DIY ....Easy Pumpkin Centerpiece

Well it finally happened! I always say I'm a turtle livin' in a hare world.

But I've been walking around happily in denial about the passing of summer, without any urge to eat or drink anything pumpkin, no hint of autumn pillows on my couch yet, and not one thought of buying a single pumpkin .......and all-of-a sudden-BAM! It just hit me.

Fall. It's really here guys..and here's my proof: this is my very first pumpkin of the season.

Ta daaaa!!

So what do you do with your first pumpkin anyway?

This is what I did.

I cobbled together a few things:

One vintage copper colander (gotta love those thrift stores)

a couple small ramekins 

Mums and Carnations

green florist foam

and Spanish Moss

And decided to make a very casual little centerpiece, maybe for a breakfast or lunch table.

...lots of holes mean a good job lining it 

(hint: I sort of rushed this part)

I put my foam around the ramekin and soaked it. You could use a small bowl too for the height. I added a second ramekin for this purpose.

The rest is easy.

When you're all finished fill the spaces with Spanish Moss and it's ready for your table

See? It's very simple but I'm loving the warmth of the copper.

And once I saw it finished I instantly craved a table with some plaid fabric, wicker, mason jars, wooden bowls and Carol's home-made numerical napkins which remain one of my favorite gifts ever.

.

But I'll have to show you my table next time since I'm heading into picture overload here.

Happy Friday friends,

xo

Leslie

this is what I’ve been doing…

Last night I was laying in bed thinking about the blog title I should use for this post.

First I thought about My Fall Home Tour. Only I wonder if I’m too late for that post since I’m already hearing Christmas music in the stores

(Can you believe that? And it’s not even Thanksgiving yet! Please tell me.Whatever happened to enjoying each season?)

OK side rant finished.

I also thought this was a nice title: A few of my Favorite Changes.

Because I do have lots of updated house projects to show you and I really like how things are looking around here.

 

But somehow nothing captures these last crazy, whirlwind weeks. Maybe Nesting on Steroids? Hmm… too strange? Well the truth is, I still can’t believe it’s already been more than a month since we decided to move and do you know what?

I’ve still got my sleeves rolled up and I’m still checking off projects from my list. Yep.

 

(I found this toile fabric in the back of my cupboard and sewed these pillows. Kirsten- -a BFF  and our realtor-- told me I needed color on my couch)

De-cluttering, organizing, painting, fixing, sewing, hot gluing…It’s true that some of these projects are required for selling our home, but honestly, some of the styling and extra touches are simply because it’s me. It’s how I express myself… I guess I just like to make pretty rooms.

Magnolia leaves and oranges ( inside my old window box)

replacing the apples, berries and candles..

The funny thing is, even though I’m incredibly busy I’m not harried. Instead, I seem to be having a lot of contented moments while being immersed in my projects. The best part of this kind of busy work is that it allows me time for reflection.

 

 

via

I’m totally aware that this strange, transitional time happens to be my Life right now.

So I’m actually trying to relish it all. Even this in-between period with all its unknowns.

Now each day in my home feels special; I’m conscious of the warm, comfy feeling I have inside these walls because I know I’m leaving them soon.

“Letting go” of something does that. It transforms us from within. It’s like wiping our smudgy glasses and putting them back on; suddenly ordinary things in our life appear larger and colored with meaning as if our vision has been affected. But it’s really our hearts that have been changed.

I feel this way with my parents. All of a sudden, a mundane trip to Home Depot or a cup of coffee over my kitchen island feels like a tender, picture-worthy moment. So I’m taking more IPhone photos lately because it’s the simple things I don’t want to forget. Do you know what I mean?

When we look back on our time with our friends and family, have you noticed that it’s the tiny moments that stand out in our minds? A certain facial expression. Something that was uttered during a random conversation. A shared moment of laughter. The way someone said your name.

Whatever is happening in your life, I hope you try to be fully present in it because there’s a whole lot of special moments in both the good and the bad times--that offer us the chance to grow into something different. A slower, wiser version of who we are now.

