There are a lot of things you give up to live in a small town, like convenient shopping, movie theaters, and, well, privacy. But one advantage to living in a town with absolutely no industry, is that there are an inordinate number of flea markets in and around town. Anyone who lives in Beebe, or close by, knows that if you heart junking, this is the place to be. We have no less than 9 indoor and one outdoor junkaporiums. These range from places you can find good quality antiques right down to indoor tag sales. But if you have an afternoon to waste, a little extra money (for that great find) and a trunk large enough for just about anything, then you can be in junk market nirvana!
One of my favorite stops in town is Southern Sassafras. I found a wonderful antique wooden student desk there, that was perfect for my middle daughters room. Of course, it was a hideous shade of blue-a strange cross between sea green and robin's egg-but a few coats of white paint and it looked great! Considering I only paid $22.00 for the desk and we had the paint on hand-it was quite the steal. Paired with the dressing table chair that my mother bought a few months ago (and that I recovered to match her Parisian theme) it made a perfect desk/dressing table. I hung the $8.00 gold framed mirror purchased a year ago at Apple Tree and it made quite the impression! The least expensive dressing table I have found was still over $200.00-so I count this whole thing a victory for the cheap!
Across the tracks at the Whistle Stop, I found a handmade table and chair created from cheap lumber and 2X4's for my sons room for a measly $15.00-I couldn't buy the lumber for that! It was stained a nice dark brown and was rustic enough as is to fit in nicely with his cowboy room and sturdy enough to stand up to a kid that can tear down a steel building when he is in the mood. It looks pretty good with the toy cabinet that my husband and I created from a cheap pressed wood pantry originally bought at Wal-mart-and given to us by my Grandmother. I did a faux leather treatment on the outside and we added some inexpensive wood turnings from the craft store, which I painted to look like verdigris brass (we had the paint, we spent about $8.00 on the turnings). We also bought 2 inexpensive knobs for about $2.00.
At the Do Drop In, I found a beautiful reproduction antique bed, in a white shabby chic finish for the aforementioned Middle child, for only $109.00-getting that puppy home in my Neon was a real treat. The Do Drop is absolutely huge, and there are so many rooms and areas in it that it is dizzying. Not a whole lot of furniture, but there are tons of items that would make great conversation pieces!
Once made up with the comforter I made her, and topped off with the pillows I also made, the bed is cozy and inviting. The pillows were made with scrap fabric and some close out flocked iron ons.
Another great place for antiques and higher end items is Buried Treasures...sorry I had a giggling fit. I honestly don't know if the owner has a very dark sense of humor, or if they honestly don't know....the building they are in used to be the town mortuary...buried...treasures....
Ok, I have myself under control.
Anyhow, beautiful crystal, plates, awesome juke boxes, classic toys, anything you can think of. Truly a delight to walk through, just not kid friendly-too much to break and some of it is pretty expensive. One thing I am in love with (and kicking myself for not buying) was an old camera, with case for less than $20.00. It would have looked awesome on my shelf in the living room!
