Saturday, March 10, 2012

Give Away with French Bleu Vintage

Dee and French Bleu Vintage need no introduction for many of us. But if you haven't had the pleasure of shopping her Online Store, I want to share a place where you can go to find "vintage" at it's finest. Dee stocks one-of-a-kind "found" antiques and collectibles that you won't see anywhere else, and she is also now carrying a line of wonderful home decor items with a Country French flair.

This French Country Footed Plate is my personal favorite.
Use it for special occasions where dessert needs to take center stage or
as a base for a cloche to show off treasures.


 perfect for tabletop display, is one of the items in her
New Spring 2012 Collection.


The design and script fabric on this gorgeous Crown motif pillow
would go perfectly on a linen sofa or chair.



to your existing floral dishes for a wonderful Spring tablescape.

And can you ever have too much ironstone?
 This Maddok Ironstone Pitcher would be perfect for holding
 a fresh Spring bouquet.


Dee is giving away a $25 Gift Certificate
 for her Online store
French Bleu Vintage.
 Dee has a 10% discount at checkout,
just use the code "SPRING"


Here's how to enter:

1. Visit Dee's wonderful Shop, French Bleu Vintage,
browse a bit and come back here to tell me what you love.

2.  Follow Dee's Blog French Bleu Vintage

you can also join the FBV mailing list 
to keep up on what's new in store.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry,
here on this post at Common Ground.

Thanks so much for welcoming Dee and French Bleu Vintage
as one of my new sponsors,


Happy Shopping!
xoxo,

Friday, March 9, 2012

Vintage Inspiration #79 Spring's Flowering Bulbs

We seem to be a few weeks ahead here in the Midwest, when it comes to Spring weather. I already have daffodils blooming, which usually doesn't happen till later. And today I saw my hyacinths in full bloom, too. We can have some fluke-y Spring snow storms in March, (as I'm writing this it's been sleeting rain, and I had to bring in my frozen little daffys) but usually they are gone in a day or two. This year it's just warmer, earlier, which has me really looking forward to Spring. It really does seem to be right around the corner. (Back in the 70's by Tuesday yay!)

Here are some wonderful Pinterest photos of flowering bulbs for Spring,
Don't you just love all the wonderful color?

Source: livethemma.ikea.se via Debra on Pinterest

Speaking of inspiration, hard to get better than Pinterest .
Hope you'll come visit my boards on Flowers and Spring.











Love these sweet crocus in the teacups!






If any of these Pinterest Images belong to you without credit, please let me know,
I'm more than happy to link to your blog or website.


I just came home from the Spring Open House at Leola's in Ozark,
if you're local, you'll want to head down there this weekend,
this is just a teaser of the Spring Fun and Color at the store!








And now some vintage inspiration from last week.
          You all are so talented, I love seeing what you're up to each week!   

          Amanda, from One Girl in Pink transformed a  "questionable" piece
     into a wonderful chair-side table with a little Annie Sloan Antoinette Pink.

        


          Be sure and visit Joy over at Savvy City Farmer to check
            her show date this week. She has some wonderful things.
             Wish I lived closer, I want it all!

               


                 Kathleen from Charm Bracelet Diva found an amazing glass bottle lamp,
                You won't believe what she paid for it!

             


     Tammy from a Walk in the Countryside
shows us one more way to use cast off doors,

Go take a look at how they accent her garden.



and Anita from Cedar Hill Ranch
is using a vintage ironing board for a server out on her porch.
How fun is this?



I'll be linking up with: 
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Inspiration Friday at the Picket Fence
Potpourri Friday at 2805
Friday Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense
Home Sweet Home at the Charm of Home
and be sure and go by to say Hi to Jody from
Rooted In Thyme with her new Friday party Simple and Sweet

Thank you everyone, for coming over and linking up for the party!
If you've never joined in I'd love to have you.
Please be sure and have a visible link within your post.
Let's let everyone know they're invited;
"anything vintage or vintage inspired"

Remember to come back this weekend for a Give Away



xoxo,






Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Amalie, The Milkmaid


My husband knows not to bring home chocolates for Valentines Day; (love them way too much), flowers are wonderful but my cats tend to want to eat them, so when we went to the Antique Show a few weeks ago, I knew I had a little credit for  shopping.

I've actually had this vintage print before, and sold it, so when I saw it again at a good price, I jumped on it. True to form, I didn't know where I'd put it, but I fell in love with this sweet little milk maid, so home she came. Amalie was the only name that fit her, so now she lives in my kitchen, and I enjoy not only her, but her bucolic friends each day. And seeing those little painted daisies, just makes it feel like Spring.


