"Fri-Yay"!

So it's Friday and I don't have any large projects...at least ones that are exciting me...so I tend to browse Pinterest, craft sites, etc. to see if I might come up with something. Yesterday I saw a vignette on a blog that I follow that had beautiful fresh mums, the tiny real pumpkins and a yellowed book stack. Since I haven't headed to buy the mums yet and I haven't seen any real pumpkins in Publix yet, the only part of that vignette I could actually accomplish right now was the books.

This stack is very similar to the one daughter #3 bought me at Ballard Design many years ago. You have seen it in almost all of my decorating but I put it away for autumn because it just read a little too "pastely" for this time of year. But, I still love it so much. Something about old books and old labels or printing always call my name.

And so, with nothing fun on today's calendar (except a happy hour at daughter #3's later today), I dove right in. And, as luck would have it, I still had some cover-less books left over from the stamped stacks I made earlier this year.

Of course, my book weren't as "yellowed" as I wanted because, let's be honest, they're really not that old. So, I watered down some antiquing wax and just kind of smeared it around. Each time it dried, I went back with plain water to "knock down" the color just a bit.

Then, I went to my very large file of printables. Honestly, my intent had been to keep this entirely neutral but, when I saw this antique perfume label, I just couldn't resist that beautiful soft orange color.

This has to be one of the easiest decor items ever but I just love how it turned out!

And this is where it has made its home. Now, if those mums and pumpkins would just get here, this vignette might be finished! Well, maybe?! Lol

Short post but I just wanted to pop in. Have a wonderful weekend and stay safe and stay tuned.

The Troublesome Sunroom

I think I have mentioned many times before that, with the exception of a few ceilings, there is truly not one inch of this house that has not been altered since we bought it brand new in 1973! The area that is now the sunroom was once just a small cement slab outside some sliding glass doors. Then, at one point, we extended the slab to meet the new garage at the other end of the house and screened in a portion of it. It was at that time that I decided that I wanted to add the brick lower walls....which I still love.

But, when we decided that we really wanted to enclose the entire area and add windows and another A/C unit for this side of the house for the sunroom we had always wanted, it became apparent that the walls that I love were now going to be our nemesis. If we were to make the room a more workable space, we would need to widen the floor plan...but, that would not only involve making the floor larger but taking down the walls to do it. Not an undo-able task, but one that was so much more work and money than we really wanted to expend at that time.

And so, that brings me to our sunroom today. It is really hard to furnish the way I would like because it is very long and narrow. I kind of have it divided into several different areas and it works but, when I try to photograph it, I realize what an issue it really is. Every now and then I try to think of how I could totally mix it up but, because of the amount of sun coming in...which is what I initially wanted, hence the "sunroom"...and the lack of wall space, I just keep going back to what is here.

And so, that is my story and I'm sticking to it...before I show you my bowling alley room. Of late, I have not over decorated in here because we do use this room to craft, eat, bird watch, etc when anyone is here and it is easier to use when there are not a dozen vignettes to move before you can start. Lol Also, because the old TV unit is now in here, so are my many seasonal pictures so I feel the need to at least have a few decor items splashed around.

Again, I'm offering my excuses as to why this room really doesn't show well. It does look better in person...but not much. Lol OK...let's bring it on!

I'm good with this end of the room...this is where all of the action usually takes place.

But, when you look in this direction, you see the bowling alley effect.

I love these wood pumpkins. I saw them many, many years ago in a magazine and was able to track down a nearby store that actually sold them. I have used them in my decorating every year since but this year I just couldn't find the right home for them so I just added them to this table to bring a pop of autumn color to this end of the room.

This end of the room is even more difficult. The kids' drink fridge is next to the TV unit and, honestly, the white table and the "fireplace" are both pieces that I like but I can't really find another place for. They do serve a purpose but they just don't seem to fit in right now. Doing this post has got my "wheels" going and I'm starting to think of some ways I can change this up.

 Right now this piece serves as the holding area for anything that needs to be put away in the garage or taken to the car...plus it has some gardening tools that I can grab quickly for a trim at this side of the house and saves lots of steps from where the rest of my garden tools are stored.

 This is my desk. I only really use it these days to address envelops and put on postage and address labels but, occasionally, I will sit there to actually write a letter. And, yes, I know the peace lily is drooping. I actually had watered it a few hours earlier but it just hadn't perked up yet.

