We love yard sales, thrift shops, and flea markets.  Our all-time favorite flea market is the Springfield Antique Show and Flea Market in Springfield, Ohio.  They host a flea market every month of the year at the fair grounds.  But we have only been to the Extravaganza events which are held every May and September.  The Extravaganzas have something like 2,000 plus dealers set up.  And, it is so fun!  Well, it’s this coming weekend and, of course, we aren’t missing it.  I thought I would share what we will be looking for at the Springfield Flea Market.

See their Facebook page here with more details.

Let’s Reflect on the Past

I personally have attended this flea market long before Deb and I were together.  I remember going with some friends from my job at the dentist office.  So, that was 26-27 years ago.  And, I remember it not being my first time.  My how things get cloudy in our heads as far as a timeline goes when you get older.  So, it’s safe to say that I have been attending this flea market for almost 30 years.  I haven’t gone every single year, of course, but we have gone A LOT in the last 10-ish years or so.  It’s a tradition for Deb and I.  Kind of like the 127 yard sales.  We love to do these things together and have so many fun memories.

See my 127 yard sale haul from this year.

I made my list for the 127 yard sales the day before we left this year.  And I actually transferred some of the same things over to this list for the flea market., because we didn’t find everything we were looking for.  If you love to see antique hauls, check out my past Springfield flea market hauls.  I have been sharing them for several years.  

Do you remember our shutter headboard?

You need to read the story on those, because there is a great story on when we got them.

My eyes are always peeled for things to add to my collections that I already have like crocks, yellow ware, antique sponge ware, etc.  Speaking of crocks, a few years ago I brought home a bunch of them.  When I see them for under $10, I always grab them.  

TIP:  When you see a vendor with a bunch of old dirty crocks that look like they were recently pulled from a barn, they will normally give them to you for a steal.  I tend to ask how much for all of them as a unit because you can pick them up for even less money.

You can use them for so many different things and they looks great grouped together as a collection.  I am thinking of adding my entire collection to our massive cabinet that we have, but we will see as I haven’t committed.  But, if I do, I will need several more for that idea.

I found a large bread dough bowl last year right after Deb said she wanted one.  It’s got a lot of wear and tear and is even patched, which I thought was cool.  I styled that here.  We also grabbed this cabinet which was an absolute steal, which we ended up selling it to some friends after we used it for a bit.

I talked about how we clean antique furniture after we found this because it was very dirty and smelly.  Our method normally works so try that out.

The thing I love about this flea market is there are very few new items.  There is a vendor that sets up every year with mums and different new yard pieces but they look old.  The rest of the vendors are antiques.  So many of the flea markets that we used to attend and love have gotten away from that. And, they now sell t-shirts, socks, etc.

Years ago, we found an antique stained glass window the second we walked in.  It was a steal so we couldn’t pass it up.  It is now hanging in our bedroom. 

See this space here.

What We Will be Looking for at the Springfield Flea Market

Like I said above, some of these things were transferred from my 127 Yard Sale list.  But, of course, I added to the new list.  These are also items that I have on my radar basically everywhere we go.  I’m not sure if I have said this here, but we added electrical boxes above each pantry.  So, we are looking for two matching lights that are antiques to go above them.  If I cannot find anything, I will get new ones that look old.  We also want two matching side tables for the bedroom, but we want antique pieces.  So, they may be hard to find.  I’m thinking small dressers.  But, they still made the list.  

We have our lamp posts without globes that will be installed along our driveway, so we will be looking for those… and antique bases to our kitchen columns, which will hopefully will be done soon.  I have new tables beside our front door on the porch and I would love older ones.  We want an antique headboard for the second guest room amongst a few other things.  

Here is the full list:

• 2 side tables for bedroom
• 2 lights for above the pantries
• 2 urns for by the garage
• 2 tables beside front door on porch
• glass globes for antique lamp posts
• 2 bases for kitchen columns
• Small coffee table for the family room
• Door for our linen closet
• Headboard for second guest room
• vintage seasonal items
• things to add to my vintage collections – ALWAYS

Stay tuned to stories this upcoming week because we will be sharing from the flea market.  So, it will be like you are shopping with us.  And of course, I will be sharing what we found.