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Most every Sunday morning I like to get up early with my 3 year old son Aiden and make the still dark drive to the Flea Market.
I don’t know if I really ‘like’ to get up at 5am, but I do love going on this odd pop culture archaeological dig poking around the 100s of vendors odds ’n ends looking for treasure! What I consider treasure might be different than most. It wouldn’t be featured on ‘Antiques Roadshow, and it’s not anything that’s going to be worth a fortune. It’s going to be something oddball and offbeat, cute and crazy or strange, sleazy and sexist. And hopefully it’s priced under $5! For Aiden, the point is to get as many Hot Wheels as he can talk me into buying.
The house is pretty jam-packed with past freaky finds, so I’m on a photographic ‘catch and release’
program where the fun is sharing the the sights with you! Of course, if I run across something so head-scratchingly weird, wild and wacky that I can’t believe it exists, I’ll somehow find room to squeeze it in sideways at O’Connell Museum!
So here are a batch of snapshots of the past year that you’re welcome to leisurely scroll through at any time of the day!
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| The only way that true love can be expressed, with dolphins on velvet! |
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| A photo album with pics from Beatlemania! Why does everyone else seem to have a much more exciting life than me? |
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| Short story- my daughter Kieran once long ago exclaimed from the back in her carseat that she wanted to be a tollbooth operator. Years later I figured out that she just thought you built a shack and everyone drove by and handed you money. I'd like that career too! |
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| "The happiest invention since a child's laughter" was also the tag line I used to sell my book! https://www.amazon.com/Mitch-OConnell-Worlds-Best-Artist/dp/0867197730 |
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| "How to tell it's time to change the diapers" art for new parents. |
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| A life-sized Big Bird- because who doesn't need a life-sized Big Bird?! |
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| You wanted the best scrapbook, you got the best scrapbook!!! |
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| "Take the bus!" |
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| Your very own "Human Centipede 3" conversation piece! |
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| The flea market- your best chance to snag paintings of angel dogs! |
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| I go to the flea market to get out of the house- I thought I was back lying on the living room floor! |
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| At least now I'm inspired for Christmas decorating! |
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| You'll see 3 things at every flea market, California Raisins figurines, Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass album 'Whipped Cream' and the Charlie Weaver bartender! |
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| To go with the Charlie Weaver bartender. |
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| Good News! Now I'm available to take on GI Joe illustration assignments! |
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| You can never go wrong with Batman bootlegs! |
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| Back when The Theatre was quality entertainment! |
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| This kept Junior calm. |
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| Bring me the head of the next person who says, "I used to have this as a kid!" |
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| "Mitch, you're looking great! What's different about you?" Oh- that's my little secret! |
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| I'm guessing this children's book had a sponsor. |
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| For when I forget to pay the cable bill. |
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| I pick up all my down home wisdom at the flea market. |
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| Just for weekends! |
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| Mattel is up on current events. |
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| The 'born without a spine' medical chart. |
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| A touch of class has been added to the O'Connell Manor. |
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| Aiden and a calf statue fight over his Hot Wheels. |
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| Someone's been up to something. |
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| Homemade pillow cases. Yes, I bought 'em! |
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| Higher education. |
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| I don't care if the dates don't match exactly! This is being used as my 2018 calendar! |
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| When I was a kid we didn't have those fancy iPhones ...and we liked it! |
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| When Ringling Bros. ended the circus, a lot of clowns scrambled to find work! |
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| I'm serious about safe sex! |
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| Be prepared to see anything at 5am. |
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| If you're serious about Thomas Kinked, the flea is the ONLY place to make your purchase! |
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| I buy these for myself then pretend my kids gave 'em to me. |
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| Smiles are free! |
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| Even at the flea, I want to look my best! |
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| In case you weren't sure, it's old. |
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| Where 30% of America makes all their apparel purchases. |
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| When Aiden gets to be too much of a handful, for $10 and hour the Wolff's Flea Market staff will babysit. |
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| Rule #1 if you decide to vend at the flea. Bring something to sell! |
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| "Lucky" is a judgement call. |
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| Some things I just can't explain. |
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| You can sure work up an appetite scouting for bargains! Just make sure you bring a can opener. |
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| Not to be an art critic, but you might have forgotten something. |
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| It's not really 'art' unless it's made with ground colorful pebbles. |
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| Merry Christmas! Now all little Amy thinks about is sweet revenge on her parents. |
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| Advertising works! |
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| He'll work his way into your heart. With a knife. |
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| More rugs for my sexy publicly photos! |
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| Yes, you turn the nose to start the music. :-) |
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| Nothing says 'Thanksgiving' more than these! |
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| Reading selections for your every mood! |
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| To pass the time, write your own funny captions. I'll start, "Suzy, meet your Daddy!" |
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| A cowboys dream is to hook up with twins! |
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| From the $1 box! |
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| If I could go back in time, this would be my first stop. |
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| What might happen if you insult a seller with too low a price. |
