Showing posts from August, 2012

An Autumn Coffee Table Vignette

August 30, 2012
I worked on an autumn coffee table vignette today. It started with finding some orange mini pumpkins at the Dollar Tree. Of course they look a little fakey, (they cost a dollar), but decorating this early and while it's this hot, I worried that real, mini pumpkins may get moldy. Here is the the Dollar Tree pumpkin on the left, just as I purchased it. The one on the right has been touched up. The original is just too bright orange and too shiny. I squeezed a little blob of Walnut Noyer Ceramcoat acrylic paint on a paper plate and watered it down quite a bit. I then took a half sheet of paper towel, scrunched it up and wet it a little. Then I dipped it in the watery walnut paint. I dabbed the pumpkin on and off until the paint was not too dark. The pumpkin has a sort of mottled look like real ones that are a little green and dirty from being just picked. This is not as easy to see by the photo, but the stem was solid green and plastic. I took yellow paint and wate


Late Garden Additions

August 28, 2012
As of last Friday, I have an empty nest...My last child left for college. This is new for me as I have had children at home since 1979. How am I doing? Okay... Older children moved to the Twin Cities and are 300 miles away, and youngest is only 100 miles away. She will be home for the Labor Day weekend but then not again until the second weekend in October as she is on the college women's golf team and they golf fall and spring in Minnesota. On Sunday afternoon my husband disappeared for a few hours. I thought he had probably went to mow the lawn at our hunting cabin. But no, he was at an auction sale. He likes auction sales. He is a collector of vintage fishing lures and rods and reels. But, he bought two things just for me.  And you know how I love garden junk!!!!!!!! A very rusty old cultivator. I do love it. And, this great cement bird bath, complete with patina and a little moss. Not that we didn't have birdbaths...  A small iron one... And a


Framing a Potholder

August 26, 2012
I am starting to post my fall decor this week. First of all, let me tell you that I live in a small town of about 6,400 and possibly up to 9,000 or 10,000 with small surrounding towns. I must travel at least 100 miles to shop somewhere other than Kmart, Ben Franklin Crafts, and consignment shops for home decor and craft supplies. That's why I am resourceful! Yes, I framed a Kmart sunflower potholder in an 8 x 10 Kmart light wood frame today! The over sink shelf is new too! Well, new to me! $3 at the consignment shop. This one started out like this: I forgot to take a before pic, but I found one just like it on Ebay. This is the old over sink Martha Stewart Kmart wood shelf and before vignette. I used a potholder/oven mitt with a sunflower from Kmart for $3.99, and an 8 x 10 frame for $3.99 from Kmart in a light wood frame to match my kitchen cabinets. I cut a piece of burlap to fit the frame and pushed it in the frame with no glass.


New Fall Mantel & Tea Time 7

August 26, 2012
Today I am posting a combination new fall mantel together with my weekly Tea Time teacup post. I have burgundies in my living room and fall fruit is a great match for the mantel. My living room is decorated in my version of English country style. If you want to see my living room reveal, click here. My new fall mantel: This is the before photo: Now for a few closeups: Navy blue Collier - Ernest Hemingway novels, coverless distressed books, old keys, and a faux plant. Next, "Harvest Fruit I" Kate McRostie (I purchased this at a consignment shop, but it is originally from Target). Next pears, a Royal Vale teacup and saucer, a "made in Japan" lady head vase, two cups and saucers that were my Grandma's, (unmarked), and the vintage Franklin Dixon - Hardy Boys books found at a consignment shop last week. Next a vintage wood easel that was gold and I painted white with a consignment shop fall plate