The Pacific Gallery Annual Flea Market

***

 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?

For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 

why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

www.b3hd.blogspot.com

Love to see you there.

Carry on as you were.

***  

If you ever click on those fantastic icons
to the right
in the toolbar,
you might have noticed
in the calendar link
that I went to the Pacific Gallery Annual Flea Market this year

With $50 in my pocket
and my huge camera strapped to my side
I entered the parking lot
of the Pacific Gallery Auction House
and at first, my smiley face did a big old
upside down maneuver.

I was expecting more than this

Pacific Gallery Auction House

Annual Flea Market | Seattle | 2010

Photo (c) b3 home designs

To be fair

it was probably about the hottest day of the summer

and I arrived late in the day

(on purpose, not on CPT)

because I wanted dealers to be hot and bothered

and pissed that no one was venturing out onto

an asphalt baking field

to buy their wares

And it worked. 

That OR

I need to hit Pac Gal auctions 

because these dealers are CHEAP!

I've been to the Antique gallery before

and they had some good gets

but all were just beyond "good deals"

for me.

Not expensive, so if there was a
"have to have" piece for a collection,

I'd go here and look for it.

But for a browse and especially a flea,

I was not optimistic.

This is what I left with after 45 minutes

Pacific Gallery Annual Flea Stash of Goodies

Seattle | Summer | 2010

Photo (c) b3 home designs

Let's get a little closer shall we?

I picked up this awesome piece for $2.

I used to have one of these, 

and I gave it to my mom 

during her African | Tribal collecting days

This was the last piece of the day I picked up.
The dealer was so hot and flustered,
she almost paid me to take it off her hands.
Tried to tell me how broken and busted it was.
Tried to sell it for $7.
I asked her what her best price was.
She said "how about $5?"
I didn't say a word.
She said "Okay...how about $4?"
I kept pulling out arrows and examining them.
She said "Tell you what, give me $2 and don't make me pack it"
I started putting the arrows back in their holder.
Still have not said a word.
Put my hands in my pockets (actually to get her the cash)
and she said
"Can I pay you a dollar to take it?"
This is where I started laughing with her and said I'd give her $2

Say hello to my lovely bow and arrow set
which goes so very perfectly with this basket
on the opposite wall of my Native Americana postcards
in my downstairs powder room

$2 Bow and Arrow Set

Pac Gal Annual Flea | Seattle | Summer 2010

Photo (c) b3 home designs

Then there was this lady.

Who reminded me a little of my grandmother

who had the BEST stash of goods anytime she went and sold at a flea

but I digress.

This lady was VERY hot and bothered and ready to pack

She professed to have only the finest things

and was disappointed this was advertised as a flea

because only people looking for cheap goods at 

cheap prices were out to shop.

I wanted to say "yeah, what's your point?"

when I spied

(with my REAL eye)

a little box

that was stamped up all over

and a little heavy to lift

I picked it up

knowing what would greet me

from a peek under the lid

and saw a $12 price tag on the handle

I almost (almost)

thought to myself that I would pay that.

before considering if I would really pay half that

to walk away with this beauty.

I asked her what her best price was

She was so delirious she started

to tell me about a cartoon

that I was too young to know about

and how that was a collector piece I was holding.

Then she saw the puzzled look on my face

and the ACTUAL box I was holding

and said "oh. that."

How about you give me $8.

I said, "How about $5?"

She said give me $6 and take it.

I gave her six and announced that I had $4 left

to her partner in crime in the next booth 

who was trying mightily to get this big spender

to come on over.

As she packed it up she asked what price she had on it

and lamented that I got it for "hot off" - similar to "half off"

but all the better with the heat.

All is well in office supply land.

$6 (BIG!) Pullman Numberer 

 Pac Gal Annual Flea Market | Seattle | Summer 2010

Photo (c) b3 home designs

Right after I bought the green metal bin (with key) for $5 from a yard saler

who was moving and just getting rid of stuff,

I went next door and bought 

2 dozen sand dollars for $3

thank you very much Pottery Barn.

But after the Sand Dollar lady, I crossed the aisle and just about fell out.

I saw the sign that said these beauties were $2 - $4 each.

I gathered up these three small ones

and asked how much.

They were all of the $2 variety.

I didn't even haggle with the dude because I wanted them

That. Much.

$6 for 3, 6 in aqua colored mason jars

Pac Gal Annual Flea Market | Seattle | Summer 2010

Photo (c) b3 home designs

And that was JUST BEFORE

I spied the find of a lifetime.

That I would have returned everything for

and dropped all $50 of my dollars on

because finding these has been that elusive for me

and this one.

she cost me all of $8

$8 sturdy/heavy model sailboat

Pac Gal Annual Flea | Seattle | Summer 2010

Photo (c) b3 home designs

Absolutely.

I will be back next year.

And this year

I will probably even try

attending an auction

or two.

Love me a good flea market.

Wish I was back in El Paso for flea markets there.