The Fun Continues...

Where does the time go? The last few months have been a whirlwind of fun, and with the holiday season here (yes, it's here!) we are not about to slow down now! But here's how we "Fleas" feel after each month's closing:


exhilarated,


a little giddy,


and ready to sit down for just a few minutes!

And while we're taking a breather, let's look back on just a few of the moments that make it so fun to do what we do!

Here's (from left to right) Grandma Debbie, Mom Kristen and Aunt Audrey with



one of the youngest new customers we've had the pleasure to pinch the cheeks of--presenting eight-day old Dax Preston Waltenburg!



We also had a visit from Anita Gioconda (on the right in red) all the way from Washington, D.C.!


In August we got to see life imitate art:


In September we witnessed someone fall in love (with a wedding dress!)


and we went over-the-top in October! We hosted a witch hat contest (our winner won a $100 shopping spree!).


Even the fountain boy in our open-air market got into the spirit!


We also were representing vintage lovers everywhere at our booth at the Pleasanton Antique Faire:


No wonder we needed this short mental break! But now that we're all refreshed, and ready to present ourselves at our most happiest (which is anytime we're in the store!), we hope to see you soon.


Our next chance for fun is November 3, 4, 5 & 6th!

Winner and Smiles All Around

Did you see our smiling (representative) faces at the Pleasanton Antique Faire?


We were there with lots of goodies:






Our "next-door neighbor" was the sweet Betsy from My Salvaged Treasures, and she was kind enough to take these photos and blog about us! (Thanks Betsy!) Hope you had a chance to stop by and say "Bonjour!"

Next, we have an announcement to make! Our customer and the winner of a $100 gift certificate for a shopping spree in our store is (drum-roll please...................)


Marsha Mees! Woo hoo! Congratulations, Marsha, and we thank all of our other lovely customers who decorated a witch hat and wore it to our October opening! You really got us into the "spirit" of the month!

Pretty-Creep Show

We had five customers who all wore their hand-decorated hats in our fashion show of fright, all vying for the crisp $100 gift certificate give-away at our October opening! Let's take a look as they all fly in on their brooms and take command of the cat-walk:

(You can click on the pictures, if you dare, to see all the creepy details)

Our first model gives us the evil eye as she shows us her delightful/frightful entry. The romantic Eiffel Tower (complete with blinking lights!), which is covered with spider webs, sits down over her pointy little head, while spiders, a gecko, frog, black bird and a few unidentified curiosities climb up.

Next up is a beautifully spooky number. A long sheer black veil cannot hide her knowing smile, as she turns her head to show us the full effect of the light-catching iridescent feathers attached all around the brim extending to the point. Black lace and pom-poms molder on the flat of the brim add a playful touch.


Our next model appears to have used what ever she had laying around her witch's lire! A black skeleton shaded by a parasol, holds a glittering skull while a black crow watches the whole affair. The hat is topped with a glittered black whisk broom and is brimmed with a garden of black & orange roses.

Mirror, mirror on the wall--who's the creepiest one of all? My point (and this model DOES have one--it's cleverly curled over!) is that it's going to be hard to chose ONE WINNER. Frothy black netting and multi-colored ribbon trail like a echoing scream from around the brim and down the bony spine of our model.


And our last model who was "pushing up daisies", brightened our darkened doorstep with a shock of pink netting spilling over the edge, topped with bright be-headed, fall-colored flowers on a vibrant orange, silken band.

Thank you ladies. We will continue after the judges have a chance to cackle and confer.

Chalk It Up To FUN!

Just when you thought it was safe to stand still (like 5 year old Caroline in her Paris dress above)--watch out! You may be painted with a special paint and turned into an all-occasion CHALKBOARD!


We "Flea's" are famous for transforming the ordinary, like this small frame above, into something spectacular! This one is a size to use as a table top way to leave a love note for someone in the morning, or to remind yourself how beautiful YOU are.


A larger frame with a chalkboard insert becomes a spot to celebrate the season with your own ever-changing work of art, or shopping list when used in the kitchen on the side of the fridge.


Or a prominent place to "tell your own story". There are hundreds of fresh, new uses for the "old school" blackboard!

We hope you have a place to write down a reminder that you could win a $100 gift certificate to spend at our store during our October sale (October 6, 7, 8 & 9th) . Just wear your hand-crafted witch hat to be entered in our contest!