Flea Market Style

Reader Projects from the Fall FMS!

2012-02-01T04:30:00.000-06:00

One of the many great things about Flea Market Style magazine readers is that they are a crafty bunch! It wasn't long after the Fall/Winter issue hit the stands that we were hearing from readers who made their own versions of projects and items featured in the mag!

This map art project, by Jane from the Mamie Jane's blog, was inspired by the "For the Love of Old" story on the Jeni and Joel Maus family home in California. She loved the picture below, and used it to guide her to her project, detailed here.

Reader Kim Faucher was similarly inspired by the piece, constructing the artwork below after reading the story. Follow her step-by-step process on Donna Salazar's blog.

The suitcase shelf cover excited lots of readers!

One, Korrie Bastian, was moved to write:

"I *loved* the cover of your Winter issue -- with the suitcase shelves. Just wanted to share that I have re-created them in my home! Thank you for the great inspiration."

You can see her blog post on the project at Red Hen Home.

And Lani Thomas at Creekside Rummager shared her take on the grinding stone lazy susan!

FMS team member Margo ran into this group of readers at one of the recent Round Top/Warrenton Antiques shows in the Coles building. After noticing the FMS project "Sputnik" on a shelf, she introduced herself. Laughter and fun ensued (along with lots of pictures, of course!)

We can't wait to share the latest crop of Flea Market Style projects with you! The end of the wait draws near!

Be sure to check back Monday, when we reveal the cover of the new Spring/Summer issue!

Kim

Reader Inquiry: Where do YOU Shop for the Holidays?

2012-01-27T06:00:00.002-06:00

Vintage holiday wares were plentiful at this late-fall flea market!

We know it's past season, but we wonder, where do you do your ho-ho-holiday shopping?

Flea Market Style is assembling a list of our readers' favorite places to shop for the holidays!

So, spill: Where did you buy your favorite vintage Christmas and Hanukkah gifts this year? Where do you find vintage holiday decorations, tree ornaments and one-of-a-kind presents? Is there a special antiques mall you love? Or an occasional sale with a holiday theme? Did you find that something special at your go-to flea market?

Tell us where your nominee is located (and what's fabulous about it) and what fun things you've found!

If we use your nomination, we may quote you in an upcoming issue of Flea Market Style!

Submit your suggestions by sending an email to fleamarketstylemag@hotmail.com with "HOLIDAY SHOPPING" in the subject line. In your message, please include the name of the antiques mall/occasional sale/flea market/vintage shop and the city and state in which it's located. If you know its website address, write that down, too.

Give us one reason (or more!) you think it's a must-shop antiques mall. Is there one booth you love? Are the prices divine? What unique finds have you nabbed there?

Don't forget to provide your full name and contact information (and your blog/website, if you have them) so we can get in touch with follow-up questions.

Christine

Behind the Scenes: Great Dumpster Dive!

2012-01-26T04:30:00.005-06:00

You already know that junkers are a resourceful bunch. But do you ever tire of seeing just how resourceful? We didn't think so. Neither do we!

Here's a great case in point! Check out that beautiful wood medallion, forlorn, in Lyons, Neb.! Cammie nabbed it from the dumpster of a building owned by an over-enthusiastic saver that was being cleared out. (One of her tipsters alerted her to the stash. Now you know just how far she'll go to find good junk!)

"They had been throwing this out the second story of the building through a door that went 20 feet down to the ground," Cammie said. "I looked out the door and there in a pile of rubble the medallion laid! I had to have it. So we went down and dragged it out!"

Once mounted on a metal stand, it made a stylish, one-of-a-kind screen for the non-working fireplace in Ki's Los Angeles living room (as featured in the Fall/Winter edition of Flea Market Style magazine)!

Now that's junker moxie at work!

Kim

Team Profile: Ki Nassauer!

2012-01-23T04:30:00.003-06:00

Here she is! Flea Market Style's executive editor and virtuoso,

Ki Nassauer!

Shown with her son Tyson, above....

...and daughter Taylor, here, Ki savors her role as Mom to them and architect of the magazine whose spring/summer issue we fervently await!

Here is the last of our weekly FMS team profiles! We hope you've enjoyed meeting us as much as we enjoy working for you! And while her profile appears last, Ki is first in our hearts as she inspires us, and we hope you, daily!

HOME BASE: Los Angeles

FMS JOB: "A lot of some things and a little of everything. Project ideator and designer. Overal over-see-er. Conceptual planner-t0-proofing crazy person. Bookkeeper and keeper of the budget."

"DAY JOB": "That is it...along with my Junk Revolution Community, my Junk Revolution online store and my event, Junk Bonanza."

ALTER EGO: "Mike Rowe's replacement on the TV show Dirty Jobs, with a good singing voice."

"FROM": "Minnesota-born and raised."

FUN FACT: Ki is short for KiAnn

DREAM JOB (BESIDES THIS ONE): "Opening a retail vintage store in LA."

BEDSIDE READING: "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein.

WOULD SAVE IF THE HOUSE WERE ON FIRE: "My black appointment book and pics of my kids."

CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: "Family, friends and horses."

THE PERFECT DAY: "A cup of dark roast coffee, 72 degrees, sunny. A horseback ride in the morning, flea market in the afternoon and dinner with my kids that includes a tall glass of chardonnay."

ON HER iPOD: "I listen to Pandora all day long (contemporary but easy listening while I work)."

IMPORTANT FAMILY/FOLKS: "All of them! I am blessed with the best two kids in the world and family and friends. I am the luckiest gal in the world for sure!"

PETS: "Aunt to Beans and Rigley, my daughter's dogs. Hope to have my own horse again soon along with a dog."

COMFORTABLE CLOTHES: "Jeans, tee, sweatshirt and sneakers."

WILL NEVER BE FOUND: "At a nail salon."

STARTS THE MORNING: "With coffee and more coffee and a glass of juice and a prayer."

GUILTY PLEASURE: Horses and wine

NEVER LEAVES THE HOUSE WITHOUT: "My phone and my black book."

FAVORITE JUNKING HAUNTS: "Nebraska, South Dakota and Iowa with my junking buddy, Cammie. In the middle of nowhere. Neither snow, nor freezing temps, or extreme heat or mosquitoes can dampen my junking spirit!"

NO ONE WOULD GUESS YOU: "Are a bit of a minimalist when it comes to decorating my own place. Can adequately back a trailer, but couldn't parallel park a car 'til they came up with back-up cameras. I hate scents or perfumes in any products."

FAVORITE QUOTES: " 'Those who discourage your dreams have likely abandoned their own.' --Anonymous, and, 'The more you know, the more you know you don't know.' ''

BEST ADVICE: "Be nice to everybody. Everybody. Never take off your rose-colored glasses. That is where you will find your inspiration and creativity."

Ki's outlook is unendingly rosy, because her creative hits just keep on coming! Among them will be the latest issue of FMS, which we hope is not too far off from coming to a newsstand near you!

Kim

Behind the Scenes: Painting Ki's Apartment!

2012-01-19T04:30:00.002-06:00

While the wait continues for the Spring/Summer issue, we thought you might like to see the type of work that goes on behind the scenes in prepping for an FMS story!

These were scenes from Ki's Los Angeles living room, dining room, kitchen and bedroom over the course of several days when readying the piece that appeared in the Fall/Winter issue on decorating her new, post-Minnesota digs.

(She took the advice of pros: Paint a large swatch on several walls, and view it in the light during different times of the day and night to make sure it's what you want!)

It takes a village (of paint colors!) to choose a winner! As listed in the Resource section of the last issue, she ended up with a full phalanx of Benjamin Moore colors: Crown Point Sand, HC 90 in the bedroom, with Woodlawn Blue, HC 147 in the kitchen, dining and living rooms.

Says Ki: "I was hoping for my kitchen to be green but couldn't find a green I liked in the bright sunlight and at night. So I just painted the inside of my open shelves green and used the blue as it looked good all day long!"

The green? Folk Art 528!

We promise you more behind-the-scenes coverage, including posts from the new issue, as soon as it becomes available. We're hoping mid-February!

Kim

Team Profile: Stacey Willey!

2012-01-16T04:30:00.002-06:00

Meet Stacey Willey!

The uber-rockin' art director is responsible for all of those gorgeous layouts, super typographical choices and pages full of incredible design that grace each issue of Flea Market Style (including the one for which we are all waiting patiently!)

She's a Macintosh-driving dynamo, and the subject of today's FMS team profile:

HOME BASE: Urbandale, Iowa

FMS JOB: "Graphic Designer, Art Director and haphazard photographer." Find her at staceywilley.com.

"DAY JOB": Full-time mom to two fabulous kiddos and freelance designer for various publishers.

"FROM": Iowa. Corydon, Iowa to be exact.

ALTER EGO: "A nervous, blabbering idiot in uncomfortable situations. (I so dislike the me that shows up when I am nervous.)

DREAM JOB BESIDES THIS ONE: "Owner of a jet ski/surf board/bicycle rental shop on a beach (any beach). The studio/shop will have old reclaimed flooring, turquoise walls and windows on all four sides with long white linen panels that move softly with the breeze that comes in off the water..."

FAMILY: "Husband, Joe. My kiddos, Claire and Brendan."

PETS: Lucy, the beagle; Tinkerbell, the morkie (Maltese/Yorkie mix and an ornery little stinker at that); Sam, the cat; Emmy and Casey, guinea pigs; and Fish #1, #2, #3 and #4."

COMFORTABLE CLOTHES:

Worn jeans, boots, and Raygun T's.

YOU WILL NEVER FIND HER:

"Eating water chestnuts. I hate nothing in this world, with the exception of water chestnuts."

BEDSIDE READING:

" 'Running Away to Home' by Jennifer Wilson

(Ironic that this is about an Iowan enduring a Croatian winter and not a book about the beach.)"