“I’m just happy to be here.”  I saw this on a bumper sticker and it’s my new mantra. Bumper sticker wisdom. Isn’t it great?

My big regret lately is that I’ve been away from the computer for long stretches of time and it’s  hard to keep up with my blogging. And I miss it. I miss all of you.

So.

How do you catch up with an old friend? Let’s see. If we were sitting over a steaming cup of coffee I could simply tell you what I’ve been doing but since we’re in front of a screen, how about I just show you what’s been keeping me busy?

Patrick’s old room updated.  Here’s the pillow I sewed after I fell in love with this fabric.

 

Yesterday I made this magnolia wreath to hang on the window since I don’t have curtains in here. I had no idea what I was doing….

but fresh Magnolia leaves + hot glue gun + old burlap wreath =

this

I love Magnolia leaves don’t you?

Here’s Michael’s old room-Before photo

After photo

I actually had those celadon green curtains folded in my linen drawer from another decorating phase of mine. I finally know what it means to “shop your home” for new stuff. It’s amazing what I’m finding.

For the other side of Michael’s room, I needed a lamp to go next to a chair

so I turned this old, yucky thing from this into this:

courtesy of a can of spray paint and a new shade

I gave these three walls a fresh new coat of touch up paint in the upstairs attic room.

 

I made this moss green letter “H”….

to get ready for Christmas…

( I promise to show you how I made this)

I stained this stool and plank wood a dark walnut to finish styling my Master bathroom. (I’ll show more photos later)

 

I planted my Paperwhites. Two entire packs of them in this metal container …

because I like this look.

The only problem is.. I hate tossing out old plants and since I still had a little ivy plant in my container  I decided to make a quick topiary with a clothes hanger.

 

 

 

my clothes hanger topiary…

 

Oh my goodness. I have SO much more to share but I’ve already put too many pictures in this post. I’ll be writing more now that I’m winding down on these house projects…Only a few more things and we’re ready to list it.

Right now I’m loving number seven on this list.

Which one is grabbing your attention?

xoxo

Leslie

 

I’m sharing this post with these friends:

http://www.stonegableblog.com/2013/11/the-scoop-93.html#more

http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2013/11/191st-inspire-me-tuesday.html

 

 

Technorati Tags: Fall decorating,home styling,letting go

Decorating my entry for Fall…

 

Happy Weekend to you.

This first weekend of October is already looking good. Beautiful, sunny weather plus Patrick’s coming home for a visit. And maybe we’ll see the last James Gandolfino movie with him, I’ve been wanting to see a good romantic comedy  (although I still feel sad about the loss of Gandolfino).

In the meantime I thought I’d show you a few photos of my entryway because I’m still at it. I’m still trying to tidy up the house for my Fall tour.

Although based on all the gorgeous home tours I’m seeing everywhere in blogland, it’s clear I may be the last one of the season.( is it just me? but I can’t figure out how everyone gets their homes decorated so quickly…what’s the secret anyway? please tell me if you know).

Anyway, back to my front door.

This is my entryway.

Even though I love seeing lush Fall decorations in photos, when it comes to my own entryway I really don’t do much. A few pumpkins, a pretty plate and some flowers, that’s it.

Maybe it’s because I really don’t have a traditional entryway. It’s more like a pass through area.

 

The French doors to my office are right there in the entry. Maybe you remember me painting these French doors from white to black. I also painted this entry table red on a whim and I still don’t love it, but it seems to go well with the Fall season.

This is the view from the front door. See what I mean? It’s a very open floor plan.

 

I love my quirky hat collection…

and this is the new plate, courtesy of the thrift store.

 

 

And before I go, here’s my little tip for the day.

If you don’t want to spend money on fresh flowers go outside and find a pretty tree. I cut a few branches and filled this pitcher with leaves a few fake berries.

How simple is that? Not a flower in sight.

Enjoy your weekend my friends….

xoxo

Leslie

 

I’m linking this post up with these friends:

• http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2013/10/feathered-nest-friday.html?
• http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/2013/10/fabulously-creative-friday-linky-party-2.html

 

Technorati Tags: fall entryway,decorating ideas,cottage decor in the entry