This is the palette sign I made last year by simply spraying over a Dollar Tree felt shape. I also had a hard time finding a home for it this year so it is here for now.

And, here are all of our autumn pictures from over the years. I still miss having them in the family room but, I will say, this TV unit is a bit narrower than the large armoire that used to be here so it does give the space a bit more wiggle room.

Every time I post this room, I feel as if I treat it as the "ugly step child". I do tend to decorate in here with things that no longer have any other home...and it makes me feel bad but, in my defense, it IS hard to decorate and, usually by the time I have everything out of here and packed away from my last decor theme, I am exhausted and ready to call it a day...or two...or three. And so, it is what it is.

I'm having second and third thoughts about even posting this, but it is a room in my house and there are parts of it worth sharing so I am going to. Stay safe and stay tuned and by my next post I hope I will have some mums to share. I just saw where the garden shop finally got some in! Yay autumn!!!

Dog Days of Summer

If you frequent my blog, you know that I make no secret of the fact that I am not a fan of summer...and, since I live in Florida, that sometimes complicates my life. Now don't get me wrong...I love living in Florida and all of the wonderful things that come along with it...all the things EXCEPT the heat. Lol And, this is the time of year that I dislike it the most. Not only is it HOT but, we generally have a storm at some point every day.

Now, the rain is really keeping my lawn and gardens happy this year so that is a good thing. But, for whatever reason, I don't enjoy gardening as much when things are wet and muddy and the skies are gray...not to mention the heat! And so, I kind of let weeds and over-growing vines take over a bit too much. I'm guessing with all of the other things going on in the world that no one other than me really notices but, I do and it sometimes makes me crabby.

At those times, I head out and do a bit and then head back in to find something else to keep me busy so I am not feeling "useless". Today I was really scraping the bottom of the barrel. I saw some packages of burlap leaves that I had sitting here and set out on a quest to find some ways to use them. Not really any game changers but, by the time that I did it, photographed it and am now sitting here posting it, I have managed to busy myself for a bit...at least long enough that I feel like I have accomplished something and can go back to watching the entire "Parenthood" series without any feelings of guilt. Lol

I started with the mantel in the family room. I just slipped the stems over the wires of the lights and I like the way it looks during the day when they're usually off...

...and when the lights are on as well. This one is probably a keeper.

And then, I added two leaves to the book pumpkin and I like it as well. (Truth in posting...I have since added a third leaf and I love it even more!)

By the time I got into the dining room, I think I was just getting desperate to use up the leaves. I stuck the remaining ones into the dough bowl arrangement...but, I think this one is a no-go. Guess I'll have to keep looking for others ways to use those leaves.

As long as we're in the dining room, let me show you how things look without the new addition. This hand-me-down console table and winery sign still make my heart so happy. I had loved them forever in daughter #3's home. Lucky for me she is a decorator and changes up her decor frequently! She bought the sign when she was visiting the winery in Napa because our last name is "Ravn" and she thought the three ravens reminded her of herself and her two sisters...and it doesn't hurt that we like their wine. I loved this so much that I tried to order this poster online but, at least when I was trying, it was something only sold there at the vineyards. So, you can imagine the happy dance I did when she arrived one day with this in her trunk!

I'm glad that I happened upon some of my old stand-bys as I was bringing things in to decorate. Back in the day, when I decorated much more "country", I bought every crock, jug, etc. I came across. I have gotten rid of many of them over the years but I have also held onto some and this is the perfect time to bring them back out again.

I think the dough bowl looks so much better without the burlap leaves...as a matter of fact, they're already gone!

I so love that baluster that daughter #1 bought me from a salvage yard. It seems to be able to find a way to fit into almost every theme of my decorating over the year. I especially love it when it can serve as a holder for a very large candle!

So that is all of the dining room for this year. I just love how the oranges play with the green tones on my walls. This is absolutely my favorite time of year...at least IN my house where autumn prevails. Stay safe and stay tuned.

