common ground

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Christmas on the Sunporch

I've said it before... I get so much of my inspiration from all of you out there! I pinned a few ideas from last year that I wanted to try. One was a tote full of Christmas Kitch. Last year I filled some little drawers on my kitchen counter, so this year a white wooden tote became home to a congregation of Christmas goodies.

I've been using Tartan wool blankets out here on the porch each year since we've lived here. Always love a good ole Christmas-y plaid!

The old mini muffin tin has cranberry tealight candles this season,

and my old green metal tackle box is filled with my stash of paperwhites and another candle.

Another fun trend I'm copying this year

is a toy truck hauling bottle brush trees.

Sorry, shameless copy catting here.

I found this cutie last January at an antique show.

Perfect red and white.

More plaid Thermoses and lunchbox on the Baker's Rack.

The lunchbox held an Angel Vine plant until last week

when it turned too cold.

And a trio of little elves have found their way here.

These are the vintage variety,

and they're up to lots of crazy antics.

This one's pretty cute...

this one's sorta creepy.

but I AM digging those great eyelashes.

While we were in St. Louis earlier this month I picked up these

wonderful winterberries at of all places, Schnucks. (grocery store)

and placed them in this old French watering can,

along with some Holly from our big old bushes out back.

Here's my Santa jingle bell door ringer,

on my old picket gate.

You've seen him before,

but I smile each time I look at him!

These next few photos were from earlier in the month

before I put together the tote,

but wanted to have pics that showed more out here.

(oh yea, here's the angel vine in the lunchbox)

found the red plaid umbrella at Leola's last year...love it!

And I won this adorable Drummer Boy pillow

from Dear Lillie earlier this Fall.

Thanks so much Jennifer!

Gotta dress up the birdcage too,

with some vintage bottle brush trees and a reindeer.

Can you see the patch of furry cat carcass on the lower left chair?

Yep, that's HER chair for viewing birds and squirrels.

It gets a little nippy out here unless the sun is shining. Miss Wrigley is a Maine Coon, so she's oblivious. Miss Jenkins on the other hand is a shorthair and like to sleep next to the heater in the bathroom...she'd rather stay toasty than bird watch.

Couldn't let Christmas go by without sharing the sunporch.

I think I have 4 or 5 different Christmas Pinterest boards,

run by and check them out if you have a minute.

\
joining in at
Savvy Southern Style
Stone Gable
A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

Hope you have a great weekend.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Vintage Inspiration #119 Counting the Days till Christmas

It's literally "starting to look (and feel) a lot like Christmas" here in Southwest Missouri. We're on the edge of the big blizzard that's sweeping through the Midwest this morning; high winds and blowing snow. The kitties and I will be finishing up some things around the house and staying in out of the big chill. How about you, are you all ready for the festivities of next week? Going through all these great posts, I've wanted to highlight so many of you, but could only pick a few, so here goes...just some vintage fun that caught my eye.

Laura used her sign making skills to create this fun mantel

with burlap trees and an old toy truck at

The Ironstone Nest

Nita from Mod Vintage Life
didn't think she could possibly love this year's mantel
more than last year's, but wow, it's fabulous!!

A Pallet Christmas Tree
that so perfectly speaks the meaning of Christmas,

from Gloria at The Long Awaited Home

Maria shares her Christmas Home Tour
from Rusty Hinge
Oh that Armoire!

Christie from Three Pixie Lane
takes us on a house tour sharing her wonderful,
comfortable and cozy, newly remodeled home.
Love those great stockings!

And another Holiday House Walk from

Kelly at Eclectically Vintage.
So many ideas for using Vintage items for Christmas!
You'll be pinning them all.

(And speaking of "pinning", please go to the original blog source)

And Today I want to share a brand spanking new sponsor, Lucy from Bel Monili. You'll want to run by and check out her Etsy Shop full of wonderful repurposed jewelry. These will be perfect for Spring!

Floral Collage Necklace

Wedding Bracelet

Thanks Lucy!

And for some more fun Friday Parties,

check these out!

Hope you'll join in today with all your Christmas fun!

Please have a link within your post to be featured.

sending lots of Christmas love your way,

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Top Three from Vintage Inspiration

I'm really enjoying all these wonderful posts this Christmas Season, and just want to thank each one of you that come over here to party each week. Here are the top three most visited links from this last week. I guarantee that this first one will put a smile on your face!

The Christmas Dining Room from

Robin at Happy at Home

Touches of red and green show beautiful simplicity

in decorating the Christmas Kitchen

from Andrea at Keeping it Cozy.

And a Country Christmas House Tour

from Gail at Bible Love Notes

Thanks everyone!

Hope you'll come back tomorrow for

xoxo,

Christmas in the Cupboard

With just a week left before Christmas, I still have a few things around the house that I've wanted to share with you. My Holiday Cupboard went all white this year, as I sorted through my putz houses and churches. I was going to do just white ironstone and a few new (to me) pieces of red transferware, but each time I thought about it, I knew my little churches needed to come back out.