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The Elkhorn Flea and a Pumpkin Patch

Big strides were made over the weekend, starting with our home’s garden unit! You might remember that we’re turning our former two-flat into a single family home, but we also have a finished basement that we’ve been avoiding since our July move-in… until recently. We’re working with the city on some zoning restructuring (and once we can share more details on that learning process, we definitely will!), and in the meantime, we logged many, many man hours – these two! – on Saturday. We’ve been cleaning, spackling, de-bugging and replacing closet doors. We vacuumed bread crumbs from the cabinets and somehow filled an entire trash bin. We stared at the former owner’s shortcuts and cursed, loudly and often.

It was trying at times, and there may have been tears shed (me) followed by we can do this! speeches (him).

As a reward for our hard work, we hit the sack by 10PM like the two, old aching back DIY-ers we are, because at 5AM on Sunday morning our alarm would go off – but for good reason! Sunday morning, we packed our camera, fueled up on pancakes (in our usually bustling neighborhood diner) and hit the road for Wisconsin. We were going to the Elhorn Flea Market!

It was the last one of their summer season, and we’d been meaning to go all year – but then we bought a house, and well, the crumbling walls and ceilings took priority. Because we’re in the limbo stage of construction – and because we craved a much needed change of scenery – we took to Elkhorn like kids on Christmas. Held at the Walworth County Fairgrounds, this flea is unlike any we’ve ever been to. It was huge. The sun was in full force, booths of stuff abound, happy people bustled, and the smell of coffee, bratwursts, and fried foods came from every direction.

You guys, I wore a fanny pack with nothing in it but cash and lip gloss. (It promise it was not your mother’s fanny pack, although I realize that’s up for debate.) We meant business; I had to keep these arms free for browsing.

It’s frightening how much can happen before noon when you wake up early enough; by 11:30, we’d been at the flea for over 3 hours. While we had been on the lookout for light fixtures, a rug and some living room chairs (none of which we found), we did load the car with other loot (we’ve been doing that a lot lately!) – all of which was found in the first 30 minutes of our time at the fairgrounds.

By noon, we stopped for cheap fuel, a couple cases of our favorite beer, and a pumpkin patch! When we passed it – Wisconsin is magical, we tell you – Scott half-jokingly asked if I wanted to pick a pumpkin or two. Um, yes, please!

By early afternoon (and a cat nap later for this girl), we had finally made it home. And if you’re wondering, well, what did you get, what did you get? Here’s a better look at what was on that cart:

Those dining chairs! It’s so hard to think that far ahead, but after publicly announcing to our friends that we’d host the annual Friendsgiving dinner, we knew we’d need somewhere to seat them. (Now, where to find the table?) They’ll need a quick wood refresh, but other than that, they’re golden. To say we’re obsessed with them is an understatement. Even after we spent the rest of our day in the garden unit (again), we’d randomly say to each other, remember when we bought those chairs? Ah, good times.

Scott had been on the hunt for the just-right vintage fan (they’re a dime a dozen at most flea markets), but this one fit the bill perfectly. And when the same vendor had an antique “lap desk,” Scott insisted this was just the thing for painting my mini portraits; I had been resisting an easel for years, because I prefer a more reclined surface. This guy, though? It’s changing my life already. It slides up and down in almost any direction, or it can lay completely flat and boost up, if all I needed was a little lift. (You know?)

We also scooped a Paul Simon record that had been on Scott’s wishlist for a while (man, we are seriously missing our turntable), a Thin Lizzy album (because why not?), and a vintage Coach purse (that I can’t stop staring at).

I’m thinking half-day trips should be on the agenda more often. Scott?

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  • K10.1.13 - 7:13 AM

    flea market AND reno in one day!? I’ll say that’s productive! And man, stuff never looks that cute and appealing when I go to flea markets/ thrift shops/ yard sales. You guys have an eye for it!ReplyCancel

  • Hannah K.10.1.13 - 7:24 AM

    I want to see a photo of the fanny pack!!!

    Seriously awesome finds. You’re right…those chairs = amazing.

    I thought that was Scott in the bear’s shirt (holding the letters) and COULD NOT figure out why he had a baby strapped to him…ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.1.13 - 8:13 AM

      K, thanks!

