle corn eating (ambrosia of the Gods!) we were finished. I have to say, that, in the end, Terri could have written this story without me. She and I were totally on the same page as far as mixing old and new. She has brilliant ideas and a fantastic eye (did I mention that tray was REALLY cool?!). We both agreed that antiques shouldn’t be precious. They should be loved and used. And, that people need to understand that antiques aren’t fragile - they are well made. If it can withstand 100 years, give or take a few, it can withstand your two-year-old and house full of pets.
I think most of you will agree. For those of you who came by this weekend, thanks! It was a pleasure meeting you. I love to meet fellow flea market junkies. For those of you who went to the Big Flea this weekend, I hope you found a wonderful treasure as wonderful as my new bread cart on wheels! Finally, here’s to the folks that work so hard to bring them to us. We thank you!
Take care and happy fleaing! Amy
