Sunday, March 16, 2014

Spring Sentiments

A few weeks ago I was feeling sort of "homesick". I guess it's more of a feeling of uncertainty in not knowing when we'll be in a permanent home, and some missing my ability to play with my decor. Living in a small house without all my "stuff" at my fingertips has me a little hampered in changing things up, and I'm certainly a person who likes to keep my surroundings changed up and "fresh".




So what do I do when I'm feeling a little lacking in inspiration and creativity? Besides checking all of you out, I like to look back through my photo gallery and blog posts to see what was going on last year or the year before. You guessed it, I was decorating for Easter and dreaming of Spring out on the sunporch.


My favorite place to "change things up" was the sunporch.



First time forcing hyacinths.






Just bought this wonderful print.




Decorating the Holiday Cupboard






Freshening up the Entry










Spring Open House









And having a visit at Robin's Vintage Suitcase.



vintage twin sofas


bunnies and tulips...looks like Spring!


oh, I just LOVE this wonderful old ladder.

shhhh...I found an old ladder in the basement clean up.
I see it painted white in the future.
(don't tell my hubby)




Thanks for letting me reminisce a little. I've been packing all my treasures, and it's a little hard knowing that they are going in a box and I don't know when I'll see them again. Some of the furniture has been sold, and knowing that Spring is around the corner I'm just wondering where I'll be come Summer, then Fall. I'm trying not to come off whiney. Just enjoying looking back and drinking up the sweet pics of preparing for Spring.

 Have a wonderful Sunday...
be blessed sweet friends.

Friday, March 14, 2014

Be Inspired #180

Hi Everyone and Welcome to Be Inspired!

I know everyone is excited to see some warmer weather coming in. Outdoor planting and projects still may be a little ways out, but we can have fun bringing in a Breath of Fresh Spring Air with our tables, mantels and vignettes. There were so many wonderful Spring inspired posts last week; here are a few to definitely get you out of the winter frame of mind.


Babs from Upstairs Downstairs
gave us Not the Easter Bunny in this wonderful Spring tablescape.




Cindy at Beaux R'eves was busy painting her bedroom, when she decided to also transform this small dresser into a Country French Painted Chest.






from Penny's Vintage Home
(in Penny's new Greenhouse)





This Peter Rabbit Inspired Party is such a creative idea
 for a Spring Birthday, from So Much Better With Age





Painting Pine Floors and some graceful moves from
Suzan at Simply Vintageous.



gave us a great DIY tutorial on aging inexpensive new statuary.




from Moni at Zu haus at Home

thanks gals!




Party Guidelines




  • 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 remember to turn off word verification. I've tried leaving comments that didn't go through. I'm sure others have tried also.
  • 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.
  • Thank you to all of you who come over each week to link up to the party, I may not get to leave a comment, but I try to visit each of your posts. You are a never ending source of inspiration to me and others, so just know how much I appreciate each one of you!
    thanks so much for joining in
    and making this party so much fun!

       
       



    Need a dose of Spring Decor?



    Wednesday, March 12, 2014

    Studio Vignettes

    When we moved over here to the smaller lease house I was really selective about what came with us. All my studio/office furniture came with me except for my big reading chair and ottoman, and my work desk. This "bedroom", is quite a bit smaller, and only necessary items made the cut. But I did need some fun decor to make it feel like home.


    I've had several neutral suitcases strewn about the other house, so most of them landed in here. This is just one stack that's sitting on the old punched tin cupboard. My moss covered "O" that used to be on the Entry Hall mirror didn't work here at the new place so it's propped here against these old cases.



    The bottom two cases are just a heavy cardboard with a celluloid handle, but their color is wonderful. I doubt that this kind of luggage lasted long back then. The gorilla from the old American Tourister luggage commercial would have destroyed it in one sitting. You have to be over 50 to remember this one...te he.





    I still love this commercial after all these years, just brilliant.



    Instead of the work table, my little Italianate desk from the Living Room is here. Just big enough for my birdcage, a plant and a few birdie books. We don't see many birdies, but I do hear a mourning dove "couple" each morning early. This room faces north so it has wonderful morning light.







    So far, the kitty girls haven't realized there are delicious plants right here, 
    I imagine it's just a matter of time.








    I just recently found a new pair of wonderful chunky wooden lamps,
    I'll share those soon.


