This is not a DIY project I was looking forward to but was forced to try. Years ago, I purchased several beautiful fabric pumpkins at a school fundraiser. Every year when I unpack them they look fabulous. Not this year. For some reason, weevils (?) infiltrated the fabric pumpkins and had a year to reproduce. It was so gross!

So I discarded the pumpkins that were badly damaged. In saving the pumpkin stems, I wasn’t sure if the weevils are taking up residence in there. Placing the stems in ziplock bags, I put them in the freezer just in case.

Since I have leftover fabric at the cabin, next on the shopping list is filler for the pumpkins. The infested ones had both dried kidney beans and rice. Unfortunately, Safeway is completely out of dried kidney beans (go figure). So I am forced to use rice. Next thing to buy is bay leaves.

Since most of the residual pumpkin stems are on the smaller side, I measure the fabric for a 10″ circle using a Pyrex bowl.

The only thread I could find up here is from the Dollar Store and doesn’t look like the best quality. So I use four strands on my larger needle. Using the basting stitch, I go around the entire circle of fabric.

By tightening up the thread, you create a pouch which is ready for the filling.

On this first pumpkin, I use only rice. In retrospect, I may have overfilled it as the pumpkin is a bit hard and not a pliable. In order to prevent future weevils, I add bay leaves too.

You will need strong thread (or 4 strands like mine) because in order to close the pumpkin, you must pull it together to minimize the opening.

Taking the needle, I sew back and forth, and side to side to securely close the top.

Using a glue gun, I affix the stems to the top of the pumpkin. (Thank you to my friend and neighbor, Kathy for letting borrow this!)

Holding the stem in place for several seconds, guarantees a secure fit. If you don’t have actual pumpkin stems, you can use a stick or cork and apply it the same way.

For the next pumpkin, I use a bigger bowl to measure for a medium size one (the bowl is 13-14″ in diameter). I repeat the same process but instead of using just rice, I put about 1/2 cup of rice in the bottom and use polyester fiber fill. The combination of the two makes a more pliable pumpkin.

This one is a little more difficult to stitch due to the thickness of the fabric.

Again, secure the stem to the pumpkin with the glue gun.

Here are the results of this DIY project. It is interesting that the fabric plays a role in how the pumpkin performs. The stiffer the fabric, the less squishy the pumpkin.

In addition to adding bay leaves to the filler, I am also placing several bay leaves inside the plastic storage box. Let’s hope these little critters are dead and gone.

To see how I use these fabric pumpkins for fall decorating in previous years, click here.

This post shared with Thursday Favorite Things

So last night, I was thinking about all the things that make a house a home. This started when I was admiring my lamps in the master bedroom at our cabin. I was relentless in hunting down these lamps, which literally took weeks. I first saw them in a photo (above) of a Sarah Richardson bedroom.

Who remembers the television show, Sarah’s House back in 2014? Sarah Richardson is a Canadian designer and at that time, I was a big fan and loved her style. Rich in fabrics and textures, her bedrooms are dreamy and colorful. Both Sarah Richardson and Candice Olsen were all the rage before Joanna and Chip Gaines.

When the lamps arrived in 2 BIG boxes, I was so excited. So every time I turn on the lights by our bed, I am reminded of how determined I was to purchase these lights. Our master bedroom cabin is on the large size and the scale of these lamps is P.E.R.F.E.C.T!

Luckily, Paulo Bracket Light TOB2201 designed by Thomas O’Brien can still be found through Circa Lighting and through online searches.

The brass arm is articulating and therefore you can pull the light closer to you if needed. The barley twist leg side table is one I found at a thrift store. Someone had waxed and chalk painted over the beautiful wood. It took quite a while to get it back to its original patina, but it is definitely another special piece.

The basket below the table (since there are no drawers) holds my reading material, hand cream and other night time necessities.

Back to Sarah Richardson….So I haven’t seen her work in a few years and I do not believe she has a current television show. Thanks to the internet, I looked her up and boy, has her style changed. She is now more minimalistic and modern. Surprisingly, in one of her videos she is using lots of IKEA pieces. Though her spaces are beautifully orchestrated, I find them lacking the warmth and interest from her previous style. But to each’s own, right?

So what elements make a house a home? For me, it is furnishing my home with pieces I love. That there is a story behind each one. The pieces do not belong to a set, but have unique features and qualities. They vary in age and style but they work together for me.

