September 1st...It's Fall To Me! Fall Tour

Living room gets a hint of fall.

Whether a rebellious red leaf who falls early has been spotted or September the first arrives, I declare it Fall!! And you know what that means!! Time for Fall tips and tours. Viewing other people's houses and their Autumn decor always sets me on fire to get mine done, too. After several months away from the blog, I decided that September 1 would be my target date to get back in the saddle and "giddy up" by crackie, I'm here. Only my dining and living areas are decorated. Didn't want to freak out all the neighbors quite yet!



After removing the leaf from my oval table, I "lost" a chair (until Thanksgiving) and am enjoying the coziness of the round set up. I also added drapery panels and "lost" the toile swags for a little update.

THIS IS THE BEFORE THE FALL UPDATE.

The picture below is the AFTER...just a few adjustments here and there. I did, however, break my cardinal rule of Fall decorating...by bringing out the pumpkins BEFORE October...it's usually fall leaves until the end of September..but, oh, well...  

This centerpiece is a McCarty Cotton Row vase with assorted feathers and berries.
I also added placemats...am having horrible computer issues and can't seem
to load the whole dining room shot...ugh.

Small sideboard got the look, too!
Those lampshades are one of my best finds EVER!
When lit, the black velvet leaves show through the front silk panels...
$2.50 each at Ross.

A recently purchased iron birdcage has many possibilities
for the upcoming seasons. Right now it's a candle holder.

Friendly Village china prepares for the upcoming fall
and winter months.

The coffee bar which houses not only all my
coffee supplies, but also part of my nesting
hen collection only got a few berry sprays.

Pitcher and bowls got the treatment with bittersweet vine and leaves.





My "collections" lend themselves to the fall months.
Pine needle  and woven baskets.

Tiny pine needle baskets.

Redware collection...love the colors.


Below is my salt glaze pottery collection.



Buckrun Pottery houses Cream Brulee candle and is surrounded by
little nutmeg McCarty birds.

 At the risk of losing every picture I post...I am going to add a few more with NO comments. Each time I comment, I lose the picture above and below. I have been at this for about 4 hours over the last 2 days.
Computer issues drive me around the bend! My apologies!



Will try one more time...Buckrun pottery bowl and McCarty bunny on coffee table.



Bittersweet vines and branches are such a reminder of fall.




I LOVE this table that I got on an online yardsale.




Pottery Barn basket (that I got on sale)..with fabric pumpkins that I made years ago.

 This has been such a trial...I have no idea what's wrong with Blogger (or it could be the blogger..me)!
I wanted to show you what I have done...not to brag...not to say..."Look at what I did!" but to encourage you to enjoy the moment...to not worry if it's too early to decorate...to not listen to the "it's not time to decorate" naysayers. I love every season. I enjoy letting my home reflect that. Most of my decor has been
gathered over time or made by me. (For the first 25 years of marriage EVERYTHING was made by me.)

 As I age, I find special joy in savoring the little moments life offers. Fall is one of those moments. Just as your children won't stay little forever...neither will you be able to recapture "the moment".

Mod Podge a Pumpkin Candle Holder

When you are in need of a gift and have just a little time to spare,
here's one that's fun and reasonably priced.

I found the glass bowl/candle holder, matches and candle at $ Tree...

I  Mod Podged orange tissue paper strips lengthwise over the glass.

Then I Mod Podged green twine around the top and added two burlap leaves..

MP is still wet in the picture...I also dabbed it around the leaves to prevent more fraying.

It lights up nicely.

(Light bulb: a baby food jar would be cute done this way! Maybe use a battery tea light!)

I used some scrapbook paper to cover the candle and matchbox!

Added some candy pumpkins and wrapped appropriately...

cute little happy!

 (Of course, a more expensive candle would be..well....more expensive!)

Now, I know you know somebody who needs a little pick me up!

No excuses,

I Want THIS!! Porch Bed

With the cooler temperatures "hanging around" for a few days,

I thought it would be fun to help you perk up your porch!

I have a dear friend whose husband has turned a hobby into a business.

He makes porch swings...but not just ANY porch swing!

This beautiful swing is actually a "swing bed"!

It accommodates a twin size mattress and has been widely featured

in the southeast!

Now, here's a Christmas present for the family!

His charge includes the hardware for hanging,

and if you aren't too far away, he even delivers!

Stain and paint colors are at your direction!

You add your mattress and pillows. Imagine taking a nap on this!

If you are interested, email me and I will get you in touch with him!

The Snuggle Factor

It's here...can't you feel it?