WOULD SAVE IF THE HOUSE WERE ON FIRE:

"Our kiddos and pets. And my laptop."

CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: "My memory. I remember things in pictures. Probably not a true photographic memory but still. Procrastination. Dancing. Lil Bren and I dance together at least once everyday."

THE PERFECT DAY: "A day filled with my children's laughter while playing in the woods or on the trail searching for fairies or frogs."

ON HER iPOD:

Dan Arbach

Ok Go

Papercuts

The Head and the Heart

The Black Keys

Mumford & Sons

STARTS HER MORNING:

"With NPR and a frappuccino."

ENDS THE DAY:

"Cuddled up with two kiddos, reading and acting out stories/fairy tales before bedtime. And sometimes falling asleep with two kiddos."

GUILTY PLEASURE: "I like to eat bananas with cheese."

NEVER LEAVES THE HOUSE WITHOUT: "My cell phone."

FAVORITE JUNKING HAUNTS:

Walnut, Iowa in June.

Found Things, Des Moines, Iowa

Architectural Salvage, Des Moines, Iowa

NO ONE WOULD GUESS: "I feel claustrophobic when there is someone behind me in line at the grocery store. I think it's partly the fact that their food is so close to mine. And the magazine racks are so close. It's like a funnel."

BEST ADVICE: "Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, 'I'm Possible!' " -- Audrey Hepburn

Stacey makes beauty and inspiration possible for readers, friends and family each day! Keep counting down until sometime in February, when we'll see the latest creation from her and the FMS team!

Kim

Pre-order Your Spring Issue!

2012-01-13T04:30:00.000-06:00

Something to do while you wait for the spring issue of Flea Market Style:

Margo is taking pre-orders here!

Don't forget, she also ships internationally!

Kim

Team Profile: Nancy Polacek!

2012-01-10T04:30:00.000-06:00

Meet Nancy Polacek!

The talented seamstress and go-to project gal is the subject of our latest Flea Market Style team profile! I don't know where that picture was taken, but the three areas of her home that are defacto "sewing rooms" where she creates her fabulous pillows, purses, dog coats, belts and other items from vintage fabrics do not have a brick wall!

HOME BASE: Minneapolis

"FROM": Faribault, Minn.

FMS JOB: "Making 3D models out of Ki' s pencil sketches."

DAY JOB: "Lunch maker/poodle wrangler." Find her work at her Etsy shop.

DREAM JOB: "Frasier's! No question! Wouldn't it be fun to dispense advice without seeing the eye rolls?"

BEDSIDE READING: " 'Still Alice' by Lisa Genova. A horror story about early onset Alzheimer's. I had every symptom until a read the antidote: Nora Ephron's 'I Remember Nothing.' Whew!"

WHAT SHE'D SAVE...: "If the house were on fire and my family and pets showed their mettle by trampling me on their way to safety, I wouldn't save anything! I would love to have a real excuse to redecorate from the ground up."

CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: "Starbuck's Sumatra . Sharp scissors. Cabernet Sauvignon to counter the effects of previous two."

ON HER iPOD: "Bob Dylan. Bruce Springsteen. Motown."

FAMILY: "My mom used to shoo 9 girls to bed and sew our cute, albeit identical, outfits assembly-line style before she went to bed. We always looked pretty well-dressed despite her tight budget in our 1960s line-ups (otherwise known as family photos). Now my kids are the creative influences in my life. My oldest daughter is a letter-press wizard at Printerette Press. My son is an architectural student whose mind is constantly whirring with cool design ideas. New college freshman daughter sends me cool crafting ideas she comes across ( then whips them up herself) and the youngest, 13, is a budding Julia Child who sends her confections off to College Freshman."

PETS: "Two yorkie-poodle mutts named Otis and Rusty. They're great city dogs. Protection? Not so much."

DAILY UNIFORM: "Hasn't changed much in 30 years. Levis, old sweater, T-shirt. Shoes optional."

SHE'LL NEVER BE FOUND: "Hmm, that's a hard one. Eating octopus! Ishda!"

GUILTY PLEASURE: "See three things I can't live without, above."

Knowing Nancy and seeing her creative mind at work is an unitigated pleasure, never a guilty one! Check back next week for the latest FMS team profile...and a behind-the-scenes story!

Kim

The Countdown Begins!

2012-01-09T04:30:00.001-06:00

With the spring/summer issue of Flea Market Style off to the publisher, the countdown begins!

When will it arrive?

Our distributor estimates shipping could begin for small stores by the second week of February and on the newsstand by Feb. 21, but those dates are unconfirmed.

So the wait begins! We'll keep you updated! We, too, can't wait, to see the latest incarnation of Flea Market Style!

Stop back tomorrow morning for the latest FMS profile!

Kim

The Final Magazine Push!

2012-01-06T04:30:00.001-06:00

Only a few loose ends remain to be tied up as the spring issue of Flea Market Style is being "put to bed!"

It's been a few hectic weeks for Ki, Stacey and Christine as they proof, dot the i's, cross the t's and check, doublecheck and check again!

Stacey summarized it this way:

"Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming."

— Dory, from Finding Nemo

Ki was thankful for even the smallest gesture, saying it was "music to my ears when Christine said she would take my copy corrections over the phone and I didn't need to type them in an email"!

Thanks, FMS team, for going the distance!

Now, the waiting begins!

Kim

Team Profile: Tim Luke!

2012-01-02T04:30:00.001-06:00

Tim in action at a charity environmental fund-raiser in Connecticut for the Housatonic Valley Association. Look closely to see Christine Baranski from "The Good Wife" in the background!

Happy New Year from Flea Market Style magazine!

We've teed up four more team member profiles for 2012, starting with collecting expert Tim Luke (whose great piece on Mantiques lured readers into the fall issue)!

Whether appraising on HGTV's "Cash in the Attic" or manning an auction of rock star memorabilia, Tim's wit and charm make short work of the job at hand. Some more fun facts:

HOME BASE: Hobe Sound, Florida

FMS JOB: Antiques and collectibles guru, keeping my finger on the pulse of the market.

"DAY" JOB: Appraiser, auctioneer and president of TreasureQuest Appraisal Group Inc. Conducts appraisals for insurance, estates, divorce, donations and damage claims.

ALTER EGO: Stand-up comic

"FROM": Mentor-on-the-Lake, Ohio

DREAM JOB (BESIDES THIS ONE): "Hosting my own talk show about collecting."

BEDSIDE READING: "A Heartbeat Away"

WOULD SAVE IF THE HOUSE WERE ON FIRE: "My three cocker spaniels: Buster, Dobby and Cocoa."

CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: iPad, iPhone and internet access.

THE PERFECT DAY: "No deadlines; relaxing with the dogs and my husband, Greg; enjoying a nice meal with friends and a great red wine!"

ON HIS iPOD: Beatles, Janet and Michael Jackson, Earth Wind and Fire, Basia and Broadway musicals.

COMFORTABLE CLOTHES: T-shirts, shorts and pool slides

YOU WILL NEVER FIND ME: "Canning my own preserves."

STARTS THE MORNING WITH: "Coffee, Greek yogurt, vitamins and walking the dogs.

ENDS THE DAY WITH: a low-carb snack.

GUILTY PLEASURE: Dark chocolate and red wine.

NEVER LEAVES THE HOUSE WITHOUT: Clean underwear and iPhone.

FAVORITE JUNKING HAUNTS: Thrift stores, outlets and garage sales.

NO-ONE WOULD GUESS HE: was a pre-med major in college.

BEST ADVICE: "Be the change you want to see in the world -- Gandhi."

Watch for Tim in the spring issue of FMS, coming to a newsstand near you soon! And don't forget to mark your calendar for the 2012 Junk Bonanza in Shakopee, Minn., where Tim will be making a guest appearance!

Kim

Team Profile: Karla Cunningham!

2011-12-26T04:30:00.000-06:00

Our Flea Market Style team profiles continue with today's installment on Karla Cunningham!

Seamstress and horsewoman extraordinaire, Karla is one of the talented gals who turn the FMS project ideas into reality, one stitch at a time!

Here's a peek at her uber-organized workroom. Aren't you covetous?!

Karla's smile and her great sense of humor light up any room she graces! Without further adieu, here's Karla!

HOME BASE: Ocala, Florida

FMS JOB: "Go to person when a sewing/idea project needs to be sewn yesterday for the magazine."

DAY JOB: "Multi-taskmaster of the house, husband, flower gardens, stable, animals and two Etsy shops -- Blue Gate Vintage and Remixed Stitches."

ALTER EGO: "Hmmm. Has to be my sister, Ki. Where does she get all those ideas??"

"FROM": "Raised in Minnesota, raised my children in Florida, spent 10 years in Michigan and back now to Florida to retire."

DREAM JOB: "Lucky to have had two! #1. I worked as a visual merchandiser in an upscale casual clothing/bedding store where I had lots of vintage props to use (my first exposure to “junk”). #2. I worked 6 years part time in an exclusive chocolate shop ( where I gained 10 pounds and acquired a love for all things chocolate!)"

BEDSIDE READING: "Favorite authors are John Sanford, Randy Wayne White, Stuart Woods, Robert Parker, to name a few. No bedside book for me, I’d never get any sleep….Once I start a book, nothing, and I mean nothing, gets done until I’ve finished the book."

IF THE HOUSE WERE ON FIRE: "First I’d make sure the husband and animals were safe, then I’d grab my computer and jewelry that was passed down to me from my mother and grandmother."

CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: "Chocolate, family and sunshine ( in no particular order)."

PERFECT DAY: "Sunshine + cool breeze + lake/ocean/river + quiet = perfect day."

ON THE iPOD: "LOL, I’m just happy to finally have gotten high-speed internet and a laptop! Country living can be a bit behind the times."

FAMILY: "DBH -- Dearly Beloved Husband and thirty-something sons Matt, who lives in Australia, and Mike, who lives on a sailboat in Southern Florida (whom I'm very proud of!)"

