Vintage Inspiration Friday #48 A Day Sale

I wanted to share a few photos from the back porch of a wonderful

shop called Lula Mae's in Fordland, Missouri,

that will soon be opening for a day sale each month.

Two of my crazy friends Kenda and Jan from Leola's in Ozark

I had so many other wonderful shots from inside

the store and cottage,

but I didn't have the settings right on my camera,

so many of them were fuzzy.

(live and learn)

I know this next one is super fuzzy,

but I just had to show you this chandelier!

yes, that's right, a French flower pot for a lampshade!

(a few of those wonderful clay pots came home with me)

And I want to mention again about the new feature

I'm starting up called

 Design Challenge

Thanks so much everyone, for your great response

Hopefully, we'll have our first feature next week.

If you haven't read how this idea came about,

then just scroll down to the last post.

Hope you'll be a part of the fun!

Here are some wonderful links from last week.

Thanks so much for linking up to the party,

you all have the best inspiration around!!

Rosemary from Ozma of Odds has magic in her hands.

She creates the most beautiful things,

and you have to see her Rose-Mary rocking chair.

(and this is the view from the back)

Come visit Marcia at the Vintage French Hen

and tour her amazing Milk House Cottage

Karen, the Vintage Bag Lady

has just moved her girls into the Chicken Mansion,

come take a peek!

and chances are you've seen Laurie's fabulous frenchy pots

at Heaven's Walk,

but just in case, you have to go see for yourself.

just amazing!!

One more for good measure,

this amazing painting by Ricki from Art at Home.

Isn't it wonderful, I thought it was a photo at first!

Hope you can

join in for

 Vintage Inspiration Friday

(anything vintage or vintage inspired)

linking up here!

(buttons on sidebar)

love to you all!!

A New Feature at Common Ground: How about a Design Challenge?

A few weeks ago I spur-of-the-moment threw out a design

challenge for all of you when I was at a brick wall

trying to come up with ideas for my Living Room.

I had lots of thoughts,

 but I was needing some fresh eyes and creative direction

to kick start some room changes.

You all really rose to the challenge

 to help me sort through some possibilities.

You were encouraging and thoughtful and motivating.

So that got me thinking...

why not come up with a way we can constructively offer

 the same help for others out here in blogland.

...this is my idea.

Anyone who is in need of some advice, help,

or just a fresh new idea,

can submit a few photos to me for a feature post.

You can do it anonymously, or not,

 whatever you're comfortable with.

Then I'll post them,

 and you all get to leave constructive comments

to help the blogger in need.

It could be a whole room, a wall, a vignette, a mantle...

suggestions for paint colors,

furniture placement,

anything about decor...

What do you think?

sound like fun?

 I put together this graphic and button.

Please spread the word,

and then take the big step to come forward with some

issues you may be having,

or some design help.

No need to be a professional,

 although I received some really great ideas from a few.

Just comment on how you see it.

We'll all be sweet and nice and constructive...

no matter what you're dealing with.

...I promise!

How often I do this depends on how you all respond...

#1 with project photos

#2 with the desire to help others.

Let me know what you're thinking,

because this depends on you!

I'm super excited about this,

hope you all will spread the word!

Let me know if you've grabbed the button

or did a quick blog post.

I'll have a thankyou gift for a random winner!

let's have some fun!





I'm still painting...

Here's the latest...

My recent Living Room makeover has been accomplished in stages.

The most recent "installment" has been to paint out the sofa table

 and then the two chairs flanking it.

I sort of thought I might be able to get away with not doing it...

but no.

It all needed to be white.

(Before)

These chairs took me forever to paint and distress.

all the little detail work was a booger trying to deal with!

They look much prettier in person,

the camera just isn't picking up on all the nuances they now have.

LOVE my sofa table now,

and it has been decluttered of all the family photos

for the time being.

sorry kids...

you know we love ya!

Then I could bring back my faux Staffordshire dogs.

These little barkers may have been "faux",

 but they still weren't cheap.

Thanks again for all the great ideas and advice for this to happen,

and speaking of which...

A fun new feature is in the works,

and I need your feedback.

I'll share Thursday afternoon with

Vintage Inspiration Friday!

I'm partying here this week:

links on the sidebar with buttons.

See you Thursday for

xoxo,