Flea Markets, fun for everyone!

I grew up in a pretty frugal family, shopping at thrift stores became a thrill for me at an early age. You know you aren’t exactly a normal 8th grader when a trip to the Salvation Army excites you more than a trip to the mall. I’ve always had an appreciation for finding little unique gems while poking around at a thrift store, yard sale or flea market (at the time “unique gems” to me meant cheap ceramic figurines - why? I’m not exactly sure, oh the joys of childhood). My 2nd grade teacher actually remembers me to this very day as the girl who would come to her yard sales and buy her “junk.” One find that I remember very well from one of her yard sales was this old wooden birdcage. Personally, I still think it was awesome and for only a couple bucks you couldn’t beat it. Unfortunately my parakeets at the time were far too smart and quickly learned that certain wooden sticks would move if they pulled at it with their beaks. My parents weren’t so thrilled with my find after the third or fourth time chasing the birds around the house (at least it was good exercise, kept us on our toes!). Thinking back it would have been more practical as decoration but either way, it was pretty kick-ass.

As I grew older I developed an appreciation of older pieces and subsequently moved away from my strange affinity for collecting weird ceramic figurines (thank God). Going to flea markets and thrift stores is always an exciting experience for me and I’ve learned to look past the initial appearance of an object and see how I can make it fit my purpose or style. Refinishing/altering furniture has become a passion of mine and my house is truly one of a kind. Besides being original I am also saving money and being “green” by reusing materials (score 2 extra cool points for me). My dad has referred to me (in jest of course) as a dumpster diver, mostly because of my insanely smart and economical use of wooden molding that was being disposed of by a neighbor in my condo complex. That molding was perfect for what I needed. Getting it from the trash room to my place was a little awkward but completely worth it. I used it to frame the plate glass mirror in my bathroom that was slightly askew from the vanity top which so irked me – it looks a MILLION times better and only cost me about 10 dollars after purchasing some adhesive and paint (thank you free labor! I’m talking to you Mom and Dad, you rock!).

Anyway, this past weekend I visited two flea markets in the Central Virginia area. Except for an antique wood and metal pulley there wasn’t anything in particular that I was looking for so I was able to take in everything and slowly browse without real purpose. Our first stop was at a flea market in Massaponax off Rt. 1, it probably has a name but I honestly don’t know what it is. Things were looking grim when we pulled up, there was a serious lack of vendors and I began to get worried. That feeling quickly dissipated upon entering the first building. The initial area contained mostly furniture with some quirky little pieces (one that looked like some kind of bridge for training dogs or something, I have no clue). While exploring I ran across a set of encyclopedias from 1938, they looked as if they had hardly been opened – a little faded from exposure to sunlight but definitely in great shape. Price tag? $3! Of course that had to go home with me, for 3 dollars who could pass that up? I continue browsing and run across something equally as interesting, if not more so.

Stripper shoes.

Three pairs of sky high, tacky, stripper shoes. One pair was pink with a Lucite heel while the other two were made mostly of a shiny vinyl material that could not be comfortable at all. I was completely shocked to find such a thing at a flea market in Central Virginia, I mean really? I just had to take a picture, I couldn’t resist. Of course I did this in a very discreet manner because even though I am making fun of someone’s really awful wardrobe choice I certainly don’t want to make anyone feel badly. I was also slightly afraid that if I spent too much time looking at them that I might attract attention thinking I possibly wanted to buy them. I’m a huge softy and if the vendors are nice and talk to me at flea markets I almost always feel compelled to buy something and I REALLY didn’t want to have to buy these, somehow I don’t think my mostly Calvin Klein wardrobe would have meshed with pink Lucite heels.

Now the kicker to all of this is that the stripper shoes were being sold for $10 – EACH pair! Yes, used shoes made out of plastic and vinyl that may or may not have been pawed by gross and dirty old men in Central Virginia are being sold for more than my set of 1938 encyclopedias. Who needs knowledge and historical information when you can just strap on a pair of these puppies and shake it like a Polaroid picture for cash? My priorities are clearly not in line; I should probably go back next weekend and get them.

After paying for my encyclopedias and bidding farewell to the stripper shoes I found an old toolbox that I purchased for $5 (much more interesting than my current plastic Walmart version) and a really cool old movie projector that sadly did not come home with me due to the guy’s inability to locate the power cord. Color me sad.

(Yes, it's dirty. I haven't cleaned it yet -- either way it has character!)

Within 12 miles or so of this flea market was another one that I had always wanted to check out called the VA Bazaar. It is located in a deceivingly large building visible from 95 which had fostered such high hopes. Don’t get me wrong, I was entertained while at the VA Bazaar but it appeared that at least half of this huge building was empty. Like all flea markets you find a completely random mix of things. This one, just like the last, had one of the most interesting compositions that I have ever seen. Of course there was the random domestic crap and tacky old clothes that no one wants to buy, the overly expensive antiques, a beanie baby shop (do they even still make those?), some sports stores and then in the middle of it all was a very scandalous lingerie/costume shop. If you ever want to get a dominatrix costume I would suggest bypassing Fredericks of Hollywood and some of those other online retailers and coming straight here, no shipping costs – it’s sexiness on demand here in Ladysmith, VA! Here are a few samples from their extensive inventory for your viewing pleasure.

What I learned from this trip is that when I decide to switch careers and get in touch with my seedy side I now know where to go to update my wardrobe. Between visits to Massaponax and Lady Smith I would be the hottest stripper this side of the Mason Dixon Line. Those fancy New York "entertainers" might have a 1 up on me but darn if I won’t be giving them a run for their money!