So last weekend I went to So Cal to meet up with some friends.  We timed it so that we could cross an item off our bucket lists – visiting the grandaddy of all flea markets: The motherloving ROSE BOWL!!

It happens the second Sunday of every month.  We opted to go after the crazies (read: dealers) so we showed up around 9:30.  It was already pretty packed.

Holy moly, people.  Even JWR, who I spent many a Saturday with up at the antique mall on Aurora but who doesn’t really feel the “thrifting” love, was impressed.  I wished they handed out maps, or aerial views at least. We knew it was huge, but we really had no way to get our bearings. We went up and down the rows as best we could.  There was ALL MANNER OF THINGS.

I was DROOLING over the mid-century furniture.  If I lived there AND had the space and money, there was probably 5 pieces that would have gone home with me.

Of course, along with the fabulous, there was a fair amount of just plain weird.

Of course, I HAD to come home with something!  And it couldn’t be anything big – it had to fit in my carry-on.  Luckily, in the first few minutes, I found this – for $8.  I tried to find out more about it, but I came up empty.  The ONLY other Sylvia Hood Original I found on Ebay was a pair of figurines.  I did find out that it’s called chalkware.  And that there apparently bigger versions of this out there.  It may not even be worth $8 – I don’t care.  I love it and the fact that it says Pasadena is the best part.

As always, I’m a sucker for anything in a mid-century frame, so I picked this up for $10.  It’s signed “Kufler” and on the back says “Austria 1942” in handwriting.  Also couldn’t find anything about this on the interweb but I love it anyway.  It goes with the painting I scored at the Salvation Army.

The sheer volume and variety of stuff was amazing. And overwhelming.  Just when we were ready to call it good (maybe having walked a third of it?), we discovered BEER!  YES!  They are smart, these organizers.  The men following their women folk were especially grateful when we told them where they could find this magic elixir.  And in California, you can walk around with it!

I don’t who that chick is on the left, but considering the man we got to take the photo barely spoke English, I wasn’t going to argue.  And for you Seattleites, check out the flip flops!  In March!  Definitely worth another trip.  When I have a bigger suitcase. Or a U Haul.