PETS: "All adopted and re-homed forever. Oliver, our 16 year old cat; Zan, (my son Matthew's 12 year old cat; Mia, our six pound Toy Fox Terrier ( ruler of the cats); and Fillip, my Oldenburg horse that I ride."

COMFORTABLE CLOTHES: "Loose non-designer jeans + Junk Bonanza T-shirt + slip-on shoes + big straw sun hat = comfy outfit!"

WILL NEVER BE FOUND: "To say 'never' !!! When I moved to Florida from Minnesota I said 'I would never live in the cold again.' Well, I remarried and I ended up living in Michigan for 10 years. Brrrrrrrrr. Lesson learned is never to say never to anything!"

STARTS THE DAY: "With 8 hours of sleep, caffeine via a Diet Coke/Pepsi (which usually lasts all day) and a breakfast of protein and carbs."

ENDS THE DAY: "Exhausted."

GUILTY PLEASURE: Ice cream and chocolate

NEVER LEAVES THE HOUSE WITHOUT: "My shoes on."

FAVORITE JUNKING HAUNTS: "Currently the local metal salvage yard and the Mt. Dora Flea Market. Sewing haunt would be S.R Harris in Minnesota. (Ki promises to take me to the LA fabric district if I ever visit). Always open to new fabric places and junk adventures."

BEST ADVICE: "Don't clutter up your life with 'stuff' and new isn’t necessarily better. Look to the past for items that can be recycled and repurposed to give new life. Oops that’s two pieces of advice."

Want to read more of Karla's musings? Check out her blog, Remixed Stitches!

And stay tuned for more profiles and behind-the-scenes stories as we count down to the spring issue!

Kim

Our Best to You!

2011-12-23T04:30:00.001-06:00

Wishing you

all the wonder of the season

as you share and create memories with friends and family.

Wishing you

wonderful celebrations in Flea Market Style!

Ki, Stacey, Christine, Margo, Kim, Tim and Cammie

Team Profile: Margo Arrick!

2011-12-19T04:30:00.005-06:00

We're counting down the days to the latest edition of Flea Market Style! To help you better know the folks behind it, we're sharing a weekly profile. Today, for your reading enjoyment, meet Margo Arrick!

Margo with her husband, "Mr. Roboto," and grown sons Allen and Alex.

FMS JOB: Behind-the-scenes gal Friday. Maintains blog, answers
 emails, sounding board for ideas.BLOGS: about DIY projects and flea market adventures at
 Margo's Junkin Journal.HOME BASE: East Texas
"DAY JOB": "In business with my  husband. We own a small
 electronics company that produces electronic music synthesizers
 and small-scale robotics."
ALTER EGO: "I'd be someone who can pull off the latest fashion
 trends, and not look like
 an absolute fool. Until then, I'll stick to
the T's and jeans."
"FROM": "I wasn't born in Texas but I got here as fast as I could!"
DREAM JOB: Prop buyer for movies and television
ON THE BEDSIDE TABLE: Flea Market Style Magazine
WOULD SAVE IF THE HOUSE WERE ON FIRE: "My dogs,
 my photos, computer and quilts."
CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: Chapstick, chocolate, and family
THE PERFECT DAY: "Wake up without an alarm to an already
 clean house and no responsibilities; then shop flea markets
 in 70 degree weather without getting tired."
PETS: "Three geriatric rescue dogs. Greyhounds Gigi and Lisa and Rikku, a mixed breed."
NEVER WILL BE FOUND: "Shopping  on Rodeo Drive."
STARTS THE MORNING: with a shower
ENDS THE DAY: with prayer
GUILTY PLEASURE: Naps
FAVORITE JUNKING HAUNT:  "Wherever I am :)  No, really,
 I'm blessed to live near First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Texas.
 Other than that I love a good garage sale."
BEST ADVICE: "Quit taking things so seriously, Live and let live
 and be good to each other."
NO ONE WOULD GUESS: "I can recite all the states in
 alphabetical order."

DOG TRIVIA:
Margo has opened her home to several retired racing greyhounds over the years. "Greyhound with an 'e,' not an 'a'. It's like Dalmatian with an 'ian' instead of an 'ion'. I've had both breeds so I'm used to the error in spelling. Greyhound is a form of Great Hound, that's why the 'e'. Dalmatians are orginally from Dalmatia, that's why the 'a. Just a bit of doggie trivia for ya."

Margo, thanks for sharing!

Keep reading! There are more team profiles and behind-the-scenes posts on the way!

Kim

Team Profile: Christine Hofmann-Bourque!

2011-12-12T04:30:00.005-06:00

Writer Christine Hofmann-Bourque and husband Kyle.

Our series of FMS Team profiles continues with writer/wordsmith Christine Hofmann-Bourque!

HOME BASE: Boston

FMS JOB: "I have one of the best jobs as an editor and writer on this magazine: I talk to junkers, vendors, artists, bloggers, authors, and collectors from all over the United States, Canada and England, and they tell me about all the cool things they're selling and finding and creating. Every day I learn something new and add more projects to my "I-have-to-make-that" list. Ki and Stacey and I have many marathon conference calls to brainstorm story ideas, plan photo shoots, and come up with the perfect headlines for our features. Our big problem is trying to squeeze all of Ki's great ideas into one issue."

"DAY" JOB: "More of the same! I write for a wide-range of publications, from college alumni magazines to personal finance magazines."

"FROM": "A small town in Pennsylvania called Hanover. Oh, you haven't heard of it? Have you ever eaten Snyder's pretzels or Utz potato chips? Those tasty treats are made in my hometown."

DREAM JOB (BESIDES THIS ONE): "I'd love to be a singer like Carrie Underwood. Too bad I can't sing a lick."

FAMILY: Husband Kyle

WOULD SAVE IF THE HOUSE WERE ON FIRE: "The charm bracelet my Grandma gave me.''

CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: "My family. The internet. And wine."

THE PERFECT DAY? "Is it wrong to say watching a Lifetime movie marathon on a cold, rainy Sunday? It's probably healthier to say 'Running a half marathon,' but then I'd be lying."

ON YOUR iPOD? "Anything that gets me running (a little bit) faster."

COMFORTABLE CLOTHES: Pajamas and fleece robe

WILL NEVER BE FOUND: "Without a fully stocked pantry. I love to cook."

STARTS THE MORNING WITH: "Diet coke and peanut butter on crackers. Don't judge."

GUILTY PLEASURE: The Real Housewives of New Jersey

NEVER LEAVES THE HOUSE WITHOUT: "My GPS. I've gotten lost in Boston more times than I care to remember."

FAVORITE HAUNT: "I love eBay. I get so excited when I 'win' an item! But then my husband reminds me that I didn't 'win' it, I bought it. Potato, Po-tah-to."

Christine wanted to share this flag made of license plates, a treasured possession made by her sister Jennifer.

Because she is a renter, Christine has opted not to mount this heavy beast on the wall. In the meantime, she's found another great use for

As a memo board for miniature FMS printouts!

"It's a great way for me to figure out what stories are working, what needs to move to another place in the magazine, and what I still need to write!"

Watch later this week for another FMS behind-the-scenes post on producing the magazine! And keep watching for the eight team member profiles to come!

Kim

Team Profile: Kim Yeager!

2011-12-05T04:30:00.006-06:00

Yesterday in a friend's kitchen during the 14th annual mother-daughter sugar cookie frost-fest.

Hello Flea Market Style friends! Our weekly team member profiles are appearing in no particular order (though Ki generously suggested I hit the lineup early to coincide with the launch of my web site and blog. More on that later!)

So here I am, splayed bare by the details!

HOME BASE: Minneapolis

FMS JOB: Blogger, contributor, project-builder, utility player.

"FROM": Williston, N.D.

DREAM JOB: "Living it! In addition to being a team member/blogger for FMS and the Junk Bonanza, I am founder/principal at Lark Nest Design. The decor/styling and refurbishing business is a hat trick; I get to assist clients/play with fabric/perform curbside rescues. (Shameless plug: I've also just started blogging there , and would love you sign on as a follower and visit the Lark Nest Facebook page, in support of a fellow flea marketeer!)"

BEDSIDE READING: A pile of Wall Street Journal clippings and "Panic: The Story of Modern Financial Insanity" by Michael Lewis. Ex-business journalists like me never die, they just shift their interest to nighttime reading."

WOULD SAVE IF THE HOUSE WERE ON FIRE: "Besides family and pets? The door jamb that charts our daughter's growth!"

CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: Sanding deglosser, E-6000 glue, western boots and beautiful fabrics.

ON iPOD: "This presumes I can operate one. I am still trying to prove myself worthy of my smart phone."

FAMILY: Husband, Terry, and daughter Beret Claire, 16, both notably fabulous.

PETS: Rescue cats (Tony) Oliva, 23, and (Joe) Mauer, 17, both notably lazy. (Details for the curious: Yes, Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer was not in the major leagues when this cat was born. They were renamed from the dubious monikers 'Skittles' and 'Misty' when adopted.")

FAVORITE NONPROFIT: Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance

YOU WILL NEVER FIND ME: In the woods during tick season.

GUILTY PLEASURE: Old Law & Order reruns with a glass of Chardonnay.

DAILY UNIFORM: Jeans and boots/grown-up clothes for meetings with decor clients.

STARTS THE DAY: With startribune.com and two fingers of French roast.

NEVER LEAVES THE HOUSE WITHOUT: iPhone, tape measure, paint fan decks, rope and a list of estate sales.

NO ONE WOULD GUESS: "I am a sub-par seamstress. Oh wait, everybody knows that! No one would guess that after a great ride as a working journalist on metropolitan dailies for almost three decades, I am having even more fun now."

FAVORITE QUOTE I TRY TO LIVE: "There are two kinds of people. Those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group. There is less competition there." -- Indira Ghandi.

