30 Handmade Flea Market Items We Love
I love handmade items because I know that they are one-of-a-kind. Usually, they even have a story behind them. One of my favorite things is asking vendors at the flea market to tell me about their items, how they made them and where they get their inspiration from. It's amazing what passion and creativity goes behind some of these!
Now, please realize that the Shipshewana Flea Market allows vendors to sell anything and everything! Meaning that there are also booths filled with retail items like clothing, toys, cleaning products, office supplies, party supplies, food, and more. Truly something for everyone. But, if you're a craft lover like I am, you will surely enjoy finding the following 30 handmade items at the market.
*Please note: the products, vendors and prices in this blog post are subject to change at any time, as market vendors may vary from week to week or season to season. Also, there are many more handmade products and booths at the flea market that I missed!*
1. Rugs made from Bed Sheets
My friend Nila from the booth Nila's Goat Farm has some pretty incredible items. She makes gorgeous rugs that people love as well as washcloths, tote bags, tissue holders, scrubbies, and soap bags. She also sells goats milk lotions!
Find it: Nila's Goat Farm & Garden; Booth P 41-42
2. The Cutest Wooden Welcome Signs
Seriously...how adorable?! I could see one of these cute bears on my front porch. Plus, at just $20 a piece, it's an amazing deal considering how much time and resources are put into creating each of these. The vendor's son personally puts together each sign. He also makes a variety of birdhouses too!
Find it: Rustic Living, Booth 1008
3. Hand-sewn Shirts & Sweatshirts
For 28 years, Jerri has been selling her sister's hand sewn shirts and sweatshirts. She's got all kinds of colors and varieties to choose from. Plus, they are only $10.98 each!
Find it: Jerri's Craft Creations, Booth 153-155
4. Wood Furniture
Jerri also sells hand-crafted wooden furniture at her booth. Perfect for hiding a trash can, or adding a gorgeous bookshelf to the living room.
Find it: Jerri's Craft Creations, Booth 153-155
5. Painted Wooden Letters
Okay, I can't get over how adorable these rustic wooden letters are. The burlap on them makes them so cute for hanging in a home! Could be used for wedding decor too.
Find them: Teulker's Treasures, Booth 413
6. Garden Stones
Create a Landscape sells one-of-a-kind garden art, cement benches, stepping stones and birdbaths. Nancy creates all of the stepping stones, garden art and cement benches by using all kinds of items like stained glass, pebbles, or really anything! One time, she even made a bench that had hundreds of poker chips on it from a customer's collection. There are so many designs that no two pieces are ever the same.
Find it: Create a Landscape, Booth 1006
7. Hand-painted Tees
These hand-painted tee-shirts and sweatshirts are made in Columbia City, Indiana and feature all original artwork with positive / meaningful messages! The fabric paint is water-soluble and eco-friendly, and each design is created the old-fashioned way with a screen. They are then dried on clotheslines.
Find them: Taproot Tees, Booth 606
8. Custom, Hand-painted Signs While You Wait
Visit George the Sign Man for hand-lettered signs, folk art and personalized decor! George has been painting since he was just 5 years old, and would love to hand letter your own custom sign. He also has quite the selection of pre-made signs available to look through!
Find them: George the Sign Man, Booth 644
9. Handmade Home Decor
This vendor has some of the sassiest handmade items around! People love the home decor and unique products. When you visit this booth, you may also see the vendor's vintage camper- which is truly awesome!
Find it: Treasure Me World, Booth 688
10. Shabby Chic Furniture
Rick and his wife Kathy sell antiques, vintage items and a huge variety of handmade re-purposed and shabby chic furniture. Find farmhouse tables, buffets, end tables, entry way benches and more. They'll even work with you to do custom orders!
Find it: Hundt No More Antiques & Collectibles, Booth 662
11. Concrete Bird Baths
Casting Green makes concrete bird baths formed from large leaves like rhubarb or elephant ear and seals and paints them. They are so beautiful and colorful, and each is unique!
Find them: Casting Green, Space 1003
12. Handmade Doll Clothes
This vendor sews a huge variety of 18 inch doll clothes! Your daughter or granddaughter will love dressing up their dolls in the latest fashions. Carol even works on her outfits right their in the booth!
Find them: Handmade by Carol, Booth 156
13. Mermaid Doll Clothes
Speaking of doll clothes, there is another vendor at Shipshewana who sews her own doll clothes designs, and that's Tracy's Designs 1! One of her most popular outfits are these mermaid clothes.
Find them: Tracy's Designs 1, Booth 237
14. Painted Windows
Norm is famous at the Shipshewana Flea Market for his beautiful works of art. He takes old windows and turns them into gorgeous scenes! The most popular designs are the flags, flowers, pumpkins and lighthouses. And they're so reasonably priced!
