This Sunday, 6/26 in Old Town Tustin!

Join us for the Vintage Fleamarket-8am to 3pm.  Free parking and admission!  Whimzy will be open, so stop in and see what's new!

How to Shop a Flea

Alex Bell and Shira Entis know their fleas, from Elephant’s Trunk in Connecticut to Portobello Market in London. Which you would expect from the girls who started the awesome line of handbags and totes called Fleabags.

“We’ve been lovers of flea markets forever,” Bell says. “When I met Shira at Brown University, we bonded over great market deals.” Currently, their favorite markets are Chelsea’s on 25th street and that up-and-coming hidden gem Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market (406 West 39th Street) on Saturdays. As quasi professionals, however, they never venture forth without a game plan, which includes the following advice:

1. Keep your eye on the ball. “We try to talk beforehand and focus ourselves a little bit,” Entis says. Markets are open on various days, but the girls prefer Saturdays (the most vendors turn out) and suggest arriving when the gates open (usually around 9 a.m.). Most important, know what you’re looking for before you get there.

2. Weather makes all the difference. “On a cold or cloudy day, fewer vendors set up,” Bell says. “That means there are fewer shoppers too. So, the vendors there are more likely to make a deal. One of Shira’s most successful excursions happened at the outdoor Chelsea flea on a cold and windy day. Only three vendors made it out and because Shira was their only customer she walked away with a huge box of YSL blouses and antique brocade fabrics. Great finds!”

3. Your outfit might, too. “When marketing outside of the city, we try not to look like New Yorkers,” Entis says. “Especially no jewelry!” When you are in Manhattan, the jig is usually up and vendors know a tourist from a seasoned shopper a mile away. Dress casual and for comfort. You don’t have to prove anything about your vintage know-how.

4. Let them do the talking: “Being coy is the name of the game,” Bell says. “No one is going to give you a deal if they think you’re going to turn around and sell it on eBay. But on the flip side, don’t be naïve.” It’s O.K. to eventually let them know you know Balenciaga from Target and that you’re not going to get pushed around.

5. It’s O.K. to be thrifty: “We rarely spend more than $100 during the entire day,” Entis says. “And, we always have a good bartering session with the vendors,” Bell adds. Entis scored a vintage Chanel jacket for $40, and Bell found a pair of new Oscar de la Renta heels for $15 at the Chelsea flea. “If you are buying multiple items, they’ll usually give you a better deal rather than just buying one item,” says Bell, who along with Entis stocked up on military blankets from vendors for their fall 2011 collection.

6. Go with a friend: “We like to help each other,” Entis says. And what’s more fun than shopping with a friend?

http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/07/how-to-shop-a-flea/?_r=0

The Cheat Sheet To Finding The Good Stuff

1. In Peter's world, it's all about the couture details, craftsmanship, and the sign of an artisan's hand: Look for hand-stitching, nail-head trims, embroidery, and hand-woven textiles. It makes anything more special.

2. Look past the scratches, dust, and dirt. Not only can you have anything restored, cleaned, or reupholstered (see below for a list of resources), but you can also change the finish on a table. Try to survey the options while focusing on the possibilities—not on the limitations. In the world of interiors, there really are very few.

3. Don't focus on provenance—unless you really know what you're doing, or are shopping at an auction house that guarantees authenticity, you don't want to splash out big money on something that might be a reproduction. (If you see something too good to be true, it probably is.) This is not to say that there aren't treasures around—just take a deep breath, get out your phone, and search the internet for originals so you can confirm that the details are correct (the wing of the arm, the stamp on the bottom, the type of wood).

4. Measure your space before you go. Beyond the parameters of the area you'd like to fill (i.e., the space allotted for a coffee table), bring measurements for the supporting furniture (i.e., the height and length of your couch, etc.). If you live in an apartment building with small elevators, or a house with unusual doors, be sure that you'll be able to get the item inside!