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| Games specifically for city kids. |
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| "Build a wall around dog parks!" |
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| MORE HOT WHEELS! |
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| We have a motto at the flea, "No beer can hat is left behind"! |
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| Sunrise visions of beauty. |
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| How all your pants ended up when I was young. |
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| Where are they now? Life has been tough for ken. |
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| My painting secret is revealed! |
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| Tarzan is 'the other white meat'. |
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| My dream vehicle to take to the market. But with a Frazetta painting on the side. |
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| Back when not every kid was special. |
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| Family photos. |
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| PBR wrapping paper. The best way to say "I Love You"! |
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| When you can't make up your mind between the kitten poster and the puppy poster- just get them both! |
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| The truth is out there! |
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| My first illustration assignment for Playboy! A highly prized collectors item at $1. |
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| How I feel waking up at 5am or going to bed at 5am. |
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| I know why he's so merry! |
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| I don't want to know. |
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| True story, when Ringling Bros. had their tour with Michu, my dad took my sister and I backstage and we got to shake hands. Yes, I've had quite the exciting life! |
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| When the wife talks back one too many times. |
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| Macaroni Art. What Da Vinci would have used if he thought of it. |
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| Yes, "Little Miss No Name" found in the wild! |
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| Help! Get us out of here! |
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| Only if you want to throw like a girl. |
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| Only in America. |
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| Bobby will check Grandmas tumors for 50 cents each. |
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| It can get lonely at the flea market. |
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| I'd be pissed too if someone stuffed me! |
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| DEEZ NUTS! |
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| My solution to gun control! |
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| The kid that brought this to school in 1976 was beaten up within half an hour. |
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| Add a "Y" and I could hang this in any room of my house. |
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| Some things I find pretty sweet, like this baby's nightlight. |
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| "Dress Good" is right! |
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| Clowns are hilarious! |
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| I'm not going in the van to find out. |
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| The vendor proudly told me that "I made that myself"! |
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| Kids love comics! |
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| Finally, all my Shawn questions have been answered! |
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| Let's get ready to bargain! |
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| His eyes follow you wherever you go. |
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| I recommend the rat. |
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| If I could have thought of any way to use this bowling alley ball return cover, I would have brought it home in a second. |
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| You can finish the art yourself. |
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| More helpful tools for my career. |
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| A happy clown! |
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| "Mitch, are those new glasses?!" |
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| Nice beaver! |
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| "Excuse me, I'm looking for figurines of pigs having sex." "Right this way Sir!" |
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| Too exciting for just one photo! |
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| Two arms, no waiting! |
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| How I used to get most of my comics! |
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| I've been looking for a match to my other lampshade for years! |
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| I still regret not buying these. |
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| One of the strangest songs of all time. YouTube it. :-) |
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| Who cares what time it is?! |
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| "Aw Nertz" and "That For You" are 2 of my famous comeback lines! |
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| The game takes 5 hours to play. |
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| I made it myself. |
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| File under "You'll find anything and everything"! |
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| So good you need TWO exclamation points! |
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| Flea market food. Something light for those long hours of walking under the hot sun. |
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| Two hands, no waiting. |
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| Games you can usually only find in the Vegas 'Toys 'R Us'. |
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| "Will inflate to 15 inches" is from my Match.com ad. |
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| Teen heartthrob Barnabas Collins. |
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| I went to one in Tijuana, |
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| I found out this was't the urinal. |
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| If you're looking for a 4' tall cowgirl frog in fishnets and a leopard outfit, you'll need to come with me to the flea. |
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| The heart wants what the heart wants. |
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| There's a VERY limited market for this item. |
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| I had the same jacket. |
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| No I know how billboards are made! |
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| Shuffleboard and cocktails. I'm there! |
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| Before there was Reservoir Dogs. |
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| I hope it's a left shoe! |
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| Let your freak flag fly at the flea! |
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| Hey kids, lets look at the family photos! |
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| 1988 to 1993, the best years of American art! |
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| Actual ceramic banks. And I've bought 4 of them so far. :-) |
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| I'm guessing this worked. |
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| Pretty sure this 'Doctor" is making it up as he goes along. |
