Fall Vignettes with Faux Flowers and a Sweet Floral Gift

This little mishmash post came about because of an empty orange Du Monde Chicory Coffee can. We bought this chicory coffee several years ago and when emptied out, my husband mentioned I might want to save it because of the advertising and pretty orange color. Good call, Hubby! When this fall rolled around I was excited to see how I could use it in a small floral arrangement.  

Late Summer Entry with 2 Mini Updates

Subtle changes are showing up around the house, now that we're into August. This is the time I switch gears and look toward fall. As I've said before, August used to be my least favorite time of the year, but now I look at it differently... it's a transition time leading up to the cooler months and my favorite season. Autumn.

Quick Spring to Summer Urn Vignette

Hi Friends, do you ever feel like you're busy but not accomplishing much? That's how it's been around here lately; always something to do but not feeling like I'm getting anything worthwhile done. The weather has been storm after rolling storm and in between hot humid weather that leaves me worn out. I planted some pretty flower containers a few weeks ago but it's been a constant battle between the digging squirrels and the deer and an occasional goose deciding to try something new. 

Holiday Dining Room with Holly Topiaries

Hello Friends, Wow what a weekend. Filled with family and so much fun and so many blessings. I hope you all had an equally Happy Christmas. I'm playing "Christmas Catch-up" this week, trying to get in a last couple of Christmas posts for my video diary. I like to do this for myself even if it's on the back side of Christmas. I try to mix it up each year so I won't get décor lazy. A Home Tour each year gives me a visual of what I've done for Christmas décor. Hopefully, you might enjoy it too. 

French Country Urn and Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Hello everyone, so glad you're here today to join us for the Grateful Gatherings Thanksgiving Hop hosted by our wonderful friend Laura from Decor to Adore.  If you're following the Hop and coming by via Lora Bloomquist at Create and Ponder then an extra special welcome and Hello. What a wonderful time of year to have a gathering of friends as we share our own way of celebrating a grateful Thanksgiving occasion.

Old World Nature Inspired Urn

Hi Friends, I'm sharing some of my favorite Fall and Thanksgiving inspiration posts from previous years, along with new posts with some fun ideas for making the transition of Fall and Thanksgiving to Christmas. Here's a magazine inspiration urn I put together several years ago from when I picked up a Victoria Magazine Special Edition, called Victoria Classic French Cottage . 

Early Fall Sideboard and Vintage Basket Bouquet

A couple of weeks ago, I was out in the garage sorting tubs full of fall florals. Our garage is temperature controlled, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to do that. The previous owners  were very innovative and vented the sunroom AC into the garage, so thankyou! My fall tub count is far and away the most, even compared to Christmas décor. I was gathering like florals and took out these realistic looking straw/paper black eyed susans from the others. I just randomly stuck them in the old funeral basket which was within reach for later. 

Elegant Urns for Fall

The Creeping Fig

If you're looking for a way to make a statement with your Fall decor, especially in an Entry, Dining Room, or really, anywhere you want to grab attention, use an urn as your focal point. Whether it's inside or out, urns command a second look and always seem to elevate the French Elegance factor. Today I'm sharing a load of inspiration and ideas on ways to create a one-of-a-kind decor centerpiece.

Easter's on it's Way in the Entry

Celebrating Easter this year will be different, but maybe even more special as we seek spiritual hope and guidance during this uncertain time. When we watch the news or think too much about what's going on in the world around us, we might be considering putting some things on hold. Blogging about decor might seem frivolous to some but helps many of us stay plugged in with others and social. And... it's a wonderful way to stay positive and inspired.

Topiary, Two Ways to Transition to Fall

August used to be my least favorite month of the year... well, OK, maybe it's still my least favorite month but that's only because I'm not a fan of the heat that August usually brings with it. We're having a week or two here in SW Missouri that feels like the middle of September, in the low 80's and some rain, and that is a wonderful reprieve. We've had summers that we had no rain whatsoever and the temps were over 100 for days. But in the last few years since blogging, I've realized that August can be one of my favorite months...

French Wagon Vignette

Earlier in the Spring you might remember that I decided to paint my little black Frenchy wagon a light gray. Since then it's become my favorite tabletop decor piece for the Dining Room. I had put off painting it for years, even though I knew I would like it much better. Now it sort of "disappears" on the tabletop, which helps it blend in with all the other elements I love to use.

Entry Urn for Spring

Up until last week I had the urn, here in the Entry, filled with Faux Paperwhites; they are my favorite "go-to" flower year round. Paperwhites fit any season with their delicate orchid like blooms, but I was ready for something a little different so I decided to go with a natural Springtime woodsy look using faux blooming branches, sticks and pussy willows.

A Winter Dining Room in Neutrals

Since packing up the Christmas decor I've been bringing out my light and neutral decor pieces. In the Dining Room that meant changing out the table runner and doing something a little different on the table. 

My Favorite Urn...For Fall

I've had this Pottery Barn Urn for the last 5 years I think, and I have to say it's one of my favorite pieces to use in decor. It's almost always in use no matter what the season, but Fall has to be my favorite look. 

It's just the right size to plop in a big fat pumpkin, 

no matter whether it's faux or real.

The Living Room and Leopard Print Pillows

Hi Everyone, things have been quiet around here and I've been keeping my nose to the grindstone so to speak, in regards to my quest in sorting through more boxes of decor and organizing my storage room downstairs. 

Thanksgiving Table-top Vignette

Through my inevitable "process" of tweaking and changing up,

I finally decided on the tabletop vignette in the Dining Room.

Enough of you have confided to me that you're as OCD as I am, 

and cannot... will not, leave something alone.

Not until it's been done to death 

and we reach the place where it "works".

Nature Inspired Autumn Urn

I've had this Nature Inspired Autumn Urn in my head since last Spring, when I picked up a Victoria Magazine Special Edition, called Victoria Classic French Cottage . I'm hoping it will become a yearly publication, because it was filled with wonderful features of French and French Inspired Cottages. There was one particular image that completely captured my imagination, from an article called Living With The Past.

Contemplating a New Fall Centerpiece...

That's what is going on...

I'm thinking about a new centerpiece display for the Dining Room Table. I haven't really made a commitment yet, because I'm not ready to start bringing the turkeys out. But since October is flying by, I'm putting together some ideas. It's a work in progress...

Table top Conservatory

Little by little I'm making headway with some of my display pieces. This table top conservatory made of old windows and siding sat empty in the corner of the basement living area for months. I'm hoping, now that I have a few more decorative pieces unboxed, that I can keep it up to date with the seasons. So far I've only made one attempt, and that was in May, so it's still dressed for Spring... or late Spring... or early Summer. 

A Temporary No-Sew Table Runner

...or the "I'm lazy 

and I don't want to sew this right now",

table runner.

Last week I was sharing with you all my love/hate relationship with my sewing machine. That I'm not too fond of sewing, but I find myself frequently needing a change-up in decor with pillows, table runners, curtains etc. And actually, my sewing machine is (a) over at the storage unit(s), (b) it's too cold to go hunting for it, (c) I'd have to bribe my hubby to go spend an hour or so messing with it. (Do any of these excuses sound reasonable?)