Hey Pittsburgh bargain hunters and pickers!

My name is Katlyn, but I go by Kat! I’ve lived in Pittsburgh my whole life; I’m even a Pirate’s
fan! Some of my favorite memories as a child are from my regularly scheduled Sunday visits to
Trader Jack’s Flea Market with my grandparents. The first Sunday of every month my Pap and
Gram loaded all of the kids into the Buick Minivan and shuttled us to Bridgeville. I remember
thinking that the massive lot full of vendors was overwhelming. I made a pact with my cousins
that one day we would go up and down every single aisle, inside and out, to make sure we didn’t
miss anything. Every turn held another secret treasure that I had to uncover! We would arrive
with our own allowance or earnings from cutting the grass, no doubt just a few crumpled one
dollar bills in a crocheted beaded handbag.
My Pap always approached the flea market with intention. He knew what he was looking for..
Whatever that was. He found unique or misprinted license plates, leather collectible jackets,
Olympic Games memorabilia, and of course, his tapes. Pap LOVES his movies. My Gram’s eye
for catching real jewelry and custom, antique pieces was what made me dream about this Sunday
every day until it came. I love jewelry. I used to work at a jewelry store, I collect vintage
costume jewelry and brooches, I LOVE jewelry. Still to this day when I stroll the aisles of thrift
stores, estate sales, and flea markets alike, I always search that ziplock baggie of tangled jewelry
for a hidden treasure. Some of my favorite pieces in my jewelry collection are ones my Gram
found or got for me.

 There are so many helpful hints or mantras that my grandparents taught me that ring through my
ears each time I make a plan to pick. Back when my grandparents found sales, they sourced them
from our local newspaper. No photos, just descriptions. Gram used to tell me that there were
certain words or phrases to look out for in listings, ones that made the sale seem like a
‘must-visit’ in comparison to other ones listed for that day. Any post that described a sale as a
lifetime accumulation or from a well-traveled veteran, you knew to make a trip to the MAC
machine before visiting the lot. Some of the best antique European furniture we have found were
shared in a newspaper listing describing the pieces as romantic, ornate, intricate, family
heirloom, original fixtures, atelier, or even opulent. These words have stuck with me and still
follow me each time I visit a sale; it reminds me why I fell in love with picking.
What kind of memories do estate sale picking, flea markets, and thrifting bring up for you? If
you’re new to the game, who did you start with? Have you been visiting Trader Jack’s since
opening day almost thirty years ago? What’s one of your favorite finds, or your own self-created
mantra?
Be thankful, be kind,
-Kat W.