Hello loves! Valentine’s Day is almost here – how do you celebrate? Are you helping your kiddos make valentines for their friends? Creating something special for your BFF or your sweetie? All of the above?? How about this – treat yourSELF to a couple of hours in a favorite junk shop and show yourself a little love. We approve.
The 7 Gypsies line has some amazing products that would lend themselves to some lovely vintage-style creations for Valentine’s Day. Take a look at this Gypsy Pack in their Harmony line. So many sweet things! I especially love the card with the dress form on it.
This week we are sharing some more antique mall love and listing some spots in Alabama that we think you should visit if you are ever headed down south. (Can you say “week at the beach”??) Here we go:
Lyla’s Little House – Mooresville
Okay seriously, how cute is that little house?! Lyla’s isn’t just a great place to find fun vintage homeware, it’s also a sweets shop. And homemade cheese straws. And ice cream. I really don’t think I need to say anything else about it. Visit her website and be sad that you weren’t born in Mooresville, Alabama.
Oak Mountain Emporium – Pelham
Y’all, this shop is located in a log cabin. Must. See. It is also near a state park, so it’s the perfect side trip if you are on the road doing some camping through Alabama. I’ll let them share why you should visit: “Shop room after room of antiques, collectables, art, jewelry and designer-quality vintage items of every kind. You are sure to find something to meet even the most discerning taste.” Who am I to argue??
Off the Beaten Path – McCalla
This lovely spot is a traditional antique mall with booth after booth of great stuff to spend a lunch break digging through. (Surely I am not the only one who does that?) Vintage, antiques, repurposed, painted, metal and some boutique and spa items to add a little sugar to the pie… the photos seem to cover every category included in my definition of Awesome Stuff.
University Pickers – Huntsville
If you like to repurpose furniture with paint, University Pickers is a one-stop-shopping store made just for you. They sell Maison Blanche chalk paint, Miss Mustardseed Milk Paint, among others. And if you need a little instruction, they offer workshops to teach you how to use them. Oh, and they also sell a great selection of vintage, repurposed and boutique goodies that require no DIY effort at all!
Vintage Market & Paint Studio – Huntsville
They encourage visitors to find them by looking for the blue bicycle parked out front, so I immediately love them. Excuse me while I daydream about biking through Paris with a basket full of flowers and fresh bread… Okay, this sweet little shop is located in a little cottage-style house and is full of perfectly curated vintage décor, repurposed items, seasonal pretties, and some boutique & handmade jewelry. They also carry several lines of paint. If you’re in town for a college ball game, you might need to stop here before heading to the tailgate party. Or maybe just skip the tailgate party altogether…
Just like last week, if you have suggestions of other stores you would add to a “must visit” list in Alabama, just share the link in the comments section. And keep sending your recommendations for other states to me at JunqueRethunque@gmail.com. Thanks!
Article Written by Laurie Marshall – Laurie is a writer and artist living in Springdale, Arkansas with her husband, son and three cats who think they’re people. She can’t keep her fingernails clean, prefers her tea unsweet, and is on a first-name basis with local thrift store employees. Follow her at See Laurie Write and Junk Rethunque.
Take care, and Happy Making!
'Vintage America: Alabama' has 1 comment
February 21, 2015 @ 9:45 am Carol Sterenstein
What fabulous information! So often when driving through an area I’ve thought how I wish I knew where some perfect little shops were, that other’s had found interesting with delicious treasures.
Creative Canvas has been a real find for me, as well.
Thank you!