Spring is here! The snow is starting to melt and birds are merrily singing as they collect shiny things for their nests. What about the rest of us? We're preparing to collect a few shiny things of our own at indie craft fairs and flea markets! Yay! Want to know where I turn to find the best flea markets and indie craft fairs? C'mon let's go...

A display of fiestaware at the Brimfield Show held in Massachusetts 3x per year and one of my favorites in the country.

I've been a fair and flea market shopper since I was a kid because my mother and grandparents were BIG into it. I love the thrill of the hunt so I continue this family tradition with my husband Thorsten. He usually doesn't scout for the same things as I do so we bring our cellphones and stay in touch as we both venture off to booths we enjoy meeting up later to lay out our loot and play a little show 'n tell. This year, we're preparing to hit a few events and here's where I go to find the best of the best. 

FLEA MARKETS: Recycling is a good thing, especially coupled with fresh air, friendly vendors, and rare finds.One site I refer to often is The Flea Market Guide, a website that lists all shows held throughout the year in the USA organized by state. It's very helpful, especially when you travel and want to hit a few fleas you've never shopped before. Another site I like is Craigslist because you can find some flea markets listed there. Under Search I usually type Flea and in the drop down menu below that I select Community.   Country Living magazine is another terrific resource for finding all the good fleas. They list them in their magazine and on their website monthly as they refresh their calendar of events -- here's their guide for March. In addition, they have a listing of antiques shows here. My final tip is the obvious though some forget that they're advertised here -- check your local newspaper under Yard Sales.

A pair of vintage Heywood Wakefield chairs that I snapped up at Brimfield in May 2007.

INDIE CRAFT FAIRS: Ah, the joy of handmade. These craft fairs are not only a lot of fun, but a great way to find new and interesting things that are often one-of-a-kind and priced right. Plus you can usually meet the maker at these shows, a huge perk for me because I love to see the face behind the product. I enjoy making meaningful connections with others so when I take my treasure home, I enjoy it even more because often I had a conversation with the maker so there's a special memory attached to it. My home is filled with things that tell a little story which is why Indie Craft Fairs are a big hit with me. I visit the South End Open Market in Boston (especially on opening weekend, this year it is May 17-18) and the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn. For a list of indie craft fairs held in the USA, visit the Indie Craft Fair Guide. I think that may be one of the best guides on the web, there's even a separate zine fair listing here, but there are others like Indie Craft Shows, Festival Network Online, Where It's At, and Fairs and Festivals.

What events are you attending this year in your local area? Any tips you'd like to share on how you find your local shows?

(photographs taken by Holly Becker)