Flea Markets in London

I'm not crafting this week, but that doesn't mean

I have no nifty ideas to share.

I hope you've been enjoying our trips to the flea markets.

Fancy a visit to London today?

London has many remarkable flea markets.

Here are three of my favorites:

The first, of course, is the one located on Portobello Road.

This sign shows how extensive the market is.

There are stalls open during the week, but it's best to

come on Saturdays when all the fabulous vintage

treasures and one-of-a-kind antiques come out.

Something will surely catch your eye here.

Make sure to step inside the independent boutiques

in the area if your preference is "brand new" -- clothes,

cookbooks, ceramics, travel guides or jewelry.

Another market, though smaller in scale,

is Bermondsey Market.

It's open on Fridays from early morning to noon.

They sell smaller items like silverware, glassware, China and

other interesting curios that are easy to pack in your suitcase.

Lastly is the Old Spitalfields Market.

I like it because it has old items, handmade products like

clothes & bags, plus there's food {if you need a meal

right after shopping} all under one roof.

The neighborhood also has a youthful energy.

Okay, so here's what I bought:

Care to guess what it is?

It's a toast rack where you'd display freshly toasted bread

and put it directly on the dining table.

Trust the British to add pomp & circumstance to

everyday items. I've never seen this used elsewhere,

I just had to have one! And a vintage one at

that {I chose a more modern style}

for less than US$10.

The bottom slides off for easy crumb clean-up.

But because in my house, toast is consumed

on a eat-and-run basis, here's what

my flea market find looks like now:

It's where I organize all the postcards I've received!

TADA!

A Flea Market in Rome

I'm reliving my previous travels, specifically to flea markets

in different parts of the world. I'm also showing off

some of my second-hand souvenirs.

Today, it's off to Rome, Italy!

This is the Porta Portese market in the Trastevere quarter.

It's open on Sunday mornings and gets crowded as

the day progresses.

Here you'll find new and used Italian goods...

...as well as not-so Italian items.

This is what I remember that trip by:

It's a metal tray that can be hung as art.

It's tarnished and has a few difficult-to-remove stains.

It has seen better days but I felt I had to buy it.

These days, I use it with my Moroccan glasses

when I serve homemade mint tea.

For the summer, the tray is an appetizer platter

brimming with gazpacho and crackers.

I can't wait to use it for dessert, too!

A Flea Market in Chicago

This week, I'm showing off some flea market finds.

Selling and buying second-hand goods are a form of

recycling too -- somebody else's junk can be

someone's jewels, right?!

Today, Chicago is where we're at.

This is the Chicago Antique Market/Randolph Street Market,

held on a selected weekend once a month. There's an

outdoor section {I recommend wearing a hat} and an

indoor market as well.

They have everything from furniture, clothes,

accessories and collectibles.

There's also the Indie Designer Fashion Market inside the

premises with products created by local talent.

You can easily spend a few hours here.

Let me show you what I bought:

A vintage teacup & saucer, one of the

very first in my small collection.

Apart from the pink roses, this is what

sealed the deal:

It had my name printed on the bottom!

It was meant to be mine and I paid less

than US$10 for it.

Here's another adorable find:

A small dish which is meant to hold a pat of butter

{all you need is a basket of dinner rolls}.

I bought it for US$3.

On some afternoons, I opt for "tea time" instead of

a coffee break.

I take out my tea cup & saucer and use the dish

to hold my tea bag.

Even if my tea and cookies are of the supermarket variety,

this tea service is still fit for a queen.

A Flea Market in Toronto

Happy Monday and Happy Fourth of July!

This week, let's take a little break from crafting.

Instead, let's do some traveling and shopping.

I bet you'd like that!

First stop, Toronto.

I've been to Toronto a few times and whenever

I'm there, I like to pop into St. Lawrence Market.

It's a little paradise for food lovers with prepared

Canadian specialties, fresh produce, meats &

seafood, baked goods, cheese & wine,

kitchen equipment, art and souvenirs.

On Sundays, just across the market,

the Antique Market at St. Lawrence is a

must-see for treasure-hunters like me.

Browsing the market is a lot of fun.

There are so many unique things

that will call your attention.

This table absolutely lured me in.

Here's what I bought:

It's a dainty creamer made in England.

I love the pale blue color, gold accents and

delicate flowers painted on it.

I paid six Canadian dollars for this baby.

I've been finding many uses for it.

For today, it holds within it an orange marmalade

sauce for my morning crepes.

It turns something so simple into something very special.

Have a fun day everyone!

Crystal Clear

Hey, hey, it's Friday!

I found some loose chandelier crystals in my stash of beads.

Some I got from the bag of scrap. The rest, I removed

from a candlestick too frilly for my taste.

Oh the possibilities of transforming these from

blah to...

...TADA! A new bib necklace!

It's made of pale pink felt, a layer of fabric softener sheets,

crystals, clear beads, tiny flowers {made from

felt remnants} and a silver chain.

I really like how the crystals catch the light.

Have a sunshine-y weekend & to all of you in here in the US,

enjoy the long Fourth of July weekend!

Blooming Bag

How's it going everyone?

I hope you're having a marvelous week.

Yesterday, I played around with a placemat

and transformed it into an evening bag.

I got a kick out of that, so today I'm making

another one.

blah: a barely used placemat

Orient it vertically towards you.

Fold it in thirds and stitch the two edges

of the bottom fold.

I saw this Valentino clutch in the March 2011 issue

of the Oprah Magazine. Cute right?

I used it as my muse.

To my D-I-Y clutch, I attached some brooches that I

made out of bold-colored felt & covered buttons.

Then I added a felt sash, a plastic buckle & Velcro closure.

TADA! My bag is in full bloom!

From Dining Room to Dressing Room

As much as I like crafts and fashion, I love things

for the kitchen and dining room too.

Utensils, tumblers, plates, platters, napkins

and placemats always help to achieve a look

for daily meals or for entertaining.

Here's one of many placemats in my arsenal:

Not exactly blah. In fact, I found it so TADA!,

I decided to use it for something else.

I turned it into a clutch!

TADA!

Here's how I did it:

I folded the placemat into thirds.

I sewed the sides of the bottom fold with

sturdy thread or fisherman's twine.

On the top fold, I attached an accent (this is

really a buckle). You can pin on a brooch or sew on

a big button too. A small strip of Velco acts as a

closure mechanism.

I wonder if anyone will guess that this is placemat

when I wear it with my little black dress? *Wink*