Wednesday 22 April 2015

Field of Dreams - The Midweek Car Boot Sale



According to Google today is Earth Day so what could be more appropriate than heading to a field in the gorgeous Staffordshire countryside and recycling our knackered old tat precious belongings?


It's been 4 years since we last sold at a car boot sale (HERE) and we'd forgotten how much fun it is. You simply pile your vehicle with unwanted stuff, arrive any time after 7am, hand over your £7 pitch fee and lay out your wares. Unlike a vintage fair you don't need to book in advance and you can sell anything, from unwanted household goods and clothes to food, tools, plants and building materials.


As soon as you park up you're inundated. Crowds will descend around the van, pulling boxes out and unpacking bags before you've even set foot outside.


Within 15 minutes of arriving we'd sold at least a third of our stock. Rolls of wallpaper, broken computer parts, half bottles of perfume and bath towels were gone in the blink of an eye. We even flogged our vacuum cleaner. Why are you taking that? Asked Jon When was the last time we used it? Said I.


My rail of vintage clothes went down well at £1 an item.


Having Gilbert is ace, you can brew fresh coffee and eat hot buttered toast while the other traders look on in envy. He's also a massive draw to our pitch, who doesn't love a vintage V Dub?


When I stopped being an employee and started working for myself it blew my mind to discover the secret society that is the midweek car boot sale. From retired people supplementing their pensions and antique dealers offloading their house clearance trash to traditional market traders & dodgy geezers with fake tobacco and counterfeit DVDs, all life is here.


Jon chatting to a neighbour, a builder by trade, selling off the contents of a derelict house he's just bought.


People always like to chat. Today we met a man who was in the same army squadron as a good friend of ours who lives in Goa. What are the chances, eh?



Wearing: Hawaiian maxi from Krista-licious, 1960s psychedelic scarf (a present from a friend), Vintage plastic earrings (car boot sale), perspex belt (Urban Outfitters via Liz), 1970s sunglasses (Moseley Vintage & retro Fair, 2014) 

Bare arms and vintage Hawaiian maxis in April, bring it on!


Rummaging through boxes of TV remote controls and phone chargers on the stall opposite kept the male customers occupied all morning. Jon treated himself to a pair of posh headphones for £2 - he's worryingly quiet now.


This dapper gent was doing a roaring trade.


The chip van is always the most popular stall.


Our mannequin got more than a few lecherous looks.


It would have been rude not to wander round the other stalls once the initial rush had subsided.


Did I buy? Oh yes!


Forget The Cat In The Hat. This cat on a hat must be the coolest vintage head wear I've ever owned. Both that and the groovy 1960s paisley sun hat fit my massive head a treat. The orange glass necklace was a gift from one of my favourite stallholders.


Also this handmade red crimplene maxi, 1960s sheepskin & leather coat and a rather fabulous Marion Donaldson hippy-tastic maxi.


A few vintage purchases, a wad of cash, a suntan and an empty garden shed. What's not to love about a car boot sale? We might have to go back and do another one this weekend.

See you soon!

56 comments:

  1. I love a midweek car boot sale or tabletop sale but I only get to go them when I'm on hols - went to one in Cornwall last year and it was ace, we got a nice brass looking coal-scuttle and I of course bought yet more brooches.

    I'm off work next week so hope to track down a mid-week car booty treat!!

    xx

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  2. Gosh vintage maxis, sunshine and a cat on a hat - amazing!

    Not surprised your vintage £1 bargain rail went down a treat :)

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  3. car boot sale = flea market over here, but only on the weekends. Come on, America, get with it.

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  4. Looks like a blast! I love your dress and the treasures that came home with you :)

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  5. Love the cat hat - probably a much easier day for you than normal :) Now when you guys find cool stuff in your vintage hunting that wouldn't exactly fit in with Kinky Melon stock you have a way to make some money on it.

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  6. There are a couple of Weds car boots near here. Love the paisley sunhat! x

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  7. LOL at Jon being worryingly quiet - that's Sandy most any day, with his head in his software! This looks like great fun and I love, love your stunning Hawaiian maxi. xox

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  8. What a blast! All that sunshine and brightness of your smashing outfit is like a beacon straight to your VW.

