This week I took a trip to a market I discovered last year, The Summer Market, in Avon Lake, Ohio. The market is held every year in a beautiful setting right on Lake Erie at the Veteran’s Memorial Park. The market consists of vintage and handmade vendors, along with food trucks/vendors and a market raffle held inside the Lake House on property. It was a very hot summer day, but I enjoyed the market once again and found some new vendors I like a lot with maybe a new favorite!

I knew of Chic Unique from following them on Facebook, but had yet to make a visit out to their booth at Brother’s Antique Mall. So I was delighted to discover them right as I entered the market and meet owner, Carrin Andress. From their website: “Chic Unique Home is a collaboration of beautiful, hand painted vintage and antique furniture, one of a kind pieces made from architectural salvage and exquisite embellishments for the home and garden.​ Owner Carrin Andress has been scouring flea markets, estate sales and antique shops for the past 18 years, finding items which have long been forgotten and reinventing them into gorgeous creations for the home.” Needless to say, I spent all my cash at my first stop! Luckily the market had an ATM onsite plus my husband came to bail me out, although most vendors including Chic Unique take credit cards so no worries there. Here are a few of my purchases…

I wanted to also mention that Carrin was partnering with a very good cause that evening and I was struck by the woman’s story. Amanda Saucedo runs Benny Bears Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to educating new parents on safe sleep practices with newborn infants. Approximately 4000 babies each year do not wake from sleep, approximately 1500 of those deaths are preventable. The foundation is raising funds to give a Benny Bear to parents of each baby born at a U.S. hospital to provide the information and support they need to reduce the risk of SIDS and SUID. Read her story and learn how you can help at her website, bennybears.org.

After spending some time with Chic Unique and hearing Amanda’s story, I was inspired to walk around and enjoy the evening. I was struck by the talent and eye of the vendors represented. I enjoyed seeing familiar vendors from other markets in the area, but I also enjoyed some new faces and booths. I love the nautical items in booths like Lakegirl and Girls on the Lake…

And how could you not love these faded red letters salvaged from an old Red Lantern restaurant…

Some food vendors joined the mix, like Humble Pie Baking Company and Pickering Hill Farms…

The market was a perfect, eclectic mix of home decor items, jewelry, garden goods, clothing, and accessories.

I hope to return next year and I encourage you to, also! Happy summer, everyone. 🙂