Clad in Liberty

I wanted to do something different in the Dining Room this year to honor the July 4th celebration. I think we all love vintage dress forms and I think they're the perfect way to "dress up" any Holiday. I have two in my office/studio that I keep my vintage necklaces on, but this one little gal had been used in one of my antique mall spaces, but was now relegated to the garage stash. 

So I invited her in to take center stage for a 

Real Vintage Patriotic Display

I think she's beautiful all decked out in her Patriotic finery.

A vintage lace scarf, triple strands of 60's costume jewelry pearl beads, and one of my vintage clock necklaces add to her girlish charm.

As for this display, it is a vintage flag draped over my dress form. I would never destroy a flag by cutting it up for clothing. All the flags I use are over 50 years old, and have been placed where they will not be harmed or treated disrespectfully.

I was inspired by these wonderful images 

that you can find on my Pinterest Board, Red/White/Blue

And now, on to the rest of the Dining Room

My white vintage windowbox is back, now filled with white Geraniums 

and little old parade flags for the July 4th Holiday.

 I'm using my French Grain Sack with a red stripe as a tablerunner

on top of some bleached burlap for some extra coverage.

I searched the web for "vintage look" flag pillows, and while I found some great ones, nothing had the old look I was hoping for. Then, when I was getting my parade flags out of storage I realized one was loose from the "pole" so I just added it onto this old ticking pillow that my husband's grandmother had made about 60 years ago. So easy and gave me that perfect aged vintage look...'cause it is!

Sitting on my old church pew and white matelasse cover

I think she may stay here in the Dining Room where she can

 challenge me to find other ways to decorate her for the seasons and Holidays.

Don't forget that Be Inspired will be going live early this week.

Gather up all your Patriotic posts, old and new, and come link up  here at 

7 PM Central Wednesday evening. July 3rd.

see you then!

Just a note on my thoughts as to how I choose 

to display antique and vintage flags,

 that I shared last year:

"About my use of the flags in decor, and this is my personal opinion: because these flags are antiques and relics, and not "dedicated to service or actively commissioned flags" I don't feel it's wrong or disrespectful to use them as I have. They have been salvaged from flea markets, antique malls and swap meets, etc.  where I found them boxed, folded, and wadded up in corners and under tables. So my use of them in display, to me, is perfectly respectful and honoring of my love of Country and the American flag."

Joining in on these weekly parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Inspiration Exchange at Yellow Bliss Road
DIY by Design
Share your Cup 
From My Front Porch to Yours
House Party at No Minimalist Here
The Charm of Home
Stone Gable 
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Shabby Art Boutique
Knick of Time

Hope you're having a great week!
xoxo,

The Marketplace: Etsy and Online Boutique Showcase

Hi Everyone, I know we all have a hectic schedule this week with the 4th being on Thursday, but hope you have time for a little shopping here at The Marketplace. Each week I love seeing the sales of items that have been listed or featured. Remember this link stays open all week, so be sure and come back by to see what new has been added. I made a purchase last night as I was doing this post. Can't wait to show you what it is!

Here are some wonderful items from last week's link party:

Floral and Pastel Alarm Clock

The Zoe Bird

Rustic French Country Gift Tags

from Timewashed

Antique French Wicker Basket

from La Croix Rosion

Hand Stamped Ribbon

from the Porcelain Rose

Lemon Verbena Soap

from Homemade Soap n Such

Doesn't this soap look good enough to eat?

Today, Dee from French Bleu Vintage is in the Spotlight. She carries such a wonderful selection of beautiful dishes and antique items. I found something in her shop that I fell in love with. If you go visit, I promise you'll do the same! She's having a French Estate Sale, so check out her cover page for code for 20% off in that department.

Johnson Bros. Blue Willow

Vintage McCoy Blossom Time Vase

Noritake Floral Plates

thanks Dee!

Hope you'll join in today. You can link up to three items, please have a direct link to that item if possible. You don't have to have a blog to join in, but if you do it would be super nice for you to grab the image below for somewhere on your sidebar. (not mandatory, but nice) and please be a follower of Common Ground. This linky is for items that are FOR SALE only. Thanks so much for joining in!

Have a great week everyone,

How I Found My Style with Pamela...

Happy Sunday, Everyone!

I'm visiting over at Pamela's Front Porch today, 

 and we're talking about "Finding Our Style".

Come on over and join in on the fun.

