Flea-market treasures: turn inexpensive items into tabletop decor - Home - Brief Article

Sunset, Feb, 2004 by Mary Jo Bowling

The key to why some people find great stuff at flea markets and others don't is thinking outside the box. To the flea-market "pros," there really are treasures in those dusty bins of old toys, bottles, and books. The trick is to look past the clutter and see things not merely as they are but as what they could become.

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I went to the Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire (www.antiquesbythebay.net or 510/522-7500), just west of Oakland, California, and found great stuff for the table. For $15, I got a selection of belt buckles, mahjongg tiles, and metal stars. The stars were once used in masonry buildings to secure metal rods. I grabbed several for $6 and turned them into candlesticks. The buckles became napkin rings, and the tiles became placecard holders. All it took was a little imagination.

Star candlesticks *

I painted the stars a metallic color, then plugged the hole with Museum Wax (available at craft stores and www.detailsart.com). I covered the bottom of the hole with a coin and twisted a taper into the top (using the Museum Wax to hold both in place).

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Mah-jongg tile placecard holders *

For $4, I bought a handful of plastic mah-jongg tiles, from the traditional Chinese game. To make placecard holders, use a dab or two of hot glue to attach a circular paper clip to each tile. The transformed tiles also could be used to display photos.

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Belt-buckle napkin rings *

At a booth selling buttons and sewing notions, I found several belt buckles sans belts; I picked up six for $5. To turn them into napkin rings, gently wash the buckles and thread them with ribbon. Use Velcro dots (available at craft and sewing stores) to hold the ribbon ends together.

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