Thanks for reading! Stand by for more profiles! And remember, the spring edition of Flea Market Style is only three months away!

Kim

Team Profile: Cammie Metheny!

2011-11-28T04:30:00.004-06:00

BACK: Cammie, sons Justin, Jackson, Miles and husband David. FRONT: Daughter Madison and friend Jamin.

We know you are patiently waiting for the spring edition ofF Flea Market Style -- so are we! So starting today, we'll publish weekly profiles of the FMS team, which we hope will help you get better acquainted with the individuals behind the work!

We begin with Cammie Metheny, Ki's talented junking gal pal and the most recent addition to the FMS team. Meet our woman in Nebraska (that's her on the far left, with her four kids, oldest girlfriend and husband, David)!

HOME BASE: Nebraska. Home is in Laurel; the store is in Coleridge. Find her work at Daffadowndilly's and on Etsy.

FMS JOB: Junkoligist, project builder/creator, junk locator, prop provider

"DAY JOB": "Believe it or not, this is my day job. I do this every day!"

ALTER EGO: "I don't think I have one except to be someone with a ton of money so I could help people who really do need help, and give them a second chance at happiness and a better life for themselves and their families."

"FROM": My great-great-grandparents immigrated here from Germany in 1887, and settled in Nebraska near Omaha. I was born and reside in Nebraska. If my husband has his way we will live in Alaska someday."

DREAM JOB (BESIDES THIS ONE): "I think I could sell real estate."

ON YOUR BEDSIDE TABLE: Midwest Living and Where Woman Create magazines

WHAT YOU'D SAVE IF THE HOUSE WERE ON FIRE: "Kids first, then the family pictures that were passed down to me from my grandma and include pictures of ancestors before they came to America. They are all priceless and irreplaceable."

CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: Ice tea, my Dewalt orbital sander and dental picks/floss

THE PERFECT DAY: 60 degrees, sunshine, sweatshirts, crisp leaves, football and family

IMPORTANT INFLUENCE: "My dad, he was a entrepenuer, which may have inspired me to do what I do. He started his logging business when he was 18 and continued till the day he passed, fifty years later. He taught me that working hard for yourself is much more rewarding than working for someone else. It takes a lot more time and effort but the rewards are much bigger in the end."

FAMILY: Husband and four kids: one married, one in college and two in high school

PETS: "Duke: a blue tick hound dog that lives in the barn with the cats, but the cats rule!"

NEVER BE FOUND...: "Drinking coffee, unless I'm with Ki, and then I can only do 1/4 of a cup!"

STARTS THE MORNING: "Checking my email, getting the kids off to school, and checking my to-do list for the day."

ENDS THE DAY: "Making sure everyone is safe and sound, talking to the kids about their day, and telling them I love them, and a prayer to God thanking him for all of them."

GUILTY PLEASURE: Mountain Dew, Pinterest

FAVORITE JUNKING HAUNTS: "These are my secrets. If I tell you I won't be able to find all the cool junk because you will have already been there! I will tell you, though, that most of my contacts are simply from word of mouth; you meet one person who knows another, who knows another. Its a network!"

ADVICE FOR THE WORLD: "Let no day end without words of love, kindness, encouragement and faith."

NO ONE WOULD EVER GUESS: "I am a grandma of two boys, I need glasses and have for several years and still don't have any, that I have been to London and it is the only time I have ever flown on an airplane, I color my hair, I went to beauty school and have an associate's degree in computer programming."

Cammie's need for glasses obviously does not impinge on her talent for seeing and rehabbing good junk!

Watch for another profile next week!

Kim

Bulk Orders? Never Too Early to Place!

2011-11-21T04:30:00.000-06:00

Your thoughts may be trained on your Thanksgiving table, but here's some other great food for thought: It's never too early to place your bulk order for the spring issue of Flea Market Style magazine!

If you are a retail shop and would like to place an order (with a minimum of 25 copies), please contact

Shannon Haggett at RetailVision.

You can email her at shaggett@rvmags.com, call at 802-382-6045 or fax your order to 802-388-1291!

Cross this off your list now so all you have to do is smile with pleasure when your order arrives!

Happiest Thanksgiving to you, dear FMS friends!

Kim

Behind the Scenes: Portland Home Shoot!

2011-11-16T04:30:00.001-06:00

Every photo shoot for Flea Market Style includes a lot of gear! The one in Portland, Ore., in October, was no exception!

A "shot sheet" for each details the types of photos that will help tell the story. Photographer John Granen shot the piece, the last of four homes that will appear in the spring edition!

The southeast Portland townhome featured the owners' vast and varied collections. FMS friend Jill Hinson, who scouted the home, snapped these pictures the day she dropped by the shoot!

"The collections are just very well-displayed. Amazing," Hinson said. "Yummy good! They don't have a lot of square footage but they have a lot of stuff. It didn't look like it, thought. It is just so well-edited and curated and well put together!"

Stylist Bergren Rameson brought her inimitable touches to the job (her first back at work since having a baby, Jill reports!)

The photographer's assistant made a minute adjustment; Jill noted the home was so beautiful it did not need much prepping!

Watch for the rest of the story -- and gorgeous photographs -- in the spring edition (which, if you're counting, is only about three months away!) And click on Granen's and Rameson's links to see more of their great work now!

Kim

Tell Us About Your Oddest Find!

2011-11-14T04:30:00.003-06:00

Flea Market Style wants to know: What is the weirdest, oddest, wackiest thing you've bought at a flea market, tag sale or other vintage sale? We want the details! What was it? How much did you pay? How did you use it?

(We know, this is a challenge you can really sink your teeth into!)

To prime your imagination, we're sharing a picture from one of Ki's oddest finds: a vintage dentist’s suitcase that contained pulled teeth, dentures, tools and instructions!

We look forward to hearing from you, and will share some of the best responses in the spring issue of Flea Market Style!

Just email your response to fleamarketstylemag@hotmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

Kim

Behind the Scenes: Des Moines Redux!

2011-11-12T04:30:00.000-06:00

Yes, the Des Moines trip for the spring issue of Flea Market Style is a pleasant memory! But photos are just now drifting in from all quarters, so I thought you might enjoy one last look at the all-week shoot. It took a lot of time, and so did gathering the photos!

The loft studio was in a beautiful building in the historic district of downtown Des Moines!

Here's what Cammie's truck looked like before she unloaded the first batch of props!

This was home, cluttered home, for a week!

The view from the fourth floor!

When Adam wasn't shooting, he was editing!

When Stacey wasn't editing, she was always on the move!

Shoots can be hazardous! Adam worked on a sliver...

... with some success!

The shoot required some drilling (Ki loves this tool!) ...

... some list-making ...

...some ironing...

...and support from friends! Junkers Jane Hall, far left, and Sara Smith, far right, dropped in from Minneapolis to provide prop support and hugs!

Be sure to check back Monday when we pose a reader query for the spring magazine, and Wednesday, when we share a behind-the-scenes from the Portland home shoot!

Kim

Flea Markets, China-Style!

2011-11-10T04:30:00.001-06:00

Flea Market Style team member Tim Luke recently had an opportunity to check out the flea markets on the streets of Macau and Hong Kong, China!

His mid-October business trip had him auctioneering a sports, entertainment, Hollywood and rock'n'roll memorabilia meet for Julien's.

(Details for you collecting buffs: Highlights included a dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in the move "River of No Return" that sold for $504,000 and Madonna's stage-worn tour bustier from "Who's That Girl," which sold for $72,000.)

In his spare time, he hit the markets! He graciously shares these observations with the FMS readers!

Q: How do the flea markets in Macau and Hong Kong differ from those in America?

A: "Most of the more contemporary stuff like computer cases, ear phones, purses, belts and scarfs are all made in China so they are a bit cheaper because you get them direct. The places that have furniture or Chinese figures and carvings do not allow photography and they like to tell the buyer stories of where the items come from. When I inquired about a piece's age, I was told it was made with old wood, recently, so they still call it an antique, even though it was made recently and the paint appeared to still be wet!"

Q: Do certain markets deal in American collectibles?

A: "Disney characters and music heart throb items were everywhere. China is infatuated with American popular culture and since most of it is made throughout China, it turns up at the markets throughout the country."

Q: Did you seek out certain items?

A: "Being vertically challenged, I fit right in with the height of most Chinese. This helped me find shoes that immediately fit along with pants that did not need to be hemmed!"

Q: Did you purchase?

A: "Yes! Two pairs of shoes, pants and a T-shirt!"

Q: What collectibles did you purchase at the flea markets?

A: "I usually travel light and most of the items like carved wooden figures or other decorative Chinese items were too big to get back. I did find haggling with the dealers in the flea market comical. As I walked from booth to booth, the dealer would quote a price and I had my handy currency converter add to see the dollar value. If I looked interested but started to walk away, the price quoted would drop by half! You could get the knockoff bags, luggage, ties, scarves and just about every kind of knick-knack."

Q: Do you haggle in English?

A: "It was interesting that most people spoke passable English and when it comes to money, they all understand the deal. We used Hong Kong dollars but some also would take U.S. dollars if we were short on local currency."

Thanks, Tim, for your auctioneer's-eye view of these markets!

Kim

Behind the Scenes: The Prop Studio!

2011-11-09T04:30:00.000-06:00

The Des Moines shoot for Flea Market Style only lasted a week, but the FMS team managed to pack a lot in! These are Cammie's snaps from a visit to The Prop Studio, where goodies abound for all of your staging needs!

If you like this kind of thing (and who doesn't?!), it is pretty much Temptation Central!

Love the vintage sign!

Everything is available in multiples...

... and the FMS gang obliged by renting several of almost everything!

Ki and Stacey were all business as they shopped for props!

Stand by for more Behind the Scenes pix coming soon. Next up: a home shoot in Portland!

