Part of the fun of antiquing is finding something unusual, or something that's no longer able to serve its original function, and giving it new life! This week at the flea market, not only did we have fun selling items we'd re-purposed, but our customers gave us tons of new ideas of things they've been doing. Here are our favorites:
Andrea stopped in to browse our booth, and I commented on how I loved her bag! It was large and sturdy, with a beautiful floral print on the front. She told us she'd made it herself using a vintage tablecloth! She was kind enough to share with us how she made it, and even offered to give us her pattern!
Amanda's idea doesn't involve re-purposing an antique, but rather an item most parents are likely to have lying around the house these days - silly bands! She told us that, while having friends over for dinner and drinks, they discovered the varying shapes and colors of the silly bands make perfect beer charms for bottles and pilsner glasses!
We got into a conversation with a mother and daughter about what they were planning to do with the frame to a broken mirror we had - their idea involved chalkboard paint, which got us talking about our new found obsession with the stuff! The mother told us her favorite thing to paint were her old terra cotta flower pots - they become instant chalkboards! She likes to write "Grow Grow Grow" on hers, but the possibilities are endless.
Justine, a fellow antique dealer, was hit with inspiration when a a customer purchased an old baby dress we had for sale. She suggested sewing up the bottom of a baby dress or top and using it as a clothespin bag! It's the perfect way to put to use all those clothes left over from childhood that you just can't bear to part with.
Now here's our challenge to you! We pulled some drawers out of an old, falling apart dresser. We have some ideas for creative ways to put them to use, but we want to hear what you think. Leave us a comment with your suggestions :)
