MK_011620

22 | January 16, 2020 | the mokena messenger life & arts
mokenamessengerdaily.com
Treasure seekers flock to indoor flea market
T.J. Kremer III, Editor
One never knows what
one will find at a flea market.
Perhaps there will be
that long searched for copy
of a magazine with Elvis on
the cover, or maybe a set of
tools, or some candles or
toys.
All of that, and even
more things buyers may
not have even known that
they need, were on display
at Mokena Community
Park District’s indoor flea
market Sunday, Jan. 12.
More than 50 vendors
enticed a steady stream
of buyers as they roamed
around The Oaks Recreation
and Fitness Center
eager to see what would be
up for grabs.
People such as Jean
Masterson, of Plainfield, a
12-year veteran of the flea
market. Plainfield might
seem like a bit of a hike
for a flea market, but Masterson
said she used to
come to the annual event
even when she lived in
Chicago.
Masterson said she still
remembers one of the most
precious items she found
while perusing vendors’
wares about four years ago.
“There was a lady here
that sold a metal rooster to
me, and he’s still in my dining
room,” Masterson said.
She also purchased a
picture of a rooster, though
that picture has not been up
for awhile.
Cher Smith, of Mokena,
had a variety of items for
sale, from baby clothes and
toys, to jewelry and makeup,
and even items for pets.
Smith said she used to be
a regular of the flea market
scene, but only recently got
back into the game after
a bit of a hiatus. And she
didn’t waste time taking
on the role of vendor and
buyer.
“I already went around
and bought stuff,” she said.
“Some pots and pans, and
a [closet organizer] for my
boyfriend so I don’t have
to pick up things off the
floor.”
One popular spot was
KT’s Toys, set up by vendors
Katie Conte and Matthew
Resendiz, a Tinley
Park couple who share their
love of toys with other collectors
or those just looking
to get a piece of their childhood
back.
The couple both work
evenings and spend their
days “hunting” for vintage
toys.
“When I was younger
I wanted toys that we
couldn’t afford,” Conte
said. “And, now that I’m
older, I started to collect
them for myself and noticed
other people were telling
me what they wanted. So,
then I started collecting and
by then it became in bulk.
And so now I’m just giving
back to anyone who’s
looking to remember their
childhood.”
Rachel Bauer and Wendy
Jacob had a booth for
their products, 40 Life
Candles, which they also
sell on Etsy at etsy.com/
shop/40lifecandles.
Jean Masterson, of Plainfield, takes a look at what
vendor Cher Smith, of Mokena, has to offer at Mokena
Community Park District’s indoor flea market Sunday,
Jan. 12. T.J. Kremer III/22nd Century Media
The inspiration for the
different scents all come
from making fun of the aging
process and trying to
get people to laugh their
way through that process,
Bauer said.
“We have one called Hot
Mess, which smells like
Victoria’s Secret’s Love
Spell,” Bauer said.
2
“And we have one called
Dinner Before 4. It’s a banana
bread [scent],” Jacob
added.
There’s also a wax melt
called Saggy (blank).
“You can fill in the blank
on that. There’s lots of
saggy things that happen
when you get older,” Jacob
quipped.
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