Shells and more, decor...

More on my short season of shell decor here in the Living Room. I found this wonderful urn at Pottery Barn a couple of years ago, in St. Louis, and since then it's been sitting on my coffee table holding whatever is seasonal. It's one of my favorite decorating pieces. 

I've picked up these great conch shells at the fleas for just a few dollars,

so they are piled in here, at least for the next few weeks.

Here's the rest of the mantle. I found these wonderful starfish at The White Rabbit in St. Louis. What a great shop, wish I'd taken photos, but Anne and I were headed back to Springfield and it was a quick visit. Such a great store, if you're in the area be sure and stop by. It's packed with great vintage, shabby, chippy, white goodness!

If you didn't see yesterday's post on making some faux soldered bottles,

then scroll down to the next post.

Also, a fixture on the mantle are my super duper love'em so much

Wolff Pottery vases. A huge bargain from Restoration Hardware

a while back. 

About 10 dollars each.

...but I did have to paint them white.

(Did I tell you how much I love them?)

More Living Room; no shells, 

but how about some repro Staffordshire dogs instead?

nothing says "Summer" like repro dog figurines.

(just kidding)

and my white desk in the corner...

This however, does say summer...

my vintage botanical specimen window.

Hard to believe, but I found a large college notebook from the 1940's

 filled with them for $11.

I know...

don't hate me cause I'm lucky.

oh, and another tapestry stool to feed my addiction.

Not cheap, but still a bargain at 40 dollars from Robin's Vintage Suitcase.

(Her new tearoom opens next week...yay!)

OK, you know me...

I'm itching for Fall...

I LIVE for September 1!!

Until then, I'll just have to play with my shells.

While hunting for photos I just realized it's been a year this week

since I started my Living Room transformation by painting over 20 pieces

of furniture white...yikes.

I'll be joining these gal pals for parties this week:

Rhoda for Thrifty Treasures

Susan for Met Monday

Marty for Table Top Tuesday

Linda for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Angie for Knick of Time Tuesday
Nita for Mod Mix Monday
Anita for Cowgirl Up
Mary for Share the Love Wednesday
Kathleen for White Wednesday
Kim for Wow Us Wednesday

Michele from Primp
The Style Sisters
No Minimalist Here
StoneGable
Stuff and Nonsense
At the Picket Fence
Rooted in Thyme
The Charm of Home
French Country Cottage
2805
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Shabby Art Boutique
My Romantic Home

Hope you're having a wonderful week!

xoxo,

Quick and Easy Seashell Topped Bottles

Since the window of decorating with Seashells for me is a maximum of 4-6 weeks in the summer, I'm kinda low on the scale of said seashell decor. I love having some on display during this "after the 4th and before the late summer-pre fall excitement" season, but living in the middle of the US and the fact that the closest beach is a good 16 hours travel time away, seashells just aren't on my radar most of the time. 

But...I did get a little hankerin' for some seashell bottle fun for my mantle.

I had some old bottles and a few misfit shells, so I wanted to figure out a way to make some "faux soldered seashell topped bottles" on the cheap. Do you remember the song with the lyrics "from a distance"? Uh huh...these work "at a distance". not foolin' anyone up close, but hey...for a few weeks they will suffice.

So guess how excited I was when I saw this post with a 

Seashell Bottle tutorial from Nita at Mod Vintage Life.

Nita's cool version involves tinting antique bottles, and then using a low temp glue gun attaching the seashell and paint. Don't you love how they match her gorgeous tiled fireplace?

I decided to keep my bottles clear, and since I didn't have a low temp glue gun, I went with what I had on hand...which was white wood putty. It kept the shell in place without glue and gave a smooth surface.

 Then after some drytime, I used some bronze metallic paint and a pewter Rub n' Buff mix, brushed on.

I know I'm not fooling anyone.

These don't come close to the real thing...

gorgeous soldered seashell topped bottles.

But they do look OK "from a distance"...

 Hmmm...

this "From a Distance" theme seems to be a recurring one.

More Living Room Seashell Stuff tomorrow!

Joining in for Met Monday
AKA Design
It's Overflowing
Redoux
My Romantic Home

Hope you're having a great weekend,

xoxo,

Vintage Inspiration #95 Porches and Outdoors

You all really outdid yourself with all the great patriotic fun and ideas.

Here are just a few links that I grabbed that showed some porch and outdoor inspiration.

Say Hello to a new blogger, Kristen from Ella Clair.

This great 4th of July party display should be in a magazine!

oh yummy, look at this cake!

If you haven't met Kristen, 

you'll want to run by and visit her beautiful blog.

Sally from Salmagundi shared photos of her Americana Porch filled with great wicker, and some farm and industrial items that make it so homey.

Love this shot of her sunflowers. 

I have to plant some next year!

Mercedes at All Things Pretty also has a gorgeous porch 

with wicker and wonderful floral pillows and vintage linens. 

Linda from Itsy Bits and Pieces

has a sunporch that is packed with wonderful vintage goodies.

Looks like a great place to relax and unwind.

 Just lovin' these "little flags" all grouped together.

Eileen at Cottage Beach House has a great home...AT THE BEACH!!!

Goodness, take a look at this view,

 and at the wonderful soft blues and reds!

no folks, that's not a painting, it's THE VIEW!!!

And Penney's Vintage Home had some wonderful outdoor inspiration for the 4th. Great stained glass window and birdcages!

LOVE this old buggy decorated in the red, white, and blue!

I want you all to know how much I appreciate you coming over to join in on the party each week. You all are an amazingly talented group of people. I know this sounds cliche, but there is so much inspiration that is found here, but then I'm partial to those who love "vintage" as much as I do. Seeing what you do each week keeps me motivated to stay on my toes! 

Hope you'll join in today, remember it's "anything vintage or vintage inspired". Please have a link back to Common Ground within your post to be featured.

If you haven't entered the Big Book Give Away of Carolyn Westbrook's soon to be published book, "Through the French Door" then please click here Ends Sunday July 8.

And please visit these other wonderful Friday Parties!

                                                           at Rooted in Thyme 

So, have you recovered from the big celebration?

Let's share what's inspiring you this week.

xoxo,

4th of July Outdoors Tablescape

I'm not a "Tablescaper" by any stretch of the imagination,

but I do like to put together a fun and festive holiday display.

I have "bits and pieces" of transferware, not complete sets, so I grabbed what I had of the blue/red and mixed them up with some standard white vintage plates, to put together a little outdoors soiree.

Whitewashed flower pots with old seed packets hold the silverware

While one of my heavy duty Homer Laughlin pitchers 

holds some daisies and flags

I layered old tablecloths and vintage linens for an extra "picnic-y" feel.

croquet anyone?

Hope you have a fun 4th of July!

We'll be celebrating our younger daughter and her husband's birthdays

with some pool party craziness.

If you haven't entered my Big Book Give Away 

of Carolyn Westbrook's new book, 

"Through the French Door"

then CLICK HERE

Some of you may not know this, but I have another blog, 

"a day in the life...walking with God".

My posts have been a little sporadic this year, 

but I'd love to have you come by and visit.

I'll be joining in for these parties:

Between Naps on the Porch

Savvy Southern Style

Primp

A Very Merry Vintage Style

No Minimalist Here

A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

A Vintage Farmhouse

Rooted in Thyme

The Charm of Home

French Country Cottage

At the Picket Fence

2805

Shabby Art Boutique

xoxo,