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".

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.

A Little Bling Has Entered the Pumpkin Patch!

I have been having a "running fit" to make some fabric pumpkins this year. Last year is just a blur and I didn't have the time nor the energy to research, gather materials, sew and fluff, but this year, I really didn't have an excuse. So it was to the garage I went...early in the morning...while it was still cool. Years ago, I bought a huge rolling garbage container and took it directly to the garage and promptly stored all my fabric in it.

Well, most of my fabric.

This time I was on the hunt for heavy upholstery fabric in seasonal colors for my pumpkins.

I had researched Pinterest for the quickest, most cost effective way to construct these little "pumps".

 Here are the "fruits of my labor"!

You know the first thing "the hubster" said, don't you?

"Whoever heard of a leopard pumpkin?"

Then..."Why can't you just make them look like regular pumpkins?"

Some people have NO imagination whatsoever!

I was showing a teenage girl these at the shop, and the first thing she said was,

"Oh, I looove the leopard one!" Yep.

Sparkly and shiny...I love these, too.

I am on a mission to see how many different types of pumpkins I can do this season.

I will post as I go! Next up...burlap...the new southern linen!

Hope you have a terrific week!