I’ve been looking forward going to the September 2011 Vintage Bazaar every since the last one took place back in May in Pilsen! This urban flea market never fails to please! All of the vendors are lovely, friendly people which makes it all the better. It’s like all of the etsy shops and the brick and mortar shops from Chicago converge together to sell their wares and discounted prices, no less.
This is the view right when you walk into the Congress Theater:
This was prime ‘real estate’ since nearly everyone who entered the theater would run into these awesome booths.
Walking through the hallway to the main floor you come across TONS of vendors:
This is only half of vendors that were in the main floor area, inside the Theater.
In the past, I’ve been more into the shopping than documenting the actual event. But I thought it would be refreshing to bring my camera and take some photos for you all of the Bazaar and some of the booths. That’s not to say I wasn’t into shopping…. heh
This is a shot of the main floor of several booths:
You can see there’s a great array of items being sold: furniture, clothes, housewares, kitchenware, etc.
This one booth had amazing danish furniture for sale:
On the main floor was Jet Set Vintage:
She has lots of lovely housewares as well as some clothes and other odds and ends.
Her booth is always a treat for the eyes!
I love ogling the pink and teal kitchenware.
I feel like at each new location, there are more and more vendors. The booths spilled out from Congress Theater, outside into the street and also into the adjoining vacant parking lot, in a true flea market style.
This is Rockwell Street, just northwest of Congress Theater (yellow brick building to the right):
More vendors in the adjoining parking lot:
I was scoping out the little aqua footstool seen in the lower right (image above), but it was a bit pricey. Very cute though, and it looked like it still had the original upholstery.
More vintage wares:
This was another eye-candy booth, set up by some folks of Hubris Productions:
Check out the salon hair-drier: (And yes, I did rifle through the box of vintage patterns to the left of the chair, on the ground.)
I found this gem of a pattern from them in that box:
The little navy polka dot scarf came from elsewhere, unfortunately I can’t remember which booth.
Felix has lots more images of the event, plus he has some videos up on his site too. Be sure to check it out if you’d like to read more about the event and the stuff that he spotted.
As you all know, I’m all about vintage patterns so I always keep an eye out for them when I’m shopping around. I found these two 40’s patterns, I couldn’t say ‘no’ to:
I adore the McCalls 6592 bow blouse that I got from Modern Times Vintage. I wish I could add it to my Queue for the fall, but I’m already making too much as it is, so this one will have to wait. And what can I say about Simplicity 1971?! Tell me this isn’t something that you could see Katharine Hepburn wearing in any of her 40’s films… I don’t think this would be something I’d be attractive in, but I had to have it for $2. Once I’m done cherishing it, this one will most likely find it’s way into a giveaway for you all since it deserves a home where it will be used.
I also bought these cute early 60’s patterns from Old Flames Vintage:
I’m not normally into this era, but I couldn’t pass up on these for $2. Plus, my weakness for bows may have had something to do with it…
Also from Old Flames Vintage, two vintage hats and 2 glass buttons:
People, this is my first, ever hat purchase! I was looking for some navy hats to go with my color palette for this fall, but I couldn’t resist these two. So despite their non-navy-ness, they’ll probably make their way into some photos. :)
Funny as it is, I happened to buy from a lot of the same vendors as I did at the last Vintage Bazaar, by happenstance. I guess I’m going to need to check in regularly with these gals since they always seem to have what I like. What’s even more amazing is that they all recognized me too; it make for a lovely shopping experience.
And lastly, the coolest sewing purchase I made the whole day from Junk in da Trunk Girls:
A Singer automatic buttonhole machine:
I already tested it out on my machine to see if it fit, and it kinda does. The buttonholer fits, but the feed-dog cover doesn’t quite fit on my Vintage JC Penny machine. I can use it if I have it on an angle but I’m not sure if that will harm my machine or not. I may have to swing my my sewing repair shop to check about this guy and see if I can order just the feed-dog cover for my machine so I can use the buttonholer properly.
I couldn’t believe I found this at the Bazaar, and it was only $12, complete with directions and all! I’m so excited to make buttonholes, which is a first for me. heh
I hope you all had a lovely weekend and be sure to check out the next pop-up Vintage Bazaar if you’re able. And be sure to check out Felix’s site if you want to see all 93 photos/videos of the event. (That’s his reduced down version, too!)
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