Kim

Behind the Scenes: Sticks, No Stones!

2011-11-07T04:30:00.002-06:00

Good morning, fabulous fans of Flea Market Style!

Today's Behind-the-Scenes installment is really behind. Or underneath, actually!

Behold, the dump at Coleridge, Neb., a little more than a week ago. It's where Cammie unearthed some raw material for a project that was shot last week in Des Moines for the spring issue.

After running reconnaissance around the pile a few times, she climbed through some briar bushes to extract her quarry!

The most excellent result has already been photographed! Remember this post when you open the new issue, and see if you can spot the project with this unusual provenance!

Kim

Behind the Scenes: Des Moines Shoot!

2011-11-01T04:30:00.000-05:00

It's an action-packed week for the Flea Market Style team, in residence right in the heart of downtown Des Moines! That's the city Art Director Stacey Willey, left, calls home. That's her and Ki, going over a list Monday, the first of five consecutive shooting days for the spring issue!

The location? A fourth-floor studio in a historic building not far from the Capitol.

It is difficult to imagine all this chaos becomes the beauty you'll eventually see, but it does!

Ki, Stacey and Photograher Adam Albright are going full tilt to get it all done, with the help of FMS contributor and gal Friday Cammie Metheny (who this week is working as prop mistriss extraordinaire and candid photog)! She is busy pulling items with which to help style stories yet to be shot, including the contents of that huge box we wrote about a few posts back!

Here, Stacey and Ki are planning a shopping trip for stories two and three.

They'll need yet more props when another project arrives on Wednesday! It's the one I've been working on, and it will be making a road trip soon as it can be loaded and secured for the trip south from Minneapolis!

We can't wait to share these projects with you! Keep watching for more behind-the-scenes fun; this will be going on all week!

Kim

A Fine, Non-Feathered Friend's, New Book!

2011-10-31T04:30:00.001-05:00

A just-released book, "The Birding Life: A Passion for Birds at Home and Afield" (Clarkson Potter, $50), is notable not only for the glimpses into the homes and lives of noted U.S. birders, but also for something else!

Co-author Carol Sheehan penned the hybrid design/birding book with Laurence Sheehan and Kathryn George Precort. Sheehan was the editor in chief during Ki's Country Home magazine years, but that's not all! Flea Market Style's art director and writer, Stacey Willey and Christine Hofmann-Bourque, worked with her, too!

So we tip our collective hat to Sheehan, a fine, non-feathered friend to FMS! And we congratulate her on this latest achievement! If that lovely cover, a pastiche of vintage bird images (some look like the old baking soda collectible cards!), is any indication, there is a lot of lovely content -- photographs are by veteran shooter William Stites -- inside to appeal to those who love all things avian!

FMS wishes her well as sales, holiday and otherwise, begin to take flight!

Kim

Mystery Box Ready to Mail!

2011-10-24T04:30:00.000-05:00

One of the many behind-the-scenes moves in prepping for Flea Market Style magazine is getting the projects ready to photograph, and sending them to where that will happen!

While the spring edition won't be available until perhaps early February, FMS team members are hard at work creating the projects you'll see when you crack the mag's spine to find the bounty within!

Check out this weighty cardboard vessel!

In it are multiple pieces of five kinds of projects, all pieced together by Minneapolis sew-pro Nancy Polacek! That's her trusty Rusty in the foreground. He is one of two canines who caper at her heels while she sews (the not-so-shy-or-retiring Otis did not appear for his cameo when this pix was snapped)!

"I'm pleased with the way it all turned out," Nancy said. "I think I made Ki's drawings 3-D!"

Speaking of dimension, the box was two-foot square and cost $75 to mail to Des Moines, where several shoots are taking place the week of Oct. 31.

Five guesses what's inside!

Kim

Chair Winners...and a New FMS Project!

2011-10-18T04:30:00.000-05:00

Remember these chairs from Flea Market Style mag's fall edition?

They were part of the "Chair Lifts" feature, where three identical $5 thrift store castoffs were transformed with new looks!

We hauled them to the Junk Bonanza in September, where they were featured as giveaways in a drawing at the booth of Arc's Value Village, the nonprofit that owns the thrift store where they were purchased!

We wanted to let you know who the lucky winners are!

Meghan H from Hudson, Wis., who went home with the flirty-skirt bark cloth turquoise chair in the far back; Amy C from Minneapolis, who received the stamped burlap and nickel black chair (in the foreground, barely pictured! The middle chair you see is our ratty "before" example!); and Mamie L from Zumbro Falls, Minn. Mamie won the green chair constructed from a vintage striped camp blanket (with the original blanket stitching!), souvenir flags and a beaded Wall Drug leather belt!

Looking for a fun winter project? Directions for how we transformed these chairs are in the fall edition. We're already hard at work on a new project for the spring magazine, and can't wait to share!

Watch this space for updates and for profiles on the Flea Market Style team, starting soon!

Kim

Behind the Scenes: Cool Suitcase Shelves

2011-10-10T04:30:00.005-05:00

Here's the scoop on how this stack of cool vintage suitcases became oh-so-clever shelving in Ki's new Los Angeles apartment!

The idea:

"It came to me by accident," Ki said. "I was looking through old design books and at a glance saw suitcases on a rack and I thought they were cut down. Not so. They were full suitcases, intact, just stacked on a rack. My eyes played a trick on me. When I realized they were the entire suitcase, I thought, maybe I could cut them off for ledges.

"I got out my paper and markers and sketched a drawing including attaching a wood insert in the back, which works to hang, but also gives the shelf stability. I scanned and emailed to Cammie and she got on it ASAP! I would guess half of my projects turn out the way I envision and this was one of them. Yeah! How-tos are in the back of the September issue!"

The execution:

"We had less than a month to find the cases and they arrived just hours before the shoot at Ki's apartment," said Cammie Metheny, FMS jill of all trades and high priestess of projects.

"Yes, they were cut with a saw. You could use a hand saw, circular saw or a band saw, depending on what you have available. Just make sure and wear eyegear for protection!"

Cammie shopped flea markets and send out the call for suitcases to vendor friends, "except for the blue and white one. It's been hanging around my shop for years, so I thought it was time to give it a new life. Now it lives in LA in a great apartment with a lot of unique items to keep it company. It is alive again in its new life!"

The pitfalls:
"I didn't have a level and hung them all crooked," Ki said.
"I then bought a level
and rehung and yes, patched the holes and repainted!
What is that saying about it
is easy if you own
the right tools?"
Finally, a tip:
"I have vintage plaster walls and since
the suitcase backs have keyhole-style hangers
for a flush mount, I needed to use screws
with anchors, two per suitcase.
Of course, that made changing them even more difficult."
They now are level and very sturdy.
"I dread the day I move out and have to rehang in a new place.
Maybe I will just stay here awhile!"
Whether you are staying put or on the move,
these ledges could give your place, present or future,
some seriously savvy style!
Watch this space for more
behind-the-scenes tales from the latest
Flea Market Style mag!

Kim

Last Call for Reader Vintage Sale Recommendations!

2011-10-05T04:30:00.004-05:00

Last call for reader nominations! The time is now to suggest your favorite vintage sales for the spring issue of Flea Market Style! We’re looking for:

* small sales

* barn sales

* occasional sales

* flea markets.

We want big, small and everything in between! There are only two criteria that must be met: The sale must sell at least 90 percent vintage treasures, and it has to have been operating for at least one year.

Please let us know your suggestions by the end of the day Friday, Oct. 7!

If we use your nomination, we may quote you in the magazine. All submissions should include a sentence or two about what you love about a particular vintage sale. Great prices? Nice vendors? Fantastic food?

To submit your suggestions, send an email to:
fleamarketstylemag@hotmail.com with “FAVORITE VINTAGE SALES” in the subject line. In your message, include the name of the sale, the city and state in which it’s located, and a website or Facebook address.

Don’t forget to provide your full name and contact information (and your blog/website, if you have one) so we can get in touch with follow-up questions.

Christine

Wanted! Your Favorite Vintage Sale Recommendations!

2011-09-28T04:30:00.004-05:00

Photo courtesy of the Boys of Barn House's Summer Country Vintage Marketplace Weekend; shot in the booth of Platanitis Vintage Home & Garden.

If you have a hot-of-the-presses copy of the fall 2011 issue of Flea Market Style magazine, you’ve seen one of our favorite articles: Our readers’ 80 favorite antiques malls from coast to coast (Page 11).

When we asked for suggestions this past spring, we received close to 200 terrific emails. We especially enjoyed the mall descriptions from our readers, like Wendy Abel who described her go-to shopping stop, Antique Company Mall in McKinney, Texas, this way: “This mall reminds me of my Aunt Millie’s home. The building is one-of-a-kind with booths tucked into every nook and cranny and cute little windows with vines growing around them.”

Now, it’s your turn again! For our next issue of Flea Market Style, we want to know your favorite vintage sales. We’re looking for:

* small sales

* barn sales

* occasional sales

* flea markets.

We’re looking for big, small, and everything in-between. There are only two criteria that must be met: The sale must sell at least 90 percent vintage treasures, and it has to have been operating for at least one year.

Don’t forget to provide your full name and contact information (and your blog/website, if you have one) so we can get in touch with follow-up questions.

Christine

Ugly Lamp Contest Fun!

2011-09-23T04:30:00.000-05:00

Remember those 1o great Ugly Lamps from the spring issue of Flea Market Style? They took a road trip last week to the Junk Bonanza in Shakopee, Minn.!

They starred in an Ugly Lamp Contest! Don't you love the Vote Here lampshade? It was designed by Tieran Haskin of Olive & Company, the Bonanza's go-to shop for graphics and design!

Attendees voted during the three-day event!

Do you know which one you would pick?

The owl won it handily!

Check out the Junk Bonanza Blog for more on the ugly lamps, including the name of the, er, lucky winner!

