common ground

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Be Inspired Showcase

It's Wednesday and time for Be Inspired Showcase. The Top Visited and inspiring links from last week's party. It wasn't until I had this post put together that I realized each one was about Spring flowering fun.

Hymns and Verses

Old Door Photo Prop

The Country Farm Home

Garden Bath

Sweet Violets from Designs by Cleo, did what I did and made her own seed box,

but she used a wicker case from shopping her stash.

Ruth's Garden Shed painted by Lynda Bergman

What a fun way to liven up a mundane metal garden shed.

See you tomorrow morning for Be Inspired!

xoxo,

It's a "bird" thing...

...and it happens every Spring.

It was time for a sideboard "refresh" after Easter and I've been antsy to get my Pier 1 scroll-y chalkboard in place. The bunnies are all put back to bed, and this time I know where to find them. All tucked into their see-thru giant plastic tub in the basement storage room. sweet dreams...

After Easter I always go to my nature/bird/nesting theme.

I thought I wanted just a plain (gee, that's not a word that I use often) and simple sideboard vignette, but I should have known that once I had things in place that I'd be looking for something else to slap up here for more visual interest.

So I found a couple of my unframed vintage bird prints and a few of my paper play things from last year. I loved paper dolls when I was little, now it's "paper birds". I'm addicted I tell ya...

These little sweeties are cut from an old torn up bird book and mod podged onto an old dictionary page. Then framed in an antique photo album page. Click here to see the original post I did on them.

Don't you just love an ill placed 80's doorbell (below, upper right)

for some shiny hallway fun? yuck.

An old French Ironstone tureen and English platter are my staples,

that I brought in from the Dining Room buffet.

time to mix things up.

Then I brought in these little ivy topiaries from the Living Room sofa table,

for something a little different.

I just found a new preserved boxwood wreath too, so that may go here in place of this mossy/twiggy one. Now that the birdies are hanging around it looks a little "busy". (I whined last Christmas Season about a boxwood wreath for weeks. none to be found under a $100.)

So here's the Hallway Sideboard... for awhile anyway.

You never know what you'll find in here.

Thanks for coming by to visit!

joining these weekly parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

DIY by Design

Blissful Whites from Timewashed

From My Front Porch to Yours

No Minimalist Here

Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

Stone Gable

The Charm of Home

French Country Cottage

I'm joining in with all of you, sending our love and prayers for Boston, and for those whose lives are forever changed by the tragic event at the Marathon.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

The Marketplace: Etsy and Online Showcase

Happy Tuesday,
and Welcome to The Marketplace

Time to link up (to three) of your items from your Etsy Shops and Online Boutiques,
and then have some shopping fun!

Here are some great links from last week.

This set of yellow trays just says Spring!
Vintage Yellow Dogwood Serving Trays

from Gizmo and Hooha

Fresh Flowers Sign

from Sweet Magnolias Farm

Vintage Cake Stand and Cloche

from The Penny and the Pearl

Spode Grazing Cows Transferware Plate

from English Transferware

Framed French Religious Medal

Nostalgic Artifacts

This week, Leslie Janson is in the Sponsor Spotlight. Leslie makes the most wonderful fabric and embellished cuff bracelets, necklaces, earrings, great pillows, and tons of other fun items.

Eco Friendly Cuff Bracelet

Bracelet-Salt and Pepper

Vintage Pennant Pillow

Hope you'll run by and check out all the goodies at Leslie's Etsy Shop!

This is a link party for your Etsy Shop and Online Boutique items, or a link to your new selling site. Please have an individual link to the item for sale if possible. You can link up to 3 of your items, but please make sure that these items are FOR SALE. You don't have to have a blog to join in, but if you do I'd love you to grab the above image for somewhere on your sidebar to let your readers know about this venue.

And if you're just here to shop, then YAY! thanks so much for coming by, and please check back throughout the week for new items being listed. This link will be open all week.

Thanks so much for joining in,

love having your here!

Sunday, April 14, 2013

The "Other" Mantel

Yes, the other fireplace mantel that's in the lower level family area...

I don't post about it often because it's hard to photograph, and really pretty rustic.

We've always wanted a weekend cabin at the lake.

(We live just 30 minutes from the beautiful hills of Branson, and Table Rock Lake)

Woodsy, rustic, lodge-y, comfort.

But, I don't have one, so this area gets to be the stand-in.

Things don't change around too much down here. But I do try to keep the fireplace mantel seasonally decorated and the faux flowers in my wicker basket changed out.

It's where we hang out to watch tv and spend our evenings.

It's functional, cozy, and not "white".

It's also where the kids and grandpuppy lounge.

and did I mention that it's not white?

It's about the same as our fireplace in the living room, which is directly above it, except this room has built in bookshelves on each side instead of windows...and a massive tv and wall cabinet....also wood, which makes it darker. But so much better to curl up with a fire and a good movie. So I enjoy the rustic, lodge-y feel with Pendleton Blankets, a few leather pieces, and a deer mount or two.

...but I did want to share my Spring-ified attempt

down here with my Majolica pitchers and teapots.

...and my florist buckets filled with faux forsythia.

which brighten things up a little bit.

I found this old 40's framed print at the flea, and it's here most of the year. The subtle shades of muted earthy tones, and shabby gold frame blend in with the vintage feel.