Be Inspired #165

Hard to believe it's almost Thanksgiving! I'm having that age old struggle of still retaining some semblance of "Thanksgiving" while trying to get started on Christmas decorating. One less week to decorate and enjoy Christmas is not fair. 

Abraham Lincoln set the proclimation for a National Day of Thanksgiving and Praise as the 4th Thursday of November. For all his good intentions, clearly Mr. President didn't have to plan the festivities, cook the food, decorate for Christmas or buy the presents, all while trying to really enjoy the Season. It's too close to Christmas and not enough time to "regroup" plans and family. (Just a little fussing at how men randomly make the decisions...just sayin') 

Oh well, not to be a complainer...

let's see some fun from last week!

Chalkboard Turkey Vignette
from Katie at Upcycled Treasures

Kristin, from Sophia's Decor gave us two wonderful Fall posts;
Outdoors Autumn Breakfast

"Green" Thanksgiving Tablescape

You'll love Kristin's new Dining Room and her drapes are amazing!

Fall Hutch

from Cindy at Custom Comforts

Turquoise Numbered Display Cabinet

Distressed Donna Downhome

Gold Glitter Candles in China Cups
from Lydia at Pudel Designs

Spode Transferware Rare Find

at Nancy's Daily Dish

Paint Stick Evergreen Wreaths

from Jenna at Rain On A Tin Roof

Grape Blackberry Ricotta Tart

Anjana from the Corner of Happy and Harried

Be sure and check out 

Today's Sponsor 

Sweet Harvest Farms

Lot's of great stocking stuffers to choose from!

So glad you're here!

Hope you'll join in today for the party!

Please remember to turn off word verification. I tried leaving comments that didn't go through. I'm sure others have tried also.

Please have an individual link back to Common Ground within your post. I'd love to feature you. This is just part of the Party Etiquette.

Please no direct links to Etsy or Advertising.

Link up to three of your current posts.

Take a minute to visit a few of the other links.

Please be a follower of Common Ground.

Thanks a bunch for coming over to party each week, since next Thursday is Thanksgiving we'll start a day ahead of time, on Wednesday, then have time to find some Christmas Inspiration throughout the weekend.

xoxo,

Painted Ceramic Cornucopia and a Thanksgiving Sunporch

Thought I'd share a few of the little changes that have taken my sunporch from Halloween to Thanksgiving. I brought out some of my vintage turkeys, my wool plaid throws, and my hooked wool pillows. I always look forward to this time in November to make the sunporch all warm and snuggly. My passion for plaid goes wild in the winter, and if I could drape a tartan plaid blanket over every surface I would. hmmmm.... I may have already done that.

I almost forgot that I had purchased this ceramic cornucopia on sale last Thanksgiving. I think it must have come from Hobby Lobby, and was still wrapped in paper and in the sack, as it had been sitting on my shelves in my workroom since last winter. It didn't start out white, and I bought it knowing full well that it would have to go under the white paint brush before I could use it.

Yep, here it is, not bad, just not what I had in mind for it.

Some Old White ASCP did the trick with a little shading with some gray and brown craft paint, and a coat of  Minwax Liquid Poly. much better.

I have several turkey platters; this is one of the less expensive ones.

They're pretty much to be found at any flea market in the Fall.

Keeping the platter company is my white Turkey Tureen perched on a book.

My Fall "Seed Box" I made last Spring.

Click Here if you missed how I made my own "Vintage Seed Boxes".

I'll show you how you can make one for yourself.

One of my favorites in this transition is just to layer on the wool plaid blankets. Here's one on top of an old white mattelasse bed cover that I've been using. I love using white and neutrals as a base with my furniture, but going all white out here just doesn't work. It's cold and lifeless, so it always gets loaded up with seasonal color. 

I still have a little more "Thanksgiving" to share with you (I like to keep my web photo diary up-to-date), then I'll be doing the transition to Christmas. About now I always start removing the orange leaves and adding in my evergreens. My little Autumn trees are up now, and I'm enjoying the lights in the evenings, looks so cozy. Once I get my trees up, Christmas comes in little by little.

Do you have ways to transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas without it being totally obvious to your Thanksgiving guests that you have ants in your pants for Christmas decor? 

