Christmas Entrance Table

I love changing this table out with the seasons. 

Whereas last year I went with bold colors, this year I opted for metalics and more natural elements.

Lots of shine.

Lots of sparkle.

Everything's all aglow.

Just in time for Christmas!

Handmade Bench--A Future Family Heirloom

A few months back, my husband and I visted his family farm back east in Georgia.  His very sweet and handy grandfather offered to help Britt make a bench out of an oak that had fallen on the property.

So the two of them spent a warm September afternoon out in the barn, measuring and drilling, sawing and laughing.

Once we got it home, I sanded, stained, and sealed it.

We love it.

And its transformation.

Simple and rustic.

It's not only a lovely piece of furniture....

But also a reminder of that sweet afternoon shared by Britt and his grandfather.

We'll keep the bench (and the memories) forever, and one day, hopefully our children will sit upon it. 

Instead of Amos.

Who for the time being

has claimed this future family heirloom for his own.

Master Bedroom Makeover

As the weather (finally) turns colder, the bright pinks and greens of my bedroom didn't suit me anymore, and I bid them adieu until March ushers in the first hints of spring.

Digging through my house yielded suitable colors to more adequately reflect the stark, still peacefullness of fall.

The dresser got a makeover, complete with a new runner I made from dark brown burlap and linen.

No more summer in the white wire shelf....

And no more bright green on the dresser.  I created the vase on the right using a candleholder, a glass vase, white beans, and a faux branch.

Happy fall!

Halloween Around the House

Halloween in our house is not confined to the entrance table.  I love to have Halloween around the whole house.


My DIY flower crate now holds touches of October and acts as our kitchen table centerpiece.

My favorite element of the centerpiece is this small, wide-mouth mason jar filled with popcorn kernals and topped with a tealight.  (Terribly inexpensive.)

A small white faux pumpkin and a vintage mason jar with dried okra

Fall berries around a bowl of buttons.

And a few smiling faces that have been with me for years!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Entrance Table

I love changing holidays and seasons, because they mean changing my decor.  This table always changes.

Halloween also just so happent to be one of my favorite holidays.  And cats just so happens to be my favorite animal.

Fall berries, tied with muslin, nesting inside a thrifted Oneida gravy boat.

A mason jar of popcorn kernals and white beans holds a tealight.

Dry moss and a wire pumpkin in a small galvanized metal bucket.

Hapy Halloween!

DIY Black Toile Curtain Trim

Part of the beauty of DIY is saving money and getting to create exactly the look you want without searching through stores.

As I continue my trend of black and white for this year's fall season,  I turned to our den curtains, which were pale blue, yellow, and gold.  I had some solid white panels that were semi-sheer and a bit blah.  Determined to use them, I decided to dress them up a bit in the spirit of Black and White Fall by adding a trim of black and white toile (my favorite!).

With my sewing machine still in Georgia, I resorted to Stitch Witchery for this project.

I used a piece of cardboard (that I apparently doodled on at some point) to make a nice sharp seam, and I created some trim for the bottom of the curtains.

I used more stitch witchery to then attach the trim to the bottom of the white panels.

It took awhile to do all that ironing (which just so happens to be my most hated chore), but it's a simple process.

The trim also gives the ultra-lightweight sheers more weight so that they hang more beautifully.

Light and crisp, like I hope fall will be!

Baby Talk

First off, I am not having a baby!  But I have loads of friends who are!  It seems like babies are simply growing on trees these days. 

So I'm sure you can imagine that when we all get together, there's lots of baby talk.  (Click here to see the crochet washcloths I made for one little baby bundle!).  We discuss everything from names to nurseries, of course.

Neutrals are in these days, no?  Several of my friends are opting for neutrals for their nurseries.   (Part of the reason is that most of them aren't finding out what they're having....they have a lot more willpower than I do!).  

 I love this white baby crib station for a boy or a girl!  Very sweet.

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Look at this gorgeous cottage nursery!  Bright and cheery yet simple and calming.  The bed looks almost antique.

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I love the finish on these espresso baby cribs.  Dark woods are often overlooked when choosing baby furniture because they seem so grown-up.  But they can be for baby too!  They are still basic and neutral but have a more formal look.  The shape of this one is gorgeous and so unique!

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Look how sophisticated this nursery is!  This is where you raise future U.S. presidents.

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I've always been a fan of black furniture.  In my younger days, my entire apartment had black furniture (I spent a lot of time painting).   So, I also love black baby cribs.   This one is traditional yet stylish.

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May God grant safe pregnancies to all my friends!

 

 

 

A Simple Fall Vignette

I blogged here about our office misadventures, and I'm happy to report that we're looking a lot better these days!  The office is even looking good enough to be the location for an early Fall vignette.

I blogged here about my great product review experience with Dali Decals.  My monogrammed "K" was the inspiration for this vignette.

Here's the little space that needed dressing up.

The chocolate-colored decal was the inspiration.  I shopped my house for the rest.

Muted.

Simple.

Fall.