Find them: Norm the Artist, Booth 591
15. Silverware Jewelry
This vendor buys old sets of vintage silverware and repurposes them into beautiful jewelry! Find spoon rings, necklaces with made out of forks, or the above adorable earrings made from the ends of knives.
Find them: Rings & Things, Booth 618
16. Handcrafted Coin Jewelry
Go ahead, go on inside and take a look at Christine's gorgeous jewelry creations! She makes vintage coin jewelry plus much more. She can even take one of your own coins that mean a lot to you and make a pendant for it while you shop the other vendor booths.
Find them: Christine's Creations, Booth 772
17. Goose Clothes and Kitchen Towels
Don't let your lawn geese go naked any longer...clothe them in some of the latest fashions from the Shipshewana Flea Market - all handmade! Also - just look at these kitchen towels. Don't you love how the tops are potholders? How convenient!
Find them: Bag Ladies, Booth 406-407
18. Maple Syrup & Wooden Drying Racks
Locally made maple syrup and wooden drying racks may seem like an odd combination, but this booth has some of the best handmade items in the flea market! You can also find polywood bird feeders, all made right here in Shipshewana.
Find them: Green Meadow Bird Houses & Feeders, Booth 419
19. Handcrafted Wooden Baskets
Photo courtesy of: Teaberry Wood Products, Facebook Page
Teaberry Wood Products is a family-run wood working business from Middlebury, Indiana, specializing in beautifully handcrafted wooden puzzles and baskets. You can sometimes even catch them making their baskets and puzzles at their flea market booth!
Find them: Teaberry Wood Products, Booth 381
20. Hand-woven Rugs
This vendor actually has a huge loom right inside her booth where she weaves these gorgeous rugs. All different sizes and colors!
Find them: Country Weaving, Booth 458
21. Windchimes
These wind chimes are created by Lambright Country Chimes, an Amish-owned business located right here in Shipshewana, Indiana. The chimes are individually handcrafted and there are almost 40 unique sounds in a variety of colors!
This booth also offers locally made leather belts, corn brooms, shepherd hooks and wooden birdhouses.
Find them: Lambright Country Chimes, Booth 382-383
22. Sterling Silver Jewelry
This vendor has amazing handmade jewelry including Native American, Sterling Chains and Charms, Gemstone Jewelry and more. Quiet Eagle isn't here every single week, so you'll want to call to make sure they will be here if you're coming to the flea market just for this booth.
Find them: Quiet Eagle, Booth 781-782
23. Handmade Soap
I love the creative names of these AMAZING smelling handmade soaps from Golden Green Soap Company, based out of Angola, Indiana. "Mermaid's Tale," "The Woodsman" and "After the Storm" are just a few. My favorite smelling soap (and bath bomb for that matter) is the Spearmint Eucalyptus...it's so calming!
Find them: Golden Green Soap Co., Booth 213
24. Goat's Milk Soaps & Lotions
Speaking of handmade soaps, you'll want to check out Lunamojo's booth for goat's milk soaps and lotions - all made from fresh goat's milk that the vendor raises herself!
Find them: Lunamojo, Booth 616-617
25. Chalkboard Signs
These chalkboard signs are absolutely adorable and they'd be great for bedrooms or kitchens! Just look at the variety.
Find them: Country Shadows, Booth 140
26. Painted Stones
These handcrafted stones are perfect for your garden or porch area. The vendor even paints them right there at her booth! I'm sure you'll find a stone that fits your interest, occupation or favorite sports team.
Find them: Kelly Klingerman, Booth 504
27. Pine Furniture
This husband and wife from Hillsdale, Michigan craft pine furniture of all kinds! Find hutches, pie safes, cupboards, dressers, headboards, hall trees, coffee tables, end tables, shelving and more. This furniture is great to paint and truly make your own!
Find them: DNL Woodworks, Booth 467-470
28. Therapeutic Magnetic Jewelry
Tammie's Unique Handmade Jewelry is awesome! She has a selection of magnetic jewelry which is therapeutic and is said to improve blood flow, circulation, and muscle relaxation!
Find them: Tammie's Unique Handmade Gifts, Booth 790
29. Wall Baskets
Eve creates beautiful floral arrangements for your home! She definitely has an eye for beauty and for what goes well together. Anyone need a new door hanging?
Find them: Eve's Leaves, Booth 439
30. Handcrafted Signs
I can't get enough of these signs. They're so trendy and cute! Plus, I love the ones with happy and inspirational messages on them - great reminders! Made by Kellie's Joy...she's local!
Find them: Cornucopia, Booth 283, 309
And that's it! 30 of my favorite handmade items and booths at the Shipshewana Flea Market in the 2018 season. I know I missed a ton of great items and vendors. Tag us on Facebook or Instagram when you discover more of your own!
If you want to learn more about the Shipshewana Flea Market, you can download our free Flea Market trip planner PDF.
