Flea Market Fashion

One of my greatest joys at the flea market is when I find jewelry and accessories.

It is important to say at this point that I am never looking for anything specific.

For me, it is about the thrill of the hunt, the fresh air, the low prices, the smiling people, and a really cold diet coke.

It is about pulling my cantankerous cart, wearing one of my favorite hats, and wearing my flip flops.

The jewelry treasures I find are never more that $10, which makes them perfect for this month's Ten on the Tenth celebration on fashion.

Here are a few of my fashion favorites from the flea market.
(In the interest of full disclosure there are LOTS more...)

Let's begin with my all-time favorite .

I was standing at the back of Oscar's trailer piled high with boxes one Saturday morning at the McAllen flea market. When he began to open boxes and pull things out, and I spotted a leopard print tote, I tried to casually say, "May I have that?"

It was the like new Consuela bag above:)  Price $5.

How do I use it? As a tote for whatever we all put in totes:)

 And then there was the vendor across from Oscar.

He had mountains of tangled jewelry on 3 large tables every Saturday and Sunday.
Weekend after weekend,I was in heaven, tangles and all.
I found the necklace above for $2 and the jeweled cuff was
$3.

I do love cuffs.

How have I worn these?  The necklace looks wonderful with a white linen shirt, and I wore the black cuff with a black tunic and white cropped jeans.

And then there was the jewelry lady at the Hidalgo flea market.

Each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday she had the most amazing things- all new with tags.

I bought all of the door knocker earrings for $3 a pair.

I am a devotee of door knocker earrings. They look good on everyone:)

Does anyone remember the Anne Klein lion's head door knocker earrings? 

How have I used these?  With white linen or white cropped jeans, or some of my Mexican tops.

And then there are some of my favorite vintage flea market accessories.

I LOVE this vintage tooled leather clutch from Mexico and the Guatamalan belt. If memory serves, the clutch was $4 and the belt was $1.

How have I used these?

With white of course:)

And these Nine West pink suede heels (new with tags) from the Ascarate flea market here in El Paso? They were $5, and they make me laugh when I look at them.

You haven't lived until you have balanced yourself on one foot while trying on heels at the flea market:)

Especially when you wear a size 9.

And if I love cuffs, I ADORE bangles. I have millions.

My philosophy? The bigger the better:)

I like anything with a repousse finish.  

Here are two more examples of favorites.

 

I hope you will visit all of the other wonderful ladies below.They are all so smart, and I know you will love their posts.

Poofing the Pillows

The BoondocksBlog

Pandora's Box

Exquisitely Unremarkable

Patina and Paint

Let's Add Sprinkles

My Heart Lives Here

White Spray Paint

The Purple Hydrangea
Bluesky atHome

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Twenty Years In

Today I coined a garden expression that describes how I have recently felt.


Some days I want a garden here in El Paso that is



‘20 years in’.



You know what I mean, right?


How simple it would be if this garden had roses established just waiting for me, blooming riotously just to prove their place in our new domain- as if to say, 

“Hey Lady, what are you going to do about it?”



And how nice it would be if the previous owner had walked outside over the years and realized things needed to be planted.



And then I have a little talk with myself and my heart remembers sayings from my father:



“Get after it.”



“We’re burning daylight.”



“Vamanos.”



“Well then, you better get started.”



And so I have.

And an interesting thing happens when you let common sense speak and you get over yourself.



New gardening ideas surface.



I am planting roses that are hot colored- like the colors in talavera.



So my new Tropicana rose (above) has big plans to show off someday.
For now the days of soft pink roses and traditionally weeded and manicured beds are not what calls to me.



It isn’t about the perfectly staged or aligned.



It is back to my roots.



It is back to Rancho Landscaping:), which I defined years ago in a conversation  with my dear friend Anna, at a birthday group celebration held at my house.


I told her I had hit upon a name for how I garden and my kind of landscape design.



I called it rancho.


As in muy rancho.



As in Rancho Landscaping…



literal translation: ranch



my loose translation: imperfect, simple, humble, ‘dolled up’ for special occasions , 

daring, a little shy… jammed in the ground with high hopes and a smile.


This new gardening journey is about Rancho Landscaping, 

and digging holes and planting as many wild colored things as I can find.



It is about bougainvillea and hot colored roses and lavender, and bright 

gold lantana, and the hot colored zinnias planted in the raised bed 

above.



And  now I know it is going to all be ok.

   
Vamanos!

********

Though a tad late :), I am joining a wonderful

Garden Party with dear sweet hostesses.