    This is the top of the tv armoire. More edible cat snacks up here, but it's kinda high, so they're too lazy to try to find a way up here.


    I stashed my camera lens and books in the make-up case. I love these old "train cases", and have collected a few, this one has it's owner's initials in gold, "V.M.B."


    Do you make up names for mysterious monogrammed items?
    Victoria Mae Billingsly...
    Veronica Marie Barnes...
    Violet Mabel Barker...
    Velma Martha Burgess...


    I'll show you the rest of the room when it's presentable. Right now since I'm short on space, my ironing board is in here. Nothing like an ironing board to ruin a wonderful vintage sanctuary. 

    I hate to iron...about as much as I hate to dust.


    It's warm today, but back in the '40's tomorrow,
    brrr...

    sincerely,
    Virginia Martinia Benedict
    aka

    joining in for these great parties:
    Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
    Inspiration Exchange at City Farmhoue
    Share Your Cup with Mrs. Olson
    Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo
    Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
    Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
    Sweet and Simple Friday at Rooted in Thyme
    Shabbilicious Friday at Shabby Art Boutique
    Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life
    The Scoop at Stone Gable
    Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life





    Tuesday, March 11, 2014

    The Marketplace: Etsy and Boutique Showcase

    Happy Tuesday, and Welcome to
     The Marketplace!
    Well, did you all successfully "Spring" forward?
    I think in my case, I just fell forward...straight into bed. These weekends are super long and full of lot's of hard work. We're into the cleaning out of the storage rooms, garage, and John Deere room, and I've never before seen such a mountain of "stuff". Still boxing and sorting, hoping I'll be able to get it all together for a big garage sale once Spring has officially Sprung!
    OK, here are some great links from last week, 
    that really speak "Spring".
    *Just a note to remind everyone that links up, that this link is JUST FOR ITEMS THAT ARE FOR SALE, and that we need a link so they can be purchased.

    Hymns and Verses



    NanNas Things



    Knick of Time



    Creative Carmelina



    Delightful Curiosity




    and be sure and visit
    for everything "tea".



    Party Link 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). Remember the link is up all week, so please stop back by to check out new items being listed. Thanks so much for sharing all your great items with us!
    If you missed last week's link up,

    Have a great week,
    and lot's of fun shopping!
       

       

    Friday, March 7, 2014

    Be Inspired #179

    Hi Everyone, and welcome to
      Be Inspired!
    If you can see the ground through the snow then please join me in a loud
    "whoo hoo"!!!
    If March is here then Spring has to come...eventually.


    Thanks for all the BirthDay wishes, I've always loved having a March Birthday because it's starting to green up and signs of Spring are all around...but not this year. Dressing like an Eskimo isn't a lot of fun. I'll be hitting the mall to celebrate when I don't have to wear layers and layers of clothes.
    Here are some great links from last week. Each time I see Anita's wonderful Dining Room, I sigh. It has such an Old World quality to it. Love those antlers above the sideboard.

    Collecting Creamware
    from Anita at Far Above Rubies




    Pamela From My Front Porch to Yours found a wonderful mirror,
    but it needed a new finish. Check out the post,




    If you haven't enjoyed the current Simply Shabbilicious Magazine
    from Kerryanne at Shabby Art Boutique,
     then head over for some beautiful inspiration!



    Sherry from No Minimalist Here shares another amazing way
     to use a transfer with her DIY and tutorial Cheese Slab.



    A breathtaking Garden Angel is now adorning the pergola Garden,
    from Betty at My Cozy Corner.



    This was a new one on me. Did you know that there's a product that turns ANYthing into a chalkboard surface? Check out D.D.'s Cottage and Design Chalkboard Breadboard. pretty cool.




    And if you're needing a breath of fresh Spring Air then take a look at the Simple Spring Wreath from Christy at Confessions of a Serial DIYer.

    thanks so much gals!



    Party Guidelines





  • 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 remember to turn off word verification. I've tried leaving comments that didn't go through. I'm sure others have tried also.
  • 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.
  • Thank you to all of you who come over each week to link up to the party, I may not get to leave a comment, but I try to visit each of your posts. You are a never ending source of inspiration to me and others, so just know how much I appreciate each one of you!
    thanks so much for joining in
    and making this party so much fun!

       

       

    Say Hello to Common Ground's newest Sponsor,
    Debbie from Ribbonwood Cottage,
    who loves to create, and sees a lovely world of miniature things.