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| Thinking these are "Don't" signs. |
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| They're on hold. |
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| "FOUR!" |
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| Perfect for my living room! |
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| You think your day is bad. |
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| Dented, rusty, moldy and chipped. Otherwise 'Mint'! |
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| I see you! |
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| Give me a few weeks and I'll be available for kid's birthday parties! |
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| "Dramatic Dollies" are my passion! |
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| At first I thought they were 'spinning plate' kits. |
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| If only I had a backyard tree! |
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| It's called cough syrup and vodka. |
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| It's what clowns are made of. |
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| It was that 3rd burrito. |
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| If you're going to be a welder, do it right. |
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| I have a weakness for fluff. |
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| When pets and owners start to look alike. |
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| When my friends and I want the same item. |
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| 'Merica! |
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| He was caught right before he had to pee. |
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| From the "Stan" mask craze of the late 90s! |
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| Sometimes the vendors will save me the trouble of making up funny captions. |
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| When you're waiting to find out the winners. |
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| I ONLY buy items recommended by Miss America! |
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| If you visit my home you'll wonder why you suddenly developed a constant ringing in your ears. Don't worry, it's not you! |
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| Hello! |
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| Area 51! |
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| Cactus planter. Hilarity enthuses. |
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| I'm thinking one of these tapes is a Cold Case file. |
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| Kids say the darnedest things! A series of 2' high greeting cards. |
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| Signed! |
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| A wig on a vacum. I will NOT make any 'perfect wife' jokes! |
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| Another item I regret leaving behind! |
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| When you pay for the rights to the show, but not Peter Falk's likeness. |
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| And you thought no one was making great stone and shell art anymore! |
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| Your guess is as good as mine as to what that sticky white goop is. |
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| Citizens Arrest! Citizens Arrest! |
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| I think they know all about Oral Sex and the Law! |
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| Aiden dd not like his gift! |
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| You'll have to buy it to find out! |
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| Just as I found them. |
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| Yes, really signed by Fury! |
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| Truth in advertising! |
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| Pretty sure this is from a Clive Barker book. |
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| I personally would have airbrushed out the poop before it went to the printer. |
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| More great ideas that didn't pan out. |
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| More Mitch O'Connell treasures found in the wild! |
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| "Santa Wives"! Coming to TV this Fall! |
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| Don't put your nose where it doesn't belong. |
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| More projects I'm working on for the Church Bazaar. Do you have any extra glue? |
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| Since you can't go to Bozo's Circus, have Bozo's Circus come to you with the GRAND! PRIZE! GAME! |
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| Everything and the kitchen sink! G'nite everyone! Tip your waitstaff! |
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| Wait- Jesus wasn't blonde and blue eyed?! |
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| Kids today! Get a job! |
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| Do of the Day winner! |
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| The only painting of a nude man hand-gliding that exists on Earth! So that would be one too many. |
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| "All Wow!" is another phrase I've been using to advertise my new book! https://www.amazon.com/Mitch-OConnell-Tattoos-Two-Designs/dp/0867198184 |
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| Gang Barbie. |
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| Knives ...for her! |
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| There was the brief window in the late 60s when you could 'get rich quick' being a mime. |
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| I'm been giving away these "Adult" 8-Track stickers with every purchase @ https://www.etsy.com/shop/MitchOConnell |
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| Ronald couldn't take it anymore. |
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| 3-D relief light-up sofa sized paintings. What more do you want?! |
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| More Vendor humor! :-) |
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| I will by any Pink Lady merchandising! |
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| I'm going with 'rat'. |
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| The Flea "PC" Market! |
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| I like this, but that's why I bring a camera, so there's still room for me to fit in the house (if I walk sideways). |
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| Right next to the white baby golfing diapers. |
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| Stylin' with my new coat and metal detector! |
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| The stuff of nightmares. |
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| I had a dog like that. |
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| Beauty has a new name. |
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| Let's play doctor. I bring this on first dates. |
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| Jus' passin' the time. |
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| I bought this one for my daughter. Too cool! |
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| I don't want to know what Elmer did to win this. |
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| Chick did a guy who plays the zither. |
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| We decided to stuff Grandpa, |
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| The designer of the Sex Pistols first album is now vending. |
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| I really bought it. And yes, it didn't work. |
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| Life at the Ponderosa. Don't judge! |
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| And that sums up the Flea Market! |
