The Weekend in Pics: Flea Market Finds

HELLO FRIENDS, hope you all had a lovely weekend. Saturday I ventured to the Fairmount flea market that surrounds the haunted Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. I look forward to this flea twice a year, oh my gosh, I found so many awesome finds from teeny to large and in charge. My friend Teresa and I soaked up the sun and later took a tour of the prison. Please check out some pics from the weekend and last year's visit HERE. 

I'd thought I'd share some of my favorite flea market finds with you all. The find of the day was a set of eight vintage metal liquor decanter tags in a silver metal with engraved lettering; I had seen them earlier in the day and actually pondered on it for a while, I came back in the afternoon and there they were waiting for yours truly. Yesterday I bought some snazzy ribbons to accompany them in either a necklace or bracelet form.

I also found a wonderful miniature wooden wheel barrel, I knew it would be perfect for my backyard. Later Saturday afternoon I stopped by the nursery and found some peachy pink flowers and fancy grass to put inside it; truly a DIY project even my husband thought was pretty. 

Another backyard find was a heavy vintage cement statue of the Virgin Mary, can you believe it $5.00, I guess the pain and suffering in the heat on the walk to car was worth it. However my main goal was to find sweet deals on vintage jewelry or any odd bits of the past, check them out below:

From left to right, top to bottom: 1) vintage pale pink glass rosary, 2) metal fishing weight that resembles a bone, 3) tin type of a gentleman in glass oval frame, 4) venetian glass beaded necklace

From left to right, back to front: 1) circus wagon brooch with lion, 2) Victorian crucifix, 3) religious hammered medal, 4) vintage stamping of heraldic shield, 5) two vintage penny whistles

NEW ARRIVALS: Chandelier Craze

My adventure in treasure hunting at the Fairmount Ave flea market went well this past Sunday, though I was under a time crunch I wasn't able to visit the haunted Eastern Penitentiary, but I did come away with some wonderful buried treasure. It was a lovely time and my companion was my good friend from high school, our outing was long over due. 

We both came away with some Victorian photographs and she coveted some vintage ephemera including paper Valentine cards and a rare autograph journal from a grade school student. I also found some lovely pendants, though the popular find of the day were glass chandelier crystals. I came away with an array of colors including, clear, pearlized, emerald and amber. Below are some lovely new arrivals that included my chandelier craze.

~ 1) Emerald Rock City Earrings: sleek and textured are mixed together to present truly a badass statement with amazing emerald color.

~ 2) Sleepy Hollow Chandelier Earrings: these delicious nostalgic darlings remind me of writing love letters by candle light. They are perfect for autumn and match an orange glow with darkness.

~ 3) Stitches and Sweetness Earrings: handmade stitched roses are matched with sparkling clear chandelier drops ready for a romantic affair.

~ 4) Crystal Trellis Necklace: vintage elegance matched with a fairy tale embellishment, a strand of clear crystals range from small to large and cascade down across your heart.

NEW ARRIVALS: Decadence and Decay

I don't know about you, but sometimes shorter weeks tend to me much longer, and with not much time comes lack of creativity outside of my day job. Fortunately last weekend I was extremely motivated and really enjoyed my long weekend, many new odd and beautiful jewelry pieces arrived at Red Heart 13, including two new Skeleton Krew paintings. 

I am really looking forward to this weekend however, if only it came faster, especially Saturday morning, when I attend the Fairmont Avenue flea market that surrounds the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philly. Back in May I had attended for the first time and found so much buried treasure, I truly am looking forward to the early morning hours rummaging through people's old junk. I shall be sure to bring a large bag for my finds and cannot wait to share pics with you all.

1) Blood and Luck Necklace: a superstitious necklace to adorn your heart and adds mystery to any outfit especially for Halloween.

2) Drop Dead Royalty Necklace: truly exquisite and made for a true queen; this necklace is sure to make a statement and start many conversations.

3) Hands of Time Chandelier Necklace: as time goes by, keep a special token of the past frozen around your neck.

