Although the act of “cleaning out” one’s elderly parent’s home is not a happy process, sometimes finding a few gems brings back a bit of nostalgia and smiles. In my case, I found loads of handmade crafts while sorting mom’s basement. Not just any crafts, but beautifully detailed heirloom pieces reminiscent of a better time. 

Let’s Do This

Seeing these lovely creations motivated me to move. I really wanted to showcase these beauties in a unique way. And since there’s nothing better than seeing and touching things in person, I began to look for local opportunities to do so.

Lo and behold, I spotted signage in front of my local VFW that they were hosting an outdoor flea market that weekend. A phone call and application later, we were in.

Pitching a Table For Sales

Up at the break of dawn, I steadily prepped, packed, and loaded up the car. My youngest son Emmanuel and I arrived at 0730 that Saturday morning and began setting up our booth in stall #19. With just a card table and a few chairs, we were ready for the crowd.

Having participated in craft shows several years ago, I kind of, but then kind of not, knew what to expect. The weather was great, and the crowd was just right in terms of traffic. We enjoyed some good old Minnesota dialogue with our fellow booth neighbors.

Being a young man of 20 years of age with a ravenous appetite, Emmanuel was full of glee as the barbeque was fired up. Two hamburgers and a cola later, he felt satisfied. I myself brought some healthy snacks and a smoothie from home but couldn’t resist a bag of fresh popcorn.

The Results Are In

All in all, it was a wonderful day. We met some nice folks, enjoyed the sultry sunshine, and pitched our best on behalf of mom. Did we make any sales? Yes! Just enough to break even, lol. The most rewarding part was being able to share my mother’s handiwork with the public. My heart was full.

If you’re in the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities and would like to participate in an upcoming market, please contact the Coon Rapids VFW: http://coonrapidsvfw.com/. The booth fee helps to support both auxiliary and veteran programs. Maybe I’ll see you there!