Hello friends! I am thrilled to share some fabulous Friday finds that I lucked into on my first time “back on the junkin’ trail” since the shelter in place began in March! It’s not the actual finds that have me so excited (although I love my new treasures) but that fact that life is returning to some sort of normalcy, and that is what actually allowed me to luck into these treasures. *This post contains affiliate links.

This past week our local consigment shops reopened. Now I wasn’t in any big hurry to head out and hit every store and be in crowds just yet, but I needed to stop by the consigment shop to schedule an appointment for dropping off the junk that I need to get rid of (not buy more junk!)  There was only one other person in the shop so I decided to take a quick peek around, and I am glad I did. I ended up scoring three new books, a wonderful rattan covered jug, and a beautiful pot of faux paperwhites that you see here. I also snatched some cast iron vintage-style garden/architectural pieces just in time for styling up my new backyard vintage cottage garden.

I absolutely love this rattan bottle/carafe.  It isn’t old (it still had a Big Lots price tag down inside)  but I think it has a very classic look. I know I will be using it over and over in vignettes.

Glass Bottle with Removable Woven Rattan Jacket Jug

Here is a similar one I found on Amazon that I also really like. 

My heirloom paperwhites are not in bloom anymore, but the green stalks still haven’t wilted. I am using that as an excuse to say that they are still “in season” and  as a reason for keeping this pot on display for another week or so. I will definitely be decorating with these faux paperwhites a lot  from December-May of next year.

I love the realistic look of the forced bulbs and roots, as well as the rustic pot.

I can never pass up decorating books or gardening books. Even if they are “outdated” I still find tons of inspriation in them. I haven’t had a chance to really look at them yet, but just by flipping through the pages I can tell they are full of inspiration. The Better Homes and Gardens New Garden Book,  1990 is going to be an especially useful resource right now as I am designing new landscaping in the backyard and researching the appropriate plants for the area.

Better Homes and Gardens Garden Style, 1999

I love cottage garden style and bringing the outdoors in, so I can’t wait to really sit down with this book to get lost in the dreamy garden themed rooms.

Even though it was published in 1999, there is something so timeless about vintage garden style that makes many of the photos in the book still look as “stylish” as anything you would see in current magazines or on Pinterest.

I want everything picture here for my own garden, including the flowers!

Country Living Decorating Style, 2001

The Country Living Decorating Style Book is almost 20 years old, but it is also full of beautiful photos of timeless country decor and vintage decor.

Looking through some of the pages makes me so excited to really get back on the junkin’ trail without reservation… hopefully one day soon!

I just can’t wait to sit down with a nice cup of tea with my new reads. The problem with these decorating and gardening books is that I can never relax. I get so many ideas that I always want to jump up and start working on something around my home or garden! Do you have that problem with inspiring books too?

Here are the cast iron pieces. I am not sure what they really are, but they reminded me of an old garden fence so I decided to use them in my new “vintage” cottage garden area in the backyard.

Here is the first sneak peek of what I am working on in my new landscaping and vintage cottage garden space in the backyard. As you can see, I have used the pieces in an unexpected place.

Here is another sneak peek full of vintage junkin’ finds from the past that I finally have a spot for. There’s much more vintage garden and junkin’ finds inspiration coming in the next few weeks, so be sure to stop by often if you love gardening and vintage cottage-garden style.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my friday finds and that you are encouraged that things are opening back up here and there around our country. I just realized as I was finishing up this post that not only was this the first time I have gone junkin’ since the first of March, but that the consignment store was the actual first store I have even gone inside since March 15th! I have managed to stay safe at home, ordering items from Amazon or using curbside pick up or delivery.

Last week I did meander through the outdoor lawn and garden section at Lowes when I went to find some ferns to put out for Memorial Day and summer, but I didn’t really go inside. It’s kind of funny that a consignment shop was the first place I would actually venture into when retail opened back up. It is truly a clean store (one of the only ones I really trust) and there was only one other shopper on the opposite side of the room, so I feel very safe about it. It was cathartic to do something normal, and now at least I have a few new books to keep me busy in the event that anything changes and we have to stay home longer than expected. 

Have you slowly been reacclimating to the “real world” outside your home? I love hearing from you, dear readers! 

Thanks for visiting today!
Amber

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