Spring in the Entry

I haven't shown this little spot in my Entry Hall for awhile, because actually I have two "Entry" areas, and this one often feels like Cinderella to the Stepsisters. The light can be tricky here, but today with a little sunshine and a new Spring-y vignette it got a little attention.

I had it in my head for white tulips this year, 

so they're filling a basket along with a twiggy wreath.

My sis made me this wonderful moss covered "O" for Christmas,

and I loved the black ticking stripe ribbon she chose.

Two of my lambies are grazing in the lantern.

I think they look like they're in church with all the Gothic arches.

I always love tulips for Spring. 

This little Eastlake dresser was black for many years, but a couple of years ago in my crazy "paint everything in the house" mode, it got the "white" treatment.

Gray washed French Laundry Basket underneath for extra cold weather gear.

Here's a shot from a little further out from the Dining Room...

...and this from the Living Room.

I have a larger header I need to get painted for over the door.

This looks a little too small, now that I'm looking at it.

It's the width of the door, but with windows on each side,

it needs something chunkier.

OK, where's my can of white paint?

Now that I think about it,  I don't think I've shown my twin boxwood topiaries for ages. I bought these ten years ago before  The Bombay Company went out of business. An expensive purchase at the time, but they were for our younger daughter's wedding, and I never regretted it.

Here tied with a French Script wired ribbon.

I realized when painting this petite little dresser

that there are reasons some things are painted black...

It had large gaps between the wood pieces on the side which I had to fill with wood putty before the second coat of paint. Totally hidden by the black color, they were glaring when the white paint went on. It's still a little rough, but I love the size and this is where gloves and scarves are kept.

As you can see, I'm not a perfectionist.

The hardware got a paint job too.

That works for me on Shabby pieces.

Have you entered the Give Away?

You'll want to check out Lucy's wonderful Etsy shop.

Just click here to enter

joining in on these parties:

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday
Timewashed for Blissful Whites
From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Stone Gable for TTT
 French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
The Charm of Home  for Home Sweet Home
Jennifer Rizzo
Craftberry Bush
Debbie's Pin Party
The Dedicated House
Cozy Little House

Hope you're having a great week,

Thursday I'm headed to Leola's Vintage Home and Garden Open House.

Can't wait to see what they have for Spring!
(I'll be sharing the fun this weekend)

xoxo,

The Marketplace and Bel Monili Give Away

Happy Tuesday and Welcome to 

The Marketplace

Today, I want to share a great Give Away 

from a new Sponsor

Meet Lucy from Bel Monili 

"My items are created using upcycled vintage finds to create one of a kind wearable pieces of art. For my signature flower pins and hair accessories, I love a good scrap of pretty fabric and a jar of vintage buttons. Everyone's grandma had that big tin of buttons...I put my inheritance of the tin to good use! A rogue earring, a sparkly brooch, a colorful button...THESE are what make my world go 'round!"

"Vintage Reborn" is her slogan for Bel Monili, which means "Beautiful Jewelry" in Italian, and beautiful it is; one-of-a-kind designs that reflect her nostalgic love for vintage elements. Come take a peek at all her wonderful designs just perfect for Spring! Here are just three of her many wonderful pieces.

Adorable Purple Butterfly Necklace
would be perfect with that floral sundress, this Summer.

A Pastel Cluster Bracelet that has all the wonderful pastel colors of Easter.
What a fun way to dress up those Spring outfits.

And this Stamped Leather and Metal Quote Bracelet
will give you a daily dose of optimism!

Doesn't she have some fun pieces?

Bel Monili is excited to be giving away a $30 Gift Certificate for one lucky reader to choose their own favorite piece. Lucy also has a discount code available for you readers, CommonGround10. Just visit Lucy's Etsy Shop, Bel Monili, and browse through all her wonderful pieces to see how you would use the Gift Certificate. Then come back and leave a comment here telling me what you would pick. Then you can "follow" Lucy on her Bel Monili Blog , "Like" Bel Monili on Facebook, Also, follow on Pinterest and Twitter for more entries. Be sure and leave a separate comment for each of your entries.

And now for the Marketplace

We have a little bit of a green theme going on today in honor of March and St. Patty's Day coming up. There were so many great links last week. Here are a few that just screamed SPRING!

Vintage Green Garden Trug/Toolbox

by Lavender Garden Cottage

Vintage Inspired Green Dangle Earrings

from The Old White House

Vintage Easter Bunny Wagon 

from Gizmo and HooHa

St. Patrick's Day Tea Towel

from Kathy Creative Home

Vintage Three  Kittens in a Basket Door Stop

by ButterflyPlace

Thanks so much for joining in today for all the fun!

This link party is for items that are FOR SALE and to share with blogland your shop or selling site. Link up to three of your individual Etsy or Online Boutique items, then stay and browse the links for great shopping. This link party is open all week so please come back and check out all the new links being added.

Have a great week,
and thanks so much for joining in!

