American Pickers Giveaway

So, the new season of American Pickers began last Monday.

Did you get to watch it?

So fun!

 Mike Wolfe

Frank Fritz

As a lifelong picker myself ...

( not really a professional, but a picker none the less!)

I love this TV show and actually can feel my heart beat faster when that barn door or storage unit door opens and we catch a first glimpse of the treasure inside!

My personal picking began back when I was a young girl

 and it was in the attic, basement, barns and out buildings of my grandparents farm.

 I have been a hunter and gatherer

 of all sorts of bits and bobs ever since.

 OK, so not on the big scale that Mike and Frank pick...

I tend to go for smaller things...

...more decorative, girly things...

I guess that's because I don't have their muscle

 and I stick closer to home.

 But, I do love an attic full of dusty boxes of old china,

 vintage photographs and odd chairs....

...a forgotten trunk full of old linens and delicate lace,

 hand sewn quilts and vintage clothes...

 and, of course, a musty smelling basement full of 

old canning jars, rusty clock parts,

 woven baskets and wooden crates.

Sigh...

Ah yes...I've had many adventures exploring and

...I do share Mike and Frank's passion for treasure hunting!

The folks at The History channel reached out to me to offer a

 DVD of the first season of American Pickers

 for a Giveaway!

I was happy to oblige as I really enjoy this show and if you are reading 52 Flea then you probably do too!

If you would like a chance to win a

DVD of the first season of American Pickers...

(really fun to watch on a cold winter night)...

simply leave a comment telling me what your

 most interesting find was and where you found it!

 I will pick a winner on Monday!

...and just because you are who you are...

and I am who I am...

I will throw in a freshly picked vintage treasure 

of my own to send to the winner.

Hmm....what should it be?

You tell me!

:)

200th Post Give Back !!!

At some point within the next two weeks, I will, incredibly, publish my 200th post! In anticipation of this, I have been thinking about what to do about a 200th post Give-Away or as I like to call it a Give-Back to all my friends in this wonderful blogging community.



At the same time, I have been thinking about, with great anticipation, the approaching Madison Bouckville Antique Show which I have been going to every August for many years now..... The towns of Madison and Bouckville are midway between Syracuse and Utica, NY. They are filled with many antique shops and the week leading up to this annual event, the streets and fields are full of dealers and collectors. The show this year will be on Saturday and Sunday, August 15th and 16th. Set up and early buying is on Friday...but beginning Tuesday, the 11th .....Route 20 is lined with fields of peripheral dealers who trade and sell up until the main event on the weekend.



When Kate was a little girl....she and I would go midweek and shop all the dealers who were set up along the street and in the fields....Kate was quite the trooper and was always on the lookout for girlie things...like ponies and kittens and pretty sparkly baubles....She drove a hard bargain and many times dealers, looking down into that sweet smiling face, would simply give her whatever her heart's desire....



In recent years, I have either traveled by myself or with my good pal Paula (you will remember all the pictures of her home and garden from the tour in June). We try to do this show and the Brimfield show in Massachusetts once or twice a year.....When I go with Paula...we do it right....the big time.....the actual show....pay the early bird fee and go for several days! Paula and I are kindred spirits and very good antiquing and junking partners...The first time my parents met Paula up at the lake after a particularly successful buying trip in Madison.....my Mom remarked...."I think she loves junk as much as Laura!"



Anyway....this year.....we invited good friends Carole of Maynard Greenhouse in Old Saybrook, CT and Deanna of Gather, a wonderful shop in Ivoryton, CT, to join us for a fun filled girls' weekend of antiquing and junking! Evi, our dear friend and the renowned doll maker, is trying to work things out so that she can come as well....but at the moment her family and most particularly her darling grandchildren need her so it may not work out this time...(we will miss her).



Now....to get to the part that involves all of YOU!
To celebrate my impending 200th post....
I would like to offer the winner of this GIVE BACK.....my services as their personal shopper at the Madison Bouckville Antique Show this year!
You tell me what to look for! You tell me what you collect! Is it Linens? Kitchenware? Ephemera? Sewing Collectibles? Old Millinery Flowers? Vintage Jewelry?
I will do my very best to find the perfect treasure for the winner of my Give-Back!



If this sounds interesting and fun all you have to do is leave a comment before midnight, next Tuesday, August 11th....and I will enter you in my GIVE BACK!
If you would like a second chance to win....mention this GIVE BACK on your blog and let me know so I can put your name in the hat twice.....



Be sure to leave contact information in your comment so I can reach you if you do not keep a blog and be sure to tell me what you want me to look for while I "shop till I drop" at this fabulous event!
This Give Back is open to everyone! (My first Give Back for my 100th post was won by Christina in Sweden!)
I hope you decide to "come along with us" next week and I will do the leg work and hunt for your heart's desire.....

Liv's Give Away

I wanted to share with you this Give Away Contest being held by my sweet friend Liv.....She hand makes these cotton towels and would like to give one or more away to her blog friends....L-jo has a beautiful blog which mirrors her sweet and enthusiastic personality and her lovely Nordic style of decorating.....You will enjoy her writing as well as her photographs!

100th post Give Back

It is amazing to me that I have reached 100 posts already....having only started 52Flea on February 15th ....this means that within 80 days I posted 100 times.....hmm...I guess I have a lot of stuff to share....



Well, I see that the blogging thing to do is to have a give-away to celebrate your 100th post....so to that end...I have decided to have a "create your own give-away". I am just getting to know you all and since I have artist friends, antique and vintage loving friends, junking friends, decorating and designing friends, jewelry making friends, etc., and since everyone has different interests......



I thought it might be fun for you to specify a category of goodies from which you would like me to select your prize! Goodness me, I have plenty of stuff to choose from.....so if you are interested in receiving a treasure from one of the categories listed below.....all you have to do to enter this give away is to tell me you "want in" and leave your name in the comment section (please make sure you leave me an email address or contact information if you do not keep a blog). I will pick one name out of a hat next Monday night, May 11th......if your name is picked.....just let me know which category of prize you would like me to pluck your treasure from! Does that sound too complicated?



Here are the categories: Nostalgia, Wireware, Tinware, Enamelware, Ephemera, Kitchenware, Vintage Sewing, Vintage Millinery, China, ......oh for goodness sake....tell me what you like and I will try to find something amongst my treasures that tickles your fancy!



This blogging experience has been so much fun and an outlet for my creative interests....I think of this as really more of a "give-back" than a "give-away". I thank you all for being so friendly...so willing to share and for being so kind to me....



If this sounds intriguing to you and you would like two chances to win.......mention this little give-away (or give-back) on your blog and then let me know....I will add your name twice to the hat!



Thank you everyone for all your support and encouragement!
I'm having so much fun!