Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Meet the Family...

The Snow Family
that is.



This little family lives in the kitchen this year,
and they bring lots of joy and smiles with them.



Gifted by my sweet blogger friends,
they've come individually.
But have "bonded" here on the old silver tray.









Hope you're with your "family" this Christmas!


sharing at:
Rooted in Thyme


xoxo,

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Last Weekend's Tips and Tidbits

(say that title fast 3 times)

Being with two professional photographers this last weekend was a little intimidating to say the least. I'm just a bumbler and fumbler in the photography department. Any photo that I get that's good is more of a "happy accident" than I can say that I have a plan and know what I'm doing. So Anne and Elizabeth were shooting away Sunday afternoon when we were wandering the streets of Historic Kimmswick, Missouri. Since it was Father's Day, an Antique and Street Car Show was in progress and I had to look like I was at least partly worthy of their company. I decided I'd take photos of them, instead of trying to compete in their class.

"Dueling Photographers", 
you know, instead of "Dueling Banjos"




For some great photos of these vintage cars from last weekend go by E's (now also known as "Bitsy") If you're squeamish about a bunch of loud mouth gals (no, I didn't say "broads", but I guess that works too) and some horrible pics of me, then don't go there...I've told Bitsy that Anne and I are looking for Payback! If you have a few minutes and don't mind blushing, Elizabeth has a hilarious and "insiders" version of the weekend highlights.

 And  Someone we know has been complaining that my other photograph of the three of us had her so washed out that she looked like a "ghostly apparition", I decided that I'd put a different one out here. Same pose, just a little less manipulation to take the focus off my wrinkles and saggy-baggy, slouchy topside. And hey, what can I say, I had self tanner in my suitcase and these pasty little blondies didn't!


Elizabeth took a few minutes to give me a mini lesson with my camera, and I learned more in 10 minutes than I'd been able to figure out on my own in the last two years. I have to admit, Anne has tried to help me, but she shoots with a Nikon, and I have a Canon. So when I realized that E had a Canon too (mine is not even in the same league as hers), I was excited to see what I could grasp in a short time.

Then when we were back here in Springfield, we ran to Barnes and Noble and I found this book, which Anne swears by, and said helped her figure it all out. Maybe there's hope for me yet. I'm going to put my nose to the grindstone to try to understand at least some of this mumbo jumbo!


Another little tip I wanted to pass on to you is something I think we've all had handed to us by "Blogger", but didn't know how to change. Remember how we used to be able to click on a photo in the blog posts and it would enlarge, and then with another click it would get even bigger? Big enough that we could study even the smallest item in a store display? wow, did I ever miss that and complain about the slide show that replaced it. Which didn't enlarge much of anything...
OK, so Anne told me how to get back to the "Bigify" mode. Go to your Dashboard, then to Settings. Then find the Heading of Posts and Comments. Click on that and go to "Showcase images with Lightbox".
Click on the box and say no, or unclick the box. That will take you back to the original way of viewing individual photographs on the blogs. Oh how I've missed not being able to see all the goodies in a distance or room shot. Thanks Anne!


Anne and James (the best houseguests ever!)

Let me just say something about blogging and friendships...don't ever let anyone tell you they aren't real or important. Meeting Anne after almost three years of phone calls has been nothing short of miraculous. And then to meet up again with Elizabeth after 4 years, and find a friendship, ...well...let's just say that God has plans that sometimes we just don't know exist.

xoxo,
p.s. who of you out there have had Bubble Tea? (an Annie favorite)
and have you choked on them on your maiden voyage?
(Thai concoction of flavored tea with milk and round balls of tapioca)

p.p.s. And if you haven't joined in for Vintage Inspiration Friday,
 it's still going strong, just scroll down to the next post.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

So...here's the plan

See this girl...
we've been waiting to meet for almost three years.
Anne lives in Texas, I live in Missouri.
We started talking when our blogs were babies
hanging out on Theresa's sidebar.
(thank you, dear Theresa!)


She'll be here in just a matter of hours.
Then later this week, we're headed to St. Louis 
to stay with my daughter and her husband
at the "Bed and Breakfast".
(just kidding...but they're wonderful hosts!)



Then we're going to meet up 
with one of the sweetest, most talented gals around...
and we're going to let E take us to all her haunts and hang outs.




So, posts will be a little fewer this next week.
We'll still be having Vintage Inspiration and Monday Marketplace,
hope you'll join in as usual.


And I can guarantee that I'll have lots of fun to share next week!

Then, when I'm back, I'll be celebrating my 3 year Blogaversary
with a knock out Give Away of Carolyn Westbrook's new book.
"Through the French Door"


so get ready!!

(I'm thinking that this will be one of the best weeks ever!)

xoxo,

Friday, March 2, 2012

Vintage Inspiration # 78 Monday Marketplace

In case you missed it, this last Monday was the "Opening" of a new online "Marketplace", over here at Common Ground. Usually an idea starts as a seed, and then has to germinate for awhile, but honestly last weekend a phrase started taking shape in my head, and before I knew it I had hit the publish button on a post for a new weekly venue for selling online.



