Tuesday, July 10, 2012

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:





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



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



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,



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Sunday, July 8, 2012

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:

Susan for Met Monday
Hope you're having a wonderful week!
xoxo,
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Saturday, July 7, 2012

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...
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,



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