The flea market hit Nashville again this past weekend, and OF COURSE I went (never mind that I’m moving & throwing stuff away left & right – FLEA!). Joining me was Lauren, new friend Allie and my super awesome sister-in-law, Sarah. Since I don’t have a lot of money to spend, I budgeted myself on a strict $20 and stayed within budget… well, sort of. More on that in a minute!
If we’re friends on Instagram, you probably saw my loot pile after I dumped it on the floor:
SO GOOD. $20!
Now I’m going to show you every piece of it!
That big pile of zippers was an entire bag that I snagged for $3. I KNOW! I counted them when I got home, and there are 39 zippers. 37 of them have metal teeth. My zipper stash was running on empty, so this was a good thing to come across!
That picture-looking thing is actually a crewel pillowcase that I got for $2. I stuffed it with poly fiberfill (side note: I have like 3 bags of this stuff. Why?? I don’t use it for anything, yet it is somehow reproducing in my sewing room! Help!) so it is now a proper pillow. I actually have another embroidered pillow that I got last month for $1, so they’re like pillow buddies now. And that, my friends, is how I started my newest collection.
This isn’t fabric – it’s actually a maxi skirt! A nice wool-blend, I think it’ll go well in the winter. It reminded me of Stevie Nicks, so I had to take it home with me. Also, it was $3.
30s Lace Collar, $2
I obviously need a dress to sew this onto – taking pattern suggestions!
Haha, ok, this isn’t part of my $20 because Sarah actually bought this for me. Isn’t it awesome, though? I need to find a frame for it, and where to hang it! I’m thinking right at the front door, so people will know what they’re getting into >:) Hahahahahahahha
These are the yellow buttons from yesterday’s dress. They were dirty as hell, but they cleaned up real good! $1
The very last thing I bought – I had exactly $1 left, and we were walking to our car when Lauren decided that she wanted a utensil holder. I found this lemon-y goodness hook for my last dollar (and yes, there was a utensil holder at the table as well… it even said UTENSILS on it lol)
Awesome bright tablecloth, $5
Advance 7055, $1
Dude also made me take these fabric scraps with that pattern. Free! They are pretty small, but I think I can eek out some facings with them. My soon-to-be brown wool old man Thurlow trousers are totally getting the brown/yellow floral facing treatment.
Simplicity 4697, $1
Already have a fabric planned for this.
Simplicity pattern, $1
I want to make a corduroy jacket! With elbow patches!
So that would have been it… except upon leaving, Lauren & I came across this magnificent china hutch that she just fell in love with. When she asked about the price, the guy said it was part of a set he was not willing to break up. The set included a buffet, table & 4 chairs. Jokingly, Lauren asked me if I wanted to split the furniture with her…
And they were amazing, so of course I said FUCK YEAH.
Seriously! I wish I had better pictures to show y’all, because they are incredible. Definitely 60s, real wood, and they are going to look amazing in my house. I am going to need to reupholster the chairs, but the wood is just beautiful.
Here’s a bad picture of the chair (you can also see the buffet behind it)
Unfortunately, there is absolutely no space for them in my current house, so there really isn’t any room to walk… I have to crawl over stuff lol. Totally worth it, though!
In case you were wondering – I got all that furniture for $100. SERIOUSLY. I told you our flea market was a good ‘un!
And now, for something completely different – here are a couple sneaky peeky pictures of my our new house đ I stole them off the rental website so they’re a little outdated, but you get the idea!
The living room! It’s not this color anymore; it’s actually a soft burnt orange (really pretty!). I just love the big picture window. There is a really great front porch, with a porch swing!
This is going to be my sewing room đ It is being repainted – I chose Behr Mint Majesty. I just love the windows & the hardwood floors! This picture is actually a little deceiving – the room is HUGE.
In the meantime, I started packing my sewing room yesterday, so I won’t be doing any sewing for at least a week or so. I’m already feeling a bit stir-crazy, augh!
LLADYBIRD 
I am totally jealous of that lace collar! I would wear it with a black strapless dress or top! Amazing!
What loot! Are you going to make a dress with that tablecloth? It would make a great 60’s shift dress – not very imaginative I know đ That jacket pattern is totally sweet too.
You know, I didn’t even think about using the tablecloth for fabric – I just think it’ll look awesome on my table (and I bought it before I came across my new set haha). Maybe when I get bored of it being a cloth, it can start a new life as a shift dress haha đ
I have never known a cuboard or cabinet called a ‘hutch’, I just love it. I have to say it is a superb haul for $20, lucky you!
