Patriotic Sunporch and a little Serendipity...

Happy Weekend Everyone!

This was a big week for the little sunporch, as Kim from Savvy Southern Style asked me to share "My Favorite Room" with her readers. (Thankyou, each and every one of you who left such sweet comments, they made my week!) I've mentioned before, that I use this blog as a sort of "photo diary" of what I've been doing, and decor around the house. Since I didn't post the sunporch photos here on my own blog, that's what this post is about...and a couple of funny "serendipitous" findings.

You all know that I love to keep things changed up out here on the porch, and most of that change comes from trading out quilts and pillows for the base of my color scheme. I get excited for each new Holiday and Season and the sunporch reflects those seasonal changes.

For this July 4th Holiday and the Summer Season, I knew I wanted to use different pillows for the little white wicker settee. I had it in my head that they needed to be a red floral. (are you like me, and get a mental picture in your noggin about what it needs to be, and then it's hard to do anything else?)

So my hunt for red floral pillows began; I spent hours on Etsy looking for red. floral. pillows. I finally found two that were wonderful, pretty much what I had been looking for, but with shipping they were going to cost over $80. OK, it's worth it to get the ones that will be "just right". I was about to hit the purchase button when I realized...good grief...they were almost identical to the red fruit and floral pillows I have in storage from "Big Red", the sofa downstairs. duh...so I hunted down the extra set and saved myself some money. I love mixing patterns, and my black ticking pillows match almost everything that I pair them with. Love the red floral and fruit with the ticking stripe. OK...done.

Last week I put a few of my blue transferware cups and saucers out as a little grouping in one of my strawberry totes. I just grabbed anything with blue on it. Around here, blue is in short supply. The 4th of July is the only time I use blue, so I don't have a lot. Anyhoo, I have stacks of mismatched dishes and I just went through them to pull out the ones for a little patriotic display here on the porch.

This set is "Mason's Fruit Basket" from England.

But look what else I found...

a little set of dessert dishes that I've never used.

and of all things...

They are "Martha Washington" from E.C. Company.

I bought them for the little dove design.

Patriotic indeed!

I recently brought out the old hooked floral rug from my studio. It has seen many better days and has a permanent crease/wrinkle problem that I may or may not have tripped over numerous times...so now it's out here and not a health hazard to anyone that might be slightly accident prone...just sayin'.

An old linen lunch hamper filled with my little French Girl lamp,

 an ivy, old gardening tools, a wire basket and a white tole tray.

...and the baker's rack with some summer goodies.

This Sunshine Biscuit Tin depicting "the first note of the Liberty Bell". 

and this old blue lunch box with some red transferware on top.

and an old birdhouse...

and in the other corner...

an old wicker rocker with my conservatory on top of a dresser

 that had been my Dad's as a little boy.

I've always loved this canvas piece. It's not old, and I think from Guild Masters about 13 years ago. It reminds me of toile and red transferware, and is entitled "The Aviary".

So that's a wrap on the Patriotic Sunporch for July 2013.

I'm already thinking about what's coming next...

The Patriotic Party is still going strong,

and I'll be picking some faves, so don't hesitate to add your links.

I'm known for choosing at least one of the features

 from the last few entries...

joining in for these parties:

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

The Scoop at Confessions of a Plate Addict

Met Monday on Between Naps on the Porch

Knick of Time Tuesday

Savvy Southern Style

DIY By Design

Hope you're having a sunny and warm weekend,

xoxo,

"My Favorite Room"

I'm so excited to be over at Kim's today sharing 

"My Favorite Room"

Here's just a peek...

I bet you can guess which room I'm talking about.

Join me at Savvy Southern Style,

then come back and let me know what you think.

Did you get it right?

Of course you did!

Thanks so much Kim!

Be Inspired # 147 It's a Patriotic Party!

We're starting early this week, since tomorrow is a Holiday.
Hope you have some posts lined up that have been inspiring you this week.

Are you ready for a little Red/White/and Blue

to start off the Party fun?

Here are some great links from last week:

Debbie from Me and My DIY

transformed a 70's dresser into a French Inspired Masterpiece!

I think most of us have seen these before,

 I know my mom and dad had the whole set 

in their 60's master bedroom...it was the cat's meow!

Great job, it's just gorgeous!

Red, White and Blue 4th of July Table from Michele

at The Nest at French Rest

An adorable Red Secretary Redo with a surprise inside

from Lisa at Create Inspire

These are so super cute...

Patriotic Mason Jars from

Mason Jar Love

A wonderful Farmhouse Laundry Makeover

from Denise at Pink Postcard

And Debbie from Confessions of a Plate Addict

 has been tempting me all week with this yummy and beautiful

No Bake Strawberry Tunnel Cake

thanks so much gals for joining in!

Sara and Abbey from Sweet Magnolias Farm

are in the Sponsor Spotlight this week.

Hope you'll check out their great store 

for some fun farmhouse fresh finds!

OK, let's get the party started!

We have a patriotic theme this week, but if you don't have any patriotic posts, please join in anyway, we don't want to leave anyone out of the fun. If you DO have patriotic posts, you can link up to three, old or new to share all the inspiration. Please have a link within your post to be featured, and please be a follower of Common Ground. Thanks so much for joining in on the fun...couldn't do it without you all!!

xoxo,

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,