September Brimfield Finds

The Brimfield Flea Markets, venerable events with a global following, are week-long events held annually in May, July and September. To do Brimfield properly, sensible shoes are the must-have fashion statement. You’ll be making your Fitbit proud with all the walking you’ll be doing. The Flea Market is a series of 15+ independently-operated fields, lining both sides of Rt. 20. You will not be without sustenance as you journey, dozens of food vendors will slake your hunger and thirst. Happily, clean port-a-johns with attendants abound. Plus there are porters to help you get your Brimfield finds back to your car, if you can remember where you parked amongst the many, many lots.

As a visitor, you can decide when to go to Brimfield depending on the weather. As a vendor, you’ve paid for your space and you’re counting on the income. Unless the weather is really extreme, you’re going to be there. This year, vendors contended with a week of muck-making rain in July and unholy heat and humidity with an occasional thunderstorm to spice things up in September. (The Friday we went, the air was so thick you could slice it up, wrap it in foil and keep it for when you need some humidity in January.) May and September are the best attended shows; July attendance is often lower because of the heat. But this year, with temps in the 90s, most vendors acknowledged that the September crowds were thinner than usual.

Consider the costs of being a vendor. Time is money, so it all starts with the time spent sourcing, researching, cleaning and repairing, plus the time you spend packing and loading. Add in the cost of the space and your tent situation, either you own a tent or you rent one. (One vendor confided that their tent rental cost $1000.) You may need to rent a truck or van. Depending on how hardy you are and how far away you live, you are either camping in your van, staying in a motel or driving back and forth. Those costs are fixed whether the show is mobbed or sparsely attended.

All this means it’s absolutely true that vendors are ready for anything and love what they do. You couldn’t live the vintage dealer life if you didn’t. That love is clear with many vendors, who greet you, gladly answer your questions and listen to your stories about how your grandmother used to have one of those.

As we were ambling around, we asked a few vendors to tell us what their favorite things were in their booths. This was by no means a scientific survey and doesn’t even begin to capture the miles worth of cool things we walked past (and in some cases brought home).

---

Betsy of Tin Lizzy Dolls makes these mad creative assemblage dolls in sizes from statement pieces to ornaments and necklaces. She also photographs her pieces and sews the huge colorful images onto the backs of second-hand shirts. Her daughter makes impossibly adorable troll doll mermaids (that we forgot to photograph).

Follow her on Instagram @TinLizzyBetsy (where this photo came from).

---

There is nothing more intriguing than specialty silver tableware from the turn of the century. Thomas from Easter Hill Antiques in Malverne, NY had a collection of sterling silver…what is it’s.  He made us guess (we do love a puzzle) and it took a while, but they are toast dusters, made between 1900-1920. What a delightful way to sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on your toast.

---

If you like kitsch and fun, look no further than Ryann, holding her show fave gnome. We’d describe her aesthetic as “well that’s awesome.” She left her corporate job to be a full time vintage dealer, and documents her new day (and probably night) job on Instagram @yeahyeahvintage. She’s also on Etsy, but her real showcases are at brick and mortar group shops here in Massachusetts.

Two images of Ryann’s booth from her Instagram.

---

Ann from Anthony Village Antiques in Coventry, RI, makes these sparkly Annie B’s Trees from rhinestone bits and bobs. The workmanship that goes into fitting all the pieces together so beautifully is mind-boggling.

---

If you like your furniture with an honest and true vintage patina, Rachel from Albany, NY, has some pieces for you. Most of what she brought is as she found it, cleaned up and with a protective coat applied. Her space was full of pieces that showed their age in the best possible way.

And her table was wearing boots, ready for the thunderstorms that arrived. You can find her shop on Etsy, LimeSilo13.

---

Among the Brimfield finds you might not expect is vintage wallpaper, but, silly you…Michael from nearby Worcester, MA, has rolls and rolls of it. He also had a grand selection of interesting this and that, including a few blow molds. (For those keeping score, overall across the fields there were a few blow mold candles, a couple of small and full nativity sets and lots of angels. Santas and snowmen were scarcer.)

Michael is also a dealer in crackling wit and snark. Be ready for repartee.

---

We asked Jackie from Cider and Stone to show us her favorite thing in her family’s booth and it was…(squeak of excitement)… Mattel Allen dolls in a Ken doll case. WHO KNEW THERE WERE KEN DOLL CASES? And WHO KNEW ALLEN PLAYED FOOTBALL? You’ll not find any movie spoilers here, but it was like being in the presence of a rock star.

One side of Cider and Stone’s booth was fabulous vintage, the other side was the stone part, gorgeous granite posts and outdoor decor. We know which one we would rather load in the truck for the ride home.

---

Mark from Aunt Millie’s Attic showed us a piece that was already sold because it was so drop-dead deadstock amazing–a Lightolier Lytegem desk lamp absolutely new in the box, with the instructions. It was pretty darned breathtaking, but then again, so was their whole space. Aunt Millie’s Attic has 11 storage spaces in South Windsor, CT, that they will share with you by appointment.

You can find them on Instagram @auntmilliesattic where the photo on the right came from.

---

LPs are back. And Ron has them. It was like the old days, with crates full of records including lots of titles we would have bought back in the day. Ron has a history with albums, he started working at a record store in Madison, Wisconsin at age 19. Now residing in Connecticut, you can find Ron every Sunday at the Mansfield (CT) Drive In Flea Market.

We asked him what the unicorns of the record world were and what he’s always on the lookout for. His hit list: an early Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) with the banana sticker unpeeled and The Beatles Yesterday and Today (1966) with the butcher cover.

---

This is but a microscopic look at Brimfield finds, so many fields, so much to see. For a vintage lover, it feels like being at the best convention in the world. All the attendees are interested in the same thing and are eager to talk about it. Whether you go looking for something specific or go with an empty backpack and no expectations on what you might fill it with, you are going to have a great time.

Brimfield hacks to make things easier:

• Get there early, 8 am is a good starting time.
• Fields open at different times (starting between dawn and 9 am) and are open on different days.
• Try to park in the middle, it’s easier to get your Brimfield finds back to the car.
• Carry water, wear sunscreen and wear a hat. There’s not much shade.
• Each field has a flavor, some are more polished, others are rough and tumble; some are all vintage and antique and some host imports.
• Bring cash.
• It can be a long walk back to buy something you’re “thinking about.”
• Share a kind word and compliment with vendors even if you’re not buying something from them, it wouldn’t be any fun without them.