Alright.
Gotta be honest.
My garage is like my prop closet where I keep all sorts of junky old stuff lying around. If I see something cool while I’m out thrift shopping, I snag it and put it in the garage. Some folks might call it hoarding. Some folks might call me Fred Sanford. I call it blog propping. You can see the difference, right? :wink
I always feel kind of guilty when I post a really cool project using vintage junk, because there is NO guarantees that you guys will be able to recreate it. I stumble upon all kinds of unique stuff while I’m searching antique stores and flea markets, so it’s not like I am able to say “Head on over to Walmart and checkmark these items of the list for this project.” It just doesn’t work that way.
Some of this stuff took years to accumulate!
Plus, I totally understand that not everyone has the space to store a bunch of rusty old junk in their garage. It takes up a lot of space! But, since I like to keep my blog content fresh with new ideas, I feel like I need things that I can rotate in and out of my decorating rotation for different events and holidays. I’m telling y’all… being a DIY blogger is like being a one-woman magazine. For the average homeowner, though, this might sounds a little crazy. My advice would be to not buy something unless you absolutely LOVE it. That will help keep your junk stockpile whittled down to a reasonable size.
Ok, are you ready? I have a bunch of favorite places near me where I like to shop. Some days I come up empty handed, and some days I hit the jackpot. One of these days I’m gonna do a blog series on all of my favorite places to shop around the South for vintage stuff. Would anyone be interested in joining a link party on that one and showing us where YOU shop? Let’s plan it!
Y’all want to hear some sources on where I purchased all the rusty old junk stuff that is decorating my pool patio? Well, here you go! I’m spilling all my secrets inside this post. I will list out the item and the store where I found it beside it.
Barrel chair: Easy Street Resale, Pelham, AL
Wooden door: The Depot Architectural Antiques, Bessemer, AL
Squatty aqua ceramic planter (aka Mary Jane Potman from this post hehe) and small blue pot in the window: Myers Plants and Pottery, Pelham, AL
Blue wasp trap: Durbin Farms Market, Clanton, AL
Rusty Wire frame orb: Digs Design Studio, Birmingham, AL
Plants (Wishbone Flower Torenia and Fern): Petals from the Past, Jemison, AL
Turquoise stepside truck running boards: Watts Auction House, Montevallo, AL
Wooden door: The Depot Architectural Antiques, Bessemer, AL
B, G, J metal letters, large cobalt blue and green planters: Myers Plants and Pottery, Pelham, AL
Hibiscus, sweet potato vine, Durbin Farms Market, Clanton, AL
Vintage Olive Bucket: Digs Design Studio, Birmingham, AL
White Torenia plant inside olive bucket: Petals from the Past, Jemison, AL
Blue stepside truck running boards: Watts Auction House, Montevallo, AL
Small galvanized buckets and wooden bowls in a row: The Foundry SuperThrift Store, Fairfield, AL
Hanging baskets and Goldfish plant inside green container: True Value Hardware, Helena, AL
And, even though none of the stuff in these particular vignettes came from this store, I HAVE to give a shoutout to my sweet friend Sue who owns The Blu Building in Alabaster and The Yellow Building in Bessemer. Love Sue’s stores for finding one-of-a-kind deals!
There ya go!
Have fun creating your own funky junky gardening vignettes!
I love it! Great ideas and use of vintage junk!
Thanks for sharing your sources. Please repost once you plant the in the little jars on the green thing. I’d love see what they look like.
Good day! I know this is somewhat off topic
but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this website?
I’m getting sick and tired of WordPress because I’ve had problems with hackers and I’m looking at options for another platform.
I would be great if you could point me in the direction of
a good platform.
A great place for photo props, or just great decor, is Hanna Antiques in Birmingham (2424 7th ave S)! Even the stylists from the biggest lifestyle magazine in the South, shop there regularly. I saw them there a month ago getting last minute items to shoot the Christmas issue stories. I have shopped there since I was in high school and the diversity of stuff in fantastic! I’m heading over today to see what I can scoop up in the last minute on their big sale!
Awesome info! I’ve never been there. Will have to check it out!
Hi Beth!
After seeing your pool patio in person with just the planters and letters – I can appreciate this amazing transformation even more! You’ve added so much personality and texture to your outdoor living space with these two vintage vignettes – I love your imagination!
Hope you’re coming to Nashville in August – can’t wait to see you again!
“help keep your junk stockpile whittled down to a reasonable size”!! now that made me laugh!
junk pile – whittled down – reasonable size. I just can’t.
jewelry, clothes, kitchen utensils – sure, but not my junk pile 😉
p.s. I suggested the Weatherwood roofing shingles, and must say that the color that you chose is just perfect!
Oh My Lord! How did I ever miss this post??? Thanks my sweet rustic and rusty loving my friend!!! We are down to one store now…The Blue Building in Alabaster but our vendors work hard to find those great treasures! Thanks