7 Things Not To Pass Up At The Flea Market

How To Use Antiques & Vintage Finds For Your Flowers

Do you like to visit flea markets and antique stores? Oh, I love to go to both! Over the years I have found so many items that I use throughout my home and garden. It can be a little overwhelming trying to rifle through all that stuff, but let help you figure out things not to pass up when you go to a flea market or antique store.

7 things not to pass up at the flea market

• Baskets
• Metal Pails/ Bins
• Vintage Food Containers
• Dough Bowls
• Crocks/ Pots
• Teapots
• Vintage Tool Boxes

Baskets

OK, I’ll admit it…I am a basket addict!! I haven’t met a basket that I haven’t wanted to bring home…just take a look at the pile at the bottom of my basement stairs!! But, hey they are so useful right!!

Baskets make a great home for houseplants indoors. I use baskets on my front porch for flower arrangements.

Keep an eye out for vintage wood tubs and bushel baskets you can put on your porch filled with mums this Fall.

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Sometimes you can find a vintage hanging basket at the antique store (they can be a little pricy). You can fill them with faux flowers in the warmer months. but I love the look of a basket full of winter greens hanging on a front door in the winter!!

I often have a hanging basket on my garage entrance.

Metal Pails & Bins

I’ve found so many cool metal pails and bins over the years! I use them all the time outside on my porch and in my garden. Lately, I’ve been crushing over copper bins ( I keep thinking about this one I saw last weekend!!)

This summer I have a galvanized pail out on my potting table with a pot of lavender.

I snagged a cool vintage clammer’s basket at a vintage market last winter and used it on my front porch filled with a few coastal items.

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Vintage Food Containers

You will see all kinds of vintage food containers, boxes, and crates, and old milk cans at most flea markets and antique stores. On my last visit down to Todd Farm Flea Market in Rowley, Ma. I came across a few cool ones.

I loved this vintage Marshmallow Fluff metal container! Do you have Fluff where you live?? There was nothing better when I was a kid than a Fluffernutter sandwich for lunch!!

On my Spring front porch, I used a vintage soda crate as a stand for a few of my other vintage goodies.

Old milk cans can be used filled with tall twigs or evergreen branches in the winter. I have a vintage milk can that I occasionally use on my front porch.

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I did pick up this vintage French grain measure last weekend at a local antique store,,,

…and look how pretty it is on my front porch with some Fall mums!!

Because my porch is covered this antique grain container is safe from the elements. I also lined the inside with plastic so it would be protected from any water from the mums.

Dough Bowls

There’s usually one dealer at a flea market that has a big pile of dough bowls on their table. Sometimes they are overpriced!! But sometimes you can find some decent ones at reasonable prices.

Trendy items tend to get marked up at flea markets.

I’m using a small dough bowl in my china cabinet filled with teeny pumpkins.

Crocks & Pots

I don’t think I’ve ever visited a New England antique store without finding vintage crocks and jugs..they are pretty common here.

One of my recent finds was a vintage bean pot with a cover for $8!! It’s a great vessel to use with cut or faux flowers too!

Teapots

Lately, I’ve been seeing more vintage teapots, especially copper ones, when I’m out at the flea market. They are a hot item! I found this vintage copper teapot for $5!! I don’t think I’ve ever only spent 5 bucks at a flea market and left happy…but I was pretty psyched with this find!!

The copper kettle is filled with dried hydrangeas in my kitchen now..isn’t it pretty??!!

Vintage Tool Boxes

One of my favorite things to check out when I hit the flea market or antique store is all the different styles of vintage toolboxes. They look so good on a dining table filled with faux flowers or dried hydrangeas! I have a toolbox that was one of my first flea market purchases years ago that I still use all the time when I’m decorating…they are so versatile and you can use them inside or out.

I used my toolbox on my Spring front porch. I had to fill it with faux flowers because it was still so cold here!

Well, there’s my quick course on the 7 things you should not pass to pass up at the flea market or antique store next time you go out shopping! You can find so many cool items that will give your home a unique look and it’s a simple way to add character to your spaces. Also, let’s face it…things were just made better back then and tend to wear better when you use them outdoors!!

Thrifting For Vintage With Friends

Some of my friends are also avid flea market, antique store, thrifting nuts too!! They both use vintage items to decorate inside and out.

They are also both amazing gardeners…so you have to check out their garden tours as well!!

Go visit Stacy at Bricks n Blooms to check out what she found Thrifting At The Outdoor Antique Mall

Kim at Shiplap and Shells shops at some cool places out there in the Pacific Northwest! I love checking out how different regions of the US have such different vintage items! She is sharing Thrifting For Architectural Salvage Treasures For The Home And Garden DIY Projects.