5. Interact with your potential purchase. Sit in the chairs and make sure they're comfortable and that they don't wobble; make sure a table is the right height, etc. Don't be shy about giving your potential purchase a test-drive.

6. If you're interested in an item, but not overly attached, walk away—do a second lap at the end of the day. If it's still available, you'll have much more negotiating power.

7. Know your budget—and don't forget to factor customs and shipping in (see below for a list of resources). It's easy to get totally carried away in the moment, so know your upper limit.

8. Look for pairs and sets: Vendors generally hate to break them up, so you're going to get a better deal. Besides adding symmetry to a space (see below), you can often use an extra lamp or chairs in a different room.

http://www.goop.com/journal/see/275/the-flea-market-guide?utm_source=goop+issue&utm_campaign=201db18bc9-275_The_Flea_Market_Guide_3_13_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5ad74d5855-201db18bc9-193176

The Best Times to Shop Flea Markets and Yard Sales

Unlike retail stores, flea markets, yard sales, and other secondhand sources don't have duplicates of every item in the store. It's a treasure hunt. Whether your goal is to find the most treasure or to snag it for the best possible price, here are the best times to shop flea markets and yard sales.

Flea Markets

Best Selection: For the best selection of flea market merchandise, get there as soon as it opens on the first day of the market. If it's open Saturday and Sunday all year round, go early on Saturday morning. For seasonal or annual flea markets, go early in the season, preferably the first weekend. You'll have first pick of the goods the vendors gathered during the year.

Best Price: For the biggest discounts, it's just the opposite. Shop mid to late afternoon during the final day, or days, of the flea market. The vendors are tired and ready to get home -- and they might just cut you some fantastic deals if you ask. You may have to haggle a bit, but you'll probably go home with some bargains, especially if you're buying large, heavy pieces the tired sellers don't want to pack and load. 

Yard Sales

Best Selection: Yard sale shopping is a lot like flea market shopping. You'll find the best selections when the sale first starts. Go early on the first day of the sale. If the sale starts at 7 a.m., be there be there a few minutes before -- but not so early that you're labeled an early bird. If you've got lots of sales on the day's route, prioritize them by the most promising sales and by starting times. Your goal is to be the first shopper at the very best sales.

Don't wait until Saturday to visit a yard sale that starts on Friday. Since most weekday workers wait until the weekend, Friday morning is a prime time to shop. If you work on Fridays, hit the sack early on Thursday nights. Yard sales start early; you can probably fit in a few sales before work.

Best Price: Like flea market vendors, yard sale sellers aren't as willing to haggle early in the morning, but the prices are usually pretty low to start. Don't wait until the afternoon bargain hours to shop yard sales. Go early, and if you can't make the right deal to start, ask when they're closing and go back. If the items you're eyeballing haven't sold, they'll probably be ready to make deals.

Estate Sales

Best Selection: Like flea markets and yard sales, you'll find the best choice of merchandise early on the first day. Go a little earlier than the start time. You may have to wait in line -- and sometimes sale organizers limit how many people can go in at one time. You want to be in the first group admitted.

Best Price: Some estate sales organizers won't negotiate price on the first day. Go ahead and ask, but don't be surprised by a strict policy. There is an upside; they usually have a discount schedule. If the last day of the sale is Sunday, they might offer 25% off in the morning, 35% off in the early afternoon, and 50% off during the final two hours. The discount percentages and schedules vary by estate sale company, so ask if it isn't posted.

Thrift Stores

Best Selection: For the best thrift store selections, ask the employees when the new merchandise arrives. It could be a certain day of the week or a certain time each day. New furniture might arrive on a different day than smaller goods. Find out, and then plan your visits for those days and times.

Best Price: Thrift store prices are usually lowish, so you might want to snatch things up as soon as you find them. If the prices are a little high, ask about their sale structure. Thrift stores don't always post their sales clearly and sometimes the sales are confusing. Find out when they discount the items that interest you. That's when you'll find the best deals.

