I love flea markets. I love everything about them. I love the rush of arriving and dreaming of all that awaits. I love thinking about and then finding that gem that has my name on it. I love Show and Tell with my girlfriends at the end of the day and crowing over a steal. I love unwrapping my treasures when I arrive home and getting a residual high for days after whenever I pass by my find. I even love showing my husband what I've scored, even though more often than not he tells me to put them straight into our garage sale pile. But mostly I love them because they never fail to make me think more creatively. If I see something that catches my eye, regardless of it's original use, I must find a way to make it work in my home.My last visit to the Elephant's Trunk in New Milford, Connecticut yielded these beauties. They're spools for yarn and in my mind, they're every bit as beautiful as any traditional piece of art. I spied them first when a shopper walked by me with about 20 spools in gemstone colors. I envied. I was jealous. Minutes later I came upon the booth and lo and behold --- more of these beauties in colors delicious enough to eat. 3 for $6. I quickly grabbed my 6 favorites that I knew would be beautiful in my home. I grabbed my friend who was nearby to show her my purchase. She, too, wanted them but was stumped as to what to do with them once she brought them home. "Never fear," I told her. My husband would make something nifty to showcase them. She jumped. Now we both have these beauties, set on a simple wooden base with dowels.
The cost was $12. The result was priceless.
