Autumn Appreciation...

Wooden Pillar Holders and Pillar Trio: Partylite (discontinued); Paris print: internet; Hello Fall wooden sign: Target dollar bin section; maple leaf ribbon: Michael's Crafts; Owl tealight holder: Dollar General; Aqua Rooster Pitcher: Food Network line at Kohl's; Burlap leaves and sprays: Michael's Crafts; Brass Scroll Sconces: Partylite (discontinued);
mini pumpkin: Big Y Stores

I have been remiss in my blogging duties again!  But our house has been bustling since my last update.  My sister had her baby and while I have been trying to organize our house for Fall, it has just not been coming together as I had hoped.  Translation: I have been lazier than I'd hope to be.

But I have managed to get some Fall décor up.  Notably, I am not the best photographer anyway.  But I find that our Craftsman home, which is beautiful but rather dark thanks to all the wood trim and paneling, is particularly difficult to photograph.

So, here are the pictures and forgive my lack of skill.  I am sure you will get the idea.

Silhouette Teapot: HomeGoods; leaf jar holder: Partylite, glass clock: Thrift shop find; Autumn leaf glass tray: Pier One; white plate frame: Michael's Crafts; mini white pumpkins: Big Y stores

Fabric Photo coffee table book: Ikea; turquoise leaf metallic lampshade: Target; Leaf fabric for toss pillow: Jo-Ann's; Black sweater throw pillow: Walmart

Aqua frames: Target; Clean House sign: specialty shop in Mystic, CT; French inspired Clock: Ikea; Red painted M: letter and craft paint from Michael's Crafts

Red patterned tablerunner:  Target circa 2013, Threshold brand; Ironstone basin and pitcher: antique store finds; Pinecones; Dollar General; red and orange berry garland: Michael's Crafts

Threshold Farrah Curtains in Black: Target (discontinued in 2013)

Red Bicycle Canvas Art: HomeGoods; Red Distressed Burlap Frame: Michael's Crafts, Eiffel Tower Print: Target 2009; small wooden sign: Mystic CT specialty shop



I made that bunting banner from a recycled paper banner purchased from the Target dollar bin section, and I hand stenciled and painted the letters and leaves using Acrylic craft paint from Michael's.

 

Glass Cake Pedestal: HomeGoods; Glass Hand Blown Pumpkin and Glass Pumpkin Cookie Jars belong to my sister, the Beta Fish is my nephew Micah's

that beautiful Watercolor Autumn painting was done by my uncle, Jeff Messenger, who is a local artist.  The brass candlesticks have been my mother's as long as I can remember, and the brass pillar stand and snuffer are Partylite from years ago.  The Cranberry wreath came from Christmas Tree Shops in North Conway, NH.

 

Fall / Winter Accent Pillows

And because the sewing machine was already out, and I seem bitten by the fall / winter bug super early this year, I stitched these up...

One set for Autumn, and one set for Winter.  Both fabrics came from Jo-Ann.  The autumn one was entitled "Leaves and Postcards" and the snowflake one didn't seem to have a name.  Both are soft, lightweight, pillow case materials as opposed to the standard home décor fabric I normally use for throw pillows.  But since these are small accent décor pieces (14 x 14), I thought I would make them more comfy as Micah complains that some of my heavier weight jacquard or burlap or twill pillows are "scratchy." 

Have to please the kiddos sometimes.  These will be appropriately sized for Micah's little 4T head as he lounges on the couch watching his "shows".

 

this gives you a little view of the back (envelope style, easy to remove and wash)

 



All Knit Everything...

It's no secret that we are embarking on my FAVORITE time: September to December.  The best four months of the entire calendar year!!!!  Hey, I like to be cold.  Messengers have lived in New England since 1637, so I think the cold Northeast air is in my bones.

There is almost nothing I love more than sweater weather.  And speaking of sweaters, I was perusing the October issue of Country Living Magazine which showed up in my mailbox yesterday, and they featured a red, knit inspired teapot from Yedi Housewares.   And that got me thinking about all the things I have loved over the years that are knit or cable knit inspired.

Their Red collection is entitled "Sweater" and I adore all of it:  It turns out it also comes in Blue, White, and Taupe so there is something for everyone's color taste.

Yedi Housewares Sweater Collection

And then, after I looked up the red teapot, I found all of this!  I wish that cake plate especially would find its way into one of my cupboards.  (Cake Platter, $49.99)   This collection is entitled "Matte Sweater" and it's a bit daintier and is featured in Baby Blue or Eggshell White.

Yedi Housewares Matte Sweater Collection



http://yedihouseware.com/products/footed-cake-platter-28cm-2

On my lengthy cold weather to do list is to make a few sweater throw pillow covers.  I love the idea of putting out sweater pillows for fall to winter, because they are sort of generically winter themed and won't need to be put away at Christmas.  Plus they would be comfortable: Micah is not a fan of some of my twill decorative pillow covers because he likes to use a soft pillow.  I plan to mine our thrift shop and maybe Goodwill for some fun finds to accomplish this.  But in the meantime, here is some inspiration for you.  Winter is coming!  Get your home ready.