    I wish we had these here. They seem so much easier than having to buy a stall at a flea market. Instead we have garage sales. They aren't as good since there aren't multiple vendors there to attract more people.

    You always manage to score some great loot.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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  9. Thank you so much for the lovely comment about my hair ❤
    Anyhoo, looks like fun, I've only done one car boot sale and that was with Andy and his brother and they left me to it while they sat on the floor and played a game! xxx

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  10. I swear if I ever get my butt back to England I want to go to one of these!!!!

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  11. And such lovely weather - okay, nippy to start with but sunny, definitely sunny.

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  12. Looks like great fun! The sunshine must have helped!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  13. I bet your wares brightened up the car boot sale, not everyday you get vintage dresses and stuff for £1 a go! your outfit today is really pretty and you look like you really enjoyed yourself.

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  14. I love that you have Gilbert for backup, such a lovely provider of warmth or shade or food and drink or naps, not to mention he's such a looker.
    Even in an urban area we have so much wasted parking lot space - I wonder why this tradition isn't booming.
    I'm glad you and Jon sold well. Looks like a great group of people.

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  15. The perfect way to spend a Wednesday morning, I reckon! Much easier than a vintage fair, and although the prices are cheaper, I bet you still did really well. Ooh, I'd have been very happy to see that vintage rail at a quid a pop!
    Great to see the good people of Staffordshire appreciated your quality merchandise - did the mannequin sell?
    I like the look of The Frying Squad, can't beat a chip butty for elevenses, and your half'n'half hat is just fabulous. What a brilliant day - you look gorgeous, and your big smile says it all!
    Love you! xxxx

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  16. What a delight to read on this chilly rainy grey day here! Thanks Vix xox

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  17. Ugh, I'm so jealous of your weather (I bet you don't hear THAT too often!). It's minus 12 Celcius here in Northwestern Ontario, and I'm yearning to ditch my heavy winter coat and wear a pretty dress.

    You look AMAZING as usual!!

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  18. I have yet to discover the delights of the midweek boot sale, but your fabulous purchases (those amazing hats!) are making me green! Another beautiful dress too, and that perspex belt is rather lovely!

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  19. That red and black hat is fab...I'd have snapped that up in a jiffy!
    Arilx

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  20. I've never made it to a Bootsale! Wish I had! They look great fun. That hat!!!!! So funky xxx

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  21. I'm glad you got to shop aswell as sell. We did a few last summer and I'd wander off and Jason would phone me if he needed a price for something. I have come back with more than I've sold though!
    Love the hat! xxx

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  22. I'd have spent all my money on those lovely looking plants!

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  23. I love boot sales looks like you were having a great time ! best wishes x

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  24. Aww, I adore your happy grin! Bring on the blue skies, bare arms, and fabulous hats! xo

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  25. Love the orange necklace. Were you selling the mannequin?
    Gorgeous as ever.
    Oh yes, the pink Kitty Copeland went down a storm! I was quite nervous as don't see many 52 year olds wearing vintage in Bath!
    Starting to take your lead and wear the stuff I have more!

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  26. My dear, this is fabulous! Here it is impossible, they are so boring all the formalities Italian, but not always want to complain!
    I see a lot of smiles and fun things: be beautiful in the country, have fun and earn some money making room in your own home! A beautiful day on Earth!

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  27. Reminds me of a similar "sale" in our village, and that is a really fun happening. So ... you should take your bus and come to Sweden in september. It requires a large amount of gasoline but maybe I can find a sponsor.

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  28. I was wondering when you'd do another one of those sales. They are always so interesting to see. We don't see them over here -- at least not where I am. Those hats are perfect for you!

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  29. That looks rather better than the car boot sales I see. It'll be fun to see what you wear the cat hat with.

    (Hmm, old bottles of perfume - maybe I need to give the booties another go...)

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  30. When I see your Car Boot posts it makes me wish we had that kind of culture here. It seems like such a great way to get rid of stuff and socialize at the same time, and from what you've said, people will buy just about anything (really, half-empty perfume bottles??).

    Those are fantastic hats - the cat-trimmed one is perfect for you!

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  31. Damn, that looks and sounds like a good time. Car boot sales are a thing that just don't happen around here, but I wish they did.

