Three Year Give Away Winners

Time to announce the three lucky winners 

of my 3 Year Blogging Anniversary Give Away.

Wish I had a hundred of these books to say thank you,

 for all my wonderful followers!

Carolyn Westbrook's soon to be published book

Through the French Door

But since I only have three,

 here are the sweet gals they will be going to!

Karen from A Shabby Moment in Time

Judy from French Laundry

and

Amy from Maison Decor

(send me an email with your addresses, gals.

these will be sent in October!)

And if you haven't linked up any of your Etsy or Online Boutique items

well then, come on by,

and then check out all the great items!

The link is up all week, so stop back by.

just scroll down to the last post

Also, wanted to share a link to one of my great sponsors;

107 Vintage

Drop by for a fun shopping visit,

They have some wonderful vintage and new French Style finds!

just check out their vintage grain sacks!

Hope you're having a great Tuesday!

xoxo,

Monday Marketplace #20

Welcome to Monday Marketplace everyone!

the place to shop for great vintage, handmade, and one-of-a-kind items

from all our friends with Etsy Shops and Online Boutiques.

Today, I just grabbed some of my favorite links:

Vintage Atomizer-Plant Mister from Time Washed

Wonderful painting of a pear and cloche

from Farmhouse Porch

Do you know Linsey?

She's sweet and super talented!

Antique Cottage Coat Rack from Knick of Time

Sweet Vintage Print, Spring Song, from Stella by Star

  

For my Sponsor Spotlight this week 

I want to share some wonderful vintage items from

Dee from French Bleu Vintage

Yes, she has a highly sought after and coveted Demi John!

French Wicker Covered Bottle

Vintage Metal Clam Basket

Great to store magazines, towels, linens...

a million ways to use this great vintage piece.

What a wonderful addition to your special table;

Romantic Rose China Salt and Pepper Shakers

Dee always has so many wonderful vintage items. If you haven't been by her shop you'll want to visit. If you find something you love, grab it fast, her inventory sells quickly!

Hope you'll come link (up to three) items from your shop or boutique, and if possible link to your individual item. Please be a follower of Common Ground and if you have a blog, please grab the button to display, this lets everyone know where to come and shop. And if you're here to shop, then please drop back by during the week, items will be added all week.

Have a great week,

I'll be announcing the winner of the Book Give Away Tuesday afternoon.

xoxo,

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,

Quick and Easy Seashell Topped Bottles

Since the window of decorating with Seashells for me is a maximum of 4-6 weeks in the summer, I'm kinda low on the scale of said seashell decor. I love having some on display during this "after the 4th and before the late summer-pre fall excitement" season, but living in the middle of the US and the fact that the closest beach is a good 16 hours travel time away, seashells just aren't on my radar most of the time. 

But...I did get a little hankerin' for some seashell bottle fun for my mantle.

I had some old bottles and a few misfit shells, so I wanted to figure out a way to make some "faux soldered seashell topped bottles" on the cheap. Do you remember the song with the lyrics "from a distance"? Uh huh...these work "at a distance". not foolin' anyone up close, but hey...for a few weeks they will suffice.

So guess how excited I was when I saw this post with a 

Seashell Bottle tutorial from Nita at Mod Vintage Life.

Nita's cool version involves tinting antique bottles, and then using a low temp glue gun attaching the seashell and paint. Don't you love how they match her gorgeous tiled fireplace?

I decided to keep my bottles clear, and since I didn't have a low temp glue gun, I went with what I had on hand...which was white wood putty. It kept the shell in place without glue and gave a smooth surface.

 Then after some drytime, I used some bronze metallic paint and a pewter Rub n' Buff mix, brushed on.

I know I'm not fooling anyone.

These don't come close to the real thing...

gorgeous soldered seashell topped bottles.

But they do look OK "from a distance"...

 Hmmm...

this "From a Distance" theme seems to be a recurring one.

More Living Room Seashell Stuff tomorrow!

Joining in for Met Monday
AKA Design
It's Overflowing
Redoux
My Romantic Home

Hope you're having a great weekend,

xoxo,

Vintage Inspiration #95 Porches and Outdoors

You all really outdid yourself with all the great patriotic fun and ideas.

Here are just a few links that I grabbed that showed some porch and outdoor inspiration.

Say Hello to a new blogger, Kristen from Ella Clair.

This great 4th of July party display should be in a magazine!

oh yummy, look at this cake!

If you haven't met Kristen, 

you'll want to run by and visit her beautiful blog.

Sally from Salmagundi shared photos of her Americana Porch filled with great wicker, and some farm and industrial items that make it so homey.

Love this shot of her sunflowers. 

I have to plant some next year!

Mercedes at All Things Pretty also has a gorgeous porch 

with wicker and wonderful floral pillows and vintage linens. 

Linda from Itsy Bits and Pieces

has a sunporch that is packed with wonderful vintage goodies.

Looks like a great place to relax and unwind.

 Just lovin' these "little flags" all grouped together.

Eileen at Cottage Beach House has a great home...AT THE BEACH!!!

Goodness, take a look at this view,

 and at the wonderful soft blues and reds!

no folks, that's not a painting, it's THE VIEW!!!

And Penney's Vintage Home had some wonderful outdoor inspiration for the 4th. Great stained glass window and birdcages!

LOVE this old buggy decorated in the red, white, and blue!

I want you all to know how much I appreciate you coming over to join in on the party each week. You all are an amazingly talented group of people. I know this sounds cliche, but there is so much inspiration that is found here, but then I'm partial to those who love "vintage" as much as I do. Seeing what you do each week keeps me motivated to stay on my toes! 

Hope you'll join in today, remember it's "anything vintage or vintage inspired". Please have a link back to Common Ground within your post to be featured.

If you haven't entered the Big Book Give Away of Carolyn Westbrook's soon to be published book, "Through the French Door" then please click here Ends Sunday July 8.

And please visit these other wonderful Friday Parties!

                                                           at Rooted in Thyme 

So, have you recovered from the big celebration?

Let's share what's inspiring you this week.

xoxo,