Fall Decorating - A Series: Part 2 - The Mantle

I had so much fun looking on Pinterest to get inspiration for my Fall decorations.  I did a specific search for 'mantle decorations' because I feel lost when it comes to how to decorate this area in my house.  Here's what I was working with:

What do you suppose the builder was thinking when he left those huge gaping holes around the fireplace?  (I refer to them as 'cubbies'.  Maybe he has a special affection for silk plants/ivy?  Could you just see that tumbling out of each of the upper cubbies?  Unfortunately, I am NOT a fan of silk plants so I'm a bit lost.

 Here are some of the amazing Fall mantle ideas that I found on Pinterest:

Sweet Something Design via Pinterest

The Lettered Cottage via Pinterest

Parents.com via Pinterest



It's The Little Things That Make A House via Pinterest

Here is what I ended up with!

I incorporated some aqua (it's a main color in my living and kitchen area) but added golden yellow and orange to create a warmer color scheme.  The garland was made using silk leaves ($1.99 at A.C. Moore), felt penants cut with pinking shears and then sewn with a zig zag stitch onto brown and red binding tape.

I added some of the silk leaves to the sconces that flank each side of the painting over the mantle

Using some silk Mums that I purchased at Hobby Lobby, I cut them down and put them into vases.  The sunflower painting I orginally painted a few years ago as a Christmas gift for my Mom - not sure how I ended up getting it back!

This driftwood was a going away gift from friends when we moved from Washington state - isn't it amazing?  

The book pumpkins - aren't they fabulous?  

I found the idea for them on Pinterest using this tutorial: Book Pumpkin Tutorial.  I purchased books at the Dollar Store, clipped some branches in my back yard and used ribbon that I already had on hand.... did you notice that the pumpkin on the right... the book is upside down?  OOPS!

Fall Decorating - A Series: Part 1 - Weathered Pumpkins

Source:  homestoriesatoz.com

Using this as my inspiration/tutorial: Blue Pumpkin Tutorial, I created some distressed pumpkins using Dollar Store pumpkins to make a vignette for Fall decorating.  I bought eight pumpkins/gourds at the Dollar Store then purchased Crackle Medium from the new Martha Stewart Paint Line as well as some metallic paint in Copper.  I definitely got a weathered look but it didn't really 'crackle' like the example above...  I'm happy with the final results though and look forward to being able to try 'crackling' other stuff!

This vignette sits on the credenza in my entry way....

My Mom sewed me a 'placemat' using some awesome indoor/outdoor fabric we found at JoAnne's.  We also used it to make a slipcover for my adirondack chair on the front porch - look for that in a future post!

Custom Made Patchwork Bag

Awhile back a customer contacted me about creating a custom bag for her.  She was this wonderfully nice woman LaVerne who lives in Vidalia, LA.... she had a dress that was her mother's and was hoping to make something special from it.  She had previously purchased one of my smaller handbags and was hoping I could make a larger one using fabric from the dress.  She mailed it to me and I opened the package to find a dress made of panne velvet - something I'd never worked with before.... thankfully my Mom was visiting soon so I held off doing anything until she arrived.  :)  Really, she ended up sewing the whole bag and I'm not afraid to admit that!  It looked like a HUGE pain to sew the velvet, plus my sewing machine is acting up.... she pulled it off though and the end result looks great:

Car Seat Cover

I have heard about these covers and was so happy when I found a tutorial to make one.  I thought it'd be the perfect 'project' to work on if I found some energy.... three weeks away from my due date I'm not feeling like doing a whole lot of ANYTHING these days but this was a quick one - thankfully!  I love that this cover is just two cotton fabrics so lightweight which is important here in Florida - I figure this will deter unwanted touching of my baby but also block the bright sunshine as I'm taking her in and out of the car...

Here is a link to the great tutorial from the blog Cluck Cluck Sew that I used and an example of the cover she did:  car seat cover tutorial

photo source:  www.cluckclucksew.com

For my fabric I used some of the Moda "Botonay" line - it's fabric I actually won through a contest from "Fabric Chicks" - a fantastic fabric store in Coupeville, WA.  They sent me three full yards of this print in three different colorways and I've been trying to figure out what to do with them....  This was a great project to use it on!  The lining fabric is a simple green on green scroll pattern that I found at JoAnne's and the 'straps' is from a Fat Quarter also purchased at JoAnne's.  

Feeling the Love

I was contacted through Etsy recently about a giveaway on a blog and ended up sending a few items for it as well as a few items that the blogess (blogster?  blogger? Not sure on that one...) could review as well.