    It's so good to get a wee peek inside Gilbert.

    And please say you're going to keep those fantastic hats for yourself!

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  32. This looks FAB - I can't wait for Brixton!

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  33. Oh I love mid-week car boots, they are like no other! Your stall looks so fab, I really want to rummage through that rail! Lally X

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  34. Great weather for a car boot sale. Looks like you had fun.
    X0, Bonnie

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  35. Car boot sale sounds like so much fun, I wish we had them here!

    It was so much fun reading this post...no wonder you sold most of your stuff within 15 minutes...No wonder when there is this gorgeous lady selling the clothes (and etc) and than lovely vintage car and that cool mannequin to finish it off.

    I bet you were most fabulous couple there!

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  36. Fab! There's nowt like a good booty for shifting stuff and picking up the odd bargain like that lush red maxi and the orange necklace. I bet your £1 rail went down a storm.
    xx

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  37. I love that people help you to unpack!!! Must be slightly annoying, but jeez, if it saves you some work!
    Your car boots sales just look like heaven to me. I reckon I might have to get my gander up (stop being so bloody lazy) and bloody start one.
    The orange glass necklace is divoon, and I adore the hat! Perfect!
    Love Helga XXX

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  38. I wish this would catch on more in the States. We had an English couple try to start one in our town---only lasted a couple of times. People didn't seem to understand it, which is funny to me, because they will go to garage sales and flea markets. Maybe someday...

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  39. Hi Vix! That looks like so much fun and you look great. You and Jon r totally living the life! :-)

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  40. great score!! car boot sales are a bit rare around here and most of them don't seem to sell much of anything good in the way of vintage. In fact there's more police busting people for counterfeiting and stolen goods then customers. most people will take their good stuff on line or to the stall based markets in a town square or hall. bit more civilised!

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  41. love the fibreglass curtains in the van. I would have hated them when theywere in fashion.I was into reproduction furniture and chinz then.

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  42. I'm glad you both had a good day.

    I'd have swooped down on your clothes and mannequin, for sure.

    The weather's quite grey here, right now. But it was lovely while it lasted.

    Have a perfect weekend xx

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  43. oh so pretty in pink....my mum had a hat like the black & white paisley one but it was psychedelic!!x

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  44. I'll bet you're the best looking car boot sale seller anyone's ever seen. Utterly glorious in that maxi. I'd like a fumble through your wares any day. Xx

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  45. No wonder you sold stock so quickly, vintage at a quid a go, the chip van right next to your pitch and you oozing glamour from every pore! I'd love a mid-week car boot but alas, hereabouts it's weekends only. Great buys, love the necklace, cat hat and frocks.
    xxx

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  46. Looks like a blast and you look like a breath of spring air in that dress! :)

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  47. Geniales fotografías!!
    Saludos

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  48. This looks like so much fun! I would be in big trouble or my bank account would. I love and covet your mannequin! Also your striped maxi and cat hat! And of course Gilbert! Oh I love Gilbert! Enjoy that sunshine! xoxo

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  49. I do love the way you go in at the middle - me - my hip measurement is only about an inch bigger than my waist and belts look like a rope around a sack!!!

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  50. This looks like oodles of fun. Wish stuff like this happened here.

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  51. I'm a car boot sale virgin … I might have to search one out for the fun of it … don't think they're as thick on the ground over here though :0(
    xx

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  52. I've got metres and metres of that cat trim in purple- from a whole box full of 70s braid found at my grandparents' house. I guess my nan (who was a dressmaker) must have stocked up, and then not wanted to get rid of it when it went out of fashion. That reminds me I need to sew it on to something.

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  53. I wish we had sales like that here!! We have a city wide garage sale once a year but that's it. And one dollar garments? YES! Your sun glasses are yummy yummy by the way.

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  54. I wish that this was a thing where I lived - I'd take leave just to go along! Looks like you found some fun things, that black and white hat is exceptional!

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  55. Can't beat a booty any day of the week. You and Jon are hot couple of the Booty world, no wonder they all wanted a piece of the action as soon as you rocked up, you looking like sunshine and Jon the King of cool. I always buy my plants from a man such as this these days, it's much more fun than a garden centre. I wish we had a Gilbert! Xxxxxx

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix