common ground

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Christmas in the Kitchen

I don't show my kitchen very often because the natural lighting isn't good, but we had a glorious day last week, when the snow was covering everything, and the sun was out. Perfect time to get some photos of my Christmas Kitchen...and even the Hallway Sideboard. That almost never happens!

I don't go decorating crazy in here, because it just gets moved out once company gets here. All my fun Christmas decor gets shuffled off to the Living Room where it's not in the way. "Hey kids, can't you eat your scrambled eggs without moving my tool carrier centerpiece?" guess not...

I shared some of these photos in my Christmas Home Tour,

but now you can see a little more of the details.

This is my Snow Family setting on my silver tray that's always here on the island.

Each time I see them I cannot help but smile!

My antique grain sack with the red stripe adds a little Christmas to the table.

I added a little plaid to my French Cow Print.

She looks pretty festive, now.

I painted the top of my kitchen table last summer in ASCP.

If you missed that post, click here.

I found the red and white enamel coffeepot a few years ago,

and I only have one vintage Santa mug.

I'd like to have back all the ones I've sold over the years.

what was I thinking?

(insert head slapping V-8 commercial)

The top of my little china cabinet doesn't change much seasonally;

just gets a new tussy mussy under the cloche,

and something different for the cupcake stand.

This is where I keep my wedding china. Actually it's not china but French Faience. When everyone else was buying Noritake for their gift registry, I fell in love with French pottery.

(you can click on the photos (x2) for bigger images)

Love my little English Cottage; looks like a Christmas fairy house. I'd like to live there, myself. There's something about an English Cottage that gets me every time.

I love playing with fabric and colors, although it's not something I take the time to do now. I made a quilt once and vowed I'd never do it again. I love antique quilts, but I realized I'm a short term project person. I want to finish what I start before I'm totally bored with a project. I think they call that "short-term gratification". Guilty. Years ago I made a ton of these fabric pieced Christmas ornaments, and this is the only one I have left.

And hey look... there's some light in the hallway!

Quick, get some photos!

Love this white galvanized drawer that also has a chalkboard inside.

It's corralling my ironstone dessert plates, tureen, and platter.

I used these topiary trees last year on the mantel,

but they're in iron urns this year.

Thanks so much for visiting,

Hope your Christmas Kitchen is filled with love and joy!

I'm joining in on these wonderful parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Jennifer Rizzo

French Country Cottage

The Charm of Home

No Minimalist Here

Mrs. Olson's

xoxo,

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

The Marketplace: Etsy and Boutique Showcase

Welcome to The Marketplace

We're on the count down to Christmas,
but if you still have some shopping for those hard to buy for friends and family,
then take a minute and check out some of the great links today.

Vintage Log Carrier with Handpainted Snowman

Anderson and Grant

Christmas Box

Cottage Vintage Shabby

Vintage Linens with Red Stripe

Custom Comforts

1892 Edition Hans Brinker

Nostalgic Artifacts

Vintage Enamel Swirl Cup

Vintage Chateau Chic

Vintage Red Fire Chief's Car

Rustic Wren Antiques

Today's Sponsor

Leslie Janson

Hope you'll visit Leslie for some of her amazing

one-of-a-kind upcycled jewelry, pillows, and home decor.

Party Guidelines:

This is a linky party that is for items that are FOR SALE only. You don't have to have a blog to link up. If you have a blog post about your items that's great too, but they need to be available to purchase. Please try to link to the individual item that you are selling if possible. Please be a follower of Common Ground and if you have a blog it would be so nice for you to grab the image below to share somewhere on your blog. (not mandatory, just nice).

Time to link up,
and if you missed last week's Marketplace,
then you can check it out HERE

Thanks for coming by and sharing all your goods here,
Hope you're having an amazing Christmas Season!!

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Christmas Mantel

I've realized that if I don't get with it, Christmas will be here and I haven't had a chance to share all that I've been doing. Actually Christmas decorating has been low key this year. I've been snowed in, the weather just keeps dumping ice and snow on us, and we live in a subdivision where nothing is done to the streets. My hubbs has to brave them each day, but I'll just be here at home...complaining.

(I never thought I'd say that I miss the mall, and all the wacky Holiday traffic...)

Not much has changed on the mantel since right after Thanksgiving. I did get the Holly cut and arranged in some of my ironstone pitchers. I had had 5 of them lined up, but when the Holly went in, it was too much. I've tried adding greenery and several other little accents to the mantel, but each time I've taken it down. It just felt like too much "stuff". So, this is my version of "understated".

I had been wanting white lanterns for several years and just couldn't find the right ones. Originally, I had wanted to put them on the front porch, but after my pumpkins were stolen at Halloween, I decided against it. And they are wooden, so it wouldn't work for them to be in the weather. These came from Pottery Barn, and even though I knew how tall they were, their size surprised me when they arrived. So the hearth was the only place they "fit".

I wanted to find big fat candles to put inside,

but wah wah wah, I'm snowed in!!

They got a little fancy schmancy damask ribbon and I ended up putting some paperwhites inside. I ordered 80 bulbs this year: a little ambitious, so there are paperwhites all over the place. I'll share some other containers full this week.

Sort of plain, but then I'm not feeling like "over the top" this year.

I have two HUGE Holly bushes out back who most of the year my husband fusses about. Thank goodness they redeem themselves this time of the year, otherwise they would be gone.