An Old Friend Visits for Christmas

I'd like you to meet an old friend of mine that came to visit in the Dining Room this year. He usually lives in the Family Area downstairs, but he's making an appearance in a special place to help us celebrate the joy of the Christmas Season.

My parents were antique lovers from the beginning, so when they found this wonderful wooden horse, it was already "vintage". He was a gift to me when I was very little. I think I may have been placed upon him only once, and after that they realized he would be better suited to being admired than ridden.

I took these first photos this morning 

and added a little sprig of holly to dress him up.

Don't you love his happy little smile?

Love the rusted little bell on his reins, 

and his perfect white chippy "coat".

He has an honored place here in the Dining Room,

 on my old metal plant stand.

This is an old wedding certificate I found this Fall at the Festival of the Ozarks Antique Show. It makes me sad that this isn't with their family any longer, but I will enjoy it for them...

This time of  year as we celebrate Christmas, we realize that it holds a special place in our hearts for family, joy, and peace that only knowing Jesus can bring. Not only knowing the little baby that was born in a manger so many years ago, but knowing Him as our precious Savior, Comforter, and Friend.

I'm joining in with these wonderful parties this week:

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

TTT at A Stroll Thru Life

Blissful Whites at Timewashed

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Knick of Time 

Cowgirl Up at Cedarhill Ranch

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

The Charm of Home

Sending the Spirit of Christmas your way,

xoxo,

Vintage Inspiration #118

We had such a great turnout last week, and I think it was the largest ever on Vintage Inspiration! Thanks so much for coming by each week and sharing all the ways you use "Vintage". I'm always in awe of all that you do, and especially at Christmas. Decorating with "vintage" just brings out the best during the Holidays. Here are just a few of the wonderful links from last week's party:

Come for a visit at Carola's wonderful Boxwood Cottage;

truly magical for Christmas.

Susan from Must Love Junk brings together 

a wonderful display in her Hall with great vintage pieces.

Kimberlee at The Fancy Shack has a Christmas Living Room

all decked with beautiful neutrals. Even the pup fits right in!

Shenita from Embellishments found a wonderful way to display her nativity, placed inside a lovely crown. What a perfect symbol of the reason for Christmas.

Megan from Restoring the Roost is going "plain and simple"

this year using greenery and vintage touches.

Love the vintage tablecloth!

And Elizabeth from Just Following Jesus in My Real Life

created a wonderful centerpiece from an old tote

 using a vintage bowl and pitcher.

I also want to share a link today to a great company here in the US that makes the most amazing chef knives! New West Knifeworks. They contacted me awhile back about doing a review for them, and I happily agreed. I've been cooking for more years than I want to admit, but I've never made it a priority until this last year when I've had to revamp our whole outlook on what and how we eat, due to my husband's health. Let me tell you when I opened the package from this company I was so excited. This knife is a work of art. I've never had a quality set of knives before, so this one was a real treat. What had I been missing all those years?!! I use it for most of my meal prep now and it's cut my time in the kitchen down, plus been a real joy. Wow, I feel like I should be on "Top Chef"! So I wanted to give you the link to a great Give Away they have going on right now. Go check out their site, I can guarantee you'll learn a few things about food prep, and there's still time to think about those special Christmas gifts. Thanks guys, you've made my year!

Click Here to Enter the Give Away

While you're out partying you might want to visit

 these great parties for some more Holiday Cheer!

Hope you'll join in today!

Link up to three posts current or golden oldies, that celebrate the Holidays; recipes, DIY, decor, Christmas traditions; anything vintage-y and Christmas. Please have a link back to Common Ground to be featured.

 Have a wonderful weekend, Everyone!

xoxo,

Top Three from Vintage Inspiration and a local Shout Out

So much great inspiration last week at the party,

 so now's the time to share the Top Three most visited links:

Mary from Home Is Where the Boat Is sets a table

 celebrating a Gardener's Christmas out on her porch.

Julie from Idyllhours  shows off her wonderful 

Red Transferware in her corner kitchen hutch.

And Sally from Salmagundi has her Hoosier Cabinet

 decked out with wonderful family pieces from the farm.

And on a local note...

if you live anywhere near Springfield, Missouri,

Grab your girlfriends or hubby, 'cause...

You'll want to enjoy celebrating the Christmas Season...

with a visit to Robin's Vintage Suitcase 

and lunch at the Vintage Veranda.

Your destination for a great afternoon or fun filled weekend.

Click Here for their Facebook Page

This store is packed with so much Christmas fun!!

Hope you'll come back tomorrow ready to party at

 Vintage Inspiration.

xoxo,

A little Grain Sack Inspiration

If you're like me you need a jumping off point; something that inspires you, and gives you direction. I had it in my head this year that I wanted to do something less fussy, maybe a little more "Winter-ish" than an all out Christmas blow-out. I've seen some amazing "all out" Christmas decor, but for me, I just wanted something simpler that could maybe make it at least through part of January.

During the late Summer and early Fall I used a table runner made of dark grain sack fabric with a black stripe. I loved it, and started looking for a runner in a red stripe with a light background early. Chalk one up for me... I'm usually late on making decisions. I waited too long and now the infamous BOXWOOD wreath has eluded my grasp this year...grrrrrr.

I knew I wanted to use this white wooden lantern that I've had for awhile, so it had to nest in the old windowbox. Now, back to the tablerunner issue...soooo....I couldn't find the fabric, but actually did one better by finding this amazing antique grain sack on Etsy from a wonderful gal named Christina from Austria. (From The Etsy Store Grain Sack) I ordered early in October, so it was here just in time for the Thanksgiving change over.

I took out the binding that held the sides together, so I would have one long piece in a single layer. Then centered it on my off white burlap. I want to cover up as much of the B-R-O-W-N table top as I can...

Perfect.

Christina's Photo

It's really beautiful and immaculate with no damage or age showing at all. I highly recommend her shop.

Then, I started digging in my linen stash and came up with this vintage "Turkey Red" tablecloth for the buffet.

I just folded it lengthwise.

A little more "grainsack" with the ribbon.

And a grapevine wreath with a red transferware cup. The more I look at that wreath, the more I know it must have lost an apple or two since last year. Sorry, it's now on my "to-do" list!

Had to have some plaid, ya'll!!

My sister made these adorable pillows for me for Christmas last year.

more red stripes

(and birdies)

big pillow was a Pottery Barn must have last year!

I changed out the bittersweet on my little Fall Nature Tree for some festive winterberry garland. I put the snow owls to bed and added in some glitter birds in their place.

I have an old friend that's making an appearance in the Dining Room this year. I'll share him this weekend! (If you look closely you'll see a peek of him.)

I'll be joining in these great Holiday Parties this week:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Blissful Whites at Timewashed
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
TTT at Stone Gable
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Shabby Art Boutique
 French Country Cottage
Inspiration Friday at The Picket Fence

Hope you're having a fun week,

be sure and check out 

It's live all week.

xoxo,