Making a Statement

Sometimes all it takes is a focal point. 

One piece of furniture that sets the stage for the rest of the room.

 A piece that says "this is me; this is my style".

I've shown my favorite chair many times, and this month it's in the spotlight several times. It's not old, my husband bought it for me as a surprise about 15 years ago for our anniversary. That chair has been dubbed "The Christmas Chair", because when we all gather at Christmas to open gifts, that's always the chair I choose. Funny how little traditions come about. 

As you can see, it didn't start out as a neutral slipcovered piece. When I went to a more subdued "white" decorating palette I opted to try my hand at a quick slipcover. It was hit and miss, and certainly something I wouldn't want any professional to scrutinize, but it has served it's purpose well, and gave me a fast option in transforming my space.

covered arms with antique linens

I love it's lines and curves and I wanted to keep it's original dark wood frame to balance out all the white that was coming in to the room.

When asked earlier this week, I was thrilled to help One King's Lane let you all know about their new Home Decor Resource that is filled with ideas, historical information, and examples of furniture design. Not only chairs, but sofas, settees, chaise lounges, benches, and ottomans. Do you have a favorite style? They can help you locate pieces that will definitely "make a statement"!

Run by One King's Lane Design Resource and do a little browsing, then do a search for your favorite style. I just typed in "French Chair" and these were just a few of the options that came up in their wonderful inventory. Not only do they have current manufactured items, but also vintage and antique pieces to choose from. Have fun, then stay to shop throughout their website. One King's Lane also has a blog you'll really enjoy to keep you up to date on all that they have going on for the Holidays!

If you haven't joined in on Be Inspired this week, the party is in full swing. I couldn't get blogger to update my posts for two weeks, now it's publishing when I didn't ask them to. So just a break from our regularly scheduled party... just scroll down to the previous post! thanks everyone!

xoxo,

Be Inspired # 164

We've all been tweaking that Early Fall and Halloween decor, changing it over to what I think is a more simple natural look for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving's roots are based in the bringing in and sharing of the Harvest, and being grateful for God's abundance and blessing. To me it's best decorated for and celebrated with those "Natural" elements. Here are some lovely links from two weeks ago that have that wonderful "natural" feel.

Thanksgiving Mantel

from Pam at White Ironstone Cottage

Kathy from A Delightsome Life
shared some vintage finds from The Country Living Fair.

A gift of A Vintage Seed Box 

from Jann at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

Screen Door Corner Cabinet

from Lynn at Shabby Story

Slipcovered Living Room Chairs

from Trish at The Old Post Road

Sarah from Curly Headed Farm Girl

created this wonderful Fall Shelf Vignette

Love the elegance of Simply Fall

from Susan at Evelyn and Rose

Thank you so much Gals!

And no, I haven't lost my marbles. well, maybe just a few...

Blogger hasn't been updating many of our blogposts and I thought I'd try republishing my last post which was my Thanksgiving Tablescape. I had been tweaking it for days and didn't want you to miss it. So then, you got to look at it twice! Sorry.... If anyone has any ideas I'd be thrilled to hear them. This Blogger problem been going on for almost two weeks...you hoo...anyone home at Blogger?

Today's Sponsor

Elliott Heath Designs
You'll love browsing all the beautiful pillow designs from Heather's Etsy Shop!

OK, hope you'll join in on the Fall Fun, 

and any new posts you're having on Christmas.

1. Please remember to turn off word verification. I tried leaving comments that didn't go through. I'm sure others have tried also.
2. Please have an individual link back to Common Ground within your post. I'd love to feature you. This is just part of the Party Etiquette.
3. Please no direct links to Etsy or Advertising.
4. Link up to three of your current posts.

Thanks a bunch for joining in.

 I love seeing what you're up to!!

Nature Inspired Thanksgiving Tablescape

One of my favorite yearly posts would have to be the Outdoor Fall Tablescape that I have done for the last three years. Doing an outdoor tablescape wasn't going to happen this year as our outdoor area was completely off limits due to a new roof and minor construction, then new guttering projects. I couldn't even really decorate the front porch, let alone style a photo shoot. So I decided the next best thing would be to put my energy into doing a Thanksgiving Tablescape indoors, like I had wanted to do outdoors.

I'm a more casual tablescaper, I feel more comfortable and at home when the mood and atmosphere are created with natural elements, and in the Fall and Winter, I'm all about a good Tartan Plaid. I had wanted to build my outdoor tablescape around a vintage brown plaid blanket and I wanted to use bits and pieces of my old Brown Transferware. I've not collected large stashes of dishes like many of you who tablescape, just picking up odds and ends when I find them for a good price.

When we moved into this house there were a set of handmade windowboxes that were so charming, that matched the front of the house. But after several years of using them and the fact that ants were coming in through the windows, I stopped. They had started to deteriorate so my husband renailed the better of the two for me to use here as a centerpiece box. My big windowbox that I usually use was just too large to consider for an actual "sit down" dinner.

I wanted it full of natural elements, and since we have Thanksgiving in the afternoon, I chose not to put candles inside, but fill it with leaves, antlers, pumpkins, vines and berries, with a little nest and quail; all things you would find in Nature.

Then I gathered my only "set" of  Brown Transferware, six placesettings of J.G. Meakin of England, "Scandia", which I think must be from the 60's. I used some other unmarked white ironstone that is much older to fill in for missing salad plates.

Some mismatched Brown Transferware cups became the individual candleholders for mini clay flowerpots and a votive candle.

I've had this set of heavy amber glassware for many years, I think they must also be from the 60's and then my Heisey wine goblets that give a little more elegance to the setting. When I was younger I never would have "mixed and matched", but now that's just part of the charm of a vintage table.

I wanted to incorporate another pattern along with the brown, so my caramel stripe French Grain Sack and a set of creamy floral napkins broke up the larger area of brown plaid, also adding a little interest.

This is my silver setting from Oneida, just cannot remember the pattern.

Each placesetting included a vintage Thanksgiving postcard used for a place card, held by an antique flower frog.

Another mismatched place setting.

I wanted the feel to evoke an English Country Cottage afternoon,

 after a day of hunting.

Thank you so much for joining me for my Thanksgiving Tablescape.

I hope this gives you permission to be casual and a little "mismatched".

Enjoy your family and the blessings of Thanksgiving!

Joining these weekly parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Inspiration Exchange at Yellow Bliss Road

Fill Your Cup at Mrs. Olson's

Tips and Tutorials at Stone Gable

xoxo,

Today's Sponsor

Shabby Cottage Chic