the art of the hunt: a guide to secondhand treasures

antique geeks, unite!

"Our admiration of the antique is not admiration of the old, but of the natural."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

I thought May would be a good time to do a little check-in on my No Buy 2025, because this week in particular I’m taking a wee bit of a hiatus from it —but hear me out! As a refresher, here’s the post where I discussed my plans for 2025:

Now initially when I set this challenge up for myself, I decided to have secondhand clothes fall under the umbrella of “no new clothes”, but spring weather hit and I realized I was lacking some warm weather items! So I’ve loosened up on that a bit and picked up a few cotton, linen, and silk tops and dresses recently to carry me through the warm weather months. I’ve also allowed myself quarterly trips to the Goodwill bins, so I’ll be making my spring trip tomorrow with a couple friends, followed by a little pop into Canal Street Antique Mall, since I’ll be in the area. I’ve been meaning to go for five years now, so tomorrow’s the day finally.

Let’s see how things are going with the No Buy 2025 experiment, shall we?

All in all, I’m quite pleased. It has been much easier than I anticipated it would be when I set the challenge, and I’ve found that keeping a list on my phone of random things I’ve thought about buying has helped a lot.

Now one of my big exceptions going into 2025 was my Superbowl: Brimfield Flea. I’ve gone every year since moving back to Massachusetts, and I look forward to it for months. Months, I tell you!

For the uninitiated, Brimfield Flea is a multi-sensory experience, not just any old flea market. Three times a year, Brimfield, Massachusetts transforms into the country’s largest, oldest, most iconic outdoor antiques and vintage show. Picture rolling fields stretching for well over a mile, packed with tents, tables, and trailers overflowing with treasures: furniture for every style, enamel kitchenware, ceramics, vintage clothing, artwork, toys, garden tools, handmade items, jewelry, and so, so, so much more. It’s part treasure hunt, part nostalgia trip, and a whole lot of fun if you have a soft spot for old treasures.

I go with one of my dearest friends, and we make a full day of it —getting there at 7AM, fueled up with coffee, snacks, water bottles, hats, sunscreen, and a sturdy wagon to cart all of our wares around. Throughout the year, I keep a running Trello list of antique and secondhand items that I’d like to keep an eye out for, but also sometimes you have to let the spirit of the flea market wash over you.

For instance, a few years ago when we first moved in, I needed trash cans for all of the bathrooms in our house. Not wanting to buy overpriced new trash cans (why are trash cans so stupidly expensive?) , I opted instead to pick up some cute vintage enameled and ceramic chamber pots to use instead, like this one:

Gratuitous photo of a couple harvest baskets I picked up for a song, too.

I’ve enjoyed shopping secondhand since I was 18 years old (yikes, over 20 years now!), my mom was an antiquing maven, and I used to religiously watch Antiques Roadshow, so I like to think I know a thing or two about how to navigate searching for used items. Everyone has different wants and needs when it comes to shopping secondhand, but here’s a little overview of fun, practical, and sometimes unexpected treasures to keep an eye out for while thrifting, antiquing, or hitting up a flea market:

What to Look for When Thrifting

Kitchen Goods

• Cast iron anything

• Pyrex mixing bowls and baking dishes

• Ceramic or stoneware bowls and mugs

• Pretty small plates (perfect as saucers or plant drain trays)

• Funky coffee mugs – the weirder, the better

• Colored glassware (especially vintage sets)

• Unique pitchers and carafes

• Enamelware (like pots, pans, and trays)

• Casserole dishes

• Pie plates and tart pans

• Dutch ovens

• Wooden utensils, rolling pins, and cutting boards

• Metal or wooden trays – great for organizing or breakfast in bed

Linens

• Handmade quilts and patchwork throws

• Crocheted or knitted blankets

• Vintage bedspreads and coverlets

• Cloth napkins and table runners

• Woven or embroidered placemats

• Aprons – especially vintage or handmade ones

Home Decor

• Candlestick holders (brass, ceramic, wood – they all have charm)

• Framed artwork and old prints

• Vases of all sizes

• Lamps (just make sure they work or can be rewired)

• Coasters and trivets

• Big mirrors – often pricey new, but easy to find vintage

• Ceramic planters or pots for indoor plants

• Clocks, wall hooks, and decorative shelves

• Tchotchkes and curios that make you smile

• Vintage wool rugs

Clothing

• Unique sweaters and jackets

• Kids’ clothes (they grow so fast)

• Handmade items

• Vintage tees and sweatshirts

• Leather bags, belts, and boots

• Scarves, hats, and gloves (especially wool or hand-knit)

Furniture

• Armchairs and rockers

• Dressers and sideboards

• Kitchen or dining tables

• Bedframes (wood and metal)

• Hutches

• Bookshelves and storage cabinets

• Stools and side tables

• Wicker pieces (great for patios or plant corners)

Keep Your Own Personal List

I have a running Trello list of certain items I always look for when thrifting these days. This doesn't mean you have to stick only to the list, but it's a nice guide. Of course you have to leave room for kismet —the thrill of the hunt is one of the best parts! Currently, some of those items are:

• Magnets - Buying new magnets seems like such a waste environmentally speaking. There are bajillions out there! The weirder the better, in my opinion. I've found some fun gems and they're usually free or mere cents.

