Fall Banner

Banners immediately say, "there's a party going on, or something special is happening." I usually have one or two up around the house, and why not? Life is special. One of my banners usually relates to our Midwest seasons or holidays.

Polka dots and owls, in Fall shades of oranges and browns hangs on my kitchen window. 

 To make this banner, or one similar:                           1

1) purchase chipboard base pieces, (the ones I found had the notch-v already cut out of them).

2) Select heavy scrap paper in a pattern you like. My favorite paper is two sided. Even though you will not see the opposite side, it makes the paper stronger. 3) Trace the shape of the chipboard unto the paper, and cut out. 4) Punch or drill holes in upper right and left hand corners of each chip board. 5) Brush on a thin layer of glue to the chipboard, (can also use a good glue stick) and attach paper. 6) punch through paper where chipboard hole is located by using a paper punch, or sharp hole punch tool. 7) Cut foot long pieces of ribbon, and thread through holes by pairing up two chipboard pieces at a time. Tie these two pieces together with knot or bow. 8) On the ends of the banner, attach a longer piece of ribbon for hanging purposes. 9) trim up any paper.

 

Easy Peasy, right?   Enjoy!    

Blessings, Ele

Why I Love Fall

 

Colorful leaves, cozy socks, sweaters, boots, 

and many more reasons to love fall!

 

Have you tried chalkboard markers? Tons of fun for Fall!

 

XOXO, Ele

 

 

 

FAll is in The Air

The changing of seasons is very dramatic in the midwest. Warm days turn into chilly evenings, and chilly evenings tease of frost at night. Flowers and gardens are covered with blankets to keep them warm, to save them from demise. A blanket; a protector, a shield. For my family, this was a summer we would like to forget, but living with the loss of a loved one daily, does not allow. Cool evenings, covered with a warm blanket, holding on to those who are so dear, helps us forget...for just a moment.  

So, I have never been more ready to show signs of changing seasons in my home. It was time. Time for the pumpkins to arrive. 

Gone are the days of the indoors orange plastic pumpkins. Pumpkins come in all types of textures, shapes, and colors. My favorite, velvet pumpkins; luscious and dramatic just like the change of seasons. It oozes warmth.  


Peacock Blue Velvet Pumpkins

 

Caramel Colored Pumpkin

Visit www.etsy.com for some great handmade pumpkins.....and take time to snuggle with your loved one.

xoxo, Ele 

Come Over to the Orange Side for Just a Little Bit

Last week I shared crisp white pumpkins with you, now I'd like you to come over to the orange side for just a bit!

Orange pumpkins, real and faux, come in beautiful textures and hues. The mix of textures and hues add interest to a display. Follow the EASY rule of three by placing (groups of) three similar items in a bowl, but make sure each item has a different hue, or texture.

Lets go over this again.

Look at the picture below.

#1 Pumpkin

     texture- reflective glitter (ooh la la) causes a slightly bumpy  

     appearance

     hue- orange/red

#2 Pumpkin

     texture- smooth, shiny, glossy

     hue- orange

#3 No, not a pumpkin, but a round shaped item (like a pumpkin, only larger...get it?)  

     texture- nubby, twirly, whirly, and ooh so curly

     hue- brown/neutral goes with anything

Have I lost you? 

You could always do the mishmash: place at least 10 different pumpkins, gourds, apples, and/or acorns into the same container. Combine many different textures and hues. Beads, glitter, paper mache, gold gilding, and a variety of orange/red colors provide pure sensory overload.   

     

Don't want to follow the rule of threes, or do the mishmash, you could always.....

just cage 1 happy orange pumpkin:)

As part of the Lollishops design team, I received the Oct. kit in the mail. My assignment is to design an item that will be revealed at the end of the month. 

The best part is that you can purchase this kit from Wild Heart at 

http://www.lollishops.com/node/51891
and make your own creation!

Blessings, Ele

Pumpkins, Do They all Have to be Orange?

Crisp and clean looking, white pumpkins are found in my house during the season of Fall. 

I really like how miniature white pumpkins look displayed in a vintage flower basket or a glass jar.   

 A metal black crow is at home in a white birdcage.

Vinyl bats cling to the mirror, and also the front door (as seen in the reflection).


 A silver mercury glass pumpkin sits on my mirrored chest.  

Pumpkins don't all have to be orange to look fabulous.

Blessings,
Ele

Fall Design Team

I am so honored to be part of the wonderful Fall Design Team at Lollishops. My studio has been vacant and started eerily whispering my name a few weeks ago. Now, it seems to be SCREECHING my name.  Lovingly appropriate? I think so, as Halloween is only two months away.   

Still. If you know me. My creations won't screech. They will whisper elegance. 

If you want to know more about this great group of ladies Wish me luck! 

Much love,

Ele

Changes and Balance

What has been going on in your life?
My Life in the Fall:  harvest time, dinner and supper in the field (LOVE), hauling cows and hay home, moving vehicles, giving rides, Mr. Pink Heaven's political trips- which means movie nights with my Pink Girl, trips to town, (which includes waiting, but I always have my craft supply bag with me), spending time with my mother, trying to avoid the horrid flu, but my household did not escape it. Thankfully, everyone is well right now.  
Like all of you trying to maintain the balanCe when life gets busy. 
Just remember to stop and look for God's blessings along the way. 

