Vintage Inspiration Friday # 73 Cooking the French Way

Take a look at these images and see if you can guess 

 what's been inspiring me this week for

  Vintage Inspiration Friday...

Apartment Therapy

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Debra on Pinterest

Source: images.google.com via Debra on Pinterest

Source: images.google.com via Debra on Pinterest

Source: images.google.com via Debra on Pinterest

What do each of these images have in common...

can you guess?

It's what has me on this fooding, eating, cooking, kick... 

Well, a couple of years ago the St. Louis kids and I were hitting the antique malls when what do you think my son-in-law spied...?

you got it, a vintage Le Creuset dutch oven. (They've been around since 1925, and still made in a small town in France.) Now, I knew what they were, but the bug just hadn't bitten me yet.  Clearly he had found something fabulous. He was thrilled and made a mad dash for the checkout!
So then fast forward, and each time we go up to visit, there it sets with a prominent spot on their large gas stove. "Do you really use this?" I asked my daughter. "MOM...at almost every meal!" OK, excuse me, I'm not hip or trendy enough in the kitchen. But it did get me thinking, and I was a Crock Pot Queen in the day. So for Christmas this year this was my "one thing" that was a must for a Christmas present... and hurray...that's what I got!!

so now I'm searching out recipes to try out with my new French baby...

And as Julia would say...Bon Appetit!!

Here's some of the great inspiration from last week:

MaryAlice from Chateau Chic shows off a wonderful chippy old door

Rhonda from Blue Creek Home shares her lamp makeover,

I love this, she did a great job!

Sherry from Pondered Primed Perfected  put together this

great look-alike Restoration Hardware Tripod lamp.

Kathleen at Faded Charm always has a great place for some 

wonderful  "White Wednesday" inspiration.

She has a new camera and her photos are yummy.

Here is her  "Simple winter table decor."

This "Upcycled Stair Shelving" from Tattered Tiques

shows us how to use some salvage materials for some perfect shelving.

and Shabby Story totally revamps the kitchen pass through.

You won't believe the "before" pictures!

Thanks everyone for joining in, and a heads up for

A Valentine Party 

to share all our vintage Valentine fun.

I'd love for you to grab the image for your sidebar!!

I'll be joining in for

Feathered Nest Friday

Home Sweet Home

Inspiration Friday at the Picket Fence

2805

Stuff and Nonsense

French Inspiration at the French Cupboard

Hope you'll join in for the party

and if you've been featured, 

remember there's a button for you on the sidebar!

"Anything vintage or vintage inspired"

this link now requires a link back 

to Common Ground within the post.

Thanks a bunch!

xoxo,

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.

Elizabeth from Just Following Jesus shows us how she made

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,

Vintage Inspiration Friday #12 Jewelry Inspired By the Past

Hi Everyone, it's

Vintage Inspiration Friday!

I've always been inspired by antique and vintage jewelry.

I love the unique materials and craftmanship...

one of a kind vintage beauty.

I have several old heirloom family pieces of jewelry that I wear frequently.

But when I discovered that I could put together pieces that were old

with newer and vintage elements...

I found my heart's desire.

I've been adding several items to my Etsy Shop for Christmas giving.

And I've re-done a few of the pendants and added chains to them;

new prices and photos to share.

Rosary beads and chains married for an elegant and vintage look.

Strands of pearls and vintage chains...

crowns and crosses

puffy heart lockets with my signature keys

I also have new medals that can be added to the vintage key pendants...

St. Jude

St. Rita

St. Ann

St. Agatha

St. Raphael

Our Lady of Lourdes

Miraculous Medal

St. Francis of Assisi

Holy Ghost Medal

St. Joan of Arc

and St. Christopher Medals

Just email me or convo me at Etsy for something just for you,

and we'll design something special.

Thank you, to each one of you who has let one of my designs

find it's way into your heart.

Hope you'll join in for

Vintage Inspiration Friday

love,

Debra

Vintage Inspiration Friday # 13 What's inspiring my decor this Christmas

I hope you're having a wonderful

Thanksgiving!

I'm sneaking off from all the family to post for

Vintage Inspiration Friday

(psssst...don't tell them I'm gone!)

My Christmas boxes are on alert,

and I'm so ready to dig in.

I have lots of different styles that I love for Christmas decor,

but the one I always rely on and find that is the basis

 for whatever else I might use is "nature";

Paperwhites, natural greens, holly and berries.

Here are a few magazine images

 that I love and use for inspiration.

A rusty urn with a little glitz, glitter, and sparkle fit right in.

This year I'm being drawn to more

 neutrals and naturals with decorations

Burlap ribbon on the Living Room tree

(no ornaments yet)

My two smaller trees are up for the Thanksgiving weekend.

They're a little easier for me to handle.

I love a large tree, and do have one,

but since I'm the one that does the work,

I've opted for "less stress" and scaled down this year.

"My favorite number" 3 on an ornament I found at

 the Seed Box Open House. 

Brown velvet ribbon is what's happening in the Dining Room.

What's inspiring your Christmas decorating this year?

Hope you'll join in for

 Vintage Inspiration Friday.

Please visit The French Cupboard's

Extravagant Affair

for Cyber Black Friday

And the Freckled Laundry's Vintage Market

and I'm running a 15% Off sale

this weekend at the Etsy Store

Just type in thanks1125 as the promo code at checkout.

Hope you have a wonderful and blessed

Thanksgiving Weekend!

love,

Debra