Customer Reviews

Flea Market Jewelry: New Style from Old Treasures

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Binky is a native Texan living in Austin where, as of the book's publication, owns a shop called "Flashbacks." The book "celebrates the marriage of 3 great passions -- jewelry, shopping and making something yourself." As a frequent visitor to the Randolph Air Force Base's thrift shop myself, I can attest to the therapy provided by finding a true treasure at a pittance.

The montage on page 14 is an appropriate introduction to how to combine unlikely objects to enhance a corner of your home. The montage incorporates a religious picture, jeweled ornaments, and a hanging candleholder which, in a former life, was a coffee urn lid. Binky provides tips on how to bargain at estate and garage sales, such as paying in cash or using inclement weather to find a desperate seller.

Binky has a super idea for using those one or two beads you have leftover from other projects -- wire them together for a beaded curtain. She suggests that you look around for inspiration. On a recent shopping trip, I saw some very expensive beaded and embellished pillows. With some exotic fabric scraps, beads, and old brooches gathered from a rummage sale, you could quickly and easily make a similar project without spending much money.

She includes a gallery of the work of others who use found objects. Jo Packham and Chapelle Designers make holiday ornaments. Mary Jo Hiney's work has a distinctly Victorian influence. If you are a pack-rat, collecting bottle caps or used gift-wrap, this book will give you inspiration for their use.

Flea Market Jewelry has some innovative ideas for turning those old costume jewelry parts into something you will actually wear and use. There's also an Artist's Gallery with unique contributions from other artists.

If you like buying bits and pieces or if you have inherited outdated costume jewelry and want some inspiring new ideas to try, this may be the book for you!