You might want to grab that coffee now,

before you get there. te he.

xoxo,

Patriotic Bottles with a Vintage Vibe

Are you looking for something a little different for your July 4th decor? Something to use on your table for some Patriotic fun with individual place settings, mini flower vases, flag holders or just a little favor for your guests to take home?

I'm always on the lookout for old glass bottles at the flea or antique mall. You can usually find them for a dollar or two. Or if you don't have old bottles any clear glass bottle would work, even screw cap bottles that are now lurking in your fridge.

These are images I downloaded from one of my CD ROMs

 from Dover Publications for July 4th and Patriotic images.

These would be so unique at each place setting with a little American Flag,

or could be used also as a place card if you'd like to get even more creative

in using paper flags with each guests name written on it.

Lot's of fun in a grouping on a stack of old red/white/blue books.

I wanted to put together a few for my window ledge above the sink,

where I always have a few ivy starts growing.

There are some free Patriotic images over at The Graphics Fairy that you might want to try. I just printed mine out, cut them out, and then used Matte Mod Podge lightly to adhere them to the bottle. Be careful not to wipe them with water or get too saturated, or the colors might bleed. Mine did just a little but I liked the vintage look.

Here are links to a couple of posts I did a few years ago with Halloween Bottles and Christmas Bottles. I've also made them for Valentines Day, Easter, and Thanksgiving. A larger image could also be used on bigger bottles filled with colorful candies. I thought that layered red white and blue jelly beans in a larger apothecary jar would also be fun. There are lot's of ways to use them, and they add a easy to make, quick vintage touch to your holiday decor.

Have a great weekend!

Be Inspired #146: Mini Summer Home Tour

Hi Everyone, time for
  Be Inspired
The place to share all the inspiring things you've been up to this week.
Before we get this party started let's check out  some great links from last week!

Mary Alice from Chateau Chic took us on a Mini Summer Home Tour. Each time I see this amazing desk in Mary Alice's wonderful home I swoon a little. One of her favorite ways to bring in Summer is with fresh flowers, here using small containers filled with hydrangeas as accents in the Living Room...

and vintage bottles with whisp-y blooms in the kitchen .

If you haven't visited Mary Alice in a while,

 please go check out her beautiful home dressed for Summer.

Everything Mary from Home is Where the Boat Is does is worthy of a magazine layout. Here she's sharing chalkboard inspiration on the door of her wonderful Potting Shed. Love the ladder with so many garden-y elements!

Deb at Lake Girl Paints created a Tea Stained Patriotic Banner with some canvas and lot's of "smarts", replicating a Pottery Barn July 4th look.

You might not mind washing clothes in this beautiful Laundry Room Makeover  from Kimberlee at The Fancy Shack. Love the beautiful toile curtains and the lantern for lighting.

I've had "bloom envy" each time I look at Kris' beautiful gardens at Junk Chic Cottage. She has masses of petunias that you could get lost in! Can you believe there's a bike under all those blooms?

Doesn't this look yummy and refreshing for a Summer evening? Cantaloupe-Honey Granita from Anjana at The Corner of Happy and Harried.

thanks gals for joining in for the party!

And today's Be Inspired Sponsor is Lucy from

 Bel Monili

Use code COMMONGROUND10 for 10% off this weekend

on her wonderful vintage repurposed and handmade jewelry pieces.

Hope you'll join in on the fun. Be Inspired is open for whatever has been inspiring you this week. Please have a link within your post to be featured. And if you've ever been featured, feel free to grab the image below for your sidebar.

then check out my Friday Party Gal Pals here.

And just a note for next week, which will be July 4.

Hope you'll be here between the Cookout and Fireworks!

We'll be linking up Patriotic and 4th of July fun, past and present, 

plus all your weekly inspiration.

xoxo,

Be Inspired Top Visited Links

Hey Everyone, is it Wednesday already?

Let's see what was happening last week at Be Inspired.

Here are the top three visited links.

Sally from Salmagundi

took us to an Antiques Fair in Colorado,

and shared her great plaid vintage lunch tin purchase.

 This looks like a place I could stay all day.

Amanda from One Girl in Pink

shared her perfect white Shabby Buffet Makeover.

 love that gorgeous blue inside!

If you haven't visited Penny's Vintage Home for her wonderful potting shed,

you'll want to head over. What a perfect party spot!

This wreath is one of the prettiest I've seen!

Thanks gals, for coming to the party!

See you all tomorrow 11ish AM Central for 

Be Inspired,

and if you've been featured feel free to grab the button below.

xoxo,