She posted her review today and I think it's super complimentary!  I received an A- grade which the perfectionist in me would of course love to be an A+++ but the constructive criticism she did give was really good.  Check out the post:  Graphoniac review of Pursewna

Crafty Lady

As you saw from previous posts - I have been doing a ton of craft/DIY projects for my 'coming soon' second daughter but I've done quite a bit of sewing and crafts for other areas of our house as well.  To give you a peek at some of these - here are some pictures and explanations....

This was a $3 purchase at a garage sale.... (love a good deal!)  It had a blackboard on one side and a white board on the other and was framed in an unfinished light wood - which had been well loved by permanent markers by it's previous owner.  I decided to spruce it up with some spray paint then used chalkboard paint to paint BOTH sides of the easel.  I figured white board markers would be too messy for my 2 year old.  I'm super happy with how it turned out!

notice I didn't do a great job of spray painting.....  :)

my daughter loved her new toy!

On our beat up adirondack chair on our front porch was a beaten up 'outdoor pillow' from Crate & Barrel.  To add some color to the area, I made a simple slipcover/pillow case out of some sunbrella fabric (actually, leftover fabric from re-upholstering some dining chairs earlier this year).  It was so EASY and I love the pop of color it adds to the porch.

I also used this fabric in the office to make a pillow cover with a zipper!  My FIRST EVER!  You can tell it's a first but I am so happy I conquered that fear!!!!  (sewing in a zipper.... it's easier than you'd think)

I apologize that this is such an awful picture.... I've been planning on making a cover for my sewing machine for years... I FINALLY got around to it and am so happy with how it turned out!  It has pockets on each end (which really, I'm not sure what the purpose would be) and fits really well!  I don't LOVE my fabrics but I wanted to keep within the red/white scheme that I already have in my office/craft room.  I used this tutorial as a guide for this cover:  Sewing Machine Cozy from Notes from the Patch

Baby Girl #2's Room - the FINISHED product!

Sorry - I got a little lazy in posting additional blog posts about all the craftiness in baby girl #2's room but I figure this post will make it up to you.  :)  Here are pictures and information about the ENTIRE ROOM!

walking into the room....

Canvas DIY art above changing table (see post #2), 'bonne nuit' sign recycled from baby girl #1's nusery, lovely knitted pink throw on glider made by wonderful friend Joyce B for baby girl #1 (she can share....), scrappy lamp  (see post #1)

homemade fabric garland using charm pack from Riley Blake's line "Hoo's in the Forest", vintage tablecloth on side table next to glider and changing table

My Mom made this contoured changing pad cover using Tiffany Blue Minky fabric..... she used this tutorial: Contoured Changing Pad Cover Tutorial

Paper Lantern Mobile as seen in post #4 and crib bumper as seen in post #3

Gallery Wall:  purple 'hands' artwork I did in high school, three Ikea frames that I spray painted using leftover paint from the scrappy lamp, hoop art as seen in post #5, small floral print found at Goodwill for $2, "Love" print purchased at Hey Day in Bozeman, MT - absolutely drooled over this print for a good 30 minutes before deciding to just purchase it - was only $50 and the colors match PERFECTLY!!!!!!

Would you believe I made the crib sheet?  Yep!  I used this AWESOME and super easy tutorial:  Crib/Toddler Sheet Tutorial.  I found the fabric at JoAnne's!  The crib bumper is so fantastic... I LOVE how it turned out!  The crib skirt is from Land of Nod and went with the bedding that baby girl #1 had in her nursery.

a close up of the bumper and crib sheet

this is a simple white Ikea Dresser (Koppang) but I added gorgeous (and splurge-worthy) knobs from Anthropologie.... you can get yours here: Zinnia Knobs, the white birdhouse was a cute find at HomeGoods a few weeks back

I love this print - by a very talented and awesome Etsy artist:  thewheatfield shop, the white frame was on clearance at A.C. Moore for $10, small floral buckets were at Target around Easter ($2 each), white Ikea shelf and ceramic piece is a 'found' piece from around the house

these are AWFUL pictures but gives you an idea of the window treatments:  found these 'blackout curtains" at Target ($15 per panel) then added Jumbo White Rick Rack Trim at the bottom and used turquoise ribbon as ties.  More of the garland/bunting I made using Riley Blake fabric

slightly better picture of the rick rack detail....

I am really pleased with how well the room turned out and it was so fun to add so many crafty/thrifted/DIY projects!!!!  What do you think?  Will Baby Girl #2 be pleased when she arrives?  Only 6 more weeks until we find out!

I am doing my first link up today to Life Made Lovely!