French Inspired Romance

It's been quite awhile since I took the time to sit down and actually "create" something. My stash of old crosses, keys, and hearts have been calling to me to come spend an afternoon with them. Since Valentine's Day is just a little over a week away, I wanted to share a few of the new pendant necklaces that I put together yesterday.

Each one is different, and unique in it's own vintage way.

tarnished and well loved elements

with a past life...

mixed metals for some vintage romance

I've been trying to organize my cabinets in the studio, and I came across this wonderful old book that I'd forgotten about. A Wanderer in Paris  which was first published in 1909 by British travel writer and essayist, E.V.Lucas.

This copy was a reprint from the early twenties. It's in pretty good condition, with just a few signs of wear. One of the best things about this travel anthology are the wonderful illustrations and images of French masterpieces.

City map of Paris

Lucas covers all the landmarks and attractions of Paris of the day, but I thought it peculiar that he didn't have any illustrations or images of our favorite, the Eiffel Tower, except this one small faint reference. You can see it to the left of the illustration below; misty and almost unrecognizable.

Here is what he writes about the modern day quintessential Paris icon:

"The merit of the Eiffel Tower is that it shows you not only Paris to the ultimate edges in every direction...but it shows you (almost) France too. How long the Eiffel Tower is to stand, I cannot say, but I for one shall feel sorry and bereft when it ceases to domineer over Paris. For though it is vulgar it is great, and it has come to be a symbol....The Tower and I came to Paris at the same time, in 1889."

My dress form, Irma, is modeling for you.

Necklaces available in my Etsy Shop,

The Petite Boutique

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend, 

with a little French Romance mixed in...

joining in at
Coastal Charm
Savvy Southern Style
The Charm of Home

xoxo,

A trip to Tattered Treasures and an Etsy Sale

How are all of you holding up this day after Thanksgiving? Did you all leave the house to brave the craziness of the Mall, or did you just lay around on the sofa wearing "stretchy pants"? Well, my older daughter who is a certified shopper always loves to hit the sales. I'm afraid Ann Taylor and Banana Republic will have to restock tomorrow. I would have loved to start Christmas decorating today, but Hey, who would help her carry all those shopping bags?

On our last trip to St. Louis we stopped at one of my favorite shops, Tattered Treasures, in Lebanon, Missouri, and the owner Terry just happened to be in. I took some shop pics for you, her store is a shabby vintage paradise.

This lamp and shade are just gorgeous.

This great industrial vignette greets you at the door.

I found some great bread boards that I'll share soon.

And just wanted to let you know that I'm having a 20% Off Sale

in my Etsy Shop, The Petite Boutique

use code CGETSY 20

Hope you're having a wonderful Thanksgiving Weekend.

Out for sushi tonight!

xoxo,

Got your number...

I just found these great brass numbered tags, and I'm using two for necklaces for my pal Nancy's daughters. We thought that using these as "Birth Dates" would be fun and significant as a keepsake. I have daughters born in '74 and '80 so I'll be using those two. If you'd like to have these incorporated into one of my pendant necklaces just email me or convo me on Etsy, we can design something one-of-a-kind for you. If you don't see your birth year, let me know anyway, I might be able to get my hands on your special year.

( I DO also have a 99, somehow it didn't make it into the photo)

This one is just an example of how we could make a pendant necklace.

Check out my Etsy Shop for more ideas, I just restocked with new ones.

or this

and speaking of Nancy,

don't forget to enter her Give Away for a $50 Gift Certificate

to her wonderful English Transferware Shop.

Ends Saturday at Midnight!

Vintage Inspiration Friday

is still going strong, if you haven't linked up

just scroll down to the next post.

xoxo,

Vintage Inspiration # 78 Monday Marketplace

In case you missed it, this last Monday was the "Opening" of a new online "Marketplace", over here at Common Ground. Usually an idea starts as a seed, and then has to germinate for awhile, but honestly last weekend a phrase started taking shape in my head, and before I knew it I had hit the publish button on a post for a new weekly venue for selling online.

It will be three years in June when I first started with this blog, and in those three years, I've gotten to know so many talented and creative women (and men). I had been making jewelry for a couple of years before I started blogging, and was selling in the store where I had a space. When I started blogging so many friends were opening Etsy Shops, and so I jumped on board. Guess what...selling on Etsy isn't a piece of cake. There are so many sellers and shops and products; it's a given that you can get lost in the crowd.

True to the name, Common Ground, God has evolved this blog, and me, over these last few years. I'm finding that as I've learned "who I am" in the blogging world, I enjoy the ability to "shine a light" on others. There's so much talent out here in blogland, I'm hoping that Monday Marketplace will give us one more place to come for inspiration and just plain shopping fun.

So, if you're an Etsy seller, have an Online Store, or just love to shop, I hope you'll come by and link up some items that you'd love to share. For more info on this online selling and shopping link up party, Monday Marketplace, just click here and here.

So now, a few highlights from last week

Judy, from French Laundry makes organization true Vintage Inspiration!

Home is Where the Boat Is has us thinking of Spring

with a wonderful tablescape inspired by nature.

Miss Flibbertigibbet took us to a quilt show

Holly, from Down to Earth Style uses a vintage door on her mantle

Donna from the Decorated House, 

shares a tutorial on painting a wonderful old frame

Geneva from My Heart's Song shared a fun way to frame

out some vintage bird graphics.

and come on... look at this amazing outdoors chandy

that Vickie from Ranger 911 created from old garden fencing and insulators!

so so wonderful!!

And a totally "green" birdhouse by Garden Therapy

yay, come on Spring!

If you haven't entered Nancy's Give Away

for a $50 Gift Certificate in her Etsy Transferware Shop

then just click here,

Give Away closes Saturday at midnight.

I'm joining in on these great parties:

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Inspiration Friday at the Picket Fence

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Home Sweet Home at the Charm of Home

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

What Have You Redone at Redoux

Hope you'll join in with 

"anything vintage or vintage inspired"

Please have a visible link within your post 

so others will know where to come and party.

love ya bunches,