1966 Disneyland Map Auction!

This past Sunday was another glorious almost fall day here in New England!  Wanted to go for a ride anywhere...  So off we went to Wilmington to the Boston Auctions and Antiques auction.  They are Auctionzip auctioneer #29986.  We decided to head that way because of a photo they had of a mixed lot of Mickey Mouse goodies.  Nothing special in the photo, but I couldn't tell what was beyond or under what showed in the photo...  Mickey, as always, was calling my name! 
So we got there with plenty of time to preview all the great box lots and everything else.  All box lots start at just $2!  Wonderful mixed lots.  Mickey's box wasn't very exciting.  But right next to that box was a great looking lot of bright Japanese goodies.  As I was picking through it, I opened up a small cloth bag that contained a vintage View Master and about two dozen reels that went with it.  I took them out and started reading them~ Badlands, Yosemite, Disneyland!  Then 9 more vintage Disneyland!  I put them back and noticed a large folded paper against the inside of the box.  I unfolded it and it was a vintage souvenir map of Disneyland!  I had to run to my seat to get my glasses...  Read the info printed on the map and it said 1966!!  I HAD to have that map! 
The auction started...  We won a sound board for our son for just $10.  A pair of hand painted artist signed and dated chairs for $5 each.  My conservative husband liked them because they were nice sturdy chairs... I liked them because they were different.  Won a ton of cookie cutters in three lots.  So inexpensive I bought them all~ $5, $8, and $9.  Holidays, letters, animals, etc.  A souvenir package of cactus cookie cutters~ so cute!  Would take many photos to show them all.  Assorted decorator's tools too.  And wouldn't you know right in the middle of the first big basketful was a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter!  Can you find him in the photo? 
Two Colonial re-enactors showed up!  VERY cool!  They were sooo old and grizzled, and their uniforms were so real, they looked like ghosts who were visiting auctions and anyplace else where they might find whatever it was they left behind...  The one time I forget a camera...
While chatting with a lovely lady and admiring a box lot she had won, I commented on the cool purse that was in the box~ it was made from telephone cords!  She gave it to me!  That's the kind of people that tend to be at the Wilmington auctions~ we all share.  Especially with box lots where you often only want one or two things. 
Then it's time for the box lot with the Disneyland map!  Starts at $2 like all of them...  I put up my bidding number and have no intention of putting it down until I win...  Somebody bid against me!  I get weird about people bidding against me for certain Disney items.  I want to turn and look at them and say "don't waste your time, it's mine!"   Especially vintage Disneyland treasures.  What I consider the original batch of pixie dust~ when Walt Disney still walked the park! 
Oh!  I almost forgot to tell you~ I am sure you already figured out I won the box lot with the map, but I have to tell you it was only $22.  Did my happy dance right into the evening!  Even better~ when I got home, I looked the map up and one had just sold on ebay for $44~ and mine is in better condition!
But to me it's... priceless  :)   
Makes me wonder~  What makes you do YOUR happy dance?  
Have a magical day!!

Brimfield Flea Market

Where has all the time gone?  Am I the only one who never has enough time?  Seems like only yesterday I went to the Brimfield Flea Market but it has been weeks! 

The Brimfield Flea Market is an amazing expanse of flea market fields.  Both sides of the road for as far as the eye can see...  It is always rated in the top five flea markets in the country with any publication that makes these lists.  Many many fields, one after the other~ all with names to make it easier to keep track of your traveling companions!  You collect something or actually need something vintage, there is a good chance you can find it here!  Tons of vintage clothing and linens.  That's my favorite.  That was my big find for the day~ a large box of vintage linens, about 50 nice clean assorted pieces for the grand total of $10!  I bought it, as my son said, in the first ten mintues of getting there.  It turned out to be THE bargain of the day!

Many many other booths full of linens, aprons, clothing, fabrics.  It took great self control to not get tempted into examining every single piece.  But as my son said, everything I looked at looked the same.  And there were SO many other treasures to discover!  Amish carts, suits of armor, buggies, dishes, skeletons!  Oh my!  And a lion, of course!

I do have to tell you the one thing we did not find much of at all~ sports memorabilia.  My son, Sam, who joined me on my flea market adventure, is an avid Red Sox fan (yeah, I know, poor Sam), and collects autographed baseballs.  And I thought linens were expensive...  We only saw one booth with sports memorabilia.  A nice assortment of balls, bats, and paper, but that was it.  Not much anywhere else in the whole flea market.  Of course I guess the sports guys could be in the areas that charge admission.  Yes, there are some flea markets with fended in dealers that charge admission.  I don't see why anyone goes in.  Why waste money looking at another couple hundred items when there are thousands to look at for free? 

That is part one of our Brimfield Flea Market adventure.  So many more photos to show you.  Lots more color.  And I haven't mentioned all the fabulous food yet!  I won't stay away so long this time.  Come back soon and I will introduce you to my new Disney friend I saw and fell in love with at the flea market!

SoWa~ Farmers & Vendors & Food Trucks!

Last Sunday my oldest son, Josh, and I went off to discover the SoWa Open Market.  www.sowaopenmarket.com   An outdoor market open every Sunday through November.  I have heard about it for years, but never managed to make it there.  A little Farmers' Market, a little Crafts Fair, and a little Vintage Flea Market!  All rolled together in a LOT of great shopping and fun!! 

Park just two short blocks away and make your way down to the first half of the market~ the Farmers' Market with all manner of fresh fruits, veggies, and flowers.  Also plenty of fresh baked goodies, nuts, salsas, and more!  Including Michele's Totally Awesome Gourmet Popcorn~ a recent favorite at the 2012 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards!  

Then you make your way through the beautiful old factory building, through a grand archway, past the eclectic mix of people munching their way along, to get to the other side of the market.  That's where most of the vendors and all the food trucks are.  I don't know about you, but I think food trucks are fascinating!  Lobster, cupcakes, burritos, veggie sandwiches, grilled cheese, giant hot dogs.. and more, much more!  And these weren't even ALL the ones that visit regularly!  Before this market, my only experience ordering from a food truck was from the soft serve ice cream truck that stopped at the swimmin' hole my Dad used to take me to!  I ordered a fabulous lobster roll, Josh got a giant burrito, and we found ourselves seats at one of the picnic tables.  Not a lot of tables, but plenty of steps and stone walls where you can perch and eat your lunch.

Then it was time to check out some of the vendors~ crafters were all there~ plenty of recycled and upcycled goods.  I was a little surprised at the prices, but as Josh pointed out that was probably because I could make the home sewn goodies myself!  My favorite vendor of the day sold out of her own custom painted hot pink truck!  Lola's Urban Vintage~ Where Street Meets Chic!   

Then it was time to venture indoors...  Following the sandwich board that said "Vintage"!  Slowly made our way into a doorway that seemed packed with people.  Once we were in~ Eureka!  We hit the motherlode!  Clothing, suitcases, shoes, jewelry, shabby chic furniture, you name it...  along with my favorite glasses and dishes from the fifties and sixties!!    Alas, my computer has decided I have done enough for the evening.  More photos will have to wait~ especially the ones of the shops in permanent locations that are open year round.  Including a real hat shop!  With real hats like they wore at the royal wedding!  Now it's time for me to get ready for tomorrow's adventure~ a trip to Brimfield Flea Market~ which is, according to any publication that reports these things, always one of the top five flea markets in the country!