The print is in it's original wooden back frame. It's a little wavy from humidity, but old prints have such a personality, I generally don't let that bother me.


I love how she contrasts with the off white walls, 
and plays off the dark floral curtains.





I've had this little birdie plaque for years,
but it received a little white paint and a "mossy" treatment. 



I found a few other things that day, but one that I have in the kitchen is this wonderful little hand painted black tole tray. 


It's setting on top of my double ovens right now and I can see
that it needs to be raised up a little from the photo.
(oh, the hazards of being short...)



Remember that Monday Marketplace is up all week, so you still have time to link up your  Etsy and online shop items, and then do some shopping.  Just scroll down to the next post.



If you're local Leola's Vintage Home and Garden in Ozark is having their Spring Open House starting Thursday at 9:30 AM running thru Sat. at 5:00 PM. Me and my camera will be there with the early birds.



And then be looking for a Give Away from French Bleu Vintage which will be starting this Friday afternoon. 




I'm joining my pals for their great parties:

Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Tuesday's Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
White Wednesday at Faded Charm
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Share the Love Wednesday at Very Merry Vintage Style
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
Primp you Stuff at Primp
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Cowgirl Up at Cedar Hill Ranch
Knick of Time Tuesday at Knick of Time
Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

whew...busy week...hope you're having a great one!

xoxo,

Monday Marketplace #2 and a winner!

I think we got off to a great start last week for the first 
Monday Marketplace.
It was really fun looking through all the links to see all the great items.

If you're here for the first time, then let's go over the concept for this link up.
This is a linky party for Etsy and Online Shop sellers,
or if you've recently purchased something from an Etsy or Online Boutique.
 This is about showcasing items and the creative shops that are out here in blogland.


Here are a few items that caught my eye from last week.

A wonderful blue transferware bowl from our talented friend, 
Rosemary, from Villabarnes




Angie from Swede 13 has this fabulous mirror for sale



This Italian Porcelain Footed Bowl would look wonderful on my coffee table!


And I fell in love with this vintage straw hat from White Lilac Cottage


You may link up one or two items from your shop, please don't link up to just the store, but to individual items. Also, I'll give you enough space to list your blog name after the item description if you'd like, since it's not easy to put blog owner and shop together. I found myself trying to figure out what shop went with which blogger. And, you don't have to have a blog to link up, I'd just like that information available if possible. Then my next question would be, why don't you have a blog?

Monday Marketplace will be open all week, so be sure and check the entries several times this week, you have plenty of time to link up and browse. 

And one request please. If you are linking up to the Marketplace, I'm asking you to be a follower of Common Ground, and to grab the button for your sidebar. (upper right hand on the sidebar) Let's share the news. Thanks for making this new venue a success!



Such a great turnout for Nancy's Daily Dish Give Away, thanks so much for entering! And the winner is Nita Jo from Little Grey Gardens. Congratulations Nita Jo! Email me with your info and I'll forward it to Nancy.

I also have quite a few of the numbered brass tags left. I'm not selling these individually, but will be happy to incorporate them into a custom design necklace for you, to celebrate birthdates or anniversaries. If you don't see a number you need, let me know, I may be able to get one. Convo me on Etsy or email me with the subject as "Numbered TAG". 


So are you ready for some shopping fun?
xoxo,







Sunday, March 4, 2012

Introducing Rosekraft


Hi Everyone, hope you're having a wonderful Sunday.
I want to take a minute to introduce you to my newest sponsor,
Rose from Rosekraft. 



On visiting Rose's blog, you'll see her San Francisco home, which is an expression of her love for Victorian cottage life. Even in the middle of a big city, Rose loves nurturing a small garden with her own vintage style. Her tiny city garden reflects how she maximizes her space, just look at these amazing homegrown lemons in a vintage copper bucket. Rose keeps a connection with the past, and it's evident in the items she creates for her Store and shows.

Can't you almost smell these fresh Lemons from the Garden?


Then come meet "the girls", where egg laying can cause a culinary celebration. 





Rose has a wonderful Etsy Shop, Rosekraft,
were she creates and sells beeswax candles from vintage Victorian molds,
and original Victorian Cottage die cut framed images.

How perfect for Easter




and just to welcome Spring,



Beautiful framed images of original die cuts;
this is one of my favorite pieces.



Hope you'll drop by her shop and browse her lovely items,
to find a perfect gift for Easter and to welcome the start of Spring.



Are you ready to link up for Monday Marketplace?
Linky will be up mid-morning tomorrow.
see you, then.



xoxo,