Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Sunporch switcheroo...

or...
I can't make up my mind.
but more on that momentarily.

First I want to show you a sweet pillow that my talented and creative friend Judy Clark sent me awhile back. Judy's blog is 20 North Ora and she has an Etsy Shop by the same name. I featured Judy's wonderful Mother's Day Memory Pillows yesterday at The Marketplace. If you haven't seen them you'll want to grab one for your mom or yourself. Each season I tuck in something that reflects the mood or holiday of the season. This month that cute little pocket is filled with vintage French seed labels, and sitting out here in the sunporch.





Don't tell anyone,
but I take out my frustrations on my sunporch decor.


That may sound a little weird, but when I need a change or to freshen things up, this is where I usually head. I've been fantasizing thinking of new sofas for the living room, but that's not a reality at this moment, so it's much easier and less expensive to come out here and change up the quilts.


The sunporch is my playroom.





My homemade vintage seed boxes are here on the baker's rack..



along with my only two pieces of Bluebird China;
Little cups sans saucers.




I found this little oval birdie tin a few years ago,
I think it might be a "See's Candy" promo candy tin.



one side...



then the other.



The weather has been so strange;
80's and sunny one day and snowing the next.
I think we have missed most of Spring and will now head right in to Summer.

I tried a few other quilts on the wicker settee, 
but they didn't stay long.
too much red for May...
maybe later in the season.


Love this Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt from my m-i-l,
but I needed sunglasses.


but in the end they were too bright and summery for now.
so I opted for a feedsack quilt and my "go to" floral and ticking pillows.




There is a floral on the other side of this little quilted throw,
but I changed it our for the little geometric stripe instead.


My three little glass and iron nesting tables,
and my chalkware French Girl lamp.


I always have some Ivy "taking root" in this little English Cottage Teapot.



And this is the coffeetable as it looks this morning with the picnic tin and old tools...


OK, I'm feeling better...
do you have a spot that you wear out changing up?
therapy session now in progress...


I'm joining in for these great weekly parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Tidbits and Tips at Stone Gable
Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life

xoxo,

The Marketplace: Etsy and Online Boutique Showcase

Happy Tuesday Everyone...
time for The Marketplace.
Come link up your Etsy and Online Boutique items
then stay for some fun shopping.
Mother's Day is next weekend,
and you still have time to make some online purchases for gift giving.
Here are a few links from last week:

Vintage Royal Worcester Gold Rimmed Soup Bowls
Sweet Southern Vintage



CAT Puzzle



"Mother" Vintage Handkerchief Set



The Feathered Pen




Kathy Creative Home



Today's Sponsor Spotlight is on Judy from 20 North Ora
She makes some of the most wonderful pillows, and the pocket keepsake pillows
for Mother's Day are just perfect to tuck a card inside for your sweet mom or grandmother.













Hope you'll check out Judy's Shop 
and browse all her wonderful handmade creations.
Thanks Judy!

OK, Friends, time to link up to three of your Etsy Shop or Online Boutique items. Please have a direct link to the individual item if possible, and only link up items that are for sale. If you have a blog post about your shop or store, that works too, please just let us know how to purchase your items. You don't have to have a blog to join in, but if you do, please be a follower of Common Ground and grab the image below for someplace on your blog sidebar to let other's know about this venue.

Thanks everyone, and since this linky is open all week, be sure and check back throughout the week to see new items being listed.


Have a wonderful week,



Sunday, May 5, 2013

Snow and lilacs...

...those two things don't go well together.
I guess I could say we were lucky as compared to others of you out there.
Lot's of precipitation, but no accumulation.




Where we are in SW Missouri, it snowed and sleeted all day yesterday but didn't stick much. At one point yesterday evening the flakes were HUGE. It was really beautiful... just not for May. So I decided since I wasn't getting out, that I'd redo the faux florals in my urn here in the entry. I'd had daffodils and forsythia in this for early Spring and Easter.

