The Problem With Flea Markets

As I think I mentioned to several of you, I recently toddled off to the local flea market in search of gifts. The problem with this is that I didn't find any gifts, BUT I did find something for me... two 1960's vases in Art Deco style that I just KNEW would look wonderful on my mantlepiece. And they do! Given that they were half price, I just couldn't resist.
Another problem with flea markets is that they tend to lead a person to searching out other places with old stuff. All research for gift buying, of course...

I discovered an antique mall, and unfortunately for my bank balance it had a few things that I simply had to have. In my defense, I did wait a week before I bought them. And the first one is actually something I needed - a bedside table. No more cardboard cylinder with a sarong thrown over it for me! As you can see it needs some work, but since it was only $35 and it has all its original handles, I thought it was worth it.

Of course, once one has a 1940's bedside table one's 1990's digital alarm clock just doesn't look right. How lucky I was to find this little gem - a 1940's Westclox Moonbeam electric alarm clock.

It had a ridiculously bright bulb in it, which made the lucite case get way too hot (and would probably keep us both awake at night), so I replaced it with a much lower wattage one. The alarm works, too, and is actually a little less annoying than the one I had before. I didn't know they even made electric clocks back then.

All in all, a productive bit of flea marketing, I would say. And I did find the gifts I was looking for, I just need to mail them now...