 Temperatures plummeted to the 60's at night...crisp mornings...it's FALLLLLL, Ya'lllll!
My very favorite time of the whole year (unless it happens to snow some time during the 365 days!)

Pull out that yarn and let your fingers fly...if you can't crochet or knit...then do something!!

Don't just sit there...Let the Decorating begin!!

Because I've been more or less confined to the bed since early June,

I've tried to keep busy.

Crochet has been the best thing for me because it only involves

around 500 skeins of yarn and a hook.

Now, the bedroom looks a little fluffy, but painting, mod podging, etc. and bed rest do NOT mix well.

I began with a single color pumpkin...(see My Secret directions below*)

Then I tried a combined two color tweedy look...

and layers of two colors...

Before I knew it...I had a pumpkin patch!!

I added a candle tied with burlap...cute...what else could I use these for?

How about as place cards?
Maybe as a gift for a friend with some candy corn!?
Whatever you use them for, they are cute, fun to do and have kept these old hands busy!

Pictured below are get well flowers from a dear friend!
 Beautiful Columbian roses..
look at that fantastic fall color!
 I had just the right container...my redware pitcher...
I have enjoyed watching them "bloom" out a little more every day!

Snuggle up everybody, make an early morning fire in the fireplace...
(and if it gets warm again, turn on the air conditioner! But keep the fireplace going!)

My PT's said I'd be almost as good as new by Halloween!!!

My Secret Pumpkin directions:

With yarn and hook  of choice chain approx. 25 (longer chain makes pumpkin bigger around)

Row 1:  24 DC...chn 2 and turn.

Row 2:  24 DC (the more rows the taller the pumpkin). I did 5-6 rows of DC.

You now have a rectangle. Stitch two short ends together. You now have a tube.

Use a piece of yarn about 24 inches long and knot one end. Around the top, with this matching yarn and a large needle, make a running stitch that goes all the way around the  top. Pull tightly and tie off. Stuff with fiberfill.

Close the bottom by repeating the "running stitch & tie off" direction above.

I took a long piece of matching yarn and sewed down into the middle of the pumpkin from top to bottom a couple of times, pulling tightly each time to "form" a pumpkin shape.

Leaves: chn 5 and connect to make a circle. (Chain 5 and slip stitch in circle. Repeat two more times.)

In first "leaf" chain, (1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 trc, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc and slip stitch into next "leaf" chain. Repeat twice until you have three leaves.)

Stitch the leaf topper onto the pumpkin (or hot glue). Use a small twig or stick for the stem and tie with green twine for tendrils.

The Raccoons Have a New Runner

I'm back! Surgery is done!

After a few days in bed, I am propped up and ready to get with the program!

Can't keep a good woman down for long (lol)!

I have almost crocheted myself to death this summer. But in doing so, I have used up

lots of yarn from projects past and created some fun things both to sell and keep for myself.

Fall is coming and there is nothing I like better than to exchange my usual dishes for an older set that I began collecting long ago. I love the transferware look and the autumnal colors.

Light bulb! I need to crochet a little runner for my table.

I dug through my yarns and eureka! I found a brown tweed that I had scooped up on the sale rack last year and had absolutely no idea how I'd end up using it. (See left of pic below).

 I matched the other leftover yarns as best I could.

Granny Squares are my new old favorite.

Four squares later with a border of half double crochet and some 5 chain "lace"

and I have a neat runner....but....wait....

something's not right here.

The runner is too sparse for my big ole oak table!

I am not crazy about the way the runner displays on the table...hmmmm.

Maybe the buffet and the little raccoon family need a lift!

Ah...yes! That's so much better!

 And there it shall reside for the season! Keeping the little raccoon family safe and warm.

What have you been doing to spruce up for fall?

Beginning to Look Like Fall!

We've had two days of cooler weather (in the 80's) so, of course, it's imperative

that some the "fall" stuff comes out!

 Yay for Fall!!

Because I am having my second knee surgery of the summer next week,

I've got to get it in gear a little early!

I found these leaf and grapevine pumpkins last year at the end of the season!

Pretty napkins and my fall china are all in place.

I have been working on my Indian and pine needle basket collections this year.

McCarty Raccoon family is preparing for winter.

Found these feather wreaths that can also double as candle rings.

A sale Pottery Barn metal basket with burlap liner holds fabric pumpkins.

Love, love, love the scent of Bath and Body Works Pumpkin candle!

Will add more next month...leaves and more, you guessed it...pumpkins!

Hope the weather is cooler in your neck of the woods, too!