Pumpkin Urn with Bittersweet

I've been on the hunt for the perfect white Pumpkin and some Bittersweet, and finally tracked down those elusive little berries yesterday at a local nursery. Wow, these are expensive little berries, and why haven't the manufacturers of  "all things faux" not come up with a version that looks real?

Now having my Bittersweet, I was able to decorate my Pottery Barn Urn on the coffee table. I put this Frenchy faux grain sack on the coffee table this Spring, to bring a little "rustic luxe" into the mix. Love that tagline...Rustic Luxe. Helps tone down the over-the-top white foo foo.

Also keeps the coffee table clutter from scratching the paint finish.

I don't know if I can keep the Bittersweet here, as I just read where it's toxic to our feline friends. OK, where's the faux stuff when you need it?

At least it looks pretty for the moment...

(This was the urns Summer look)

...cause look who's lurking?

"The Nibbler"

Linking up with:

Mod Vintage Life for Mod Mix Monday
Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
The Polohouse for Favorites on the First
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Finding Fall with FOLK Magazine
Make it Pretty Monday at the Dedicated House
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch to Yours
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Sweet and Simple Fridays at Rooted in Thyme
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Stuff and Nonsense
The Charm of Home
At the Picket Fence
French Country Cottage
2805
Shabby Art Boutique
Jennifer Rizzo

Hope you're having a great week,

Shells and more, decor...

More on my short season of shell decor here in the Living Room. I found this wonderful urn at Pottery Barn a couple of years ago, in St. Louis, and since then it's been sitting on my coffee table holding whatever is seasonal. It's one of my favorite decorating pieces. 

I've picked up these great conch shells at the fleas for just a few dollars,

so they are piled in here, at least for the next few weeks.

Here's the rest of the mantle. I found these wonderful starfish at The White Rabbit in St. Louis. What a great shop, wish I'd taken photos, but Anne and I were headed back to Springfield and it was a quick visit. Such a great store, if you're in the area be sure and stop by. It's packed with great vintage, shabby, chippy, white goodness!

If you didn't see yesterday's post on making some faux soldered bottles,

then scroll down to the next post.

Also, a fixture on the mantle are my super duper love'em so much

Wolff Pottery vases. A huge bargain from Restoration Hardware

a while back. 

About 10 dollars each.

...but I did have to paint them white.

(Did I tell you how much I love them?)

More Living Room; no shells, 

but how about some repro Staffordshire dogs instead?

nothing says "Summer" like repro dog figurines.

(just kidding)

and my white desk in the corner...

This however, does say summer...

my vintage botanical specimen window.

Hard to believe, but I found a large college notebook from the 1940's

 filled with them for $11.

I know...

don't hate me cause I'm lucky.

oh, and another tapestry stool to feed my addiction.

Not cheap, but still a bargain at 40 dollars from Robin's Vintage Suitcase.

(Her new tearoom opens next week...yay!)

OK, you know me...

I'm itching for Fall...

I LIVE for September 1!!

Until then, I'll just have to play with my shells.

While hunting for photos I just realized it's been a year this week

since I started my Living Room transformation by painting over 20 pieces

of furniture white...yikes.

I'll be joining these gal pals for parties this week:

Rhoda for Thrifty Treasures

Susan for Met Monday

Marty for Table Top Tuesday

Linda for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Angie for Knick of Time Tuesday
Nita for Mod Mix Monday
Anita for Cowgirl Up
Mary for Share the Love Wednesday
Kathleen for White Wednesday
Kim for Wow Us Wednesday

Michele from Primp
The Style Sisters
No Minimalist Here
StoneGable
Stuff and Nonsense
At the Picket Fence
Rooted in Thyme
The Charm of Home
French Country Cottage
2805
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Shabby Art Boutique
My Romantic Home

Hope you're having a wonderful week!

xoxo,

Vintage Inspiration Friday #3

My Fall decorating is more in the category of

"nature inspired"

 rather than out and out Halloween.