I think this woman's tutorial for sewing sweater pillows is excellent, plus her tip for lining the pillows with another fabric so they hold their shape and don't look all wonky and squooshed seems genius.  I could have seen myself making that same mistake initially if I hadn't read her post.  Cami blogs at Tidbits, and I found her tutorial via Pinterest (of course).  Follow the link to her website in the caption! 

Repurposed Sweater Pillow Tutorial, Tidbits blog

This votive pair from Partylite has always been a favorite of mine, but for some reason, I just never got around to buying it.  Probably because my home is already overflowing with candle stuff and I have to get rid of some before I can get more.  But I just got the newsletter in my email from my candle lady Julie, and noticed that this pair is in their Clearance Outlet (marked down from $30 original price to $8.10, which is an insane steal!  The link to buy this from my candle lady Julie is under the photo.   If you are interested, hurry, because these will disappear soon.

Partylite Cable Knit Pair

I found these coasters on Pinterest, and it took me awhile to find the original maker, but I did it.  Her name is Alyssa Ettinger, and unfortunately her shop is closed for now, but she still maintains a website with a link to her knitware line!  It's gorgeous: I hope she starts making it again in the near future.  

Alyssa Ettinger Design

Alyssa Ettinger Design

 

This spread in Country Living caught my eye a long time ago.  I can't remember what issue it was featured in (maybe their winter white issue in 2014) but they still feature this on the website.  So, I tracked down the artist who creates this line, and it is Danielle Spector of Reshape Studio...



http://www.countryliving.com/shopping/g1253/white-knitted-home-decorations/?slide=3

Now technically, these look woven, but Country Living included them as part of their knit home décor article, so I am going to say they count!  I love this idea for storing wood next to the fireplace, or for kindling/newspaper next to the fireplace.  I am toying with the idea of crocheting some large baskets like this for that exact purpose.  Apparently these were originally sold as part of the Robert Ogden for Lostine line, but they are no longer for sale on their website that I can find.

http://www.countryliving.com/shopping/g1253/white-knitted-home-decorations/?slide=5

Last, but certainly not least, why not cozy up your fall decorations by trying your hand at this awesome Finger Knit Wreath (follow the link to get the pattern) or this fabulous idea to repurpose old sweaters into home décor pumpkins. 

Old Fashioned Living Finger Knit Wreath Pattern

Homeward Found Decor Sweet Sweater Pumpkin Tutorial
 

I think these pumpkins are so cute.  They are the product of a woman named Deb at Homeward Found Décor, so follow the link in the caption above for her instructions / tutorial.  It's a great tutorial with many pictures.  I may give it a try myself. 

Upstairs Bathroom Makeover

I have been slow at posting this: mostly because I suck at taking pictures and I hoped that my brother in law would come around when the bathroom was clean, but alas: that was not to be! So, you will have to settle (emphasis on the "settle") for my sad depiction of the after. Just trust me when I tell you that in person this is leaps and bounds better than it was before.

 

First of all, I will finally reveal my color choices! I used Behr Ultra Premium Plus in Semi Gloss for the record. The color above the wainscoting is Toasted Chestnut (a beautiful copper brown color.) The color beneath and on the vanity is Parchment Paper (an aged white that I just adore.)

 

http://www.homedepot.com/p/BEHR-Premium-Plus-Ultra-8-oz-240F-5-Toasted-Chestnut-Interior-Exterior-Paint-Sample-240F-5U/202182273

 

http://www.homedepot.com/p/BEHR-Premium-Plus-Ultra-8-oz-710C-1-Parchment-Paper-Interior-Exterior-Paint-Sample-710C-1U/202182798

 

 

And the bathroom set that Mom loved and we purchased last Christmas, was an ensemble from Bed, Bath and Beyond entitled "Leaf Study."

 

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/1/3/leaf-study-bath-ensemble

 

Here is a reminder of the crappy "Before!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

And here is the "After!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

If you recall, this corner had a hideous, weirdly mounted white cabinet. Instead, I took it down, patched the wall, and purchased an espresso colored linen tower from Bed, Bath and Beyond to be our storage furniture instead. Only $79.99!!! Here's the link in the caption.

 

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/summit-tall-cabinet-tower/3252290?poc=213218&skuId=42479154

 

 

 

 

 

Last but not least, was my light fixture make over project! The light fixtures were covered in splattered paint from past paint jobs. I hated that. They were kind of neat old fixtures. I tried to sand the old paint off but it didn't work. So, I went out, purchased a Krylon chrome metal paint from our local hardware store, screwed the fixtures loose, took newspaper and taped it to the walls carefully tucking it under the edges of the fixture so it covered all of the toasted chestnut wall: and sprayed away. It's not perfect, but 2 coats covered the old paint stains and gave it a brighter, newer life.

 

 

 

Well, that's it! The linoleum cleaned up surprising well and I think the new coat of paint and newer, more traditional but still modern style hardware on the vanity just made the space look cleaner. I think that the toasted chestnut color makes the architectural details of the room (like the molding around the window and door frame and recessed built in cabinet) really pop out.