• Artwork - Sometimes I’ll buy a piece just for the frame, since frames can be stupidly expensive.

• Lamps - Once you thrift a lamp for $5, you will forever be ruined for retail priced lamps. And anything you buy used I can guarantee will be more unique, have some character, and be much, much, much cheaper.

• Linens - Cloth napkins, tablecloths, vintage fabric. I love it all!

• Books - I love stumbling upon fabulous used books that light your brain up but you would have never sought out on your own. Some of my favorite friend dates involve heading to a used bookstore. I’m always drawn to old cookbooks, gardening books, and non-fiction gems to stack my shelves with.

• Furniture - Antique, solid-wood dressers over particle board, expensive new ones.

• Cast iron cookwear - It lasts forever and is one of my favorite things to cook on.

• Toddler winter gear - Have you seen how expensive winter stuff is for kids? Ay-yi-yi. And they grow so quickly! I keep a mental list of what size our kids will be the next season and keep my eyes peeled.

• Baskets. Self-explanatory, really.

• And some very particular items I always look for: Lenox Spice Village, Merry Mushroom, fruit and vegetable kitsch, brass and cast iron tchotchkes, rooster/chicken items, 80s/90s era clothing, splatter ware, linen, thick cotton, wool, or silk items.

Thrifting and antiquing to source items for your home is a great opportunity to slow down and curate your space with care, while giving beautiful, well-made, charming old things a new lease on life. HomeGoods and TJ Maxx can’t hold a candle to the one-of-a-kind pieces you’ll find when you channel your inner hunter-gatherer.

May the secondhand odds be ever in your favor!

Until next (pizza) Friday,

Amy

---

LOLs of the Week

indie_press

A post shared by @indie_press

entomemeology

A post shared by @entomemeology

iamstarvingaf

A post shared by @iamstarvingaf

riceandbeanscollective

A post shared by @riceandbeanscollective

gardenaryco

A post shared by @gardenaryco

---

Reading

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

---

Listening

---

Growing

I’m in zone 6a here in Central Massachusetts, which means it’s ~1 week before last frost. I use May 20th as our tentative first frost-free date, as historically that’s what our microclimate has dictated. A frost-free date is an estimate of when your area should be safe from freezing temperatures in the spring, but it’s not a guarantee. Think of it as a general guideline based on past weather patterns. Some years, frost might linger a little longer, and other years, it might warm up sooner. If you’re confused about what this means for your location check out this handy dandy tool!

I had every intention of starting my squash and melons, but turns out May has been nutty so far and I might opt to just direct seed everything in the garden instead. This weekend, I’m going to start hardening off all of my tomatoes, as I don’t see anything below 40º for the next two weeks.

I was able to pluck some overwintered kale for a frittata I made this week, along with some asparagus from the garden. Overall the garden is still a weedy mess, and I feel about a month behind where I usually am, but it’s ok. Everything will catch up, and before I know it I’ll be swimming in homegrown veggies and cutting beautiful bouquets every week. Every year is different, and I’m really embracing the “good enough" garden this year especially.

---

Making

Ok this was an extremely heavy making/baking week, on account of a faculty and teacher breakfast at my daughter’s school that I volunteered to help out with. I ended up making doubles of a few items so the family could enjoy them, as well!

• Kale, asparagus, and onion frittata

• Quiche x2 (one with frozen pie crust I found in the freezer)

• Pie crust x2 (one for school quiche, one I’m saving for this weekend)

• Buttermilk coffeecake x2 (my daughter’s teacher’s favorite treat)

• Cinnamon swirl bread x2 (in the bread machine —so easy and so delicious!

• A random cereal bar recipe I saw on Reddit

---

Loving

• JustRun iPhone app. I’ve used a few different apps over the years, but started using JustRun recently and love it because it’s A) free B) no trial/signup then forced subscription C) did I mention it’s free?? You have the option to purchase for a few bucks to unlock pro features, but it’s entirely usable as is. Back in the day I had purchased the Couch to 5K app, but when I reinstalled it it tried to force me to subscribe and the full training schedule was locked, despite having bought it outright in the past. If you, too, feel like you’re dying a death by a thousand cuts in the form of incessant subscriptions, but have been wanting to build back your running base (my current goal), pick up a new running hobby, or run away from existential dread, then check it out!

---

Link Roundup

Now Is Not the Time to Eat Bagged Lettuce [The Atlantic]

Why Have Birds Never Gotten as Big as T. Rex? [Smithsonian Magazine]

What Is Fennel? Everything to Know and Love About This Fragrant Plant [Serious Eats]

As regenerative agriculture gains momentum, report warns of “greenwashing” [Environmental Health News]

From the Front Line to the Freezer Aisle: How World War II changed the way we eat. [Distillations Magazine]

---

I love sharing gardening knowledge openly, so this newsletter will always be free. If you’d like to support my work (or just help fund my next pizza night!), I set up a little Buy Me a Coffee page. Thanks for being here!

---

Enjoying Pizza Friday? Share the love and forward this email to a friend you think would dig it so they can get in on the fun, too. Like pebbling, which is what penguins do! They bring little trinkets like pebbles to their loved ones. How precious is that?

---