Like this picture. My mother found this four poster bed on the side of the road for sale for $4.00. It was painted red and she and I stripped it back to its original wood. This was my childhood bed and now it is in my daughter’s bedroom at the cabin.

Or the quilt~which I found during a cross country driving trip. It was in an old antique store black with dirt. I carefully hand washed it in a bathtub of Ivory Snow before I finally saw the beautiful complex stitching. Or the Ralph Lauren sheets that I paid for with my first big promotion. The Laura Ashley rug is from my very first house in Connecticut ~back when Laura Ashley was a thing!

The painting of the pink roses is mine~done in my first year of taking art classes. So many memories in one small room!

There has only been two times in my life where I used an interior designer. When I was a corporate executive, I was traveling a great deal and depended on others to pull my home together. I can honestly say I have no connections with the items they purchased. There is no story to be told except my memory of paying them for their services. Finally, after many years, I have removed several of those pieces and replaced them with meaningful ones.

Maybe my home and cabin aren’t magazine worthy, but they are filled with antiques, vintage, unique pieces and glorious memories. I can recount with nearly every item, where I got it, the life stage I was in and how it touched my heart.

When you look around your home, what do you see? Cherished items and wonderful memories? Or a perfectly staged home that is magazine worthy? Or both (lucky you!)?

I know some people would say that you shouldn’t get so attached to “things”. But they are more than that to me. These items spark wonderful thoughts and memories of all the different phases of my life. When I see the houndstooth sofa in the above picture, I see my teenage daughter Elisabeth, giggling and plopping down on it.

Could I let go of all of them? Yes, because the feelings and memories remain in my heart. But these cherished items help tell the story of my life and my family. And that is worth clinging to.

If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share on Pinterest. To see more pictures of our cabin, click here.

This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday #610

I love incorporating natural materials into any DIY project for two reasons. 1) You cannot replicate nature and its beauty; 2) Natural products are free and do not cost anything. Good quality faux branches and flowers are expensive. And even though they are pretty, they are not genuine or unique as Nature provides. Have you ever made a wreath using natural materials?

Materials You will Need

Currently, I am still at our cabin in the mountains and resources and supplies are very limited. There is a Walmart about a 25 minute drive from here and often, they are low on inventory. The only wreath frames available are 2 18″ grapevine wreaths for $4.74 each. In addition, I needed a wire cutter for $4.88 and floral wire for $1.47. Any kind of wreath frame will work.

Walmart’s faux floral section is so depleted and what is left, well, let’s just say it isn’t my taste. However, I was recently very inspired by a blog post written by Christine from Designs and Events. She made a wreath using roadside plants and greens. Since I’ve never made a wreath using natural materials, I thought I’d give it a try. Don’t you just love it when someone or something inspires you?

Foraging for Plant Material

The mornings here are crisp and cool now which is a great time to scavenge and hunt for just the right foliage. I do not know the names of these plants and they could be weeds for all I know. But I am looking for different textures, colors and sizes to make sure the wreath is interesting.

Wreath #1

Prep Your Work Space

Armed with my straw basket I set out looking for a variety of cuttings. The oak and aspen trees provide good material for the backdrop of the wreath. When I return home, I spread out a plastic tablecloth to assemble the wreath. Be prepared for a few bugs too.

Fill in the Background

I cut the oak leaves into manageable sizes and wire them to the grapevine wreath. Then I add the aspen greens, tucking them among the oak.

Here is what the wreath looks like at this stage.

Add Different Elements

Next I add this very fall looking flower (not sure the name), tucking the stems in with the greenery.

Using an odd number of sprig groupings, I sprinkle them around the wreath.

Next I add this soft, tubular shaped grass (?) with its sage green tones.

Since I don’t have a glue gun up here, I am tucking the stems in the wire used to secure the oak and aspen leaves. With the grapevine structure, it is easy to slip the stems into that as well.

These dark, rusty red branches already have dried leaves on them. Placing them on the bottom of the wreath, will lead your eye to the center. Another option would be to break them into smaller pieces and scatter them through the whole wreath.

Finding fresh thistle with its purple spikes was a painful delight. They are SO thorny and prickly. Wearing gloves is important while working with them.

So here is Wreath #1. Ribbon would be a great addition however, I failed to buy one.

Wreath #2

With the second wreath I decide to do something a bit loose and less complicated. Using the leftover grasses, I wrap them with the floral wire around the second grapevine form.

Isn’t this just pretty as is?

Using a few pumpkin and amaranthus picks from Walmart for $0.97 each, I only decorate one side. Here are some autumn picks from Amazon.

