Be Inspired # 154: 4th Anniversary Give Away!

Hi Everyone, and Welcome 

to A Special "Be Inspired" Celebration!

I'm running a few months behind in celebrating my 4 Year Blogging Anniversary with you all. It falls in June, but this has been a crazy Summer, and I'd been waiting for something really fun and different to share with you for a Give Away. Then last month in my search for all things "Sunflower", I came upon an Etsy Shop, Elliott-Heath Designs, that filled the bill for a Give Away Gift that any of you could enjoy...and we all know... Hey, we can never have too many pillows.

I shared my beautiful French Document Botanical Sunflower Print Pillow with you a few weeks ago. I love it's wonderful vintage graphic in rich Fall colors. Then just last week, my Vintage French Document Sheep arrived; soft muted neutrals, that fit right in to my Dining Room decor. I thought that if I loved these pillows, you all would too, and enjoy an opportunity to pick your own.

This has been an amazing 4 Years, as I've gotten to know and love you all. I love sharing my day with you, good and not so good, the ups and downs of life, and all the fun decorating and projects along the way. Funny, how it takes a few years to actually know where we each fit in within this big ol' blogging universe. I've realized my favorite bloggers are not so much about what they "do" but who they "are". I'm someone who loves to share ideas, inspiration, and a dose of real life.

now, back to the Give Away...

Heather, from Elliott-Heath Designs has so many wonderful designs to choose from, I knew that no matter what your decor or style might be, you could find something beautiful that was perfect for your home.

Here are just a few of the many design choices you have. Each pillow is 18x18, the cover is professionally printed on organic cotton fabric using overlocking throughout, and the back is an envelope style burlap fabric. Pillow insert is not included.

thank you so much Heather!

Don't you love these?

So my way to say a big "Thank You" for your friendship and support these last 4 years is to offer a wonderful pillow cover to two of you out there. You get to pick your own design from all the amazing possibilities. Here's how to enter:

1. Please leave a comment letting me know you're a follower of Common Ground.

2. Please go by Heather's wonderful shop Elliott-Heath Designs and LIKE her on Facebook. There's a button under her shop logo where you can press LIKE to get Facebook updates. Then find the pillow you'd love to have and come back letting me know by name, which one that would be. 

3. If you'd like another entry then share this Give Away with all your peeps on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog. Leave a comment for each extra entry. I have a graphic on the sidebar you're welcome to grab.

(If you live outside the U.S. go ahead and enter. If you win, I'll make sure you get it, and mail it to you personally.)

Since I was MIA last week, I'm sorry I don't have any highlights or features from last week's party, but I know you understand. That's what's so great about you all, you're actual "friends".

xoxo,

Now, on to Be Inspired!

Sunflowers on the Sunporch

I'm counting down the days to September...

And I'm transitioning my decor to those early Fall textures and tones. Of course Sunflowers are my flower "du jour" for late August, as they have those wonderful muted colors of golds, greens, and browns that I love so much. My Summer flowers are starting to go, so before long, mums will be showing up on the deck and front porch.

I love having a seasonal wreath on the mirror which hangs on the old chippy door. It always sets the seasonal mood out here on the porch. This is one I've had for a couple of years, but I still love the colors and the "dried" sunflowers look so real.

It's been a slow week around here, since I've been restricted on driving until later this week.  But last week I had taken pics of the settee's new quilt "outfit" for Early Fall. (last week it was "Late Summer", this week it's "Early Fall") So I'm just now getting to show them too you.

Please ignore my messy drawers peeping through.

My ticking pillows are pretty much a staple out here no matter what the season. Their black stripe is so easy to mix with florals and plaids.

Faux Sunflowers in an old painted white wooden ice cream bucket.

My washed gray basket from last week.

A little Sunflower bouquet in a white ironstone pitcher.

My Hull apple things are still out, but come next week,

the pumpkins will arrive... yay.

Always love the colorful illustrations in this little flower guide from 1945.

and now a question...

do you remember this amazing Sunflower Head from two years ago?

I've been trying to find another large one like this for ages. This one still had too much moisture in it and it molded inside the cloche. It made me so upset that I hadn't realized it was happening, and now I cannot locate a source for another one. Does anyone out there grow these that I might purchase one from you? It doesn't have to be this big, but I would love to have another one, and cannot find one anywhere. Let me know if you do or know someplace I could find one. I loved this look!

OK...you guys are in for some fun this Thursday!! Since I was MIA last week, I'm dedicating Be Inspired to my 4 Year Anniversary Give Away. You have to wait, but be here with bells on, Thursday, because I have a Give Away for 2 lucky followers out here. I can guarantee you'll LOVE it!

joining in on these great weekly parties:

Inspiration Gallery
Jennifer Rizzo
The Charm of Home
French Country Cottage
Shabby Art Boutique
A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Treasure Hunt at From My Front Porch to Yours

House Party at No Minimalist Here

WOW us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farm

Inspiration Gallery at Ella Claire
DIY by Design

love you bunches,

The Marketplace: Etsy and Online Boutique Showcase

Hi Everyone,  and Welcome to 

The Marketplace!

Well, it's a new day and a new week, and for one, I'm super happy to be here. September arrives next week, and with it comes a whole new attitude about getting ready for the Holidays! So if you're new here for The Marketplace, Welcome, and I'm thrilled to have you join in on the Party! 

