I have a couple of girlfriends who grabbed me at church on Sunday and said, “We’re going to the flea market. Let’s go!” So off we went, high heels and all. I haven’t been to the Nashville Flea Market in what seems like a bazillion years, which is sad given how much I love this kind of thing! I fell in lala-love with this vintage patio lounger, but it had a rip and cost $145.
I didn’t get it, although I kinda regret it. Especially after loading this photo and remembering how awesome it was. I hate trying to get a tan on a rusty fold-up lounger from Walgreens, it’s just so not me. I almost got this pair of cool side tables. I always have clients who need affordable side tables, and these chrome legs are really cool. I thought I could paint the tops black, and they were only $50 for the pair. But I let them go, too.
I was also tempted by this stack of board games that brought back a ton of memories from the 1970s. I came thisclose to buying The Bionic Woman (I had that one back in the day), The Six Million Dollar Man, and Charlie’s Angels (I always pretended to be Kelly).
I love-love-love the color of the mat of this old botanical, and I almost bought it just for that reason. Almost.
And believe me, after the last couple of weeks, it would have been entirely appropriate for me to have bought this.
And I’m pretty sure the flea market vendors and patrons thought I was a little loony showing up in high heels. I still have the blisters to prove just how crazy I am. Even though I walked on past all of those cool finds, I did buy a great adirondack chair and footstool for a STEAL at $60.
Did I mention it was 115 degrees? Maybe not exactly, but it felt like it when we were there. I had a great time doing something spontaneous and unplanned with my friends, which I should totally do more of. But I wish I had bought that vintage patio lounger . . .
Greetings, Kristie. It seems to be such a wonderful trip of yours; spontaneous, unplanned, full of fun and ideas. However, I really wonder how you manged to let that pair of side tables go. They were so good. I wish I were with you. 🙂
I know how low you must be feeling about not purchasing that patio lounger… 🙁
I recently came upon a great deal/find on a vintage wrought iron patio lounger ($40.). And I just couldn’t pass it up! It also needed a new cushion. LOL!…the ‘right’ cushion ended up costing much more! But, it’s the most comfortable lounger ever! My purchase was well worth it! I will never find another wrought iron lounger having such great style, plus being well made and so inexpensive ever again! I literally saved MANY $100.’s~
ok, now i feel even worse!!! 😉
I love spontaneous moments – they always create the best stories! I feel for your poor blistered feet, but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do! Yes, braking for flea markets is a gotta do!
Your shoes look fabulous, but surely… some vendor was selling flip flops for a dollar! 🙂 I bet you could have got that lounger for $95! 😉 I use to go to a weekly furniture auction and the guy would say, “I bet you could drive the wheels off of a cadillac and not find another one of these…”
I tried to get the guy down to $90. He said the lowest he would go was $130. Bummer.
Love the pictures from flea markets! I live in Nova Scotia and we don’t always see as many cute finds like the Asylum sign…my daughter (whom I named for Kelly on Charlie’s Angels) is currently living with me and it would be so appropriate and fun for us! Also think the side tables were cool. So nice to have girlfriends to help you spend your money! 🙂
Don’t you just hate it when you come home from shopping and you can’t get an item off your mind and you can’t just go back and pick it up cause it isn’t in a retail store!? But don’t sweat the lounge as there are always other great finds in the future… remain hopeful is my motto.
Thanks, Nancy – I’m remaining hopeful! Love that you named your daughter Kelly after Charlie’s Angels!!!! Jaclyn Smith has always been so classy 🙂
Thanks–I think so too–along with Jackie Kennedy–my daughter’s name is Jacqueline Smith!
I’ve done what you did so many times–passed up stuff and then to go back & it’s gone!
Oh well, looks like you & friend had some girl-bonding time and THAT’s priceless!
Sounds like fun except the sore feet. I love my little lounger I found on eBay. Our screened in porch is now perfect for the way we use it. I need to send you an updated picture. I went with a standing cooler (storage) for my outside induction burner cooktop.
I’d love to see it, Tammy! Please send pics 🙂
Love your belt in these pics! 🙂
thanks, chez!
Sounds fantastic, blisters and all!
Here is my tale. For a number of years I was on the look out for a vintage wrought iron patio set with no luck. Then just by chance I come across a lovely older couple who were downsizing from their family home and were looking to sell their patio set. When I saw it honestly I almost wept – picture the wrought iron set from Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner. They had bought this set in the 60’s and had lovingly taken care of it. Also know that I do not have much of a poker face so they knew I loved it. So now down to brass tacks, how much. They give me the price and of course it is more than I had promised my husband I would spend. Again no poker face so obvious disappointment. The gentleman asks how much I would be prepared to spend. I tell him what I promised my husband, he smiles and shakes my hand. He went on to tell me how much he and his wife had enjoyed it and that he hoped my husband and I would also enjoy it. Well I couldn’t hold back I hugged him and his wife, promised I would take good care of it and handed over the money.
Fast forward to a year later on our anniversary my husband surprised me and had the furniture sand blasted and repainted, powder coated no less. Big, big love here!!
New cushions made shortly later and honestly I still smile every time I look at it and yes we love it, enjoy it, and are grateful to have it. 🙂
Such a great story. You need to post a photo of this well-loved set.
The sellers think like me. I would prefer to sell or give to others who love a piece of decor or furniture as much as I do. Especially when it is a piece I would keep if I could.
Kristie, my feet ache just thinking about you hiking around the market in heels. However, you had fun & did find some great deals, therefore………
What a wonderful day – minus the blisters! Looks like you bought an excellent chair and ottoman.
I find spontaneous visits to the flea markets are always the best!
The chaise lounge you almost purchased at the Flea Market is the exact copy of the chair my family bought for my Dad on Father’s Day in the year 1958. I recognized the chair and the print as soon as I saw the photo. Daddy had just finished building our new house, and the chair was a thank you to him for his hard work. During those house building years, he worked the night shift at the telephone company here in Louisville, slept for a few hours, and then went to our lot and worked on the house until time to shower and go back to work. It took two years. He was exhausted, but we had a beautiful new house! My mother, who is now 90, still lives in it. The day we gave the chaise lounge to our dad, he smiled and said, “We can’t afford that!” And we shrieked with joy, saying, “Yes, we can! We saved our money and bought it for you!” Oh, that was happiness! By the way, I recall that the chair was about $60 then, and that was a lot of money for those days. Thank you for posting that picture! What a wonderful memory it has brought forth for me!
WOW, Cherie. Thanks for sharing that story with me (us). That’s one of the reasons I love old things with a history, even if they aren’t my personal history. It makes them all the more special!