​In just a few short years, Lori Powell of Lakeland, Florida has built one of the best flea markets in
the country.  Held twice yearly, The Fancy Flea, includes some of the most talented vendors from Florida.

Customers arrived early, some returning looking
for their favorite vendor.  Others were first timers
to the market looking to find something special.  No
matter their styles there was something for everyone.  Great buys on furniture, home décor, jewelry, clothes and art were found around every corner.

At one low point I had visited my mother whom I had not seen in many years and she had this sewing machine that she introduced me to.  True love it was and has been from that moment on. Fast forward a few years and one day I was in the book store and came across a book about soldering....second child was born. That was five years ago and since that point I have searched to find a way to "marry" those two loves. I recently went to Virginia to visit my mom and the two of us were looking for something to play with. I asked her if she happened to have any old slips. To some this may be odd but my mom has always had a passion for collecting things. Her eyes lit up and back into her bedroom we went. As I sat on the edge of her bed she bent down and the only way I can describe it is she was like a magician pulling the never ending scarves out of the hat. She kept finding them and finding them and before it was all over the whole bed had a mound of slips. We went to the store and bought dye and at that moment the I flew home with a suitcase full of vintage slips and went to work. Once I finished the first "saloon slip" as I like to call them I decided to contact my friend Lori McGee who is a mixed media artist and have her create some original artwork so that I Could bring my slips to life with one of kind pieces of jewelry. I guess you would say the rest is history. Here I am now with this wonderful focus and an unstoppable passion.  All of my items are one of a kind. They are made from cast offs. Clothing that I have taken apart, hand dyed and up-cycled as well as bits and pieces of broken jewelry and other objects cast aside long ago.

​I am currently sketching out my fall line which will include boot jewelry, vintage belts with the most amazing belt buckles and a line of saloon pants and coverlets for my slip dresses so they can be worn in the cooler weather. I am so excited to announce my line of wares will be available for sale in the near future at Glitz & Glam Emporium, Oh Whatever, and my blog as well http://www.bellejuju.blogspot.com. I do so hope to be part of the Fancy Flea crowd in the fall with my own booth….See you then!

​4. Galvanized buckets make great planters.
5.  Add vintage birdhouses in vibrant colors for a bit of fun.