The Skinny on Spring Wreaths

Each new season you'll find me fiddling with silk flowers and putting together wreaths, and this weekend I've been working on one for the front porch. But finding one that will fit is always a problem. Most of the time I just give up and go with a bunch of silk branches or flowers for the large wicker cone that's on the side of the front porch.

But last year we had an upset with some little finches that wanted to make a nest in the cone with my faux flowers. I thought I had managed to escape having to leave out green poinsettias until May...but no. They were all over that wonderful spot. So when I was able to hijack their plans, or so I thought, a nest of little eggs were dashed on the front porch concrete by accident. Well, birdie lover that I am, I felt horrible and realized that I would have to do better this next nesting season. 

That meant NO WICKER CONE!!!!

(said in the tone of Mommie Dearest's "NO WIRE HANGERS!!")

Here's a pic from last Fall so you can see the problem;

Lovely nesting spot in the white cone to the left.

 Please excuse the pumpkins,

but you can see what I mean.

...the perfect, out of the way, nesting spot.

You can also see my dilemma with my finding a wreath for the door. It's one of those glass storm doors, that only give you a few inches to work with. So if I put a wreath on the door, it has to be super skinny!

So, here's a better shot of my make-do creation, 

hanging on a recent purchase from Pier 1.

That naughty Nita, made me go out and buy this...

Isn't this blackboard just so cute and scrolly?

I have plans for it on the sideboard in the hall after Easter.

 OK, so back to my wreath dilemma...

I found a skimpy one in my stash, with white berries,

(Michael's for about 8 bucks)

which works for Christmas or Spring,

but it was too blah,

and needed something else...

like a twig or two of forsythia and a nest.

Just grabbed a few extra goodies from the flower bin and wired them on.

I think this may have saved the day.

Joining in on these great parties:

Savvy Southern Style

Cozy Little House

Mod Vintage Life

Creative Cain Cabin

Cedar Hill Ranch

The Dedicated House

Coastal Charm

French Country Cottage

Have a wonderful Sunday!

xoxo,

Come, walk through the garden gate...

...and experience one of the most beautiful 

and one-of-a-kind residences in Texas.

The Bandera, Texas homestead of Robin Brown and John Gray;

aka Magnolia Pearl.

 38 sprawling acres, three homes and 18 outdoor structures;

 this is truly a magical place.

Please step inside...

Handpainted and handcrafted artisan touches are at every turn...

  

 (via)

This lovely home is clearly a labor of love. 
Twelve years in the making,
it was where Robin's
internationally acclaimed
clothing line began.

And it has been featured in numerous
magazine publications as well as a book 

published by Country Living,
"A Bit of Velvet and a Dash of Lace".

To read more 

about this wonderful home and property,

and to enter an amazing Give Away

please click here for the details.

all images also found on my Pinterest Board, Magnolia Pearl.

If you pin any images please pin them from Fiona and Twig.

 Hope you're having a wonderful weekend,

Be Inspired Friday #128 It's in the Details

Happy Friday, Everyone, hope you're having a great week! We've had some cold and nasty weather this week, like I think most of you have had too. It seems more like January, than heading into March. Remember the saying that March comes "In like a lion, out like a lamb". I'm really ready for the "lamb" part!

Once in awhile a photo will just make me do a double take, and that's what happened with my pick this week from Patsy from  The Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore. She and her husband had been thinking for two years on how to rework the railing on their older home's staircase. Patsy gives her husband credit on coming up with this whimsical cottage design. It's so unique and really creative. Doesn't this just look like it needs to be a magazine feature? The urn shape of the spindles and the scroll work on the treads really bring a one-of-a-kind vintage cottage feel.

I've loved watching Pamela's transformation in her Dining Room at From My Front Porch to Yours. This week she gave her  New Chandy some Bling and shared her Spring touches. She has some bunny plates that I'm drooling over; you can see them on her hutch!

Becky from Vintage 541 put together this oh-so-Springy tribute 

with Primroses in a Wire Basket. So pretty!

I think we all love chippy and worn baskets,
but this rendition of a Rolling Weathered Wicker Basket

that comes from Susan at Homeroad, brings it up a notch.

And Melissa from Tinsel is Prepping for Spring
with a wonderfully simple cloche containing a gathering of speckled eggs.

And please say Hello to my newest sponsor, 

Michele, from Glass Bead Treasures.

"Welcome to Michele's Glass Bead Treasures! The hand made pieces are a result of her combined enjoyment of needlework, "little" things, sea glass, stained glass windows, flowers, and sparkling jewelry. All of these items are hand stitched and are Michele's own design using beautiful glass (some of them vintage!) and crystal beads."

Hope you'll check out her Etsy Shop for some beautiful gift ideas. Thanks Michele!

Time to link up your inspiring posts from this week, vintage or new. As I went through links to feature, many of you had no link back to Common Ground. I was really disappointed because to be featured you need to have a link within your post, not just a link to a party page. It just takes a minute to add on, so please double check your post. Thanks for joining in Everyone. I always love seeing what you're doing each week!

while you're partying please go visit these other Friday get-togethers!

xoxo,

Top Visited Links from Be Inspired

Time to share the top visited links from last week's

  Be Inspired

Isn't this vintage daisy hat the epitome of Spring? It's something my mom would have worn on Easter Sunday back in the 60's. Linda from Coastal Charm has been fluffing her booth space for Spring, and she's loaded it with wonderful goodies.

Suzan from Simply-Vintageous took us on a house tour
from an historic area in San Francisco.
Just fabulous, Suzan!

 Julie at Idyllhours gave us her beautiful Spring Coffeepot,

inspired from the pages of  the new book, "Fairytale Easter".

And Sherry from No Minimalist Here shared a fabulous 

Home Tour from Carolyn at Sweet Chaos.

Oh, this living room is heavenly,

You'll want to see more!

Be Inspired is open to all inspiring posts, vintage or new.

Hope you'll come back tomorrow morning for this week's

xoxo,

Tell me it's almost Spring...

It may be snowing outside, but it's 

Spring on the Mantel.

I'm a little tired of the gray skies and frigid weather, and

I needed a lighter Springy-er feel here in the Living Room,

so "some-bunnies" came out to play.

I kept my half-urn vases, 

but changed out the darker florals for a mass of Spring Tulips.

My Little Velveteen Rabbit;

He may be getting ready for a nibble...

 I love this little "smile".

Center stage is a framed Die-Cut Calendar base from the early twenties. 

Love the cottage feel of Spring.

This little German Glass Glitter Bunny

has started to change around his muzzle.

...a few old clay flower pots and nests 

for the bunnies to romp around,

makes it feel like we'll be playing in the garden, soon.

Once the daffodils and tulips poke their little green shoots up,

I'm ready to start thinking

Spring!

How about you?

and if you're interested, here is last year's Spring Mantel .

I'll be joining in for these parties:

Table top Tuesday at A Stroll thru Life

Between Naps on the Porch

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here

TTT at Stone Gable

Home Sweet Home at the Charm of Home

From My Front Porch to Yours

French Country Cottage

Craftberry Bush

Shabby Art Boutique

Rooted in Thyme

Power of Pinterest

If you're needing a good dose of Spring,

then hop on over and visit Becky and her sweet Easter goodies

at Timewashed.

xoxo,