Some people hear the word "junk", and the literal definition springs to mind. "Anything that is regarded as worthless, meaningless, or contemptible".
When I hear the word "junk", for some reason I envision thickly-woven, dust-colored baskets with words stencilled on them, galvanized metal locker baskets, giant zinc letters, extra long, chunky wooden sugar molds, chippy old shutters, and furniture with scars that tell the story of paint colors past.
I don't know why I started to think this way. I don't even know when it happened...this intense love I have for all things timeworn. But boy am I sure glad it did. :-)
Today, I'm meeting Rhoda and Cathy at Eastbrook Flea Market in Montgomery for a couple of hours.
I will cherish every single minute.
I may even smile the entire time. :-)
Since we're on the subject of junk, I came across Country Living's "Coast-to-Coast Salvage Guide" online recently, and thought I'd share it here because I know many of you out there in Blogland share my affinity for "vacherie". (as they say 'en francais')
Let me know if any of these hot spots are in your neck of the woods. I'd love to hear about your experiences!
Lovely junk for us all to admire...
Photos from Min Lilla Veranda
I'll be back soon with a post about my adventures at Eastbrook, and I'll also be posting a very special "Guest Post" this week too! Have a wonderful week!
Layla
Great pics with lots of neat treasures. I could go wild in these places. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteI'm with ya sister! I don't see ANY of that stuff as junk. I love junk! I SO wish I could've gone with you guys today, I'd have been in heaven! We don't really have any flea markets {we do but, they're not pleasant AT all} so I'm a lil jealous. I have to stick to yard sales & thrift stores, which are great. But ya know, nothing like a big flea market where you can see miles of lovely junk!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see your stuff & your guest post!
That Guide looks amazing. I wish that we had something like that in Australia; or maybe not -- too tempting!
ReplyDeleteOne day I would love to visit the States and see for myself some of the fabulous shops I can now only see in blogland.
Kate
Now that's the sort of 'junk' that sends me to seventh heaven!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interview with Joni - very entertaining and informative, and I loved the questions you asked her!
What great "junk". I love those things standing in the corner with the numbers. Can't wait to see more.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same exactly way. I will be so glad when the weather here warms up so I can go to yard sales and flea markets- my favorite things! Daisy~
ReplyDeleteLoved Joni's feature on your life and site! Thank you for including Architectual Salvage here in Kansas City! It is amazing isn't it? I look forward to more transformations!
ReplyDeleteOhhh, I'm swooning over those photos. Great stuff!
ReplyDeleteHey, congrats on being featured everywhere in blogland girl! That's so exciting and well deserved.
Oooh, all those photos made my heart go aflutter. Words cannot describe how much I love it.
ReplyDeleteSadly, none of those places are near me.
I can totally vouch for Salvage One in Chicago, IL. It is amazing! I'm like you, I cannot get enough of the same kinds of "junk". Junk like that makes my heart skip a beat...and I'm not completely sure how/when it happened for me, either. I'll take beat-up over brand-new any day! I'm heading to Charleston SC later this week and hoping to find some treasures. Crossing my fingers!
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun! Can't wait to see what you find today. Any chance you'd do a guided visit to Eastbrook with some of your readers? I think it would be divine. :)
ReplyDeleteI live in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, so I was sooooooo excited to check out the listing for Cleveland Art. My first thought was, "How could I not know about this cool place???"
ReplyDeleteHmmm, well, I guess old tires and rusted-out exhaust pipes could be considered "sculptural salvage" cuz that's all you're gonna find at 11832 Washington St., home to Rubys Auto Center.
Turns out clevelandart.com is located in Los Angeles, CA not Chagrin Falls, OH.
Hey, I hyperventilate and jump out of my car leaving the engine running and door open. I really need a keeper!
ReplyDeleteI trace my fascination with the discarded to going to the cemetery to decorate graves on Memorial Day. The groundskeepers would have cleaned everything off the graves in preparation and dumped fabulous flowers and containers in a pile off to the side. I would spend hours "garbage picking" and try to drag everything home. Needless to say, my Mom did not see the value that I did. But, it's a great memory.
I'm a junk loving girl! and a dream wish would be to hop each place on your list! ultimate dream that would be.