4) Poison Enamel Earrings: blood red and black enamel make these darling truly ready for any dark dance on the town.

5) Heart of Gold Earrings: golden earrings perfect to add just a little bit of girliness and pure elegance to your soul.

6) Weight of the World Talisman: a vintage pulley and religious medal serves as a talisman of protection and a force of stability when times are tough.

Buried Treasure: Flea Market Finds

Don't you just love flea markets, I can't get enough of them! Last Saturday, I spent the morning at the Fairmount Ave flea market that surrounds the Eastern State Penitentiary, the flea market returns Sat, September 12, but there are a ton more coming up you can find here. 

I've been looking forward to going for the past month and went treasure hunting with my accomplice Jess and boy did I hit the jackpot! I came home a ton of vintage jewelry, plus an antique photo album with over 20 cabinet cards of one family, from the early 1800s. Below are some of the glorious finds from my adventure! These finds should be popping up in my shop within the next couple of weeks.

Top to bottom, left to right:

• Vintage pearls with rhinestone rondelles and vintage brass bird pendant and Dogwood flowers • Red glass beads with brass bead caps and two vintage silver shoe buckles with red velvet fabric

• Vintage flower brooch with glass amethyst stones

• Two antique photo buttons, one has the most amazing crackling from aging.

• An antique Pythian Sisters badge brooch, featuring the letters PLEF: Purity, Love, Equality and Fidelity. Made of sterling silver, there is an engraved name reading Jeanette Boehm and has a crown for our queendom, the scepter for our rule and the sword for wrath. There is also a beautiful smaller badge with a sun setting into the clouds, I couldn't find any of these badges with the sun symbol online, this symbol must be rarer and means the soul rising into heaven according to headstone symbols.

• Three military medals honoring a solider in shooting training, love these!

• Embroidered silver rose bracelet with beautiful detailing of red roses

• Vintage snuff / pill box pendant, features red rhinestones and the back opens to reveal your poison of choice

• Vintage daisy blush compact and two baby pink thimbles

• Royal flourish pendant with enamel crest

• White enamel bracelet with rhinestones and cabs

• Garden heart pendant with engraved flowers

• Whimsical umbrella and feather brooch

Beauty Behind the Walls

"NEVER LEAVE", this photo turned out quite eerie, I love to take pictures without looking in the view finder, never knowing how things will turn out. I was haunted by the contrast and how desolate the prison really looked.

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This past weekend I ventured to Philadelphia with my friend Jessica, many adventures during our day we spent at the Fairmount Ave Flea Market. My side kick and I walked the treasure filled streets that surrounded the Eastern State Penitentiary. I found so many vintage finds, we spilt a popcorn cupcake from this little coffee shop called Mugshot Coffee Shop and took a tour of the prison. I had quite an amazing time, despite almost getting us lost on the way, hooray hoorah for good friends and good times.

The Eastern State Penitentiary was open from 1829-1971, it was the first to establish a policy of solitary confinement and also held such criminals such as bank robber Willies Sutton and the famous Al Capone. It was the largest and most expensive ever constructed and quickly became a model for more than 300 prisons around the world.

I've always wanted to go to the prison for its hauntings and because I love creepy beat down places, so I drug Jess with me and spent a good hour walking the cellblocks. The place was so amazing and some areas were very eerie. I was so happy I brought my camera because there was so much detail to capture and I even got to sit on an old metal frame bed in a cell. I want to go back very soon, for a paranormal ghost hunt and even take some more friends. 

You can find more photos at my FLICKR!

Also you should check out the 360 view of the prison floor plan.

"PUNISHMENT", the outside of the high stone walls were lined with bright green ivory, moss and a single nail that was pounded into a crack. Just beautiful symbolism I thought.

"VEINS", I found this dead brush growing above the prison walls near famous cell #13. It reminded me of the once living lonely sinful prisoners.

"AT HOME", this was Al Capone's cell, he spent one year the penitentiary years before his mischief got him locked up in Alcatraz. He must of felt right at home due to his lavish cell.