The Skinny on Spring Wreaths

Each new season you'll find me fiddling with silk flowers and putting together wreaths, and this weekend I've been working on one for the front porch. But finding one that will fit is always a problem. Most of the time I just give up and go with a bunch of silk branches or flowers for the large wicker cone that's on the side of the front porch.

But last year we had an upset with some little finches that wanted to make a nest in the cone with my faux flowers. I thought I had managed to escape having to leave out green poinsettias until May...but no. They were all over that wonderful spot. So when I was able to hijack their plans, or so I thought, a nest of little eggs were dashed on the front porch concrete by accident. Well, birdie lover that I am, I felt horrible and realized that I would have to do better this next nesting season. 

That meant NO WICKER CONE!!!!

(said in the tone of Mommie Dearest's "NO WIRE HANGERS!!")

Here's a pic from last Fall so you can see the problem;

Lovely nesting spot in the white cone to the left.

 Please excuse the pumpkins,

but you can see what I mean.

...the perfect, out of the way, nesting spot.

You can also see my dilemma with my finding a wreath for the door. It's one of those glass storm doors, that only give you a few inches to work with. So if I put a wreath on the door, it has to be super skinny!

So, here's a better shot of my make-do creation, 

hanging on a recent purchase from Pier 1.

That naughty Nita, made me go out and buy this...

Isn't this blackboard just so cute and scrolly?

I have plans for it on the sideboard in the hall after Easter.

 OK, so back to my wreath dilemma...

I found a skimpy one in my stash, with white berries,

(Michael's for about 8 bucks)

which works for Christmas or Spring,

but it was too blah,

and needed something else...

like a twig or two of forsythia and a nest.

Just grabbed a few extra goodies from the flower bin and wired them on.

I think this may have saved the day.

Joining in on these great parties:

Savvy Southern Style

Cozy Little House

Mod Vintage Life

Creative Cain Cabin

Cedar Hill Ranch

The Dedicated House

Coastal Charm

French Country Cottage

Have a wonderful Sunday!

xoxo,

Come, walk through the garden gate...

...and experience one of the most beautiful 

and one-of-a-kind residences in Texas.

The Bandera, Texas homestead of Robin Brown and John Gray;

aka Magnolia Pearl.

 38 sprawling acres, three homes and 18 outdoor structures;

 this is truly a magical place.

Please step inside...

Handpainted and handcrafted artisan touches are at every turn...

  

 (via)

This lovely home is clearly a labor of love. 
Twelve years in the making,
it was where Robin's
internationally acclaimed
clothing line began.

And it has been featured in numerous
magazine publications as well as a book 

published by Country Living,
"A Bit of Velvet and a Dash of Lace".

To read more 

about this wonderful home and property,

and to enter an amazing Give Away

please click here for the details.

all images also found on my Pinterest Board, Magnolia Pearl.

If you pin any images please pin them from Fiona and Twig.

 Hope you're having a wonderful weekend,

Be Inspired Friday #128 It's in the Details

Happy Friday, Everyone, hope you're having a great week! We've had some cold and nasty weather this week, like I think most of you have had too. It seems more like January, than heading into March. Remember the saying that March comes "In like a lion, out like a lamb". I'm really ready for the "lamb" part!

Once in awhile a photo will just make me do a double take, and that's what happened with my pick this week from Patsy from  The Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore. She and her husband had been thinking for two years on how to rework the railing on their older home's staircase. Patsy gives her husband credit on coming up with this whimsical cottage design. It's so unique and really creative. Doesn't this just look like it needs to be a magazine feature? The urn shape of the spindles and the scroll work on the treads really bring a one-of-a-kind vintage cottage feel.

I've loved watching Pamela's transformation in her Dining Room at From My Front Porch to Yours. This week she gave her  New Chandy some Bling and shared her Spring touches. She has some bunny plates that I'm drooling over; you can see them on her hutch!

Becky from Vintage 541 put together this oh-so-Springy tribute 

with Primroses in a Wire Basket. So pretty!

I think we all love chippy and worn baskets,
but this rendition of a Rolling Weathered Wicker Basket

that comes from Susan at Homeroad, brings it up a notch.

And Melissa from Tinsel is Prepping for Spring
with a wonderfully simple cloche containing a gathering of speckled eggs.

And please say Hello to my newest sponsor, 

Michele, from Glass Bead Treasures.

"Welcome to Michele's Glass Bead Treasures! The hand made pieces are a result of her combined enjoyment of needlework, "little" things, sea glass, stained glass windows, flowers, and sparkling jewelry. All of these items are hand stitched and are Michele's own design using beautiful glass (some of them vintage!) and crystal beads."

Hope you'll check out her Etsy Shop for some beautiful gift ideas. Thanks Michele!

Time to link up your inspiring posts from this week, vintage or new. As I went through links to feature, many of you had no link back to Common Ground. I was really disappointed because to be featured you need to have a link within your post, not just a link to a party page. It just takes a minute to add on, so please double check your post. Thanks for joining in Everyone. I always love seeing what you're doing each week!

while you're partying please go visit these other Friday get-togethers!

xoxo,