On to the Kitchen

Wish I could tell you all of the incredible things I have been up to but, alas, that would be stretching the truth..a lot. I have pretty much just been catching up on some necessary chores and looking for some new ideas. My grand sons start school earlier than my youngest grand daughter so she will be at my house for a few days and I am trying hard to come up with some back-to-school plans. With everyone's crazy schedule these days (mostly thanks to their sports responsibilities), our "normal" lunch or dinner is becoming almost impossible to plan-at least if we all want to be there to eat together. Lol I have decided to wait until Presley gets here and let her help me figure it all out.

And so, since that is on the back burner for today, let's head into the kitchen and see how autumn has arrived in there.

I always love unpacking all of my theme decor each month because, I so often forget the things that were new last year and it is like Christmas. This towel is one of those things. Daughter #3 gave it to me last year and I completely forgot about it until now...and, I love it!

And, I am almost giddy every year when I get to bring this beautiful Dutch oven out again. I love everything about this...perhaps the best part being that it is actually a Pioneer Woman pot. It wasn't totally inexpensive but it was nowhere near as expensive as its Le Cruset counterpart that I had drooled over for so many years. Believe me, I did a happy dance when I was able to track this down!

I'm also still totally in love with my autumn Fitz and Floyd pieces....

...and, of course, the tree pictures from my grand children. The "Eric Carle-esque" collage picture was done by grand daughter #2 and the one on the right was made with my three youngest grand children's fingerprints. What's not to love?

I also still love the photo taken by my long-time friend of her beautiful property at her new home in Tennessee. How lucky she is to see this gorgeous view every day during autumn!

So that is the kitchen for this year. Even though Mother Nature is not co-operating with me on the outside temperatures, inside it feels as if autumn has truly arrived and for that, I am grateful.

I'm heading off to do a little "MacGyver-ing". My ice maker has stopped producing ice. The internet says it could be a clogged water tube caused by freezing...so, I am going to see just what I can do about that...if anything. I'll let you know how it goes. Until then, stay safe and stay tuned.


P.S. If this blog posts in two different font sizes, I am sorry. Blogger is wanting everyone to change their format to a new version that I'm not totally crazy about. They said it isn't mandatory but, all of a sudden, all sorts of little glitches that have never happened before are popping up on the old format. Could be some friendly persuasion? Hmmmm?

Long Time Coming

I started telling you about these ornaments probably about six weeks ago. They all began with some images I had printed last year...with really no recollection of how I was going to use them. As soon as I realized that the large circle was about the size of a large Mason jar lid, I knew where I was going with them.

The first step was the dreaded "rusting" process which took forever and still didn't have exactly the results that I was going for...but, at least I didn't use any potentially toxic mixtures this time. Lol

The rest of the steps were pretty easy. Just as I was preparing to get out my Dremel drill for the daunting task of drilling a hole in the rings for the twine, I saw where someone else had posted about using their Cropodile for just that purpose. Now, I bought a Cropodile years ago for my scrapbooking but I only used it for paper. The thought of it easily punching through some pretty thick metal never occurred to me. But, I'm definitely glad I gave it a try (even gladder that I didn't sell it at the garage sale or, better yet, that I remembered where I stuck it away all those years ago-Lol) The hole went in like cutting through butter...way easier than trying to hold the ring while drilling through it.

The rest of the process was time consuming but not difficult. Lots of cutting, glittering, threading twine, more glittering and even more glittering! And, it actually took four different glues because I was gluing so many different elements.

I started by cutting the images and glittering the edges.

Then I cut circles out of Christmas cardstock and glued them on to the backs of the lids.

 The lids were glued into the rings, threaded with Christmas twine, embellished with a piece of boxwood, a poinsettia and a holly sprig and then a pile of snow glitter was added.

I ended up running a bead of glue and glitter around the back side as well.

And, we're done. I think I like them. They were tedious but I think they will look nice hanging on the tree.

And, as usual, I couldn't leave well enough alone. I just felt something was missing on the top of the snowman head but I didn't want to do a hat of any kind. Then I decided to fall back on an old stand by-tea stained tags.

I stamped on snowflakes and wrote the word "snow" and I still wasn't feeling it so, once again, out came the glitter!

And yes, I like it better. I am still mulling over a few other ideas but, sometimes, it is best to know when to stop. We shall see.

 

So that gives me three entirely different ornaments in my Covid-19 Collection for 2020. I am running low on other craft ideas so I might just have to look for another ornament to add to the mix?! You'll be the first to know. Stay safe and stay tuned.