Kim

Behind the Scenes: Getting the Cover Right!

2011-09-22T04:30:00.001-05:00

Choosing a cover for the new Flea Market Style magazine involved an inexact alchemy, but one that's important!

Executive Editor Ki Nassauer said the team starts by looking at every story in the magazine to see which photos could work.

"We started with about a dozen photos, then Stacey [Art Director Stacey Willey] got to work designing covers." she said. "We had about six covers that we really loved; each had a different style and color. Then it was writing cover blurbs that (we hope!) will entice readers to pick the magazine off the newsstand."

Added Writer Christine Hofmann-Bourque: "It's interesting that Ki and I are almost always on the same page visually. I think we ranked our favorite covers almost identically during the creation process. Stacey and Ki and I all agreed from the get-go that this suitcase wall cover was our favorite, so we're super excited that our publisher also agreed that it was the cover winner!"

Ki also used visual aids to figure out how the potential cover would look on the newsstand. "I made sure I used a sheet of paper to cover the full cover as if it was in racks at the newsstand with only the top third and then the left side top half," she said. "Without a subscription base a great cover is crucial."

There are additional considerations when shooting the cover! Senior Editor/photographer Heather Bullard shot the suitcase ledges with items Ki pulled from her own collections.

About that carved wood clown bust? Ki bought it at the Farm Chicks show. You'll remember that Ki has a love of clowns, but not so for many of us! But the carved wood bust looks jauntily at home on the cover. Which just goes to show, there's a really big tent when you're decorating Flea Market Style!

Kim

Spring (Planning) has Sprung!

2011-09-20T04:30:00.002-05:00

We may still be sharing behind-the-scenes stories from the fall edition, but the FMS team is also hard at work on the Spring edition!

Several stories are under way (and some have already been photographed!)

We've got project stories that use common objects in new and interesting ways, including quick and easy ideas that require no tools!

Executive Editor Ki Nassauer is excited about the homes that will be featured, "all with flea market style and spectacular design, and totally different from each other."

We plan to include plenty of reader input, too. So keep watching the blog; we'll send out calls for you to help us out!

Kim

Oh, Baby! FMS at the Bonanza!

2011-09-18T16:00:00.000-05:00

Among the many uber-special creations at the just-ended Junk Bonanza are the incredibly fun and whimsical "baby dolls" that vendor Sara Smith creates.

Smith, who operates the Seasons in Carver (MN) occasional sale, brought several doll head/tin can creations to the Bonanza, each more clever than the last. Loved the cocoa can gal with measuring spoons for arms! Or the global doll with rollers for feet and a map tucked in to her sidepack!

This one was all about Flea Market Style magazine, but Sara didn't want her dolly photographed until her "magazine" was duly signed by Executive Editor Ki Nassauer!

Done! And so, finally, good golly, miss dolly! You're a keeper!

Kim

On Location at the Junk Bonanza

2011-09-16T15:22:00.015-05:00

Flea Market Style never sleeps!

The ink is barely dry on the September issue, and the team is hard at work on the spring edition!

This week, it's on location at the Junk Bonanza in Shakopee, Minn., shooting a large spread for spring. It's a natural synergy: Ki Nassauer, the mag's executive ed, also heads the Bonanza, in its sixth year, the Midwest's Best Junk Round-up with more than 130 juried vendors of vintage treasures, salvaged finds, antiques and junk.

That's Dean Riggott of Dean Riggott Photography on the ladder, one of the many talented photographers with whom FMS contracts to help produce the magazine for which you wait with such anticipation!

And, while we can't share with you the exact reason why he was up on that ladder (and that's why the photo is cropped from the bottom!), you'll have to take our word for it that it was to secure some shots for a feature we know you'll savor!

(And, after all, aren't we an incredibly credible source?!)

Signing off from the Junk Bonanza for today, and wishing you a wonderful weekend, full of fun and great flea market style! Catch all the Junk Bonanza fun on the JB blog, where we're posting throughout the day!

Kim

Follow the Junk Bonanza on the Blog!

2011-09-14T04:00:00.002-05:00

Calling all lovers of Flea Market Style who are not attending the Junk Bonanza, starting tomorrow!

The Bonanza, the Midwest's Greatest Junk Round-up, is Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Shakopee, Minn. FMS Executive Editor Ki Nassauer also founded and heads the Bonanza, and she'd love for you enjoy it vicariously if you can't be there!

Just follow the Bonanza blog!

As scribe for the Junk Bonanza as well as FMS, I'll be posting each day from Canterbury Park, bringing you the swag, the sights, the bling and the might of all that cool vintage assembled under one roof, via the Junk Bonanza blog!

Join us for the fun!

Swing by the blog and sign on to follow on the right-hand sidebar. You'll get alerts when posts go up!

We look forward to giving the Bonanza a taste of Flea Market Style!

Kim

Behind the Scenes: Final DAZE Part 2

2011-09-12T04:30:00.007-05:00

Blue-line proofs of the issue before fixes are made and the issue goes to press!

The feverish final weeks of production on the fall issue of Flea Market Style magazine elicited myriad reactions from members of the FMS team!

From writer Christine Hofmann-Bourque:

"It's crazy! Not sure how it's all going to get done in 15 days. Gulp!!!"

From Senior Editor/photographer Heather Bullard:

"It's the usual blur of fact-checking, the occasional photo swap, rewording. And there are lots of resources to be credited."

From Art Director Stacey Willey:

"Oh my goodness! I wish I had photos of my office on the 15th, the day after I Fed-Ex'd the magazine and the day we left for a week in Colorado. I had 9 hours of sleep in the three days prior to leaving that Friday afternoon. I think I am still in a daze. Oy!!"

(see an expanded, earlier post on Stacey's wild rides pre- and post-mailing here.

From Cammie Metheny, who helped stage and build, proofed pages and compiled resources:

"I'm looking forward to a small break. Very small. We're already talking spring 2011!"

And finally, from Executive Editor Ki Nassauer:

"The manuscript deadline was July 15 in New York, to be on the publishing director's desk. That week I spent most of my waking hours at the computer reading and re-reading copy. So many little details. Not my favorite part of the process!

"Did everyone get credit in resources? Are the right letters on the corresponding how-to instructions? Are the page numbers matching up to each other including table of contents, how- to resources and run-over copy?

"Emails whizzed back and forth as Christine and Stacey made the corrections. I carried my cell phone with on the farm (even to the bathroom) to be sure I didn't miss a single email and stayed up way past my bed time so I was available for questions. Stacey, a busy mom, tends to work into all hours of the night.

"As the emails flew back and forth an occasional joke would slip out and were able to keep it light even though we were all stressed to make our deadline. I think we were at least 20 minutes ahead of the last issue for meeting our deadline!"

We're so glad they did!

(This is a good time to note that life is relatively stress-free when you're on the blogging end of the operation. The deadlines are much more forgiving!)

Check back for more behind-the-scenes glimpses, including posts to come on the fabulous cover shot suitcases and the "science" of choosing a cover!

Now the team is hard at work on the spring issue, so you'll soon have more fabulous Flea Market Style to love!

Kim

Behind the Scenes: Final DAZE, Part 1

2011-09-07T04:00:00.001-05:00

Now that the September issue of Flea Market Style has arrived, we can share some of the fun with you that went into the mag. Or, more precisely, some of the hectic moments!

Today's post is in the words of Art Director/Super Mom Stacey Willey, who neglected to shoot a picture of her office before the mag went to press. She offers this simulation, above, minus all of the "frappes and Gatorades" and a floor covered in magazines and paper!

Stacey's recount of the calm before the storm:

"There is always a period of mass chaos when I am working on a publication. I bury myself in a *hole* during the initial stages of research -- looking for the perfect font or glyph that I need for a feature or during those last few long days and late nights before shipping a publication to the printer. I spread out and take over my entire office and sit in one snug corner of it.

"My kiddos walk though the office and slide on magazines across the floor; my apprentices (Lucy and Tink - the ones you see happily working in this photo) try to find a bare spot on the floor to rest while Sam, the cat, usually sleeps behind the monitor in that *sunny* patch of light; empty frappuccinos and Gatorades dance across the back of my desk; and cereal bowls of past dinners are stacked nicely in a corner. This is what my usual chaos looks like.

"This summer, however, was a different kind of chaos. The day after FMS shipped to the printer, we left for a weeklong Colorado vacation to do some riding, hiking and biking in Boulder and Breckenridge. I shipped FMS Thursday night at 5:50 with 10 minutes to spare (or I would have had to drive to the airport to catch the Fed Ex plane.) Then, I went home to finish packing myself and two kiddos so we could take off at 3:00 a.m. for Colorado the next day.

"I had things gathered for the trip in every room of the house. I was also pretty tired since I had three late nights - up till 2:00, back in the morning at 6:00 - prior. However, my husband, the kiddos and I made it to Colorado and had the best time.

"The day after we got home from Colorado, we hopped on Ragbrai for a weeklong bike ride across Iowa. Silly? Insane?

"Well, perhaps, but it gave me some good thinking time about the next issue of FMS. I noticed fonts on billboards, restaurant menus, maps....icons that I sketched out on my forearm or thigh so I would remember my thoughts. I came home fully rested and ready to dig in on the next issue of FMS.

"As for that messy office...Well, I am sitting here surrounded by a new mess of chaos: The dogs are sleeping peacefully at my feet and I have research spread from wall to wall. This is a whole new mess, though.

"So, the next issue of FMS begins. I cannot wait to show you what's up our sleeve next."

While you're still savoring the fall edition, the FMS team is already hard at work on the spring issue!

Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes looks at putting this issue to bed, and beginning work anew!

Kim

Beating the Heat at the 2011 Junk Bonanza

2011-09-05T12:01:00.001-05:00

As a member of the Flea Market Style team, each year I look forward to my northward trek to the Junk Bonanza in Shakopee, Minn. It is flea market central! As a victim of the great Texas Heat wave of 2011, I'm praying for nice Fall-ish temperatures like we had last year.