It will be three years in June when I first started with this blog, and in those three years, I've gotten to know so many talented and creative women (and men). I had been making jewelry for a couple of years before I started blogging, and was selling in the store where I had a space. When I started blogging so many friends were opening Etsy Shops, and so I jumped on board. Guess what...selling on Etsy isn't a piece of cake. There are so many sellers and shops and products; it's a given that you can get lost in the crowd.

True to the name, Common Ground, God has evolved this blog, and me, over these last few years. I'm finding that as I've learned "who I am" in the blogging world, I enjoy the ability to "shine a light" on others. There's so much talent out here in blogland, I'm hoping that Monday Marketplace will give us one more place to come for inspiration and just plain shopping fun.

So, if you're an Etsy seller, have an Online Store, or just love to shop, I hope you'll come by and link up some items that you'd love to share. For more info on this online selling and shopping link up party, Monday Marketplace, just click here and here.






So now, a few highlights from last week

Judy, from French Laundry makes organization true Vintage Inspiration!



Home is Where the Boat Is has us thinking of Spring
with a wonderful tablescape inspired by nature.

Miss Flibbertigibbet took us to a quilt show



Holly, from Down to Earth Style uses a vintage door on her mantle



shares a tutorial on painting a wonderful old frame




Geneva from My Heart's Song shared a fun way to frame
out some vintage bird graphics.




and come on... look at this amazing outdoors chandy
that Vickie from Ranger 911 created from old garden fencing and insulators!
so so wonderful!!



And a totally "green" birdhouse by Garden Therapy
yay, come on Spring!



If you haven't entered Nancy's Give Away
for a $50 Gift Certificate in her Etsy Transferware Shop
then just click here,
Give Away closes Saturday at midnight.



I'm joining in on these great parties:
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Inspiration Friday at the Picket Fence
Potpourri Friday at 2805
Home Sweet Home at the Charm of Home
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense
What Have You Redone at Redoux

Hope you'll join in with 
"anything vintage or vintage inspired"
Please have a visible link within your post 
so others will know where to come and party.

love ya bunches,






Friday, February 24, 2012

Vintage Inspiration #78 Let's Dish


Last week on Vintage Inspiration Friday I talked about an interesting topic for me, and that was the Aesthetic Movement and it's influence specifically on Transferware. Today I wanted to share some photos and a link to one of my favorite blogs on the subject of Transferware. Many of you know Nancy from Nancy's Daily Dish. She is a collector and seller, and someone who is beyond knowledgeable on the subject. Here are just a few photos of Nancy's wonderful collection and tablescapes. Her collection gives her the opportunity to share so many lovely seasonal and Holiday table settings.





Recent Valentine's Day post



Wonderful Red Transferware Teapots




Gorgeous Christmas display


Thanksgiving Table


A beautiful Winter Tablescape in White 




And look at this Purple Transferware,
just perfect for Easter




Nancy shared with me a link to one of her posts on the Aesthetic Movement
that I in turn want to share with you. 
Just click here, it's a great post!


Tomorrow, Friday 2-24, I'll be starting a Give Away 
for a $50.00 credit for Nancy's Etsy Shop.
So please come back this weekend and enter.

Hey, let's see what was happening last week!


Kelly from the Essence of Home shows us her love
of farmhouse lighting that she uses so well!



And one of our favorite bloggers, who just so happens to be the sister of Kelly,
Kim from Savvy Southern Style, found this wonderful antique box.


a few items look more "vintage". 
A really beautiful vintage vignette!!


Catherine from Freddie and Petunia
is working on an amazing project creating banquet chairs.
you just have to see this, then head to her newer post.





and Melissa from Made in the South
shares her creative and blingy dressed up wine bottle corks,
You'll love these!!


Hope you can join in for the party,
something "vintage or vintage inspired".
And please have a visible link within your post.

So, what's inspiring you this week?


I'm joining in for these parties:

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Inspiration Friday at the Picket Fence
Friday Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense
Potpourri Friday at 2805
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
What Have You Redone at Redoux

xoxo,

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

New Vintage in the Petite Boutique

Recently I found some wonderful old rosary crucifixes and religious medals, so with a few added charms and tags, I wanted to share the "new" vintage one-of-a-kind pendant necklaces that are in my Etsy Shopthe Petite Boutique.



I've also added a new chain to these pieces; 
a small link, but with a nice weight.
Love the antiqued brass.


One of the great things about these pendant clasps
 is that you can add on or remove the individual pieces. 
That way if you have some personal charms or pendants
they can be worn with the rest.

I also can put together a special pendant 
with your choice of elements,
just email me for info.





I'll be making more of these,
 just wanted to get these first few listed.




Seeing this pretty girl wearing my very first necklace listed on Etsy,
was what inspired me to make some pieces with a new look.




Thanks,  Anne...

(isn't she cute?)

 I'm linking up with my friends Patti and Paula
xoxo,

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