That loot you found at the Flea market is awesome! I’m going to have to look around my local flea market – I hope they have good stuff *fingers crossed*
Wow. I love so much of your stuff. That collar!!!! And the lemon hook!!! The man-handler is hilarious! But….omg….that furniture! For 100 bucks????? I live in Raleigh, NC and things at the flea are just so much more money. There’s no way that would’ve happened here for under 4 or 5 hundred. Great job, you guys!
Well, there are definitely vendors who have much higher prices! But honestly, this kind of deal isn’t uncommon at all… the flea here is reaaaaally huge, and most of the vendors are just trying to unload stuff from estate sales. So a lot of stuff is yardsale priced đ You’ll just have to come visit, I reckon! đ
Oh I wish we had a flea market near by!! I went to antique stores over the weekend and found some buttons but I would of really loved to score all those zippers!! Didn’t find any patterns either, boo! Your sewing room is going to be amazing! Love the hardwood floors!
I love that table. Amazing. A little polish and reupholstering and it will come up beautifully. I can’t get over the fact that you can paint your rental place. Landlords are terrible in Aus. You can’t even put a hook on the wall! I also can’t get over all your wonderful finds. I want to visit the flea in Nashville.
Oh man, I wouldn’t be able to handle that at all – being able to paint is one of my deal-breakers (other deal-breakers are allowing the cat, obvs, and off-street parking!). My landlords are actually going to paint the house for me. How awesome is that?!
What a great haul. LOVE the furniture. Did I know you were moving??
I briefly mentioned it in passing on my last post, so you probably didn’t catch it đ SO EXCITED. Bigger house, yay!
My sewing room is packed up at the moment too, waiting for new carpet to go down in my new sewing room then I can finally unpack and enjoy! đ I started going crazy as soon as I started packing too – Enjoy your new room, big rooms are the best for spreading out, I reckon I will be super productive once I get my room set up!
Wow, what a great haul! I love that bright tablecloth!
Ahh! A porch swing is my dream. Some day. You lucky girl!
Yeah, I’ve always wanted a house with a porch swing (parent’s house doesn’t count :B). So excited!
Wow nice haul – that furniture is amazing! Can’t wait to see the re-upholstered chairs.
Plus the new house looks fantastic too – I’d love a porch / porch-swing!
Jealous, jealous, jealous!!!
That Advance pattern is perfect. The ruffle, the nipped waist, arrrrgh! You make me want to learn to sew. And that furniture was a total steal. Is there a maker’s mark anywhere on it? I’m curious who made it. My grandparents had a very similar gateleg table.
You’re going to show us pictures of your new sewing room, right? Hope that mint paint goes up well over the dingy rust color.
I looked, but I didn’t see a maker’s mark. There is a piece of paper on the bottom of the chairs that says they were manufactured in Chattanooga, though! I’ll give them a better once-over when they aren’t stacked on my couch haha đ
Oh I am so jealous, we don’t have markets like that in Ireland đŚ I’m flying to Budapest next week and the main thing I’m looking forward to is going to some real flea markets! Anyway, just to let you know, I mentioned you in a little post I did over on my blog if you fancy a look! Take care, Khrystyna (aka LittleRubyRobin)
Great finds! I love the blue version of the Simplicity 4697 dress. And your new sewing room’s gonna look great to đ
DUDE!!! metal zip hauls are my faves and the furniture was a total steal!!
you did great with just 20 bucks! our flea market is SO GOOD. i skipped it this month because i’m saving for the world’s longest yard sale next week. good thing because i would have been tempted by that furniture. you got a great deal!
I want to go to the world’s longest yard sale but money is suuuuper tight this month (since I’m paying rent in two places… blech), so I may have to wait until next year đŚ
You chose the same color for your sewing room that I have in mine, complete with white trim! My man & I bought our first house together last August and I got to outfit a whole bedroom from start to finish, so I can totally appreciate your excitement! (Really need to take some photos of my room – it’s been a labor of love to complete) I can also tell you that after a year of staring at the walls for hours on end, I love the color just as much. Hooray for you! đ
Oh! I want to see what your room looks like! I just love the color so much đ
What a haul for $20!! And the furniture – win. You get to choose the colour your place is painted? Wish we could do that here in Aus…