I not only thrill to browsing all the fabulous junk, picking out my favorite smalls to ship back home and marveling at the amazing displays...
I also meet new friends each and every time.

Last year I had fun hanging with Tamara from Australia and we met up with these lovely ladies from Junk Fest and elsewhere. We all had a great lunch at Bachman's, after touring the Ideas House that Ki and Cammie had worked on.

Cammie is also on the FMS team and is an extraordinary finder of fabulous junk!

Some other things to do at the Bonanza:

Visit the Junk Revolution store, operated by Ki's sister Karla and her daughter Taylor. Many of the sewn items you see in the store and in the magazine are Karla's creations.

Magazine signings of the September issue of Flea Market Style with Ki, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thu and Fri, Sept. 15-16 and at 11 a.m. Sat the 17th.

Lucky Friday, where attendees can register for hourly drawings for coupons totaling thousands of dollars from more than 40 generous vendors and businesses! Each coupon is valued at at least $50 and can be redeemed for merchandise Friday and Saturday with the donating vendor. Corporate donors Dunn Brothers Eden Prairie, General Mills, Gorilla Glue, Howards Products, Junk Revolution, Tomboy Tools, Sever's Corn Maze and Fall Festival and Vintage Textile Soak have also given generously. Check out the list of participating vendors on the Bonanza blog.

This year I'm looking forward to bringing home not only junk but new friendships, too!

Say hello if we pass! I love talking with readers and fellow junkers. You never know, you might be on my "new friends" list for next year.

Blessings, Margo

Where in the World is FMS--Fall Edition!

2011-08-30T04:30:00.002-05:00

Have you found your Flea Market Style yet?!!

Copies of the fall edition are just starting to trickle in to stores and newsstands!

They're packed with great ideas and fun reads (and directions for those cute suitcase shelves on the cover. Watch for a behind-the-scenes post on those soon!)

In addition to independent newsstands, small retail shops and grocery stores, watch for your copy at stores such as Target, Home Depot, Barnes & Noble, Lowes, Walmart, Walgreens and CVS.

The magazine is available in the United States and Canada, and Margo will also ship internationally. You can order a copy here!

Let us know where you are looking...and where you are finding!

Kim

FMS at Oronoco: The Stuff!

2011-08-21T04:30:00.009-05:00

Flea Market Style has enjoyed its visit to the Oronoco Gold Rush! The more than 400 vendors with more than 1,200 antique and collectible booths, in Oronoco, Minn., is providing a visual feast for flea marketeers!

We loved the truckload of giant plastic animals and everything else! Here's a smattering of what else we saw:

Stacks and stacks of grain sack linens and bark cloth from Vintage Fabrics & Etc. in Oakland Park, Fla. ...

Chairs with attitude ...

A very cool birdhouse from Farmhouse 1807 in Caledonia, Mo....

Lots of cool architectural salvage...

Statuesque statuary...

Plenty of collectibles of all kinds!

Today is the last day of the three-day event! We find that bittersweet...and we found bittersweet in Oronoco, too!

Be sure to zip over to the Junk Bonanza blog later today for even more pictures of the stuff that roared at Oronoco!

And keep watching! The new fall issue of the FMS mag should be hitting newsstands by the end of this month!

Kim

FMS at Oronoco: First Mags Arrive!

2011-08-20T06:49:00.002-05:00

It's here! In some places!

The fall edition of Flea Market Style magazine is starting to ship for pre-orders, and Executive Editrix Ki Nassauer arrived at the Oronoco Gold Rush with several boxes in hand!

Stop over and say hi today, if you like; she's signing copies and dishing info on the latest mag (found in a few weeks on a newsstand near you!)

Friday found lots of folks stopping by for a copy and taking a few minutes to chat!

Ki is at the Junk Bonanza booth, in its new location at A 15/22, located on First Street NW, one booth up from Minnesota Ave. You can see a map here:

http://www.goldrushmn.com/oronoco-maps.php

If we don't see you here, we look forward to seeing you at the Junk Bonanza in September!

Kim

Our List of FMS Team Giveaway Winners!

2011-08-18T04:30:00.011-05:00

Don't go into a swoon,or anything, but our week of giveaways to honor the arrival of the new Flea Market Style magazine is complete!

Here is our list of lucky winners, chosen by random number generator:

Giveaway #1, Karla's Mod Utility Apron:

Kim Jenison

Giveaway#2, Margo's Cool Lace Necklace:

Lori Iwen

Giveaway #3, Kim and Nancy's Retro Pillow:

Danielle Herbert

Giveaway #4, Ki's $50 Gift Certificate:
Scrap for Joy

Giveaway #5, Cammie's 4-pack of Goodies:
Gayle

All winners have been contacted.

Thanks to all who participated! And we hope you'll all feel like you've won the prize in the CrackerJack box once the new issue arrives, on newsstands near you by the end of the month!

Kim and Margo

FMS Goes to the Oronoco Gold Rush!

2011-08-17T11:00:00.004-05:00

Flea Market Style mag has packed up its kit bag and is headed to the Oronoco Gold Rush Days!

The Gold Rush, a premiere antique and flea market in Oronoco, Minn., features more than 1,000 treasure-filled spaces throughout the community. It starts Friday, Aug. 19 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 21, and FMS Executive Editor Ki Nassauer will be on hand Friday and Saturday to sign magazine copies. We're keeping our fingers crossed that the new fall edition will have arrived in time! Regardless, she'll be well-stocked with spring issues and a pen at the ready!

There will be a posted signing schedule (because of course Ki will want to sneak in some shopping while she's there!) but if she's out, she'll keep a stack of signed copies available.

Find Ki at the Junk Bonanza booth, in its new location at A 15/22, located on First Street NW, one booth up from Minnesota Ave You can see a map here:

http://www.goldrushmn.com/oronoco-maps.php

The Gold Rush is a longtime community nonprofit that channels profits back to community projects. Oronoco is in southeastern Minnesota, eight minutes north of Rochester, Minn., home to the Mayo Clinic, and 45 minutes south of Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Sign me, in anticipation of happy junking,

Kim

We Have a Junk Bonanza Winner!

2011-08-17T04:30:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all who participated in the special Junk Bonanza giveaway for Flea Market Style friends!

The prize of two VIP tickets to the Junk Bonanza, along with a junking hat, tote and a copy of the new issue of Flea Market Style magazine goes to:

Denise Sabia at The Painted Home in Ambler, Pa!

Congratulations, Denise! We hope you enjoy your swag! And for those of you didn't win, you can always purchase your Early Bird tickets through the Junk Bonanza site or general admission tickets at the door of the event, Sept. 15-18!

And...for any of you who plan to visit the Oronoco Gold Rush days in Oronoco, Minn., this week, Aug. 19-21, you'll have another chance to win the same package! Just register at the Junk Bonanza booth!

The Bonanza booth has a new spot, A 15/22, located on First Street NW, one booth up from Minnesota Ave You can see a map and other details here:

http://www.goldrushmn.com/oronoco-maps.php

Hope to see you there!

Kim

Giveaway #5:Cammie's Fabulous Four-Pack!

2011-08-16T04:30:00.008-05:00

Cammie Metheny, junker, carpenter/craftsmith, hauler and all-around Woman Friday for Flea Market Style and the Junk Bonanza, offers this four-fer of great gifts for you!

It's the fifth and final team giveaway to honor the newest issue of Flea Market Style magazine, which should be on newsstands by the end of the month!

Here's the swag: An olive green transferware plate, a white ironstone pitcher, an old silver cup embossed with flowers and a vintage rhinestone pin! This charming clutch of gifts has been collected over time by Cammie, who operates Daffadowndilly's in Coleridge, Neb. She likes the way they all look together, and says ironstone and transferware, plus old silver and a "tiny bit of glitter" make a stunning presentation.

They can all be yours! Just leave a comment here by 10 p.m. Central Standard Time tonight, Tuesday! Leave us enough information to contact you if you are a winner!

Thanks for stopping by. We know you'll be as excited as we will be when the latest FMS actually arrives! We'll let you know when the first issues are spotted!

Kim

Giveaway #4: Ki's $50 Gift Certificate

2011-08-15T04:30:00.007-05:00

You love Flea Market Style mag!

You love junk and vintage!

And you love a good giveaway! So consider this a hat trick!

To celebrate the arrival of the fall issue of the mag (which should be on newsstands at the end of this month,) executive editor Ki Nassauer has ponied up a $50 gift certificate to use at her Junk Revolution store, plus free shipping in U.S.!

What's in store? All manner of fabulous junk-themed apparel, accessories, jewelry, totes and, coming soon, even coffee mugs! Start making your mental checklist in case you are a winner.

How you can become one: Just leave a comment on this post by 10 p.m. Central Standard Time tonight, Monday. We'll pick a winner through a random number generator and notify you next week. Be sure to leave us enough information with which to contact you!

That makes four of five fab giveaways from the FMS team! The next is coming tomorrow, so be sure to stop back for your chance to win that, too!

Kim

Giveaway #3: Kim and Nancy's Retro Pillow!

2011-08-12T04:30:00.012-05:00

Here's our third team-member giveaway to thank you for reading (and anticipating the arrival of!) the fall issue of Flea Market Style. (Which will be arriving on a newsstand near you in a few short weeks!)

This 22-inch by 14-inch, high-quality feather pillow insert is encased in fabulous vintage drapery panel fabric. The fabric was espied and purchased during a Junk Bonanza team foray at the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena, Calif., this winter! Then, sew pro Nancy Polacek, one of the FMS go-to seamstress gals, put her inimitable touches on it for me to retail through my Lark Nest Design business.

