Laugh Lines

New Bazaar Treasures

Visiting local bazaars is one way my sisters and I celebrate the holidays. The things that catch my attention still amaze them. I am drawn to the strange and unusual fun things people dream up to sell. Even my friends know I have to walk through a bazaar, museum, store or fair following my pattern: going to the right and working my way around the outside first, and then working my way around the center displays. If the tables are set up in long aisles, I go up looking only to the right side, and back down looking at the other side. I can't bear it when someone wants to jump back and forth or go out of order looking at the tables.

I like to look at what catches my attention and move on. Then, if I still want it when I’m finished looking, I return to buy it. At times, that system has helped me save money because I talk myself out of it. I have also regretted losing some things because they sold out before I returned. This past weekend, I walked away with some amazing stuff.

I bought a clock for my office lunchroom. Now, this piece is interestingly creative. Even though my sisters rolled their eyes in disbelief, then nearly laughed themselves silly in the car, I just know my staff will be impressed with this bazaar treasure. Two CDs glued together hide the clock’s workings. A spray of spoons, forks and knives to represent the clock’s hours is glued around the CDs. I actually had to carry the clock out in a large pizza box. I couldn't believe my luck to find something that so creatively represents time, using the CDs and the symbols of a kitchen!

My sister was equally impressed with an artist who creates ornaments and clocks from carved golf balls. This artist actually cuts the golf ball in half. She uses one half as the base, and drills a hole to place the golf tee as the stand. The stand holds the open top half of the golf ball that has a clock face in it, or flowers carved into the pink, blue or green inner layers of the ball. The half balls are beautiful ornaments individually carved with flowers, animals and faces. Obviously, that woman had to do something with old golf balls.

One danger of bazaars is that late afternoon shoppers are hit with guilt buying. The “little old ladies” who are exhausted and have only a scraggly batch of items left on the table, watch customers with such hopeful eyes that one may make a bad purchase just to see their smiles. The baked goods are already stale and the items left may have missing parts, but the cheer of making their final sale is worth it. My sisters and I have decided, therefore, to never stop at a bazaar if only three cars are parked out front.

Pam and Kathy’s 7 Tips for Finding Bazaar Treasures

Go shopping with a sister or friend to add to the fun.
Plan which bazaars or special sales you want to visit, and where they are located.
Stop about halfway through shopping time at a fun place for lunch, coffee, desert or all of the above.
Look at things together as you shop because your sister or friend can talk you out of bad buys.
Plan to buy something together for someone else. Then enjoy giving it to someone who couldn't come.
Buy a tiny gift and send it along with a thank-you note to your shopping partner.
Have a big laugh together in the car after discovering an outrageously funny treasure at the bazaar.