There is a special kind of joy in walking into a huge flea market with a short wish list and a husband willing to carry your purchases. Creator LaurenManz took her husband Nick along to the Farmgirl Flea Market, a big market in her area that she calls her favorite she has ever been to.

She was after unique pieces, especially art, and she also had her eye out for a really big 8-foot table. She came home with a $5 pillow and a $35 painting among her finds, plus a pumpkin, a brass duck, and a few surprises.

She says the market stands out for its variety of vendors and its really good prices. Her goal was to bring home things she can bring out year after year.

The First Finds of the Day

Her wish list was clear. The last time she visited, she found some really cool vintage art pieces, and she loves coming home with something like that. She also hoped for furniture, especially that big 8-foot table.

Her first find came quickly. In a booth full of vintage items, she spotted a pillow for only $5 and decided it was really cute. After checking that the vendor took Venmo, she made it her first find of the day.

Next up was a pumpkin. A lot of the pumpkins she has at home are handmade, so she picked out one from a booth with all sorts of shapes and sizes. It was exactly the kind of unique piece she could bring out every fall.

Art Is the Goal, and a $35 Painting Comes Home

She says she still had artwork on her wish list, so she kept looking. In one booth she found a piece she was drawn to for its colors, priced at $35, which she called not bad.

She loved the colors and the frame and knew she would find a spot for it. That became the $35 painting she took home.

Soon she had found two pieces of art, which was her goal. She was so pleased that she said she was happy even though there was still so much market left to see.

Prices Worth Noting

Along the way, she called out prices that show how varied a big market can be. A sweatshirt caught her eye at $40 with 10% off, and she says she really thinks she will wear it.

A cabinet in a booth was $285, which she says is not bad at all if you have the perfect spot. A gorgeous cross stitch was $75, and she also noted a brass duck priced at $20, a lighthouse, and a piece at $45.

She also pointed to a colorful item at $38 and said that was a keeper. Another booth had a price tag of $950 on a piece she said was so cute that she knew her mom would love it. Prices at that booth were color coded, which she liked.

Brass Animals and a Duck Collection

One section was packed with brass, the most she had ever seen. She collects brass animals, and the set that caught her eye was a splurge, so she decided to keep looking and keep it in mind.

At a friend’s booth, she picked out a side table and a brass duck. She says she has a duck collection that started with her grandfather, and the duck she found is one of her favorites.

Her friend runs the booth called Linen and Earth, where she redoes furniture. Lauren recommends checking her out on Instagram. Another friend’s booth, Kindred, sits next to her own shop in Middleville and sells boutique clothes and kids items. From there she picked up a book called Adventures in the 50 States for her girls.

Still Hunting for the Big Pieces

Even with a full day, she still had furniture on her list. She says she is in the market for a big hutch, and she would like one with more character.

She ended the day happy and ready for a corn dog. The market runs in the spring and fall, with another one right after Thanksgiving, and she says it is a fun date night for the two of them.

Her next trip is to the Barn Sale Trail, with 12 barns taking part for the first time, where she will be looking for a dining table and a large hutch.

Tips for Your Next Flea Market Trip

You can borrow a few smart habits from her approach:

• Go with a short wish list so you can spot what matters, like art or one big furniture piece.
• Bring a way to pay, since she asked about Venmo for her $5 pillow.
• Take a helper. Nick carried her finds back to the car.
• Walk the whole market before you splurge on pricey items like brass.
• Remember the space you have at home, since the tricky part is imagining what will fit with what you already own.

For Lauren, a flea market day is part treasure hunt and part date night. A $5 pillow and a $35 painting prove you do not need a big budget to come home happy.

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