Meanwhile at Brimfield

....I bought a chair.  Anyone surprised?  Although you may have caught a glimpse on instagram, lets first explore things I didn't purchase amongst the junky vintage amazingness that is Brimfield, MA.

It was a rainy, rotten day on Friday, so there were a good lot of vendors that weren't even open and we probably missed a ton, but it was still a blast!  It is so easy to go into awesomeness overload (or junk overload, you pick)...

The pinkish cabinet with glass doors on top was only $30!  I tried to rack my brain for a place for it, but realized, sadly, that I could not give it a home- I hope someone did!

At the end of the day, I had spent only $28, but it was $28 very well spend if you ask me!

$25 went to this amazing mid-century chair.   I'm not just a member of Chair Hoarders Anonymous, I'm the founder and president.

I don't think a chair has ever needed to be reupholstered more- the vinyl has been scratched right through to the wood below.

It also kinda stinks (just musty.... it was out in the rain after all), but I don't care, I love it!  I had actually walked away from it, but it kept nagging at me, so I went back and haggled him down $10. #alwayshaggle

It's very sturdy, heavy, and well built.  It's only issue really, is the upholstery, which I think I can do something about.  I hope my reupholstery skills are up to the task!  This style of chair will require much more sewing and precision than the last, but I'm up for the challenge!  I'm thinking a sexy but studious gray tweed might be in order, don't you agree?

I love hate to keep you in suspense, but I'm not going to show you today what I spend the remaining $3 of my $28 purchases on.  It's in the process of getting a mini-makeover, so pop back Wednesday to see my $3 find all spruced up and styled!

I'm already looking forward to the Brimfield antique show's next go around in July!  Did you get a chance to go this time?  If so, I'd love to see your treasures!

Brimfield Eye Candy

Brimfield has such an amazing collection of amazing stuff of all proportions.  (Did you see my haul in yesterdays post?) If I was a photographer, I could just spend the day taking pictures of history, pre-styled vignettes, and bizarre oddities.

How amazing are these doors??

I would love to see a toddler riding this, but it would lose character if someone restored it.

Dapper or creepy, I really can't decide.

Remember how I mentioned the bizarre conglomeration of items for sale?

Dad was endlessly amused by this one-armed-bandit... literally

I so wanted to adopt these chairs for my porch... but not for $500.  Don't you worry, though I have a replacement up my sleeve.

This was definitely my favorite pic of the day.

My attempt at photography was even captured by the other photog (Handy Dad)

So have I inspired you to check out the Brimfield Antiques Flea Market next time around?  (July!)

What a Hoot!

Sorry for my lack of post on Friday- I got a little overexciting about getting up early to go to Brimfield and I totally forgot to blog.  I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me eventually.  Maybe this picture of me with the Jolly Green Giant will help. (check out those amazing industrial storage units behind us!)

So, Brimfield.  Going to Brimfield each year is like going to an amusement park for me.  Lots of crazy characters to watch (with the exception of ourselves of course), some awesome stuff for sale, some beyond ridiculous stuff for sale, and amongst all that is the challenge of trying to snag some amazing deals.

Since I still always get the question "What's Brimfield?", Brimfield is the largest outdoor antiques flea market.  It takes place 3 times a year in the tiny town of Brimfield MA and there are over 6,000 dealers set up on either side of a mile stretch of rt 20.  It's treasure-hunters Meca.

And amazing deals I did get!  My haul includes:

Metal sphere: $20.  I plan to add plants to the inside of this as an awesome architectural feature for my porch or patio.

Child's shoe mold: $4.

I also got an amazing deal on a gift for someone, but since I don't want to spoil the surprise, all I'll say is that I love cool vintage pieces for awesome prices (shocker!).

My absolute favorite find everyone else thinks I'm completely nuts for even buying.  Before I show you, there's a back story.  For more than three years, I've been drooling over one of the owl cookie jars from Anthropologie.  Not long after discovering that jar, I found out that it's a reproduction of a vintage piece from the 40s.  So why buy a new repro when I can dream of owning an original?  Over two years ago at a tag sale, I spotted the coveted hooter, but the price was higher than I wanted to pay- and I've been wishing I had just sucked it up and bought it ever since.  Brimfield to the rescue!

Let me set the stage: I went with the parents and it was the end of a long day out in the sun and dust, we were losing steam fast.  Out of the corner of my eye I spotted him, blurted out "I know what I'm buying" and beelined across the isle and picked up the cookie jar.  By the time my parents caught up, I was already haggling with the vendor.  Originally priced at $150, it had already been slashed down to $75 and I got her down another $10.  The vintage 40s Shawnee winking owl cookie jar also came with 3 (?) matching salt and pepper shakers for $65.  My parents thought he was hideous and I already knew Hubs would agree- he's scoffed at the Anthro one as long as I've drooled over it.  But I don't care what they think, he's awesome and makes me grin ear to ear!!!

The shakers on the other hand, I do find creepy, so they'll probably be finding themselves listed on e-bay. They have shifty eyes and I don't trust them.

Since Hubby's convinced that my beloved owl's going to come to life and haunt him (crazy boy), I'm sparing him by keeping the owl in my office.  I'm secretly (or not so secretly now) hoping the owl will grow on him and eventually it can migrate to another room.  eventually.  maybe.  doubtful.  Oh well, I'm still so excited about this owl!!! AND the deal that I got for him!

I'll pop in tomorrow for a rare Tuesday post and share some cool Brimfield pictures from Handy Dad and me.  If I put them all in today, this post would never end.  It's already a bit long since I'm apparently rather long-winded.  It's part of my charm, I hope.

So do you love my vintage owl as much as I do, or do you think it's creepy like apparently every one else does??