Here is how Wreath #2 looks!

The fun part of this project is that you can create whatever you want. This is a very cost effective way to make your very own wreath with natural materials for under $10.

Neccesity is the Mother of invention here at the cabin. Not having lots of material available is forcing me to think out of the box. I put the second wreath up by our front door and it looks just perfect there!

Wishing you a fabulous weekend!

If you love wreaths and follow Pinterest, I have a Wreath Board you can find here. As always, if you enjoyed this post, please share with others.

This post shared with Tuesday Turnabout #66

Charming Homes and Gardens #24

To Grammas House We Go Link Party #209

Creative Crafts Linky Party #7

Since the lifestyle at our mountain cabin is mostly part-time and casual, I do not have an extensive supply of table setting items. It is a bit of a challenge to come up with an elaborate table, with limited supplies. So it’s time to become resourceful!

I am excited to participate in a Welcome Fall Tablescape Blog Hop, hosted by Chloe from Celebrate and Decorate. You will find table inspiration from 20 bloggers at the bottom of this post.

Feeling a bit conflicted because I am here at our cabin without a lot of “things”, I am determined to create a lovely table for this blog hop. And since we aren’t here very often, I really don’t even recall what I have or don’t have. And the scavenger hunt begins!

Start with Linens

So I begin the search for linens, dishes, glasses and natural items for the centerpiece. Fortunately, in the kitchen armoire, I discover this unopened Hemstitched linen tablecloth from Willams Sonoma. An obvious bargain purchase, the gold colored tablecloth is the inspiration for this post. You can find similar tablecloths here on Amazon.

Select Your Dishes

Using our every day dishes from Pier 1 imports, the gold tablecloth picks up the yellow in the plate. This when things start to come together!

Centerpiece Ideas?

Fall to me means all the colors of nature~the earth tones of red, yellow, browns and greens. Luckily, I located some artificial autumn leaves in the garage. But after being stored they are wrinkled and curled. With an iron on VERY low heat, I press the leaves that are in the worst condition.

At this point, the gold table cloth seems a little boring to me. What to do? I find a bolt of fabric leftover from a previous project stored in a closet.

The warm tones of the cotton are perfect and I have enough to cut a runner. And the cotton is nice and soft to be made into napkins.

Being here in the mountains, I have access to natural elements like pinecones. I collect a big bowl of them, intent on using them somehow on the table.

Utilizing What You Have

And here is how the table looks! I am pleased that I am able to use what I found around the cabin and didn’t go to any additional expense to put it together. The centerpiece is two sheaths of wheat, the faux fall leaves, pinecones, brass pumpkins, brass candlesticks and numerous votives. If you are looking for brass candlesticks, Amazon has a great selection.

Adding brass elements give it a bit of brightness yet complements the theme. The pinecones become easy place card holders.

I don’t have chargers here, but the burgundy dinner plate anchors the place setting. The fabric runner provides a nice base for all the fall decor.

Night Time Table

At night, the candles create an autumn warmth which gives it a magical feel.

The only stemmed wine glasses we have are numbered, and it’s a good way for people to keep track of their own glass.

For me, the key lesson here is that you can create a pretty table setting with items you already have around the house or in the yard. That bolt of fabric? I hadn’t used it in over 10 years. Now it will become part of my linen collection!

I hope you enjoy this post and thank you so much for visiting today. If you are new to my blog, welcome! For those who have followed me for a long time, I am so grateful for your support. Please let others know if you enjoyed this and share on Pinterest.

Welcome to the Fall Tablescape Blog Hop!

Now onto other Fall Tablescapes! Please check out these other talented bloggers and as always, we love your comments!

Celebrate & Decorate |  Design Morsels | Mantel and Table |Corner of Plaid and Paisley | Home is Where the Boat Is | Belle Blue Interiors|Calypso in the Country | Our Crafty Mom | My Thrift Store Addiction | The Painted Apron|The Little Yellow Corner Store | Sweet Sensations | Living With Thanksgiving | Panoply|Life and Linda | Everyday Living | Bluesky at Home  |Life at Bella Terra | Red Cottage Chronicles | Cozinest 

This post shared with Tuesday Turn About #65

Charming Homes & Gardens #23

Centerpiece Wednesday Karin’s Kottage

To Gramma’s House We Go Link Party #208

Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday #625

Thursday Favorite Things #456~An Artful Mom

Do you have an odd-shaped closet? Like most older homes, we have a front hall closet in our foyer. Since we rarely wear coats or jackets here, having a closet to hang them in is just bonus space. This particular closet isn’t square, because it tucks underneath the U-shaped front staircase.