I have a few favorite black cat items and figurines,

but I really love the look of fall leaves, pumpkins,

 mums and bittersweet, that can take me through

the middle of November.

The pumpkins and mums are just starting

 to make it to the corner farm stands,

so I'm still looking for some inspiration for my front porch,

which right now is somewhere between

late Summer (impatiens)

and Fall. (a wreath with real bittersweet berries)

not a particularly good look....

So today I put together my

Fall Pumpkin Topiary

 in my entry hall.

At least you're not confused when you come inside.

Following images from google

if you know the source please let me know.

Once again, inside, I'm using faux pumpkins.

Due to a few unfortunate tumbling pumpkin incidents last year,

I've hot glued these babies for this season.

I just wish I had two of these monster concrete urns for my porch.

I'm wanting to do something a little more "traditional"
this year out front.

hmmmm...

I have an idea that just may work.

stay tuned...

Hope you join in on
Vintage Inspiration Friday
and let us know what's inspiring you this week.

Please be sure to link back to

this blog, Common Ground, within your post,

so others can join the party.

Hope you have a great weekend!

love,

Debra

White Wednesday, Little Girl Lost

With the brilliance of October behind us, I am transitioning from bright oranges and golds, and moving into more subtle tones. I'm letting go of the masses of fall leaves and foliage and starting to appreciate the later fall tones of browns, and then adding back in my whites and creams.

I found this little French girl a few years ago at an antique store in Hollister, Missouri. She captured my heart from the moment I saw her. She had been a "bust" on a pedestal, but that had broken away many years ago. Now it was just her sweet head and delicate neck and shoulders. She is so very pristine, even in her current state of neglect and disrepair.

I don't have any history on her, but she looks as if she may have suffered the same fate as Lot's wife, in the book of Genesis. She is so lifelike, she could have been turned into a pillar of salt, or in this case, plaster, I assume. She has several layers of material. I would love to know about the age and composition of a bust such as this. I'd love to hear from you if you have information on this.

My fall floral arrangement in the entry,

faux hydrangeas and stems.

And the chippy wicker settee in the Dining Room

has found a new cream coverlet.

Mercury glass globe in an iron urn in the Dining Room.

 This is just the start of my transition from fall into winter.

Please visit Kathleen over at her wonderful cottage,

 Faded Charm.

Hope you're enjoying the season.

If you live in southwest Missouri or nearby

be sure and visit Leola's in Ozark

and Inspirational Home in Springfield.

This is the Christmas Open House weekend!

Debra

Me too...I'm a Flea Marketeer

Just like any little kid, I saw that there was a party

and I wanted to come.

So here I am, hopefully, not too late.

I've been enjoying everyone's posts

showing flea market finds.

Here are a few urns and concrete items

that are on my hearth in my Living Room.

They have been precious flea market discoveries,

 one and all.

Can't wait for the first issue of Flea Market Style Magazine.

Here's to the Party!

Debra

Fall Nesting with a Pumpkin Topiary

This week I have been participating in "Fall Nesting Week" with The Inspired Room. We are sharing our fall decor, projects, and ideas, to gather some fall inspiration.

These faux pumpkin topiaries have been in the magazines the last few years, so last year I thought I would try it out with an old urn I had found. This urn weighs a ton and about sent my husband to the hospital trying to load it into the car. I decorate it seasonally, and my fall motif is my favorite.


I didn't glue it because I wanted easy storage, but I did cut out the bottom of the pumpkins, so they would sit easier and more secure on the one underneath. That's it! I've seen some lighted and carved which are also wonderful, this one is pretty plain, but I tried to dress it up with varied pumpkin colors and some ivy and fall berry garland. I think it makes a somewhat elegant fall statement for my entry hall.

Be sure and go on over to see Melissa at The Inspired Room,

and all the other participants for Fall Nesting Week.

Have a Great Holiday Weekend!

Debra