Friday, August 9, 2013

Be Inspired #152: Salvaged Treasures

Hi everyone, you all shared lot's of fun inspiration at last week's party. I know many of you are getting kiddos ready for school and finishing up Summer plans and projects, so thanks for coming by to join in on the fun! Let's see what was happening last week...

I really admire the ability to find a random vintage item and then transform it into something new and different. Betsy from My Salvaged Treasures knows how to think outside the box in giving her vintage items a whole new look and purpose. Last week she shared how she created this wonderful upcycled photo and jewelry display from a shelf of an old baker's rack.



Betsy's also shared an old cooler
that became a flower container.



She recreated a retro bench with a fun Union Jack pillow cover.



and old industrial office accessories are updated with numbers.


Thanks for giving us such great inspiration each week, Betsy!
And here are a few more links from last week:


a relaxing seating area in her summer Keeping Room.



Carol's home from Art and Sand is alive with wonderful color.
Have you seen her hubby's amazing paintings?

Incredible!



Nita from Mod Vintage Life
had a brilliant idea to create the easiest Chandelier ever...
Yes, a Vintage Birdcage with remote control candles.
(don't you love that yellow wicker chair?)



And Suzan from Simply Vintageous (along with her hubby)
has a fabulous makeover of a 70's Mediterranean Style Armoire
(these two are hilarious and need to go on the road)




And how about an Apple Crumble with Butterscotch Pudding
from Anjana At the Corner of Happy and Harried.


thanks gals, for sharing the inspiration!

French Bleu Vintage is in the Sponsor Spotlight today and most of you are familiar with Dee's wonderful Shop. She's been marking down some beautiful items in her French Estate Sale Department, so run over for a look to see the bargains. And while you're there, be sure and browse the rest of her shop for some amazing vintage finds.




thanks Dee!



If you've been featured then feel free to grab the image below.


OK, Time to link up all your ideas and inspiration, vintage goodies, projects, DIY, crafts and recipes that you've been working on this week. Please be a follower of Common Ground, and please take a minute to be sure you have a link within your post to be featured.

Thanks so much for joining in!


Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Top Visited Links from Be Inspired


Hey Everyone, it's Wednesday and time to take a look at the Top Visited Links from Be Inspired last week. Thanks to each of you that come by weekly to share all the fun that you've been up to!


Here is Anne's adorable cottage house tour






Andrea from Town and Prairie shares the vision 
of her adorable little vintage travel trailer.


and Kathy from a Delightsome Life gives us a breakdown 
of how she is planning her farmhouse kitchen renovation.
(this girl knows how to do details!)


Thanks gals!

See you tomorrow for this week's Be Inspired.


xoxo,

French Lavender

What is it about the fragrance of Lavender? 
To me it just smells like Summer rain..

My long awaited dried lavender bunches arrived from Antique Farmhouse and I couldn't be happier. It's so hard to find lavender here in the Midwest, and online prices generally run high for just a small bunch. I tried growing my own last year, but bees took over our back yard and built hives in the birdhouses and pool equipment... that was the end of my lavender growing.




If you don't know Antique Farmhouse then you should. They have beautiful items with new "events" daily. Things sell out fast so you have to be quick. I don't think it's available at this moment but keep checking back they may have more in. Anyway, I bought two orders of 3 bundles each, and I could smell that magical fragrance before the box was opened.



...so I had to do a little styling in an old Frenchy basket. Anyone know technically what this basket was used for? Harvesting flowers maybe? I've also used it for wine bottles, and French Baguettes. 




I collect these little gift books from the early 1900's 
and this one has precious illustrations.









We're in the Living Room on one of my Bergere Chairs that I slipped a few years ago. And I wanted to show you my new grainsack that I talked about here. It's heavier than my others and has two yummy caramel stripes down the center. 







 The bundles came banded with rubber bands, 
so I just covered them with some burlap ribbon.






I just used three of the bundles in the basket, so the rest came into the Dining Room and found a spot on the breakfront in a wine crate.






Styling Assistant at the ready...



she didn't want to eat it, just roll in it...




It's been raining for days,
and I'm ready for Fall...

joining in with these party gals:

Inspire Me at A Stroll Thru Life
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings
Blitzed on Pinterest at Debbiedoos
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Inspiration Gallery at Ella Claire
It's a Party at DIY by Design
Blissful Whites at Timewashed
What's it Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants 
TTT at Stone Gable


Hope you're having a good week,
xoxo,

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

The Marketplace: Etsy and Online Boutique Showcase

Hi Everyone, it's Monday and time for 
The Marketplace
This is the place to come link up your Etsy Shop and Online Boutique items. If you're new here, so glad you found us. You don't have to have a blog to join in, just link up to three of your individual items. If you have a blog post about your shop or items that's great too, just be sure that what you link is for sale. Here are some great items from last week.


Vintage Jewelry Embellished Wall Mirror
from Glass Bead Treasures




from The Lazy Peacock



from Prince Snow Farm



from  The Zoe Bird




from Homeroad





Today Sweet Magnolias Farm is in the Sponsor Spotlight, hope you'll run by and check out Sara and Abby's wonderful Fresh Farmhouse Goods. Also check their blog to keep up on the latest shows and news.













thanks gals!


Time to link up, and if you're here to shop, then wonderful, we're so happy to have you. This link is open all week, so be sure to stop back by throughout the week for new items being listed. Thanks so much everyone!





Sunday, August 4, 2013

Summer Dreams

I was fortunate to win a wonderful Give Away recently from my sweet friend Julie from Idyllhours. I had been eyeing this book, each time I went to Barnes and Noble and had leafed through it several times...just never purchased it. What a perfect surprise when she told me her hubby had picked my name to receive it.


Kathryn Ireland is one of my favorite designers because she has such a relaxed and layered comfortable style. A little English Country, a little bohemian, a little European...but all so very "personal".




Part decorating book, part travel guide, part cook book, part journal..Kathryn takes you through "Summer" at her lovely rural retreat in Southwest France.




with horses, children, shopping the markets,
 lazy afternoons, and candlelit evenings...





relaxing spaces for family and friends,



Her fabric designs and fresh style are found in every aspect of her home.


an al fresco dining room filled with casual elegance








I'm thoroughly enjoying reading this book.
 It's not just a decorating "Look book", but a glimpse into her world.

I guess we all have dreams of how we'd love to spend our "Summer".




No, it's not the French Countryside, but I'm happy to be where I am.
Just enjoying a few of Summer's lovely reminders.





Thank you Julie.

joining in on these great parties:

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

And speaking of Give Aways,
 I have one coming up mid month to celebrate 4 years of knowing all of you.
Hope you're having a wonderful weekend.



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