One side of the closet has a 9 1/2 foot ceiling while the other side is 6′ tall. One side is shallow at 16″ wide while that other is 24″ wide. Oddly shaped, indeed! Instead of outerwear, this closet houses most of my tablecloths, table runners, napkins and lampshades. I want to share with you some of my odd-shaped closet solutions.

The Before

The closet accommodates our battery box for the security system and an HVAC chase cuts into the closet interior. Plus there is no lighting.

Another embarrassing photo as the closet is a mess. It’s a good place to shove things out of the way when you are having company. Obviously, it is in need of organization and cleaning. Plus, my apologies for the quality of the photos. It’s hard to take pictures inside a small, dark closet!

Shelving Solutions

Originally, the closet had no shelves or rods. Adding two fixed shelves to fit into the deeper side of the closet, and two pull out “shelves” instantly adds storage space. These are custom made to fit the area, using conventional drawer slides. Making the shelves to fit is easy.

Designing the rack for hanging the tablecloths is fun as it pulls out so I can get access to all the tablecloths. Using wooden dowels placed into a box made from 3.5″ x 3/4″ sections of wood, this is a simple DIY project.

Lighting

Battery operated lighting is added for some illumination. These wall mounted string pulled lights use 2 D batteries. However, there are many other kinds of lights you can find. Here is a link to some that are motion sensor, which I would probably choose now if I didn’t already have these.

Sort and Organize

After emptying out all the contents into the front hall, I took the time to inventory the contents. I did the Marie Kondo method on each item~did it bring me joy? Surprisingly, I had good memories of most of the tablecloths (the one I bought in Italy, that bargain at the yard sale, etc) but a nice pile will be donated to the thrift store. To see how I used this method in our master closet, click here.

The remaining tablecloths are measured and labeled using circular paper tags that you typically see on key chains. These are secured to the tablecloth with a safety pin.

Other tablecloths are folded and placed on the fixed shelves. These linens don’t require as much maintenance as the ones on the hanging rods. The shelves are labeled to differentiate the different shaped linens ~round, square, rectangular.

Different Uses for Ordinary Things

I also add inexpensive double bathroom towel bars to the closet to hang the table runners.

The current organization system for napkins is binding like ones together in ribboned packages. Napkins are labeled, ironed and ready to go.

The napkin packages are placed in baskets and sit on one of the fixed shelves. Seasonal napkins are stacked and any tassels or other table decor items are placed in Zip-loc bags.

And there is room on the shelf for placemats.

Use the Space Above Your Head

The final area for storage opportunity is taking advantage of the section of the closet that has a 9 1/2 foot ceiling. Placing a pulley system on the ceiling, allows me to store items up and out of the way.

For me I don’t ever seem to have storage space for lamp shades. Back in the day, I would change out lamp shades for each season (whiter, lighter ones for summer and so on).

I tie the end of the rope to the lamp shade rings and then cover the shades in plastic for protection.

Hoist them up by pulling on the rope and tuck them away and out of sight!

The rope is quite long so I wind it into a neat, small circle and let it rest on the table runner bar. Think of all the things you can tuck up out of sight!

The After

What I like about this closet is that is has storage ideas that work perfectly for this space. The closet is just right around the corner from the dining room, so all linens that are needed for setting a lovely table are within reach. Hanging the finer linen helps keep it wrinkle free and ready to go on the table.

I hope you enjoy today’s blog post about closet storage. A delightful group of friends are sharing their Small Space and Closet organization tips. Please check out their information and leave lots of comments!

This post shared with Metamorphosis Monday #606 Between Naps on the Porch

Chas from Chas’ Crazy Creations is giving solutions on How to Organize a Closet with these tips, tricks and hacks.

Andrea from Design Morsels is sharing her tips on Sweater Storage!

Tarah from Grammas House DIY focuses on the small spaces in her Master Bathroom.

Niky from The House on Silverado on Bathroom Drawer and Linen Closet Organization.

Cynthia from Create with Cynthia is doing a roundup of small space organization ideas.

Kristin from White Arrows Home is sharing multi-tasking Closet ideas.

Kippi from Kippi at Home is showing us her Home Office and her Organizing Solutions.

I hope you have enjoyed today’s blog hop and picked up a few new and interesting organizational ideas.