Here are a few fun links from last week:

Autumn Banner

from Vintage 541

Dream Bigger Leather Cuff Bracelet 

from Love Squared Designs

Metal Milk Bottle Carrier 

from The Zoe Bird

Teacup Candle Sconce

from Seaside Rose Creations

Lot of 8 Vintage Purses

from Glass Bead Treasures

Today Leslie Janson is in the Sponsor Spotlight. You'll want to check out Leslie's fun new designs in her Etsy Shop. Grain Sack pillows and wonderful repurposed items into cuffs and necklaces are her specialty. Check her shop often, as she has new designs each week.

Grain Sack Pillows

Waterfall Necklace

Grain Sack Cuff Bracelet

thanks so much, Leslie!

OK, time to link up to three of your individual items that you have for sale in your Etsy or Online Shops. You don't have to have a blog to join in, but if you do, it would be nice to have you grab the image below for somewhere on your blog sidebar, just to let your readers know about this shopping and selling venue. (certainly not mandatory) If you have a blog post about your items that's great too, just please only link up items that are FOR SALE. Remember, this link is open all week, so stop back by to check out new items being listed.

Thanks again, have a great week, and be sure to stay tuned this week for a fun Give Away to celebrate 4 years here at Common Ground. So glad you're here...

Happy Shopping!

Checking in...

Just wanted to let you know that I'm back home...

image via

and that I'm so glad to be here.

... but, I can safely say that the last few days rank pretty low in the "Fun Ways to Spend Your Week" category.  The heart catheterization and angiogram should be considered successful, in that we found that I did have two major artery blockages that were 99% occluded, and that the only way I was still here was the fact that I had been taking nitroglycerin every few hours since last week just to keep the arteries in my heart dilated. While I'm going through something I never want to talk about how bad it is, but now that it's in the rear view mirror I can look back and say "Holy C_ _p!, that was a close one." (please pardon my French) 

Then on top of the physical trauma of having yet one more stent put in and another artery being "roto-rooted", (too small for a stent) being pumped full of 3 times the normal amount of drugs for the test, pain killers, and every other piece of junk drug they can throw at you, I was sick all day yesterday retching, my body naturally trying to get it all out.

Right now I'm just trying to find my footing in all of this. I've been sitting here this morning at my computer going back through my photo files of the last few years. That always helps me see where I've been and know where I want to be going. Do you know what I mean..? I'm not just talking decorating photos or projects, but where my head and heart are, what I love to be doing, and seeing the priorities in my life. I know it won't take me long until I'm "back". I'm already itching for September when I can safely put out my pumpkins and bittersweet. So I know that "the real me" is still here underneath this "event" that has just happened to me.

I know that so many of us, by the time we reach middle age, have had life altering events, illnesses or tragedies, broken marriages, or family relationship problems. Not many of us are exempt from "life". I know it's all in how we approach it and our mental, emotional and spiritual strength. I know that if it weren't for God's hand of intervention 11 years ago I would have been dead then, so I thank Him every day for the extra time I've been given.

OK, now that I have all that out, I want to say thank you so much for all the love and prayers that came to me from you all. I had tears in my eyes through each sweet and supportive comment. you all are the best. thanks for being there and for your honest care and concern. This may sound superficial and silly in light of all that I've been through, but I never celebrated my 4th blog anniversary and I've had a really wonderful give away planned for quite awhile, so hopefully I can celebrate with you all...hopefully this next week. That might be a good way to get back in the swing of things...a little celebration. I think I can use one about now.

lots of love to you all,

A little Fall inspiration and a Message

Thought I'd share a few images from my Pinterest Boards with you today. I've been going through my magazines and Pinterest looking for some Fall inspiration. I always get excited when Autumn approaches, it always invigorates me mind and body. Since it's a little early for tons of Pumpkins, I found a few others with some apple inspiration instead. If you'd like to repin any of these please browse through my boards,  Fall Decor and Fall Gardens and Porches,to find them there. (Please scroll down to the end of the post first)

Then I have something to share with you...

Those of you who have been with me for awhile may know that I have a hereditary heart condition, and that most of the time I don't have many symptoms or problems. I absolutely hate talking about it here on the blog because in my mind it makes me feel like I'm "old and worn out". I'm not a whiner or a complainer so I put it on the back burner and try to forget about it publicly. But I know deep down that it's just something that I have to deal with, and since I try to be real with you all, not talking about it would be insincere.

The truth is that I have had 3 major heart attacks 10 years ago and open heart surgery when I was an energetic, healthy, and vibrant person. I had no symptoms to speak of other that my stress level was a 15 on a scale of 1-10. Since then I've had another stent put in for a blockage and have an ongoing situation called microvascular disease. This is something that's more common in women which causes high levels of angina, (chest pain) that is a result of smaller vessels not getting good blood flow.

So, now to the present. I noticed a few weeks ago the pain level was increasing, but I thought it might just be due to being more active in the summer, swimming and working in the yard. But over these last ten days my medications haven't been working and now I'm at a place where I have to find out what's going on. I have a high pain threshold and I can outlast an attack that normally would send someone to the ER. (not a good idea).

I'm seeing my cardiologist today and I imagine I'll end up in the hospital for tests and another stent. I'm not worried, because I've been through this before, and I know God is taking care of me and that He is totally in charge of all this. I just needed to tell all of you. And being honest, I need to take a few days to rest. I had my posts done up for the rest of the week, but since I'm not going to cover this up, I felt like I should just postpone things a bit. I'll check in with you when I'm back and let you all know what's going on.

I love you guys, you all are some of the sweetest, dearest people in the world. Your friendships are real and treasured. So I'd sure appreciate your prayers today and this week. You'll hear from me soon.

xoxo,