Oddly enough to help me "feel" balanced, I like to move furniture, take away decor,  and add decor. The changes don't have to be huge or costly, just change.
Changes= (satifying attention defeceit) Balance

I have shown you bits and pieces of the changes in my main floor family room, but had not shown you proper before and afters.
BEFORE:

Objective #1
Eliminate Smaller Items (so the eye is not traveling all over the place)
This was achieved by taking away the antique buffet and adding a higher black curio so the eye has a place to rest. Do-dads, plates, and some pictures removed. The picture of my three kids on the wall stays. They are the heart of my home. I also moved the Kennedy rocker and added the black and white chair. A coffee table was added . You know I'm not matchy matchy, so I added a coffee table that is different then the curio. It works because the wood grain top coordinates with the floor and the black legs coordinate with the curio. The antique Chinese buffet was moved to the opposite wall. The area rug with the   hideous country nice blue border  was removed, and has new life in my son's basement. 

Objective #2

Update Lighting (HELLO, Can you hear me? It's not the 1980's)

Mr. Pink Heaven and son changed out the SOLID GOLD (pun intended)  light fixture with this chandelier.

Objective #3

Warm up the floor

I LOVE the original hardwood floors in this house. They are a beautiful golden color, but with cold weather on it's way, I wanted to warm things up. Winter time is a time for layers, even when it comes to floors! When it came to the bottom layer, the large area rugs I looked at where not the size or color I wanted.  A visit to the carpet store took place, and I chose to have a solid taupe carpet cut and bound to exact size of my choice.  The multicolored top rug, which adds a pop, was purchased at a discount store. It is placed directly on top of the taupe carpet, and under the coffee table. I was thrilled to find this rug as it matches the chair in the last post. Would you believe I trimmed the chair BEFORE I bought the rug. Sometimes things just work.

Objective #4

Fall it Up

Adding touches of Fall completes this room. I left the perimeter of the hardwood exposed, and added a few accessories. The gold pillow was replaced with a black and white chandelier pillow. A white pumpkin, Autumn  bouquet, and black crow candle were added to the coffee table. All give a sense of Fall and harvest, and life on a farm.

AFTER:

I like the changes. I feel balanced. For now.

Fall blessings to you,

Ele

Halloween Party

Welcome to the party hosted by A Fanciful Twist. Visit her right hand sidebar for more participants.
Since my camera is unavailable at this moment, we will be visiting some rooms posted at Rate My Space.
You can NEVER go wrong with black and white. Classic style mixed with a little glam. Take a look!

I'm not a huge fan of skulls, but I like this glittery gal hanging by a bow, on the mirror.

White pumpkins that say, "boo" make a grand entrance. Simply draw or stencil a design on with black permanent markers. Easy as pie, (pumpkin pie that is!).
Adding a little color to a predominately black and white color theme looks great. The black and white grounds the look, and a little bit of color makes the arrangement pop. My favorite decor item, a glass jar. Grouped together with a little splash of orange.
Purple is also a good choice for an accent color with black and white. The silver goblets and candleholders add a sleek texture to this tablescape by Steph at Angelic Accents.
Orange....what is fall/Halloween without orange? Even if you prefer the classic black and white look, somewhere in your home you have to have orange. Just look at how inviting these large vases look filled with water and apples.


  HAPPY FALL!

Sew much fun!

I picked white gladiolas from the garden yesterday. So pristine and gorgeous. I fear they will be the last of the season. I love how they look next to my "Lorena" pumpkin.



Still sewing away! Can you tell I really like making these banners (buntings, pennants)? I was drawn to fabric I spied in the store the other day. Fabrics in browns, blues, greens, and beiges add a Fall feel. The brown fabric with batik blue dots.....fun!






Adding seam binding and a few yoyos just looks right to me.
I couldn't resisit making buntings in pinks, aquas, cupcake and present themes. They are perfect for birthday parties, or baby's room.




I've also been sewing a few fun bags lately. I just couldn't resisit these bright colorful fabrics.



If you want instructions to make a bunting yourself, go HERE.

Decorating with Pumpkins

I really like pumpkins. They just look happy to me and each one is different. What other vegetable gets the pleasure of decorating our lives for three whole months? That's the great part about it. Pumpkins can be displayed all Fall, from Sept.through Nov.

A very large pumpkin sits on a chippy cement flower pot throne.


How did I put this planter together? First, I removed the spent summer plants from the planters. I also removed a little of the dirt, and added a grapevine wreath, (this gives the pumpkin a place to sit). I stuck in a few sprigs that I cut from my German Statice plant. German statice is a bushy plant that dries in perfect condition. You can buy a bunch at most craft supply stores.


Miniature pumpkins stuck into pots with blooming flowers add such great color.


Farmers markets and even grocery stores carry gourds in many shapes and sizes. I picked up a few miniature gourds and pumpkins and placed them in my favorite black tiered centerpiece.


Happy Pumpkin hunting to you all, and hope you too will share some of your pumpkin decor!