 Savvy Southern Style
DIY by Design
From My Front Porch to Yours
No Minimalist Here
Share Your Cup at Mrs. Olson's
French Country Cottage
The Charm of Home

 xoxo,

Today's Sponsor
Leslie Janson

The Marketplace: Etsy and Boutique Showcase

Are you all getting antsy for Christmas? As much as I try, this late date for Thanksgiving has me a little nervous. I want to get busy and get my shopping and decorating done so Christmas will be enjoyed. Losing a week due to a late Thanksgiving has me doing the shuffle. Let's take a look at some fun links from last week.

Glittered Pear Garland

Crafty Nest Supplies

Vintage Red Enamel Bowls

Gizmo and Hooha

Wool Christmas Stocking

Timewashed

Butcher Shop Handpainted Sign

Curly Headed Farmgirl

Vintage Bottle Brush Wreath

Seaside Rose Creations

Child's Red Vintage Folding Chair/Stepstool

Coco and Bear

Today's Sponsor

Eleanor Brown Boutique

This is a linky party that is for items that are FOR SALE only. You don't have to have a blog to link up. If you have a blog post about your items that's great too, but they need to be available to purchase. Please try to link to the individual item that you are selling if possible. Please be a follower of Common Ground and if you have a blog it would be so nice for you to grab the image below to share somewhere on your blog. (not mandatory, just nice).

Thanks so much for joining in for the shopping fun.

Remember this link is open all week, 

so check back in for newly added items.

Hope you have a great week!

Thank You, Artful Blogging

There is something about seeing your own photos and words in print that cannot be explained. Years of sharing my heart with all of you, sort of "condensed" into a few pages of a beautiful magazine. I was included in the latest issue of this wonderful publication, and I have to say that it was one of the harder things for me to do. The words flowed freely as I wrote the article, but I needed to share intimate thoughts on my life and health.

Artful Blogging is more than pretty pictures,

 it takes a look into the soul of the blogger.

Life is rarely "easy", 

but it's how we walk the road that makes the difference.

Also...

If you haven't yet purchased your copy of Kerryanne's 

latest Shabbilicious Magazine Christmas Edtition

just Click Here

Thank you, Kerryanne,

 for featuring my home at Christmas!

Hope you're having a wonderful Sunday,

xoxo,

Making a Statement

Sometimes all it takes is a focal point. 

One piece of furniture that sets the stage for the rest of the room.

 A piece that says "this is me; this is my style".

I've shown my favorite chair many times, and this month it's in the spotlight several times. It's not old, my husband bought it for me as a surprise about 15 years ago for our anniversary. That chair has been dubbed "The Christmas Chair", because when we all gather at Christmas to open gifts, that's always the chair I choose. Funny how little traditions come about. 

As you can see, it didn't start out as a neutral slipcovered piece. When I went to a more subdued "white" decorating palette I opted to try my hand at a quick slipcover. It was hit and miss, and certainly something I wouldn't want any professional to scrutinize, but it has served it's purpose well, and gave me a fast option in transforming my space.

covered arms with antique linens

I love it's lines and curves and I wanted to keep it's original dark wood frame to balance out all the white that was coming in to the room.

When asked earlier this week, I was thrilled to help One King's Lane let you all know about their new Home Decor Resource that is filled with ideas, historical information, and examples of furniture design. Not only chairs, but sofas, settees, chaise lounges, benches, and ottomans. Do you have a favorite style? They can help you locate pieces that will definitely "make a statement"!

Run by One King's Lane Design Resource and do a little browsing, then do a search for your favorite style. I just typed in "French Chair" and these were just a few of the options that came up in their wonderful inventory. Not only do they have current manufactured items, but also vintage and antique pieces to choose from. Have fun, then stay to shop throughout their website. One King's Lane also has a blog you'll really enjoy to keep you up to date on all that they have going on for the Holidays!

If you haven't joined in on Be Inspired this week, the party is in full swing. I couldn't get blogger to update my posts for two weeks, now it's publishing when I didn't ask them to. So just a break from our regularly scheduled party... just scroll down to the previous post! thanks everyone!

xoxo,