Sunflowers...

I've always enjoyed changing out my decor accessories with the seasons. I like to keep things fresh and current, and seasonal change ups help curb my getting bored with my surroundings. A woman with too much time on her hands? well maybe... but I've always been this way, even with much more going on than I have now. The "color" of the seasons invigorates me, and keeps me motivated, and just plain puts a smile on my face.

This time of year I really love moving toward the darker colors. The rich browns, golds, greens, and just a hint that Autumn might be coming. Sunflowers have always been a summer favorite, with their vibrant golds and browns. They let me know that soon the mums will be blooming, a leaf will be turning orange, and that the long hot days of summer will surely come to an end.

No secret here that Fall is my favorite time of year. I gravitate toward the warmer color palette. I think we often choose clothing and decorate our surroundings in colors that harmonize with our "physical" color palette.  

Back twenty or thirty years ago when finding your "Season" was all the rage, I confused each person that tried to categorize me. I accentuate the red in my hair. Have green eyes, but my skin is darker and I turn brown in the summer. I land in the "Jeweled Autumn" category. Rich warm colors with a just a hint of pink. 

So bringing my Sunflowers into decorating is what I've been doing this last week. In changing out the window box on the Dining Room table (one of my favorite flea finds of all time) I also wanted a darker, more organic table runner. I found this wonderful piece of linen with black grain sack stripes and had them cut me 3 yards. I just folded it in half width-wise and left the raw ends as they are. 

I happened to find the perfect needlepoint pillow last week in Ozark at The Feathered Nest. It's a wonderful store that has vendor booth space and also new items. It has an earthy organic Country French vibe. I don't think the pillow was "new", I think it was in a vendor space. Anyway I grabbed it up and now it's setting on my old church pew in the Dining Room with some black ticking pillows and a scalloped matelasse coverlet .

Keeping my background in neutrals

 makes it so much easier to decorate for the seasons.

Using vintage and more organic accessories helps bring down the "ornate" factor in here. Deep down I'm not a frilly fou fou person. I like the mix of elegant and casual; French "court", and French "countryside". 

Here's one of my black tole trays that I purchased  last month when I was on a roll,  and a white ironstone "swirl" pitcher that my mom gave me when she downsized.

Nubby, yummy grain sack goodness.

Now, to just keep the cats off of this...

And speaking of sunflowers, I wanted to share again this wonderful dried sunflower head that I found last year. I wasn't able to keep it, because mold set in, I guess from being under the glass. So if any of you are growing and drying these large sunflower heads please let me know, I'd love to buy a few from you once they are harvested. 

Last Fall in my Living Room

So, what are some of the ways you love

 to decorate with the seasonal changes?

If you haven't entered the French Bleu Giveaway 

then please click here

I'll be linking up with these great parties:

Savvy Southern Style

A Stroll Thru Life

Very Merry Vintage Style

No Minimalist Here

Coastal Charm

Faded Charm

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

Rooted in Thyme

The Vintage Farmhouse

French Country Cottage

Stuff and Nonsense

The Charm of Home

At the Picket Fence

2805

Shabby Art Boutique

My Romantic Home

Praying for rain...