Easter

I have a teensy pet peeve...
I like to keep my faux flowers seasonal.
I can't have geraniums at Christmas
or tulips in the Fall.
They have to stay seasonal and current.
I'm sure these will be changed out again by the end of the month...
maybe daisies by then.
(I'm hoping I'll have daisies by the end of the month...)




Here's a snow pic from the deck and my kitchen window.
Can you see the lilac bush on the other side of the fence?
(bad photo, I know. I don't have a zoom lens for distance.)



yes...it's not mine, 
and it's in my neighbor's yard.
a bachelor...
and it drives me crazy. 
But my arms aren't long enough to grab a branch
and harvest a bouquet.
I have to admit I've had fleeting thoughts of sneaking over the fence by cover of darkness. We watched Zero Dark Thirty last night and I think that those high tech night vision goggles and other gear might work for this kind of mission. (just kidding...I wouldn't do that...just a little temptation of the blooming kind). What can I say...I was spoiled when I was young. We had two massive bushes of lilacs and we had fresh bouquets all over the house, this time of year.


So I just have to look at it and imagine a wonderful fragrant lilac bouquet
filling an ironstone pitcher or a large crystal vase.
I've thought of planting my own bush, 
but I haven't found a good spot for one.
excuses...excuses.




so I'll try to enjoy some silk ones and maybe find a room spray 
or candle that will make me think they're real.


and while we're here,
you can see that some of my birdies are back here in the Entry.





This is what you do if it's too cold for the sunporch...




...and you're really lazy.


good thing there are two sofas...
one for each lazy kit kat.

joining in with these parties this week:

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Wow us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Hope you're having a great weekend,
I'll try to behave...
xoxo,

Friday, May 3, 2013

Be Inspired #138: May Days

Hi Everyone...
and Welcome to Be Inspired!
what a week it's been!

You all really outdid yourself last week with so many great links. I could have featured dozens more of you. Hope you'll join in on the party. Any inspirational posts are welcome. Here are a few that I really enjoyed...


shared some images of vintage book pages that you'll love!
yep, we all love a good cow...and I'm crazy for old children's books.





Cherry Blossoms and a Spring Mantel
(if you haven't read this please go by)





Love the typewriter art made from paint can lids,
that Sue from Sullivan and Murphy shared
 in her post about the High Point Showrooms.






Bird House Condo from a recycled Chandelier
from Lynn at The Vintage Nest



traded out a chandy for this incredible silver meat dome
in her kitchen. Joy is a super talented gal with some wonderful events.
If you don't know her, please go visit for some fabulous inspiration.




and Bethany from This Little Estate
shared a yummy recipe for Best Barbecue Chicken
in a slow cooker...I'm hungry now...




Today's Be Inspired Sponsor is Michele from Glass Bead Treasures. She has some wonderful pieces of remastered jewelry and vintage goodies. Great for Mother's Day gifts. Hope you'll run by her Etsy Shop for a peek.




Thanks Michele!


Time to party!
Please have a back link to Common Ground 
within your post to be featured.


and please check out my other Friday Party Gal Pals.



Thank you for checking in to see how my hubby is doing after his surgery.
It's been a looooooonng week, but he's doing better.
I know that I haven't been able to visit with each of you;
please know that I appreciate each one of you for coming by
and sharing your day over here.

Love you guys, you're the best!











Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Be Inspired Wednesday Showcase


I'm going to try to refrain from screaming, but for some crazy reason they are predicting cold weather again for the remaining of the week, with a chance of snow on Friday. Can you believe it? I guess there will be some of you out there trying to hold back with me. what's up with this? Glad I haven't invested in tons of flowers yet...evidently being behind this year may work in my favor!

OK, enough of the mini-rant...
and on to some fun links from last week.

Kristen from Sophia's shared her group trip to North Carolina with the




Love this Chippendale Chair Cushion Redo
from Cristina from Remodelando la Casa




took us through the color wheel for the science 
of how to pick a colour scheme.



and Poppy from Poppy's View
 shared her love affair with RED


Thanks for coming by to party each week!


Be sure and come back to link up all your inspiring posts
tomorrow morning at


xoxo,

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