Harvest Blessings...

I put this fall display together with items I purchased at Hobby Lobby, my first ever visit to one.  I know a lot of people prefer natural vs. artificial, but in these cases I like the artificial....it won't die off and get ugly and it's reuseable....

These are the supplies I started with, a glass plate- painted from underneath with a copper finish. A bag of orange colored moss, a few artificial branches, some ceramic  pumpkins, stacked pumpkins on a stick, and candles.  I only used one candle, turned out to be too many items!

This is the final result....

This is the backside view...

The use of artificial branches loaded with pumpkins, berries and leaves give a nice full affect with texture- best thing about it, is I can change my mind and re-use each item in a different way!  I like to play with the branches, bend them into just the right spots and get the best look out of them!

 

For now it's on my end table, as Thanksgiving nears it will end up on the dining table!

Zig Zagging Decisions

My two new Pedestal Vases have gone through a real zig zag process....

I started out with the idea of them going on a floor pedestal and sitting on the floor on either side of the china cabinet....


When I brought them home and put them in the area I intended I realized they might not look as good there as I had hoped...

I set them on the dining table, and immediately felt good about them, but somehow I just wasn't convinced that this was the way to go...  

I briefly entertained the idea of them sitting on my wood tops that cover the built in cabinetry to the living room and divide the spaces between the dining and living room....

But what you can't see is on the left there is a lamp and some other candlesticks that are new and this competes with the lamp in proportion and scale

I started buzzing the internet at pictures of French decorating and saw this picture that gave me my final idea....

So my version has just begun, but here is my start..... 
I've stripped off most everything from the mantel so it looks a bit naked.  The metal swan feature is going to be replaced with an arch mirror....



















I've always wanted a mirror there but had been given advice that I shouldn't put a mirror there because of something to do with it being so high up and not reflecting anything.  I never fully agreed.  I have seen so many fireplace mantels with a mirror and many are high up, that I decided to go with my instincts and try a mirror.  After all, the mirror will reflect some amount of room light, as well as reflect anything that gets placed in front of it, and it will reflect some portion of the dining room and I don't see that as all bad!  The arch mirror seems to me to be a perfect marriage since it reflects the same shape seen in the windows and the wall above the mantel..


I will post the mirror when it arrives....and I will be working on ideas for decorating the rest of the mantel.  I think it's time for some crystal too!

I did order these topiary balls to set on top of the pedestal vases... 

This is picture of the mantel before I started making changes........

 I believe you have to be open minded and see all possibilities when decorating.  I never envisioned these pedestal vases to be on the mantel.
I am finally embracing my desire to decorate with a French style.  I've been playing with it in my kitchen area, which has a blend of Tuscan in it.  There will be a few other accents changed as I go along to pull this look together.

Decisions, Decisions!

I picked these up at a local decorators store 

going out of business.... I was drawn to them 

immediately... Now I'm deciding where they will actually be in the room...

     I didn't expect to put them on the table, though they do seem interesting there.

I'm actually visualizing a corbel style shelf for them on the wall either side of the china cabinet where the other wall vases are....  What do you think?

Small update here..
I'm playing with greenery I had already....first attempt to decorate it, what do you think? 

Cock a doodle doo!

I've been adding roosters to my life more and more....these are my new dishes....I  love how cheerful they are, excellent for mornings!  Heck anytime of the day!  

 

  


This is Napoli Rooster by Pfaltzgraff

I placed my new whimsical rooster piece in the cupboard with the dishes....just having some fun! But I think I will leave it there because I like it!

This a platter and plate from the set...

This is Daybreak by Pfaltzgraff






A view of my tiny galley style kitchen. I have waterglass in the doors, which I chose so it would diffuse the look as you view the cupboards and allow me to not worry about having everything perfect..I have my old Mikasa-Brywood set in the other cupboard. A full 12 pc. place setting collection with platters, serving bowls and more.  It's too large for me to store anywhere else (small house, not enough storage!)