Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year. I love to start pulling things out to decorate slowly on the first day of school. The first thing to go up is usually the wreath. Apparently I love making wreaths and have to make new ones every year. Sometimes I build on the wreath from the year before or start from scratch. For me, part of the fun is hunting down the parts to make the decorations. I start looking in the stores as soon as they put them out. Secret is, if you wait till it is close to the holiday you will not find what you are looking for. I search every where, in stores, in craft stores, Goodwill and more. You never know what you will find. When I go shopping I usually set myself a budget and a list. Shopping with a list helps me stay focused because I think up ten more ideas while I am shopping and sometimes come home empty handed because I cannot make up my mind.
This was my first project. Originally I was going to just use hydrangeas but changed my mind. I also was going to make the flowers out of coffee filters and thought better of it since it was going to be outside. What I did do was make the wreath by building on one I started last year. Saved me a good chunk of money by doing so.
The wreath I started with was full of fall leaves only. This year I added hydrangeas and floral picks to fill the wreath out. I only bought 9 hydrangeas, 3 in each color. I bought 4 floral picks. I bought everything at Hobby Lobby and everything was 40% off on sale.
This is my dining room right now. I like what I have done so far but may be adding more things as I go. For this I only bought a few new things. I am a big fan of the black and white buffalo check. I did purchase the candlestick holders from Hobby Lobby. I bought a couple of large pumpkins at Walmart. They are plastic. I am thinking I may add some paint to them to make them look more real. I actually have a live squash in the arrangement also. I also bought the wood pumpkins on top of the cabinet. So far that is the only new things in the room.
The wood pumpkins I thought were cute and I thought maybe I could make more if I wanted more. Of course I have not had time and I am already working on Halloween and Thanksgiving and even Christmas ideas and decorations. I found these cute wooden pumpkins at Scheel’s. The leaf they are sitting on I bought at Walmart. The pick is from Hobby Lobby.
The candle sticks I bought at Hobby Lobby. Great deals can be had if you buy during sales and coupons. I spied a few other items I want to get before Thanksgiving. The candles on top are battery operated candles that look like fire when they are on and they have a remote control and a timer built in. I have gone to this style of candles due to health issues of family members. I also love the fact that I can turn on candles in one room with just a remote control. I found the candles at Scheel’s.
The pumpkin needs me to paint it to look more real. I bought it at Walmart. Everything else I had from past years. The tray I bought this spring for another decoration at Scheel’s.
This scarecrow I made out of ceramics and painted it. I loved every minute of painting this. I was trying to make it as realistic as possible on a ceramic figure. I poured it and fired it and painted it in 1983. To my surprise I have not accidentally broken him.
The fabric pumpkins my sister made for me one year.
The charger under the plate was found at Walmart a few years ago. And the leaf plates and leaf placemat were also. I added the machine embroidered napkins this year. I make and sell these. (link)
This is my kitchen table. If you have not guessed it by now I love plants and this is where I winter over some of my plants that go outside on the patio in the summer. In the winter it is great because it feels like summer here. The centerpiece I also made this. I poured it and painted it in 1999. The scarecrow my sister made for me a few years ago.
Here is a close up of the napkins that I sell. A set of 4 for $48.00. Right now you can get them in these two colors. May be adding a rust colored set also.