Consignment Stores

Best Selection: The best days and times to shop consignment goods depend on the individual stores. If new merchandise comes in on certain days, that's the time to go. If it's random, you'll just have to pop in fairly often.

Best Price: Sale structures vary, but lots of consignment stores discount based on how long they've had the merchandise. For example, one of my favorites takes off 20 percent after the first six weeks, and then another 5 percent each week until it reaches half price. Ask how it works. Then, keep a list of the pieces you want and on which days the prices are scheduled to drop.
http://fleamarket.about.com/od/insidershoppingtips/qt/besttimestoshopfleamarkets.htm

Getting it Together

Well,
We  have been working very hard on the shoppe for the last week and it is coming along nicely!  There is nothing like shifting and moving everything around to inspire something new!  I think you will like what we have "in store" for you!  The reveal happens on the 23rd of August right before the Vintage Fleamarket on the 26th.  We encourage you to stop in and see all that is shiny and new!

Time for an update!

Whimzy! is taking break!  August 1st to August 22nd we will be closed to re-do, re-design, & 
re-new.  We are full of new ideas and inspiriation and look forward to seeing each of you at the next Vintage Fleamarket of Old Town Tustin on August 23rd.  We will be in the store for phone calls, mail and emails, so if you need us just call 714-573-1025.  See you soon!

New @ WHIMZY!

New items to tempt you!  Stop in soon for the best selection!

 These are wonderful brightly colored vocab cards.  Great on a card of your own, as a tag, or in a collage!

We have all kinds of new ephemera!  Dianne is an expert a finding unique vintage goodies!

These beauties are little natural paper journals!  Hand stitched and cover in corrugated  paper.  How about having one done up for each season?  Jot some notes, sketch some images, tack in some goodies?

OR

You can join us on June 18th for a Coptic Journal class with Jenelle and learn to make your own!  Click here to register!

We always enjoy seeing you!  Come by and say "Hi!". 

New @ Whimzy!

 Dianne has been busy collecting wonderful unique items for Whimzy!  This amazing little ballerina is one of them!  She is about 7 to 8 cinches high.  Her arms and legs are cotton bunting.  Her face is cotton too, but  different from her lovely limbs.  She wear a gorgeous satin dress and is adorned by a sparkling crown.

 
New to Whimzy! are these marvelous porcelain legs!  Several sets in many different sizes to make dolls from or use in an artful project!  I think I may need a set for my desk!  They are wonderful!
 

 I love that some are crossed and others have pantaloons!  So much fun!  The small ones could be dressed into a necklace!  What a conversation piece that would be!

Whimzy! hosts the Vintage Fleamarket @ Jamestown this Sunday, the 23rd!  Get a leg up!  Spend $100.00 or more in the store and receive a 20% discount!  We look forward to seeing you there!

Celebrating 6 years and New Classes at WHIMZY!

This weekend October 23 & 24 Whimzy! is celebrating 6 years 

of sparkly goodness!

We are offering food and fun, shopping and socializing!  The fun begins Saturday at 10:00 am and runs through our Vintage Fleamarket on Sunday!  Old Town Tustin is hosting the Artwalk as well.  The center we are located in will be the Wine Tasting Pavilion.  You can eat, drink, shop and view art all within a few blocks!

  

Additionally, we have added several new classes to our schedule.  Many happening before the holidays!  If you would like to create something wonderful for a loved one or friend this is the place to do it!  Treating a friend to a Whimzy! class would be a gift that keeps on giving!  Click here for more info!

Dianne and I look forward to seeing you this weekend!

You just never know.......

Sunday was the JasVil Fleamarket at Whimzy! One of the things I love most about the fleamarket is even though I go out with ideas of what I am looking for, I ALWAYS find something else! These skate keys (& one fireplace key) just spoke to me and I had to have them! I received all these for just five bucks!



After wandering a bit more I found this old vase which is perfect for the boughs of heavy headed roses that are taking over my yard right now!

