Wolff's Flea Market Blog

Although it's December and we are in Chicago, we can still dream and plan for our future flea market garden. Check back as we continue to find awesome gardening ideas and links by the original creators! Number 1: FLEA MARKET FAIRY GARDEN This adorable flea market fairy garden was made by Wolff's Crafty Kids at Wolff's Flea Market Palatine . About 12 vendor and customer children 11 years old and under added their own personal touches. They had so many ideas! I just put out miscellaneous found supplies and let them have at it. I spy. What do you see? On display HERE . HOW CUTE IS THIS! Number 2: TREE LOG PLANTER For 2 weeks I noticed 3 partially carved log bowls. I thinks they were rejects from a wood carver. A vendor won the at an auction and sold me this one for $5. I shoulda bought the others. This easy project involved just a few steps: Drill a couple holes for drainage Line with gardening cloth Fill with compost or your favorite soil blend Since this w...

This old, tired "curbside" butcher block ended up at the flea market. A little TLC transformed it into this serving cart. First I removed the yucky loose and useless shelf  A good sanding removed most of the dark stain, but I left some to show through the final finish Bottom half of cart was painted with 2 coats of dilutes Barn Red paint. Dark blue, forest green and creamy beige were also blotted on and then wiped off to add a slight weathered look. Top and painted areas were covered in 2 coats of Varathane Golden Oak semi-gloss Stain & Poly (water based). Hardware: shut off valve knob (front left), bottle opener (front right), craft fair stone hook (side right), 4 caster wheels. Shelf: I added a sanded plank of recycled cedar fencing as a removable bottom shelf Accessories: Handmade wine caddy on top and wineglass box on bottom shelf are made from recycled fencing and pallets by me (Impatient Pallets)

BY SHARON WOLFF (Photos Sharon Wolff You found your cool vintage drawer pull, but it's covered in nasty, chipping paint. Here is an easy, safe, chemical free way to remove the paint and bring out the beautiful patina of your old hardware. I COLLECT RUSTY HARDWARE. DON'T ASK ME WHY. THIS $1 FLEA MARKET FIND HAD  SEVERAL COATS OF PAINT RESIDUE. NOT THE MOST, BUT ENOUGH TO REQUIRE THIS   EASY PAINT REMOVAL METHOD. Y OU NEED: OLD POT, 1/4 C BAKING SODA, TONGS AND A  SCREWDRIVER OR OLD TOOTHBRUSH Place your item in boiling water & baking soda. Boil for 20-30 minutes, depending upon how much paint is on the item.  USE TONGS IF PAINT PEELS OF EASILY, YOU ARE DONE, OTHERWISE RETURN TO POT CAREFULLY USE A SMALL TOOL OR  TOOTHBRUSH TO GENTLY REMOVE RESIDUE BEAUTIFUL! BOTTOM LEFT, ON THE RUSTY HARDWARE WALL

By Sharon Wolff Bossman presents: The Blob You'll find the Nucleus (also referred to as Bossman's Jewelry Blob ) upstairs at Wolff's Flea Market Palatine in Bossman & Son's Booth. What is this mysterious mess that rises above the innocuous red skirted table? How and why could such a thing exist? Over the past 2 years I have occasionally visited this conglomeration and it seemed about time to take a closer look at its contents and followers. I spent a couple of weeks observing and talking to the variety of people who routinely gather around Bossman's Jewelry Table. Customers sift through Bossman's Jewelry Blob Some folks are initially put off by the confusion experienced when viewing this display for the first time. They glance at it, then quickly avert their eyes and walk away, as if something so tightly tangled could be maniacal if provoked. It is true, that on occasion, the Blob has been known to bite. I highly recommend that visitors us...