A Simple Fall Tabletop Vignette

I confess...

 I've not been very creative this week!

You see, ...my mind is in overdrive,

bombarded with anticipation, excitement,

 maybe even a little anxiety! 

...and a slight case of the nerves! ha!

...yep,

I'm not usually one to be "star-struck."

I co-chair an annual large women's Christian conference in our area,

and have met and dealt with some pretty big names

in the Christian Women Speakers/Authors and Musicians' arena. 

...not that they don't have my upmost respect and admiration.

But I'm usually calm and collected.

No biggie...

But,

this weekend 

I'll be attending my first blogging conference.

I'll be meeting for the first time in person

 fellow bloggers that I have known for years,

and some for just a short while...

All of whom I consider friends!

 I'll have the opportunity to sit through sessions

of some of the big bloggers! 

To me ...that is a biggie!

And, 

.... I think I'm just going to love every minute of it! (smiles)

In the meantime,

our church's Homecoming is this weekend.

Today, I put together a Fall vignette for the Narthex Table.

Just a simple concoction...

 Floral Arrangement in the basket, bought from the local florist,

Candlesticks I've had for years accented with burlap ribbon and brown candles,

Orange Buffalo Check Table-mat made from a fabric remnant,

Pumpkins from a local grower,

and Wood Curly Shavings from Hobby Lobby.

The display will be seen from all sides.

Below,  the back{or sanctuary} view....

So, Lord willing, and the creek don't rise,
I'll be Raleigh bound tomorrow!
 {smiles}


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Linking Post To:
Vintage Inspiration @ Common Ground
Share Your Creations @ Kristen's Creations

Handpainted Pumpkins

Can you think of a better way

to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon, than with an old childhood best friend

"catching up,"  ...and crafting???

Over the years,

my kitchen has been filled with giggles and laughter,

from this crafty pair, Ashley and Tess, {below}

as they created projects,

 and baked and decorated cupcakes!

This afternoon, they got together 

and painted and decorated real Pumpkins!

Pretty cute, huh???

The bling fits their personalities to a tee! 

"The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship."

-William Blake

Here's to best friends,

and those friendships that last a lifetime! :)

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Linking Post To:
Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage
Mop It Up Monday @ I Should be Mopping the Floor
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On the Floor
Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
Cowgirl Up Party @ Cedarhill Ranch
Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life
Gettin' Krafty With It @ Krafty Kat
Share Your Creations @ Kristen's Creations

Sprucing up the Front Porch for Fall

Welcome to my Front Porch
decorated for Fall...

After two years of procrastinating deliberating

I finally took the plunge and painted the front doors of our home black satin.

Originally, they were white, 

and several years after we moved here I painted them burgundy.

Strange color, I know,

...but with Stucco siding and a Terracotta Tile roof, color choices are limited!

The burgundy had been a real booger to paint,

but Thanks so Sherwin Williams, and their best outdoor trim paint,

completing this long dreaded task was a cinch!

I also had plans to make orange and white ticking pillows.

But after some more of that "deliberation," 

...I concluded that my old giraffe print pillows were better suited! :)

The terracotta colored urns also got a new coat of paint,
...sprayed with Krylon Plastic Fusion black.
Love this stuff!

Check out what arrived by mail on my front porch today...

A new pillow ordered from the very talented Ann, of Sutton Place.

I'll reveal soon, which one of her creations I purchased!

And....

my "Blogging Calling Cards" {that just sounds so Southern doesn't it?}

 came in from Vistaprint!

The count down to next weekend has begun...

The First Southern Bloggers Convention!

As for this weekend,

yard sales and auctions galore are on the menu!

October is looking good! :)

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Linking Post To:
Inspiration Friday @ At The Picket Fence
Potpourri Friday @ 2805
Fridays Unfolded @ Stuff and Nonsense
Saturday Show and Tell @ Cheerios and Lattes
Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage
Mop It Up Monday @ I Should be Mopping the Floor
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On the Floor
Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
Cowgirl Up Party @ Cedarhill Ranch
Gettin' Krafty With It @ Krafty Kat
Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style
Vintage Inspiration @ Common Ground
Share your Creations @ Kristen's Creations
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home
Fall In Love with Spray Paint @ Thistlewood Farmswww.thistlewoodfarms.com/fall-in-love-with-spray-paint-2

When Less is Not Enough ~ Fall Mantel 2012

 “Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.”

- Plato 

Last Fall, I was all about keeping things simple...

uncluttered...

the less is more adage...

I think it was a stage of life I was in,

my daughter had moved off to college for her first year,

and I felt a little empty ...a little lost....

and so I decorated as such...

Does anyone else go through these stages and decorate accordingly?

{Below, my Fall Decorated Mantel 2011}

I enjoyed the simplicity of last year's mantel,

it served it's purpose...

But the "good rhythm," as Plato quoted,

just had to be jazzed up a notch this year. 