A few steps more and I picked up a really beautiful flower frog. Currently it is holding up the flowers in the photo of the vase! Did you know that flower frogs also work upside-down? If there are holes all the way through and it won't fit into the vase flip it and see if it works! All this fun for just $15.00! YAY!
Join me gain for the JasVil Flea the day after Glitterfest-May 23rd from 8 to 3pm to find some lovely treasures of your own!

Great Finds in Jamestown Village!

You know, there are ALWAYS some very interesting things at our Fleamarket. You just never know what will turn up!

Number stamps. Vintage 60's style. Very cool!

Lady GA-GA would be jealous!

The plant man has THE most interesting and unusual botanical specimens!
If you haven't been, or haven't been in a while, save the date and stop by!
The next JasVil Flea is Sunday, April 25th 8am to 3pm!

Fleamarket Finds!

One of the best parts of hosting the Jamestown Village Vintage Fleamarket is seeing all the amazing finds! There is always someone who finds an item they have been searching for for so long at a F A B U L O U S price. They love to share their big score with Dianne and I when they stop into Whimzy!

February's Fab Find was a book of Civil War plates. All in color, from 1908. Soliders on horse back, in battle and conference all told about 30 plates for just $20.00! The collector value of each print is $10.00 each! So for the little investment of $20.00, this saavy fleamarketer's purchase is worth $300.00! We LOVE stories like that and hope to hear many more!


Won't you come down and find an amazing item at the Jamestown Village Vintage Fleamarket? Always the fourth Sunday which is March 28th this month! Stop in and share your treasures with the girls at Whimzy!

Winter Wire Crown

January was the opportune time for me to get my head around teaching a wire crown class. Bending wire is something I have done for years and I really don't think about what I am doing when I do it! So, by breaking it down step by step for my students it allows me to see it from a different perspective.

My student was the lovely and very fun Joleen Dismo! We had a great time together creating my Winter Wire Wonder! As well as getting to know eachother. Joleen not only makes crowns, but she does custom embroidery. She puts together personalized specialty baby gifts for showers & such!

It was a truly relaxing afternoon. Creating, chocolate, and a new friend! Thank you Joleen!

The next class is on February 7th 11 to 2 for my
Queen of Hearts Party Hat! It will be on display this weekend during the JasVil Fleamarket. Stop by, say "Hi!", and take a peek!

Come and see at the JasVil Flea!

Have you been to the Jamestown Village Vintage Fleamarket? It is a smaller venue that features merchants from all over. They bring wonderful wares , tiny treasures, and unique findings right to Whimzy's doorstep! Dianne and I love the 4th Sunday of the month! Not only because we only need step out of the door to shop, but because we get to spend time with our regular visitors! I have learned so much from all of these friendly people! Advice from a retired teacher, future real estate projections, remedies for colds, and recipes for fantastic food. All of this from our little fleamarket! Yes, it is the shopping, but more importantly it's the melange of unique people you dig through to find the real treasures!

JasVil Fleadom!

If you have never come to the Jamestown Village Vintage Fleamarket-mark your calendar! Every 4th Sunday we fill the Whimzy lot with goodies from all over. Not only do we have donuts and coffee to give you a shopping buzz, but we have all this great stuff! Check it out! The next Fleamarket is on Sunday, August 23rd from 8am to 3pm. Join us! Stop into the store for some great deals and the low-down on Glitterfest Fall!

From My Heart to Yours!

I guess this season just brings out the busy bee in me! Last year Dianne and I bought this huge lot of antique Frozen Charlottes on Ebay. As I understand it, they were buried under an old factory in Germany. They are broken and discolored and AWESOME! So here is my Valentine for those unloved vintage throw-a-ways! I think this honors them in a magnificent way! I will be putting these in Whimzy! on Sunday! Don't forget-Old Town Tustin Vintage Fleamarket is this Sunday too! See you there!