Area vintage-lovers were on the hunt Saturday — in search of memories, handmade craftsmanship, and contemporary inspiration from artists putting their own unique spin on historic treasures.
The 15th Reclaimed Artisans Vintage Outdoor Market was held on Saturday at 302 Peterson Road in Libertyville from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
This bi-annual event, offered in the Spring and the Fall, featured 50 dealers, and highlighted a diverse collection of refinished and repurposed furniture, vintage and antique home décor, knitted items, clothing, jewelry, food products, flowers, metal art and more.
Eric and Lisa Struif, co-owners of Reclaimed Artisans, Inc., say they started the outdoor market as a way to inspire collectors and provide opportunities for artists to show their work.
“By offering products that go beyond the big box stores and online ordering, it is really our way of saving the planet and bringing childhoods back to life,” Eric Struif said.
“The participating market dealers are using old table legs and planters or plant stands, old desks as a pair of night stands, old glasses as sculpture for the garden, and unique jewelry made out of skeleton and typewriter keys, truly amazing,” Struif added.
In addition, Saturday’s market also incorporated Animal Education & Rescue and Reach Rescue as well as local food dealers Pizzeria DeVille and Badazz Marketing-Happy, along with performances by local music artist Kyle Young.
“We focus on artists working with handmade, recycling and repurposing art, because these items are slowly disappearing, and we want to promote their exposure to collectors and home décor creators,” Struif said.
Struif says the event is very important for many of the participating dealers who have jobs and families and other responsibilities that keep them from opening their own stores or having their own commercial outlet.
Kerri and Kim Kilpatrick of Palatine participated and say they are not official antique dealers, but citizens trying to sell off items held in their mother’s estate after the many years she dedicated to treasure collecting.
“Anytime we can find a good home for one of our mom’s treasures, and see someone’s face light up with the excitement of adding to their own collection, that makes it all worthwhile,” Kerri Kilpatrick said.
Debbie Thompson of Flip Creations has built a business around recycling and upcycling objects she collects at flea markets and estate sales and by reimaging these as jewelry, accessories, and home décor.
“I can find things like a chandelier crystal, a pop can, or typewriter key, and remake it into something brand new,” Thompson said.
Andi Tuchten runs Renovating Relics, a furniture warehouse in Wauconda. Tuchten participated in Saturday’s market.
Tuchten says she is always on the lookout for vintage furniture pieces to refurbish, refinish, or to rediscover by bringing them back to life as something new.
“The Market is a good opportunity for exposure, a chance to bring out rare finds, to share the handcraftsmanship and higher quality which lives in the bones of these nostalgic pieces,” Tuchten said.
“In this business, you have to listen for the story each piece has to tell, and the older it is, the more interesting the story is,” Tuchten said.
Gina Grillo is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
