The day at the Rome Porta Portese flea market with Milly Sorrentino

Flea Market in Rome Porta Portese is one of largest in Italy. I have been hoping to go see it for a while but couldn't get there on Sunday and that's the only day it is open. This time* we planned our visit to Rome to include the Porta Portese as well. 

So, what was my impression? It's large enough, but honestly I have been expecting a lot more. Not surprisingly the real experts aren't jazzed with it either, so I wouldn't advise you to come to Rome just to see it. There are better and cheaper flea markets in Italy.

 

newly made and vintage mixed

prices like in an antique store

someone checking out a trinket box, just look at those keys!

 I have seen this mug for 70 to 150 Euro in different markets

gotta bring your magnifying glass not to get cheated

Despite the overall bad report I did have some lovely finds and added them to my etsy shop!

Story by Milly (millyscollection)

Translation by Nadia (LuNaViFelt)

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* Would you like to read more on Italian flea markets? See our previous post "The day at the Trento flea market with Milly Sorrentino"

Vintage at AGardenCottage

What's vintage for you? For me, this is collection of memories.

A vintage item is the item that is more than 20 years old and is valuable to you or others.

When I buy vintage items I look at things that I would like to have myself. But here is the catch, just because something is old does not make it valuable or collectible. What's make it valuable is it is something rare, something desirable, people want it or it touches someone's memory of good days gone.

I am a collector too, that's why I opened my AGardenCottage shop on Etsy.

Look at these buttons. It is so hard to find quality mother of pearl anything now but these vintage buttons have a wonderful marbling opalescence in them. These buttons are a way to bring the beauty of the past to a garment made today.

 Another good example is your holiday dinner. You can use many different serving utensils for your guests or you can really dress it up with something that your guests have never seen before like this gold strawberry salt & pepper shaker. 

 You could use something like this or another vintage set made by Oneida that will dress up your table.

 When your guests see your treasures it will become a topic of discussion and compliments. Believe me, we kept the same strawberry set for ourselves for our Thanksgiving dinner and everyone was asking about it.

Vintage or antique items have always been popular. Since the 1950's when mass production really got started it has made collecting cheaper. Now everyone can afford to collect or buy items that they are interested in.

I am shopping for items constantly and I have hundreds of items that are not listed yet so if there something you are looking for let us know because I may already have it or I will look for it.

My warmest Holiday wishes to you,

Tanya at AGardenCottage

Shabby Chic

When I was a child I would visit my grandparents in Russian countryside and stay there for a few weeks every summer. I remember a huge old trunk where my grandmother kept some clothes.

 I loved that trunk! Its wooden panels were worn and the hinges were rusty. I would secretly go to the trunk and open the heavy lid just to hear the squeak and imagine stories and secrets of which this trunk might have been a part.

Ever since I’ve been fascinated by old pieces with visible “signs of history”.

It took me a long time to realize that the aged look that I like so much can be imitated.

 I have to say that introduction to shabby chic style was an exciting discovery for me.

The appeal of shabby chic style is not only in the aged look.

It is not simply vintage or vintage looking – it is also chic. So there is a definite soft and feminine feel to it.

  I just love the bleached whites and muted pastel colors of shabby chic as well as all the flowers, crowns, birds, etc. in the patterns.

Shabby chic can be somewhat diverse and yet is definitely recognizable as its own style.

By Yana WineCountryLife

Halloween free graphic

This lovely vintage image is perfect to use in your greeting card or a scrap book Halloween project. Katrin at karissagraphic is sharing this with us today and there is much more in her Etsy shop!

 
We'd be happy to hear about your creative ideas on using this image for your crafts*. Please let us know what you think!

Happy crafting!

*This image is for personal use only.

Vintage Mother's Day graphic

This vintage card is so great, your Mother will love it! Attach it to your gift and lovely roses and cheerful colors of the card will make her day even more delightful!

This image was kindly offered by Katrin (Karisagraphic)