But the vintage fabric and repurposed zipper on this thing were just so right for the FMS giveaway that I had to share! Pastels don't generally move me, but the combo in these drapery-panels-turned-pillows, accented with gold, was so stunning I could not resist. It's got a wonderful hand, too.

So, here's the important part: This pillow could be rockin' your home in no time at all!

All you have to do is, leave us a comment on this post by 10 p.m. Central Standard Time tonight, Friday! We'll pick a winner through a random number generator!

Make sure you've left us enough information with which to contact you if you are the winner! We'll notify you next week.

And don't forget to return to the blog next week, when we have two more great giveaways, from Ki and Cammie!

Want to see more of Nancy's work? You can cruise her etsy shop here. You'll be able to learn more about Lark Nest Design, my interiors and rehabbed junk decor business, once the site is up and running, at the end of this month. But feel free to stop by for a peek at the home page now!

And, as always, thanks for reading Flea Market Style!

Kim

Giveaway #2: Margo's Cool Lace Necklace!

2011-08-11T04:30:00.008-05:00

The Flea Market Style team members continue to open their workshops for giveaways as the countdown continues to the new fall edition of the FMS mag!

This necklace, from Margo of Margo's Junkin' Journal, is made from layers of old doilies,

perfect with jeans for an evening out, or even bride-appropriate. Made by Margo, no two are alike!

The lace on this one is 4 inches wide, 1.5 inches deep and decorated with sweet rhinestones. The entire piece is about 17 inches long.

Want to enter to win?

Leave us a comment on this post by 10 p.m. Central Standard Time tonight, Thursday. Make sure we have enough information to contact you.

Winners will be announced next week!

You can see more of Margo's Jewelry creations in her etsy Jewelry Boutique, here! And don't forget to come back tomorrow for more of several great giveaways!

Kim

Giveaway #1: Karla's Utility Apron!

2011-08-10T04:30:00.011-05:00

Welcome to the first of several giveaways from FMS team members in honor of the
Fall Edition of Flea Market Style Magazine!

We are so happy to offer this giveaway to you, and hope you are as excited as we are about the new mag, on newsstands by the end of the month!

Ki's sister, Karla, offers this newly re-designed utility apron, with lots of pockets an an adjustable buckle back, for you, the reader! See more at her etsy shop, Remixed Stitches!

The seven-pocket half-apron is rendered in vintage '70s floral mod print fabric and trimmed with mini-ball fringe. Two of the pockets are secured with a zipper for keeping money and valuables safe!

Should you not win, you can always find this apron at Karla's etsy store and at the Junk Bonanza in the Junk Revolution store!

To enter, just leave us a comment on this post by 10 p.m. Central Standard Time tonight, Wednesday. Make sure we have enough information to contact you.

Winners will be announced next week!

Margo

The Fall FMS Cover Reveal!

2011-08-09T04:30:00.003-05:00

While the countdown continues before the newest issue of Flea Market Style hits the newsstands (a few weeks or maybe less!), we are busting our proverbial buttons to share the new cover with you!

Don't you love the nifty, suitcase shelving?

(That's a wall in Ki's Los Angeles front room, and just wait until you see what other great vintage ideas she's got going on there!)

This cover was the favorite pick of Ki, Art Director Stacey Willey and Writer Christine Hofmann-Bourque, as well as the publisher, from six potentials. We'll post later about the amazing work, detail and expertise that goes into choosing a cover, but for now, well, we just wanted to let the visuals do the talking!

And don't forget: In honor of the almost-here 144-page mag, our special
week of giveaways starts Wednesday!

Kim

Junk Bonanza Giveaway for FMS Friends!

2011-08-08T04:30:00.004-05:00

Did you know that Flea Market Style's Executive Editrix Ki Nassauer has another little project that keeps her hopping?

She operates the annual Junk Bonanza, the Greatest Junk Round-up in the Midwest! This year's event, Sept. 15-17 in Shakopee, Minn., brings together more than 130 juried vendors of select vintage treasures, junk and antiques. Last year more than 10,000 visitors enjoyed this rich shopping experience.

The Bonanza wants to share the bounty with a great giveaway for readers of Flea Market Style magazine!

Ki is giving away a Junk Bonanza tote stuffed with these goodies:

* Two VIP tickets, good for entry all three days of the event including the Early Bird opening, two hours before general admission on Thursday!

* A hat from the Junk Revolution store!

* The latest issue of Flea Market Style, which should begin rolling off the presses soon!

Entering could not be easier! Just leave a comment on this post by 8 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday. Aug. 12! We'll choose the winner by random number generator, so be sure to make sure we can contact you to let you know you've won!

At that time, you can tell us where to mail your stuff, which we'll do as soon as the new copy of Flea Market Style arrives!

Want to learn more about the Bonanza? Check out the site and blog, where profiles of individual vendors are running several times a week! And take a moment to sign on as a follower at junkbonanza.blogspot.com. We'd love to keep you updated on all things Junk Bonanza!

And be sure to check back tomorrow, when we launch the first of a handful of days of special giveaways from members of the Flea Market Style team!

Kim

What Time is it? Almost Giveaway Time!

2011-08-02T05:00:00.002-05:00

Operating on the theory that you can never talk enough about good things, here's a reminder that a week of giveaways starts Monday!

One Party Story...and More to Come!

2011-07-27T05:00:00.002-05:00

Flea Market Style is thankful for its friends!
One of them, Rosie, sent us these fab pictures of the Thankful for Friends party she and her pal, Rosella, put together last October. We thought you'd enjoy the pictures, and hope they whet your appetite for the new issue of FMS!
It's due out in about three weeks or so, and has not one but two fabulous entertaining features, packed with fun photography and great how-to info for your own wonderful gatherings!

For their party, the two Rs kept their fingers crossed for good weather (they are in Canada, after all)!
The bird cage held lavendar-scented sachets as party favors for the guests!

They were rewarded with a gorgeous fall day!

Rosella sewed the burlap flag-and-rosette banner to decorate Rosie's back yard...

... and Rosie's husband built a table from an old barn door! They draped quilts over old benches to make the seating more comfortable.

The two Rs combed flea markets and thrift stores for pieces to use for their party, all in a palette of red, yellow and cream...

... and used farmers' market flowers along with berries and branches from Rosie's yard to help decorate. Milk was served in antique half-pint jars, and guests feasted on food from pecan tartlets to apple pies and pumpkin tarts!

The party was also staged with a welcome area and photo booth.

The pair's friend, Bethy, shot the photos, and guests could recline on the crusty iron day bed replete with pillows and quilts!

You can read more about Rosie and Rosella at their blogs here and here, and see lots more details and photos from the party
!

And watch for the latest Flea Market Style, coming in about three weeks or so, for more great ideas on fall entertaining!

Kim

FMS Giveaways to Come!

2011-07-24T08:00:00.005-05:00

One of life's great joys is to give and receive presents!

Don't you just love the anticipation as you pull back the tissue to find the thoughtful treasure tucked inside?

We do!

That's why, in honor of the big present coming your way soon -- the fall edition of Flea Market Style -- we plan a series of super giveaways!

It's our way of saying thanks to you for being such wonderful readers and part of the FMS faithful.

Watch this space for updates on how to enter the drawings, coming soon!

And it isn't long now. The latest FMS mag is only about a month away!

Kim

Michael Jackson Items SOLD!

2011-07-18T05:00:00.001-05:00

Michael Jackson's death has not dimmed the ardor of his fans. Flea Market Style's Tim Luke had a recent opportunity to witness that close and up front!

Luke presided over the recent Beverly Hills, Calif., auction of memorabilia from The Gloved One's estate (where MJ's black sequined glove, pictured, sold for $193,000!)

Said Luke: "The auction was a mix of collectors, fans and fanatics! Some were crying and shaking and screaming when they got close to some of his stage-worn items! A real circus, but lots of fun!"

Other items sold for more than a song: the Thriller jacket fetched $1.8 million and the hand-written lyrics to "Bad" for $264,000.

Luke operates TreasureQuest Appraisal Group with Greg Strahm. Check out more photos, his observations and a video about the event on his blog, here!
And be sure to check out the upcoming issue of Flea Market Style (coming soon!) for more of his insights on memorabilia and other collectibles!
Kim

Sweet Memories from One Chair's Heir

2011-07-13T09:30:00.002-05:00

One of the wonderful things about Flea Market Style is that once we deliver it into your hands, it takes on an entirely new and delightful life.

That's when readers get a chance to react: to take in, to savor, to ponder, to think about how an idea can be made their very own. And sometimes, to evoke a wonderful memory.

Such was the case when Arlene Clarke, of Omemee, Ontario, Canada, saw the most recent FMS, and was moved to pen this note:

"I was thrilled to see the rusty chair on Page 56...of Flea Market Style. My mother died six years ago and I chose four of these chairs from the estate. When we bought the cottage 57 years ago, the chairs were in the cottage. My mom would spend the start of every summer sanding and painting the chairs white. We hated sitting in the chairs; they pinched any exposed flesh.''

Arlene also noted that she displays her chair at home with a geranium, just like the one pictured in FMS. The flower "also came from her house," she said. "I have kept it in the same pot. Thanks for a great magazine."

Arlene, our thanks are to you, for sharing your treasured remembrance with the extended Flea Market Style family.

Kim

Pre-order your new Flea Market Style!

2011-07-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Flea Market Style team is in the last big push on production for the fall issue!

We expect the mags to ship in August, and be available on newsstands and at stores by the end of August or the first week in September.

As the days count down, we thought this is a great time to remind vendors and shop owners with a sales tax ID number that you can pre-order your copies to sell now!

The minimum order is 25! You can place your order with Kellie at Matrix Distributing at kpeterson@matrixdirectservices.com or by calling 1-757-482-9997, extension 221.

Or, if you want to pre-order a single fall issue, check out this post at Margo's blog. She also has copies of the spring 2011 issue available and ships domestically as well as internationally.

We can't wait to share this latest issue with you!

Kim