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






Cottage Vintage Shabby












Nostalgic Artifacts




Vintage Chateau Chic



Rustic Wren Antiques


Today's Sponsor

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.


Just a teensy pop of red in this room, this year.
All the plaid is in the Dining Room and Sunporch.
(now, that's where I went crazy!)








a bit more festive...



I wanted to join in on Pamela's Mantel Party
and I'll be partying around the town this week.

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings
Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farm
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend, 
Guess it's time to get out of my pajamas...

xoxo,

Today's Sponsor 



Friday, December 13, 2013

More Inspiration and the "Pin a Pillow" Give-Away

There were so many great links on last week's 
Be Inspired
that I thought I'd share a few extra. 
If you haven't joined in this week,


from Amanda at Dixie Delights
(one of the prettiest this season!)




from Must Love Junk




from Vickie at Ranger 911



from Doreen at Hymns and Verses
there's a tutorial too!




from Mary Alice at Chateau Chic




Hey guys, tonight is the end of the 






xoxo,

Be Inspired #168

Hi there,
 all you wonderfully talented Bloggy Buds
and Welcome to Be Inspired!

OK, my head is exploding from all the great Christmas ideas and inspiration! You all never fail to come up with the most amazing decor, projects, and displays for the Holidays. I could feature each one of you!  (Be watching for Friday Night, as I share a few more features, I just couldn't get everyone in this post.) So here are just a few...I seem to be fixated on wreaths today. Take a peek at the fun from last week!


Meg from Oliver and Rust shared her fabulous
Christmas House Tour where she uses her
  signature "Green" as an accent throughout her spaces.



and Meg also created this wonderful
Ornament Wreath using a variety of ornaments.
I've wanted to try one of these for the longest time,
now I think I could tackle it!



Bella's Rose Cottage, what can I say?
A confection of pinks, whites, and the most wonderful
shade of dusty lavender.



Another variation from Bella on the Ornament wreath
in pinks and cream, on this wonderful vintage window and Christmas Mantel




Shanna from Restoration Redoux
gave us her version in silver,
with the good advice of shopping for ornaments at Dollar Tree.




OK, we all know I'm nuts for plaid at Christmas
so I love the Cocoa Station from Pam at House of Hawthornes



Another obsession is all things Boxwood,
so check out the easy Square Boxwood Wreath Tutorial
Leslie from Paper Daisy Designs




The Book Spine Christmas Tree
from Julia at Vintage With Laces
is evidence that this girl knows how to use anything vintage
and turn it into a work of art!




Another beautiful wreath in white perfection is the 
Tissue Paper Wreath from Jacqueline at Cabin and Cottage.




 Sherry from the Charm of Home
shared her Sugar and Spice Buffet with a Jam Cake recipe.






And if you're needing a dose of Elf on the Shelf,
then check out Penny's wonderful Pink Kitchen playground.

THANK YOU, Gals!!


And have you entered the Give Away yet?
super easy and you get to choose your own pillow as the winner!
The Give Away closes Friday Night, so




Party Guidelines,
 but then you all know this stuff, already!



  • Please remember to turn off word verification. I tried leaving comments that didn't go through. I'm sure others have tried also.
  • 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.
  • Please no direct links to Etsy or Advertising.
  • Link up to three of your current posts.
  • Take a minute to visit a few of the other links.
  • Please be a follower of Common Ground.
  • so let's link up some more Holiday fun!


    Love you all, thanks so much for coming over to party each week, 
    and thank you for all the wonderful comments on my







    Today's Sponsor