The Polka Dot Flea In Vintage Finds Magazine

Advertising for the Polka Dot Flea has started in a big way!

Vintage Finds Magazine is a VERY COOL free magazine available in shops (and online) all over Florida, keeping vintage lovers informed of the latest vintage shows, shops and happenings in Florida...The kind of shops and shows that WE ALL love.

I put an ad in the April issue , but wait...

...Kathy the editor added the Polka Dot Flea to the cover of the newest issue...but wait...

...When Kathy hand delivers Vintage Finds Magazine to Vintage stores all over Florida she offered to also distribute Polka Dot Flea postcards!

WHAT???!!!...How nice is this??...Kathy will be distributing 6000 Polka Dot Flea postcards to over 100 vintage shopkeepers to hand out to their customers; priceless advertising for the Flea...Thank you, thank you!

 The Polka Dot Flea will also be advertised in the Orlando Weekly Reader (A cool hipsters magazine you can find at most local restaurants and cafes) and in the "Calendar of events" section of the local newspaper and TV station (If the Polka Dot Flea grows I will expand to national magazines)

Starting May 1st, postcards and posters will be hand delivered to every cafe, shop, Starbucks and boutique in town (I did sales for 20 years...lets see if I've still got it!)

  

And then of course there is social media...I would be beyond grateful if anyone wants to share any of the images or info in this post on their social media outlets.

So...Heres the deal:  I have calculated that I need 699.5 Polka Dot Flea customers to attend the inaugural show (699 average sized people and one really skinny girl) to break even.  Anything over 699.5 customers will allow me to recoup my initial investment and fund the next show.

I am putting every ounce of my being (that's a lot of ounces) into the planning and prep for the Polka Dot Flea. So, if it turns out to be a big fat flop I will have no regrets!

I will at least know that I tried and gave it my all and had more fun in the process than a girl deserves...and that my friends is priceless!

If you have a minute you can visit Vintage Finds Magazine HERE

Polka Dot Flea Website HERE and Polka Dot Flea Facebook page HERE

Happy Creating!

Carol

Shabby Fabric Garland

Fabric garland...My new love!

This is so unbelievably quick and easy

 Just incase you are one of the 10 crafters in the world like me, that haven't made one....I had to share.

The back wall of my booth at the Polka Dot Flea will be a wire grid that I covered in muslin fabric.  But...It needed a little something to add interest....So, I thought...Let me try making a fabric garland.

I love it and it was sooooo easy.  It took me under 2 hours from start to finish to make 20 feet of garland and that included choosing my fabric,tearing, and tying it.

Any size strips will work.  I tore my strips approximately 3" wide by 10" long.   I didn't do any measuring I just eyeballed the size and started tearing.

The best part was I used up tons of fabric scraps, bed sheets, old table runners that had holes, fabric from dresses that I bought at the thrift because I liked the fabric.

I did not use any special knot, I just tied the fabric strips on twine.....Quick and Easy!

I can see these being used as decoration in an antiques booth, a girls bedroom, baby and wedding showers, garden parties.   How about Red, white, and blue fabric for a 4th of July party?

I know many of you have made fabric garlands....How and where have you've used them.

Happy Creating!

Carol

Big Sheet Music Paper Flowers

I made some big Sheet music flowers for the Polka Dot Flea

I have the whole tutorial on how to make the flowers HERE.  I made them a while back to use for

the store window display I did

So, when I needed some decorations for the Polka Dot Flea I knew these would be perfect

I put some flowers on a wire to string across the top of my booth at the Polka Dot Flea

Then I put some on stems.....

...I'm going to put them in the flower boxes at the entrance of the building where the Polka Dot Flea will be held

I have other plans for the front of the building.....This is just a start!

Oh my gosh, this is getting so exciting!

The Polka Dot Flea June 7th 9-4 at the Central Florida Fair Grounds, Orlando Florida, indoor/air conditioned!

Be sure to check out the Polka Dot Flea website and FB

Happy Creating!

Carol

The Polka Dot Flea Bag ....You PIcked.....And The Winner is.....

You are all soooo wonderful, thank you for helping me pick the shopping bag for the Polka Dot Flea!

I am usually a very decisive person, but I was having such a hard time picking which bag.  But, I felt better when when the vote was almost split.

Adding up all of the votes from FB and this blog.....Out of 141 votes...Winning by only 11 votes was......

The Green Bag

I loved that for the most part, whichever one you choose, you were pretty darn passionate about it and you gave me a great idea....For the December show I will use the black one!

I have no idea how many shoppers will show up for the first Polka Dot Flea June 7th at the Central Florida Fairgrounds, but the first 3000 will get a free.......

Green Shopping Bag

Thank you for helping me decide....You're the best!

Happy Creating

Carol

Please visit the Polka Dot Flea website and see all of the new vendors 

AND

Follow the Polka Dot Flea on FB

Help Me Choose The Polka Dot Flea Shopping Bag

Barr Display is custom printing 3000 shopping bags to give to the Polka Dot Flea shoppers when they arrive!  I'm one lucky girl to have such a great sponsor!......I'm so excited........But, now I need YOUR help in choosing which bag

So many choices..Paper..Plastic...What color...What size?

I have narrowed it down to two bags....Black or green?

  

I printed the logo on my home printer then pasted it on the bags so you could get an idea of what it will look like

First up is the green one...My printer made the polka dots more blue than they will actually be.  When the bags are printed the polka dots will be the identical green color of the bag

Or Black

If you are in need of bags Barr Display does custom printing on paper or plastic bags 1-800-222-2702

I can't decide........

I like the green bag because It's a summer show and they are light and happy

AND

I like the black bag because it looks rich like Coco Chanel or Saks Fifth Ave

I said I was taking you along with me on this Polka Dot Flea journey!   So.....YOU choose...Black or Green (The polka dots will match the green color of the green bag)...Majority Rules!

Thank you Barr Display!

And thank YOU All sooooo much for helping me choose!!!

Carol

Check out the Polka Dot Flea website HERE

And follow on FB HERE

The "Swimmin Hole" For The Polka Dot Flea

I want the Polka Dot Flea to be a fun show! 

This is the display that will greet shoppers when they first arrive at the air conditioned "Craft Hall" at the Central Florida Fair Grounds June 7th

Yep, I built a dock and a "Swimmin hole" 

I'm having so much fun getting ready for the Polka Dot Flea!

It was such a gorgeous day here in Orlando I could hardly get these kids out of the "Water"!

Both Mom and Dad will be dressed in vintage swimsuits

This last week I met a fellow blogger from Texas, Elaine from Sisters Treasures and she has a vintage ladies swimsuit....

......And my friend Terrie from Chic to Antiques is letting me use her grandfathers grey wool swimsuit from the 40's

Thank you Terrie and Elaine!

Now, I know you all want to know....

.........How to build a swimmin hole.... lol!

I built the dock with old fence boards and a fence post I cut up, then I covered the posts with cat tails and moss

 The "Water" was made by covering a Styrofoam insulation sheet with 2 rolls of blue cellophane.....I used about 20 glue sticks!

The mannequins are courtesy of Barr Display, one of the fabulous Polka Dot Flea sponsors  

I took the child mannequin apart at the waist.....I crack up every time I look at the boy "Diving in the water"

I am working on so many fun things for the Polka Dot Flea....I'm having more fun than a girl deserves 

And 

Being able to share this with all of you.........As my grandmother often said.....Is "The icing on the cake"!

Happy Creating

Carol

Be sure to check out the Polka Dot Flea Website and FB