Clad in Liberty

I wanted to do something different in the Dining Room this year to honor the July 4th celebration. I think we all love vintage dress forms and I think they're the perfect way to "dress up" any Holiday. I have two in my office/studio that I keep my vintage necklaces on, but this one little gal had been used in one of my antique mall spaces, but was now relegated to the garage stash. 

So I invited her in to take center stage for a 

Real Vintage Patriotic Display

I think she's beautiful all decked out in her Patriotic finery.

A vintage lace scarf, triple strands of 60's costume jewelry pearl beads, and one of my vintage clock necklaces add to her girlish charm.

As for this display, it is a vintage flag draped over my dress form. I would never destroy a flag by cutting it up for clothing. All the flags I use are over 50 years old, and have been placed where they will not be harmed or treated disrespectfully.

I was inspired by these wonderful images 

that you can find on my Pinterest Board, Red/White/Blue

And now, on to the rest of the Dining Room

My white vintage windowbox is back, now filled with white Geraniums 

and little old parade flags for the July 4th Holiday.

 I'm using my French Grain Sack with a red stripe as a tablerunner

on top of some bleached burlap for some extra coverage.

I searched the web for "vintage look" flag pillows, and while I found some great ones, nothing had the old look I was hoping for. Then, when I was getting my parade flags out of storage I realized one was loose from the "pole" so I just added it onto this old ticking pillow that my husband's grandmother had made about 60 years ago. So easy and gave me that perfect aged vintage look...'cause it is!

Sitting on my old church pew and white matelasse cover

I think she may stay here in the Dining Room where she can

 challenge me to find other ways to decorate her for the seasons and Holidays.

Don't forget that Be Inspired will be going live early this week.

Gather up all your Patriotic posts, old and new, and come link up  here at 

7 PM Central Wednesday evening. July 3rd.

see you then!

Just a note on my thoughts as to how I choose 

to display antique and vintage flags,

 that I shared last year:

"About my use of the flags in decor, and this is my personal opinion: because these flags are antiques and relics, and not "dedicated to service or actively commissioned flags" I don't feel it's wrong or disrespectful to use them as I have. They have been salvaged from flea markets, antique malls and swap meets, etc.  where I found them boxed, folded, and wadded up in corners and under tables. So my use of them in display, to me, is perfectly respectful and honoring of my love of Country and the American flag."

Joining in on these weekly parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Inspiration Exchange at Yellow Bliss Road
DIY by Design
Share your Cup 
From My Front Porch to Yours
House Party at No Minimalist Here
The Charm of Home
Stone Gable 
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Shabby Art Boutique
Knick of Time

Hope you're having a great week!
xoxo,

Patriotic Bottles with a Vintage Vibe

Are you looking for something a little different for your July 4th decor? Something to use on your table for some Patriotic fun with individual place settings, mini flower vases, flag holders or just a little favor for your guests to take home?

I'm always on the lookout for old glass bottles at the flea or antique mall. You can usually find them for a dollar or two. Or if you don't have old bottles any clear glass bottle would work, even screw cap bottles that are now lurking in your fridge.

These are images I downloaded from one of my CD ROMs

 from Dover Publications for July 4th and Patriotic images.

These would be so unique at each place setting with a little American Flag,

or could be used also as a place card if you'd like to get even more creative

in using paper flags with each guests name written on it.

Lot's of fun in a grouping on a stack of old red/white/blue books.

I wanted to put together a few for my window ledge above the sink,

where I always have a few ivy starts growing.

There are some free Patriotic images over at The Graphics Fairy that you might want to try. I just printed mine out, cut them out, and then used Matte Mod Podge lightly to adhere them to the bottle. Be careful not to wipe them with water or get too saturated, or the colors might bleed. Mine did just a little but I liked the vintage look.