      Hannah, the fanny pack was undocumented! It might have exploded the blog. Also, no, no, no, baby.ReplyCancel

  • Rachel10.1.13 - 8:19 AM

    WOW I love your treasures! Those chairs are gorgeous and the fan is just perfect! I can’t wait to see how your garden is coming along also (and is it bad that I’m in bed before 10pm each day even without diy’ing all day haha).ReplyCancel

  • Kim10.1.13 - 8:21 AM

    Rachel, nope, we love sleep as much as you do! Zzzz.ReplyCancel

  • It looks so dreamy there! That fan is in great condition. I bought a Zero fan for $5 at an estate sale, but those blades look pretty rust-free… great find!ReplyCancel

  • Angela10.1.13 - 9:28 AM

    You just made me so homesick for Wisconsin. It is magical, especially the Spotted Cow. We drive up from Atlanta every Christmas just so we can return with several cases.ReplyCancel

  • Oooh watch out. Vintage fans have a way of multiplying. We started with one and I think we’re up to 4 (all in working order and being used). You’ve been warned ;)

    LOVE the chairs!ReplyCancel

  • Kim10.1.13 - 9:47 AM

    Kimberly, that’s a steal!

    Angela, we picked up 2 cases, but I’m thinking we should have gone for 4…

    Heather, I don’t doubt it! Although admittedly, I’ve always been a little fearful of them after I almost chopped off my finger on one.ReplyCancel

  • Laura at Rather Square10.1.13 - 11:27 AM

    I love your finds! The lap desk thingy looks like such a nice setup to work on paintings. Seems like you had a really fun little trip – and it was a good break from all the house reno stuff. I’ll have to check out that flea market next year – we’ve been talking about going to one once our house is a little more set up.ReplyCancel

  • Kim10.1.13 - 11:37 AM

    Laura, definitely worth the trip from Chicago!ReplyCancel

  • Jessica10.1.13 - 12:27 PM

    Ah.mazing. We need to find a flea like this near us! And Coach purse pic? I definitely need to see that!ReplyCancel

  • Nicole T.10.1.13 - 1:15 PM

    How much do you want for these chairs??!?! I am in love! You and Scott did a great job!ReplyCancel

  • Jessica@CapeofDreams10.1.13 - 3:19 PM

    I vote we bring back the fanny pack! I am always in danger of losing my purse and becoming a victim of identity theft because I set my purse down all over the place and forget about it. If fanny packs were haute couture, I would not have this problem.ReplyCancel

  • Caitlyn10.1.13 - 3:25 PM

    Fantastic finds! I love virtual thrifting… although I love your finds so much I kinda wish this had been IRL instead and it was me doing the shopping :)ReplyCancel

  • Julia @ Cuckoo4Design10.1.13 - 7:17 PM

    I always enjoy looking at your photos so much! They are once again gorgeous!ReplyCancel

  • Jillian10.1.13 - 7:19 PM

    SAWEEET daddy dog!!!!! you owe me a pic of that purse, lady! i will remind you a 3rd time if i’ve gotta!ReplyCancel

  • Kim10.1.13 - 8:43 PM

    Thanks, guys!

    Nicole, one million dollars.

    Jessica and Jillian – I suppose I should have taken a photo of it, too! Bad blogger.ReplyCancel

  • jenn aka the picky girl10.1.13 - 11:14 PM

    Don’t know that I’ve ever been as jealous of anything as I am of those chairs…ReplyCancel

  • Kati from so happy home10.2.13 - 11:56 AM

    I’m insanely jealous of your drafting table. And your pumpkin picking. I’m glad you guys got away from the reno, even if only for a few hours. It can make all the difference.ReplyCancel

  • Kate10.5.13 - 4:03 PM

    This flea market is THE BEST. My mom used to live right down the road from it, and my aunt would drive over from Michigan a few times a year and we’d trek all over the grounds for hours at a time. I hope you also ate a chocolate eclair from the ladies under the awning in back – if not, next time for sure!ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.6.13 - 11:03 AM

      Kate, ooh, we didn’t have a chocolate eclair, but DEFINITELY next time!ReplyCancel

  • Melissa10.7.13 - 1:59 PM

    I found the same fan just last year. Love the colors!ReplyCancel

  • Margaret11.1.13 - 3:02 PM

    I am drooling over all your finds! Love them!! Those chairs I want in. my. house. now!! :)ReplyCancel

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