common ground

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Robin's Vintage Suitcase Fall Open House

Happy Weekend, Everyone!

We're in full Fall mode here in SW Missouri,

at least with the Fall Open Houses in the area.

And I wanted to share some of the fun from last week's

Fall Open House at Robin's Vintage Suitcase.

Here are some highlights currently in the store.

Love this wonderful hand advertisement sign in white.

And does this big window look familiar to any of you?

Yes, it was in my booth at Relics, and now it lives at Robin's.

fits perfectly within an 1/8 of an inch. LOL!!

I knew she would use it to it's full potential!

Sofa painted with Robin's homemade "Plaster of Paris Paint".

Lot's of whites and grays.

Robin is also selling Jeanne d'Arc Magazine and Books at the store.

This clock is amazing, made from vintage garden tools!

Nappies and swaddling cloths from the British Company

that Prince George went home in.

Aren't these masks adorable?

This is Robin and her assistant Janet.

...then they traded.

and this customer was having fun too.

always so many fun things to see.

(remember, you can click on the image to get a better look)

we're headed for the cool down,

Yay Fall, here we come!

xoxo,

Friday, September 13, 2013

Be Inspired #156 Here Comes Fall, Ready or Not!

Even though most of us are sweating out the last few days of high temps, we're looking forward to Fall. On my calender, Fall hits September 1, 95 degrees or not. Out come my boxes and tubs and I have the most fun I have all year. Here are some great links from you all last week, that are getting us in the mood for Fall.

Jeanine is the queen of Chippy Shabby. She does it like no one else! Each season and Holiday she transforms her Entry into a wonderful homage, filled with one-of-a-kind vintage treasures.

Here's her latest, the Fall Entry Vignette, filled with Fall goodness.

LOVE. THIS. OWL!!

Get a load of this corbel...

curves and a star.

And an old wicker basket filled with yarrow.

perfect.

Jeanine, please come back and share your Halloween Entry Vignette!

I love birdies,

so take a peek at this great headboard made from pallet wood,

that Cathey with an E created.

Have you met Mary's Garden Lady, "Birdie"?
If not, you'll want to see how she was created over at

Home is Where the Boat is

Kathleen has been Puttering with Pots

in her Garden House at Faded Charm.
(I can't wait to see more!)

Angela from Number 53 has a great eclectic style.

This photo screams "magazine" to me,

and we all know I'm a sucker for an adorable kitty pic!

A garage sale find of a hinged whatchamacallit, became a
Folding Chalkboard from Denise on a Whim

and...

I have a fixation with anything "Pumpkin"
and Maria from ShopGirl has created these amazing
Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling.
I can almost taste them.

thanks so much gals for sharing the inspiration!

Today's Sponsor is Sweet Magnolias Farm
where you'll find a new batch of Farm Fresh Fall goodies.
Hope you'll run by and check out Sara and Abby's
fun Etsy Shop filled with tea towels, table runners, and great
Farmhouse accessories.

And remember, we'll be in Fall Party Mode each week,

so come by and share all the Fabulous Fall Fun

that you've been stirring up!

Each week I find great links that I'd love to feature, but you don't have a link back to the party. It just takes a minute to add it on to your post. So please have a link back to Common Ground within your post to be featured. Sorry if I sound like a broken record on this...

and while you're out, check out these other great Friday Parties.

OK, let's get the party started!

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

What's New on the Dining Room Buffet

It's really easy for me to find myself in a rut when decorating for the seasons (or any time for that matter). I know what I love and what's worked in the past. But I have tons of "stuff" and sometimes it's just a matter of clearing things out and then being willing to look at things from a different perspective. That means taking a chance by changing things up a little and moving things around.

That's what happened here in the Dining Room. I'm still in love with my chippy white windowbox for the DR table centerpiece, but the buffet was in need of some attention. My lamb and sheep collection got a little makeover for Fall with some cloches. So it was screaming for something new and different. OK, not new, just different.

So down from on top of the armoire in the Living Room came this monster sized birdcage. It doesn't look all that big here, but believe me...it's BIG.

I had hoped it would actually have a way to get some bigger items inside, like a large candle and some bigger pumpkins, but guess what...? it actually IS a birdcage, so big things weren't going to happen. Bummer...I could see it in my head all decked out in Fall foliage and pumpkins. I did manage to squeeze a few things in through the wee birdie sized door, like these three mercury glass votives that are lit here in the early evening light.

When hubby got home from work I was excited to show him my latest decorating work of art. I take him into the entry so he can stand back and admire my artistic flair for the out of the ordinary vignette.

...so I say,

"What do you think?"

He stands there with a bewildered look on his face...I give him a moment to let it all soak in...

"How do you like it?"

... still nothing...cue the crickets.

OK, one more shot...

"Do you see what's new on the buffet?".

I kid you not, he says,

"oh yeah, you have antlers".

Is he a man or what?