ReplyDeletehave fun shopping and searching,
LuLu
Thanks for sharing the Country Living Salvage Guide. The Virginia listing is less than 30 minutes from me! I'm definitely going to check it out and I'll let you know what I find!
ReplyDeleteOh, how I love your definition of "junk", it more closely matches mine! I hadn't seen the salvage guide at CL, thanks for sharing. I'll have to let you know about the place in Cleveland! I hope you have a fab time today, can't wait to see your finds!
ReplyDeleteThey left out to great ones in Baltimore! Second Chance and Housewerks are both super resources.
ReplyDeleteI looked up the website for the salvage shop in Chicago (I live in the suburbs) and OH BOY how expensive that stuff is! Very cool "trash" though. I love shopping flea markets with my husband. Unfortunately we don't get to many because it is hard to enjoy with the kids tagging along.
ReplyDeleteI do have one piece of furniture in the house that we got at an antique store and I love it. An old school bench that fits perfectly in our entrance and is nice for taking off and putting on shoes. I also have a beloved rocking chair that was my grandfather's. I'd love to figure out how to incorporate more vintage items into our decor.
Thanks for the post. Can't wait to hear about your day!
Feel free to visit my blog and if you get a chance, let me know what you think of my kitchen line in my online shop. I'm looking for Interior Design blogs to endorse my products.
Love your blog and your style. I want to redo our kitchen on a budget and just may hire you for a consultation.
We don't have the long history in Western Canada that they do back east or down in the US. :-(
ReplyDeleteI long for a market like that. The best I can come up with are divided windows which I paint on or add a mirror to.
Jealous, jealous, jealous
Oh you lucky girls!!! I have met Rhoda and I can say from the heart....Sweet! I enjoyed my time with her at Blissdom and look forward to getting together again. I hope that yall have a great time today and take plenty pictures~ Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI love the candlesticks!
ReplyDeleteI love these things!!! I wish it was spring here already...yard sale season is my favorite!
ReplyDeleteThey always miss us in that magazine. I'm from Utah and we have a great Salvage store here called, George's Architectural Salvage. They have a lot of wonderful "junk" there.
ReplyDeleteSo fun! I love those pictures! I also enjoyed browsing your blog and seeing some of the kitchen makeover pictures!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
missy
I've hit the jackpot here where I live in TX. A lady I know is gradually getting rid of her antiques and things. She has 2 barns full and is selling it cheap. She brings her "junk" {treasure} to an empty shop her husband owns and sells from there. I bought a beautiful hutch for my daughter who will be living off-campus next year, for $40.00 and 5 dining room chairs for $10.00! All those chairs needed was a little paint and some fabric. Love you blog, by the way.
ReplyDeletehow cool and how fun!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great list of resources! I live in Michigan and I'm from Pennsylvania, but not able to give you any additional informaiton.
ReplyDeleteI had a WONDERFUL time today Layla with you and Rhoda. I can't wait to get together again. I love my new table I bought and I'll get a picture of it when I get it home!
ReplyDelete{{Big Hugs}}
Cathy
I've been to Architectural Elements in Chicago and I can say it is an awesome place to scrounge around! Thanks for sharing the list, and it sounds like you had a great time!
ReplyDeleteI love 'junk'
ReplyDeleteMy house is peppered with it!
Didn't list anything in Texas but Round Top/Marburger are not a secret! Starting next week! Love your blog. Thanks to Joni, I have spent hours tonight and I only got back to early February!! Just love your eye! Will be back in the archives again tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteThe photos make my heart race...
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this old stuff!!!
ReplyDeleteIn Colorado nothing is junk, it's a valuable antique! The Iron Gate in Florence, Colorado has everything you can imagine on two floors. From tiny buttons to solid wood doors. Not to mention there are many other antique/junk stores on Main Street Florence.
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited I found your blog - I love what you have done in your home...beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI live in Leesburg, VA (a suburb of D.C.) and we have The Old Lucketts Store in Lucketts, VA. It is the best 'junk' stop ever! I've had many a lucky trip there.
I can't believe I have only found your blog right now! It's awesome and I love what you have done with your home- so creative!!! Yes, I too love junk but leaving the south for the Northeast... I feel the hidden treasures are much harder to come by. Saw that NY was on the list..will check it out- thanks so much for cluing me in to the country living list!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great way to spend the day.
ReplyDeleteViva Vacherie!
ReplyDelete