A good flea market morning does not need a big budget, a long schedule or even a quiet car. Aurora, who shares her finds on the channel Vintage Weekends, spent a morning at the flea market in Limena, Italy, with her husband while their little daughter napped in the backseat. They came home with a silk scarf for €5 and a Sardinian basket for €1, plus a handful of other treasures.

The market is only about half an hour from where they live, but Aurora says they were running very late that day. In fact they had already finished exploring before they remembered to film an introduction, so she recorded it in the car, with her husband beside her and their daughter asleep behind them. Then she took viewers back through the stalls to show what caught her eye.

It is a big market, with something for nearly every taste. Aurora passed paintings on glass, succulents and a big old decorative fan that could hang on a wall. There were Halloween costumes, leather ballerina flats marked as made in Italy, a ceramic piece that looked like lace and might have come from Bassano del Grappa, a town known for its handcrafts, and a stall of vintage jackets that made her gush over the buttons.

Shopping With A Toddler And A Husband Who Says Hurry

Aurora laughs that her husband is always telling her to hurry up. She says she simply cannot make good purchases if she has to run, and he cheerfully answers that she can walk, only quickly. At one point their daughter’s crying could be heard in the background while Aurora kept hunting.

Along the way they checked a bright fringed lamp that would have looked great on bedside tables, but her husband was a firm “no” even when asked if he was 100 percent sure. They looked at a tiny velvet dress that would have made a lovely Christmas outfit for their daughter, but it was already too small for her. Aurora also admired a large embroidered tablecloth with matching napkins for €25, wondering how many hours someone spent on the decoration.

She even borrowed money from her husband at one point, joking that she needed €40 and swore she would pay him back someday. The reason became clear later in the car.

The Haul From The Car

Back at the car, Aurora showed what she bought. Her biggest purchase was a Missoni dress at €40, a fabric she explained comes from a high-end brand famous for its distinctive knit patterns. Her husband noted that Missoni once made the fabric for the seats of a car called the Ypsilon, which surprised her.

She also picked up a Florentine trinket or jewelry box that is a little bit worn and missing its key, though the top opens without it. She plans to resell it on her Etsy shop. A brass box, which she thinks may come from Morocco, was chosen because she sold an identical one before and is looking for more like it.

Then came the bargains in the headline. For €5 she bought a silk scarf, probably from the 1970s, a rectangle signed Gabrielle Paris. For just €1 she bought a Sardinian basket, which she will resell on her web shop along with other Sardinian baskets she has found at flea markets.

A vintage frame holding an old family portrait cost €2. The corners are nicely decorated and the back is wood, though part of it is plastic, so she does not think the frame itself is very old, even if the picture is. She also picked up another scarf for €2 that she first thought was silk but now doubts, though the condition was good and the fall colors were lovely.

The rest of the haul included a chunky metal bracelet that opens, a second bracelet with a flower detail, and a hand-painted doily-like piece. Her husband bought ropes, since they have a tree hanging that he wants to pull. She added up that she spent around €55 to €60, with the Missoni dress taking the biggest share of that.

Tips For Your Own Flea Market Trip

Aurora’s approach offers a few easy lessons for anyone who loves a market. First, take your time looking at labels and details, since the brand and the buttons told her a lot about the quality of a jacket or blazer. Second, look closely for stains and damage before paying, as she did with the Sardinian basket.

Third, buy with a plan. Aurora keeps an eye out for items she already knows sell on Etsy, like trinket boxes and baskets, so she can resell them for a profit. She also looks for stained embroidered pieces she can cut up with her seamstress without feeling guilty, such as making shorts for next summer.

Finally, bring good company, even if they rush you. The family’s day shows that a bargain trip can be fun and relaxed with a napping daughter in the car, a patient husband and a few euros in your pocket. By the end Aurora was happy, saying she had a pretty good haul for the day.

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