Here are links to a couple of posts I did a few years ago with Halloween Bottles and Christmas Bottles. I've also made them for Valentines Day, Easter, and Thanksgiving. A larger image could also be used on bigger bottles filled with colorful candies. I thought that layered red white and blue jelly beans in a larger apothecary jar would also be fun. There are lot's of ways to use them, and they add a easy to make, quick vintage touch to your holiday decor.

Have a great weekend!

Vintage Inspiration #94 Patriotic Party and a Give Away

You didn't think you'd get by without a

 sunporch 4th of July now did you?

I love to change things up on the sunporch for the holidays and seasons, so decorating with a patriotic feel lasts most of the summer. I found this great Patriotic Bunting a few weeks ago and knew this was the perfect spot for it.

 My hubbs collects old flags, so I stole borrowed this one which is out here year round. It's faded and worn, but says so much to me. I think it must be an old school room flag, with 48 stars. I have it draped over my old chippy door.

Each year it's something different out here, as I like to change up the quilts and pillows. This time I went with my frenchy red toile quilt with ticking and floral pillows and a needlepoint one in the middle. Patriotic, but romantic...

An old plant stand is one of the girls' favorite perches

Flag advertising plate from 1919

and a zinc flower bucket with a little "red, white, and blue"

Hope you enjoyed the visit!

Here's some great inspiration from last week:

 Succulent wreath and tutorial at One More Time to Celebrate

 Angela from Number Fifty Three had some Bucket Envy and 

found a great way to come up with her own version!

Jennifer from Town and Country Living, used an old crock and gave it an updated Frenchy look with a Graphic's Fairy graphic.

Erika from Be Book Bound

shared this wonderful "girl's bedroom" from her local home tour.

Don't you love this large as life message center?

Hope you'll join in today,

anything Patriotic including recipes, traditions, celebrations,

DIY; any kind of summer fun!

And still including "all things vintage or vintage inspired"

remember to have a link within your post to be featured

Don't forget the big

 3 Year Blogaversary Give Away

going on till July 8.

Click here to enter

Hope you can visit these other great Friday parties!

Shabby Art Boutique

Bring on the fun!

xoxo,

Vintage Inspiration Friday #44: Patriotic Party

You all know how much I enjoy changing up the decor in my little sunroom, and one of my favorite times of the year is when I get to decorate for July 4th. I don't have a lot of vintage patriotic items, just a few old flags and a biscuit tin or two, but I love the bright colors and the patriotic feel.

This year is a little "low key" if you can imagine me doing that.

I just wanted to keep this space comfy and "user friendly",

so I didn't go all out like I have in the past.

July 2011

July 2009

(when I had just started blogging, and two cameras ago)

July 2010

(a big post I did on Carolyn Westbrook inspiration)

One of my favorite vintage quilts; a red and white one,

 that I use for Christmas, Valentine's, and the 4th.

If you look under the chair you can see how much we all enjoy being out here...

It's bird watching and "napping" central.

Almost forgot my little vintage child's watering can.

Canco candy tin from the 20's;

 don't you love her patriotic dress?

Child's lunchbox thermos with great patina.

And an octagonal Sunshine Biscuit Tin.

This year I just kept the baker's rack more "vintage summer",

with my grandmother's Hull Apple cookie jar and s&p,

and an old seed crate from Brian and Meloney.

I found this wonderful little faded 1919 calendar plate a few years ago;

I think it must be advertising from an insurance company in Alma, Michigan.

Joining in with these other great parties:

(find the button links on the sidebar)

http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

I'm also joining in with Pam from White Ironstone Cottage

for her new party,

Treasure Chest Friday

Hope you'll join in on the 

Vintage Inspiration Friday

Patriotic Party 

If you don't have a vintage Patriotic theme,

come on and join anyway,

we'll just pretend it has a flag sitting on it!

"anything vintage or vintage inspired"

Please grab the button for your party post

and link back to Common Ground.

Have a safe and wonderful fun-filled weekend!

lot's of love,

Now let's see what you've got!!