Yes, I'm fickle that way,

...guess I'm in another stage in my life! ha!

So, I brought out the arrangement below...

an oldieeeeeeeeeeeeee!

If recollection serves me right,

I think it came over on the Mayflower! ha!

Added an Autumn dried wreath, 

{another that's been around awhile}

over the mirror.

Also regrouped the candles, and added burlap ribbon for texture.

It's still not too busy,

just a little more interesting!

Many wonder why I go through the trouble to decorate with each passing season,
not you other bloggers of course, you know..., you get it...

For one I enjoy it,
but secondly,
it's makes my family feel special.

My daughter relayed to me just after she started school again this year,
that the one weekend she felt the most welcomed and glad to be home,
was last fall when she walked into the house
 decorated in warm, cozy colors and decorations of autumn,
and pumpkin spice scented candles were burning!

As a mom, that's all the incentive I need! :)

Welcome ...October  ~~  Enjoy Your Weekend! 

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on,

 and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October." 

-  Nathaniel Hawthorne

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Linking Post To:

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage
Met Monday @ Between Naps On the Porch
Make it Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
Mop It Up Monday @ I should be mopping the Floor
Favorites On the First @ The Polohouse
Cowgirl Up Party @ Cedarhill Ranch
Gettin' Krafty With It @ Krafty Kat
Wow Us Wednesday @ Southern Savvy Style
Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters
Share Your Creations @ Kristen's Creations
Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here
October'fest of Fun - Fall and Halloween Mantel Party @ Foxhollow Cottage


My Entry to Make It Pretty Monday's Link Party
and Open House Linky Party is sponsored by

Jack 'em Up Pumpkin - The 2012 Model

Jack 'em Up Pumpkins 2011...

Last year, these pumpkins were...

as wedding consultant extraordinaire Monte Durham would say

 on Say Yes to the Dress - Atlanta,

..."jacked up" with whimsical stickers and cute ribbons!

{For more on that post, click HERE.}

But, life is ever-evolving,

so.........

 based on the colors, flowers, and pillows being used for my front porch this year,

I decided the new updated version of my Jacked Up Pumpkins 

would be ...not quite so whimsical...

Added a cursive monogram sticker in black,

found at Hobby Lobby...

Topped it off with a bow made of scraps from my craft closet...

Added a few "fabric leaves"...

{Have seen these on several blogs, and "borrowed" the idea! :)  Loved them!}

Opted to forego the dots, keeping it simple...

And the Jack'em Up Pumpkin

2012 Model

 is ready for the front porch.

Have the fabric, now I just have to finish the pillows! :)

pictures soon...

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Linking Post To:

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage
Cowgirl Up @ Cedarhill Ranch
Wow Us Wednesday @ Southern Savvy Style
Centerpiece Wednesday @ Style Sisters
Tip Toe Thru Tuesday @ Tiaras and Bowties
Wednesdays Goody Bag @ Confetti Diaries
Share Your Creations @ Kristen's Creations

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Verse of Encouragement For Today:

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Psalm 34:18 NIV

Brown Zebra & Burlap Decoupage Pumpkins

"Tis a lesson you should heed;

try, try, try again.

If at first you don't succeed, 

try, try, try again."

-by British Writer, W.E. Hickson

One of those "aha" moments rang through my head,

when I spotted the pumpkins and a roll of interesting wallpaper at a yard sale.

The pumpkins, 50 cents each.

The wallpaper, $1.00!

Grand visions of beautiful textured pumpkins,

achieved by decoupaging!

But first, I painted the stems brown...

Cut strips of the wallpaper,

and began to decoupage my little heart out!

And much to my disappointment,

what I was creating was one hot mess!

Even after wetting the wallpaper with water, 

and applying the decoupage glue,

it wasn't pliable enough to adhere and lay right on the pumpkin's curves!

Being a curvaceous woman myself, 

you'd think I'd know all about covering up some curves?  ha!

So what to do...

...try, try, try again!

I cut strips of brown zebra printed fabric,

purchased at an upholstery store going out of business, for $3.50 a yard,

and slapped them on the pumpkin!

For the second pumpkin,

I used strips of burlap,

topping them both off with a ribbon of twine.

So, old Mr. Hickson was onto something...

if things don't quite work out,

do try, try, try again!

You might just succeed on the second go-around! :)

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Linking Post To:

Vintage Inspiration @ Common Ground

{Go over and visit, it's Debra's 2nd Anniversary of 
Vintage Inspiration Blog Party,

and she has some great giveaways offered to celebrate!}

Share Your Creations @ Kristen's Creations

Fridays Unfolded @ Stuff and Nonsense

Pretty Things Thursday @ Scissors & Spatulas

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Inspiration Friday @ At the Picket Fence

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House

Cowgirl Up Party @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Wednesday's Goodies @ Confetti Diaries

Tiptoe Through Tuesday @ Tiaras and Bowties

Primp Your Pumpkins @ Debbiedoos