Book Review: Found, Free & Flea – Collecting Vintage Memories for your Home

Entry #667, September 19, 2011

I was ecstatic to be asked to review the gorgeous book:

‘Found, Free, & Flea’ by Tereasa Surratt

It’s about a husband and wife who discovered hidden treasures in a abandoned childhood camp site. What could be the makings for a delightful movie, the book is gorgeously photographed and shows images of how Tereasa and her husband uncover treasures, from beautiful earthenware in the kitchen, to old recreational equipment. The creative ways that they uncover nostalgic memories from the campsites, cabins, and supporting buildings is a great read.

Found, Free & Flea

What I really loved about the book, is that it took you through the history of a Wandwega Lake Resort, in Wisconsin, that once was…

“a home to a speakeasy, brothel, modest vacation resort, Catholic Church retreat and a summer camp.”

The beautiful images of how the couple found everyday items, and made them into collections to display throughout the restored Wandwega Resort is delightful.

Camp Wandawega Map – what a world of treasures to be found!

Tereasa shares helpful hints for adding on to your collections by visiting local flea markets and vintage garage sales to find great finds to make your collections even more vintage.

One of the finds were these fiesta ware dishes..

“We found the motherlode of Fiesta Ware in the old lodge kitchen. An early Homer Laughlin company brochure listing items available in the Fiesta line exclaims, ” COLOR! That’s the trend today… It gives the hostess the opportunity to create her own table effects… Plates of one color, Cream Soups of another, contrasting Cups and Saucers… it’s FUN to set a table with Fiesta!”

Collections of fiesta ware and old time Thermos containers

For anyone who wants to learn how to take vintage finds and make gorgeous collections, Found, Free and Flea is for you. From the pictures, to the delightful stories of child camp memories, this book is a delight.

Found, Free and Flea, is available wherever books are sold. Pick it up, and let me know what your favorite treasure to collect is!

For more Vintage Memories on Stagetecture, click here.