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Thank you for joining me today as I share my Saturday meanderings. Happy Labor Day weekend! If you ask most people, they probably don’t realize why this is a federal holiday. In 1894 Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday. Labor Day celebrates the social and economic achievements of American workers. Let’s remember the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. There is nothing like the American work ethic and ingenuity, especially during the pandemic.

Wherever you are, please enjoy your time with family and friends. I’m praying for a peaceful weekend, so be safe and smart.

Let Them Eat Cake

I spent the first few days of September tackling my lengthy To Do list. You know, those nagging items that you put off until the last minute. But I did take some time and make a new recipe from The Kitchen McCabe. This Vanilla Bean Olive Oil Cake is so dense, moist and flavorful.

Somewhere in our home is my fluted Bundt pan but for the life of me I couldn’t find it. Instead, I used a plain tube pan, which in retrospect, allow more space for the icing and strawberries. My neighbor said it was one of my best cakes, so click here for the link to the recipe.

I am a fan of The Kitchen McCabe, as you might remember this gorgeous Candied Orange Olive Oil Cake with Cornmeal and Rum from a small luncheon with friends. If not, click here for that post.

Baking Bread

My least favorite time to cook in the kitchen is during the summer in Phoenix. Even though we have air conditioning, the minute you turn on the oven, it’s just too darn hot. Being teased this week by cooler temperatures in the morning, we made sourdough bread. The process is time consuming (takes all day) but the results are worth it. The yield produced two loaves of dried cranberry/walnut; one loaf of sourdough and enough dough for two pizzas.

Remember if you live nearby and want some sourdough starter, please reach out. I have happily shared it with two others so far and each are making bread with siblings of Bubbles and Hope (it’s normal to name your starter…..). Want to learn more about sourdough? Check out my Sourdough 101 blog post here.

Pumpkin Disaster

My huge fall disappointment involves my large collection of velvet and fabric pumpkins. I have literally owned these for years. Each year I store them in plastic boxes to keep them dust free. This year, I opened the box and every pumpkin is infested with bugs. Eeewwww. The critters ate into the fabric. The filling appears to be dried beans but these bugs are similar to the ones you get in your pantry?

These pumpkins are a staple in my fall decorating. Does anyone know how to prevent this? I have seen tutorials on making fabric pumpkins and rice, beans are the filling of choice. I certainly don’t want to go to the effort to make more and then have this happen again.

Happy Hens

The 14 baby chicks we acquired in the Spring are now laying…..alot! Each day we have 8-10 fresh eggs. So if anyone is in the area and would like fresh eggs, please let me know. We sell them for $5 a dozen (less than the Farmer’s Market).

Fortunately, I have a beautiful egg apron, made by my sister, Susie. Not only did she embroider chickens on the front, but the apron has my blog name on the back. Wish I took a picture of the entire apron as it is really cute. The apron has ten individual pockets for me to use when I collect eggs every afternoon. It feels like such a luxury to have something so pretty and practical.

Where Were you a Year Ago?

A year ago today, I was touring this beautiful Scandinavian home in Vail. This property has since become my inspiration for our mountain cabin. I don’t believe I have ever been in a home that is so unique, warm and welcoming.

Garden Update

My garden is always a bit stressed during the summer and especially this year, with little to no rain and record breaking temperatures. The no rain part is particularly worrisome.

This week I ripped out all the toasted plants and am adding compost to the soil in preparation of fall planting. The fountain in the middle is being repaired too! The only two plants that are still thriving are basil and my shishito pepper plant.

We’ve added new PVC structural posts over multiple beds to hold shade or frost cloth. I will be writing a new post about that soon, as it has been very helpful to protect plants through extreme weather.

Have you been making your own compost during this pandemic? It is super easy and a great way to turn your food scraps into organic fertilizer. If not, check out this great post on Composting 101. See it here.

Cute Affordable Kimono

You will never see my name and fashion in the same sentence. I’m just not very good at it. But I must share this great find and it is only $23.99. It is a nice long kimono and comes in numerous colors and designs. Here I have it paired with a white tank and pants with pale blue accessories. You can view it on Amazon here. Every time I wear it, I get compliments. Not bad for under $25.

We are spending the weekend (and hopefully longer) up in the mountains. It is SO quiet right now. Sox is asleep at my feet and I’m just enjoying all the non-noise. My geraniums finally look amazing! Looking forward to a weekend of R & R.

Have a fabulous 3 day holiday!

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