Homefront: Living Room Split in Two

Well, we have been here a few months now and I have not actually shown a photo of this whole space aside from small glimpses here or there. Our one living area downstairs is both long and narrow, and we needed to create a few functional spaces here, a play area/computer area and tv area, so I split the room in half. My sis took these photos while she was visiting for Thanksgiving (hence the pumpkin decor), but as of a few days ago, I have already changed a lot of this around and put up our Christmas decor.

I still have some painting of furniture to do, lots of things to put up on walls and those two recliners fabric are in pretty bad shape, so that will need to be dealt with eventually, but so far it is a charming little home that works for us and is ever changing. I have restyled it now into three areas instead of the two shown here, so that will be fun to photograph and post about, but I can enjoy the metamorphosis through these images.

Homefront: Thanksgiving Mantel

My mom and I have been eyeing these lovely Thanksgiving statues at Hobby Lobby for a few years now. She is so pretty! We have Cherokee in our blood, so we love little Native American touches here and there.

 A "mantel" doesn't have to be over a fireplace!

My mantel before. Pretty, and a little plain. I wanted to add more personalization. The orange glitter pumpkin is the jack-o-lantern from my Halloween display, just turned around. Thanksgiving decorating is really just borrowing from Halloween and adding a bit to it. The 'styling' began with the two paper wrapped pumpkins. I was going to spray paint them gold, but thought it would be too bold, so instead I lightly handpainted them a metallic gold color so details can still peek through.

  

Then, I took that gold paint to the wreath and the cute little pilgrim sign, just to add some glint. I always have some sort of artificial flowers and such laying around, so I made a quick little floral display. My tutorial on making quick and easy floral arrangements here.

 I recently taught a Thankful/Memory jar idea the other night. Tutorial HERE!

 

Live in Thanksgiving Daily

 Well, the Thanksgiving week is upon us, and that means it's time to show my Thanksgiving mantle. I really loved and prefer my crisp white fall mantle, that changed swiftly to the Halloween mantle, and I left a few pieces out for this.  Some may wonder why I excessively change my mantle. Well, it's one of the only surfaces in my home that I have that I can put decor on, and so there it is. Plus, I just love to rearrange and be creative, and I bore easily of seeing the same thing up there too many weeks in a row.

Well, my sis and her 4 boys will be joining my hubs, mom, my 2 boys and myself for the weekend, and we are so happy to see them. Isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about?? Taking the time to reflect on what is important and deciding to make a change to enjoy those things a little more. 

May your pies be yummy, your bellies be stuffed and your homes filled with warmth, love and laughter. I love love love this short little video of learning to see and appreciate those little things, and live in thanksgiving daily:

Here is a cute little video of random people on the streets of New York City sharing a variety of grateful responses to one simple question: What are you thankful for?

Homefront: Something out of Nothing

I went a-garage sale-ing and found a huge pile of fake berries and such for about $5 (though the bag of awesome Christmas beaded garland was thrown out when I discovered it had a massive cat urine smell). When it came time to create some Thanksgiving centerpieces, I had plenty of stuff to use.

Only there wasn't much of any one kind of pick to pull any actual design concept together. By starting with a base of the berry garlands, and just working my way up, I think the little creations came out very sweet and festive indeed. 

~Arrangement 1~

 

a bunch of nothingness

a bunch of weird yellow things

pinecones and leaves are nice

a white feathered bird, glittered acorns and a feathered pick adds some balance

~Arrangement 2~

For the second arrangement, I'll spare you the details, but here is my "spread" of choices:

 

almost finished...

a nest, bird and some berries complete it (though, I wish I had cut off that weird daisy)

~Thanksgiving display, on my overcrowded bar~

 

  

  

fin. 

* yes, this post is 4 months overdue, but I had to write it so I could delete my pictures ;)  But, the concept here can apply to any season, with any type of riff raff you have strung around the place.  Nester also has some good advice and ideas on making a centerpiece with things you have.

Treasures in Fall Decorating

 

put your treats in little baggies and hang from a tree- sweet! 

This monster of a post is going to be in three parts. Harvest style,  touches of whimsy, and more pumpkin ideas!  Sorry to make it so long, but, folks, we are running out of time. Halloween is almost here so these ideas need to get out NOW! Next post will be treats and MY decorations here, so you can see what I have been a-brew-in. Enough talkin, start imagining how you can apply some of these ideas to your festivities or your home... If you really want some amazing ideas like decor, glittered pumpkins... then go visit Martha's Halloween page. Also,  The Decorated House has some great tips on painting those plastic pumpkins using Fusion spray paint! I personally can't handle anymore overload, (as you can see from my extra long Halloween posts) so the link is going to have to do!!)

Part 1: Getting Creative. Skulls, pumpkins and monsters are not the only thing Halloween decor is made of, so use something you have lying around, or in the attic, watch faces, keys, vintage baby carriages, anything!

woodcutter axe framed, think faerie tales here - curious sofa

jarred fairy lights with creature faces, brilliant! -not so idle hands

witchy legs -curious sofa

wicked witch of the east- old painted dollhouse and witch legs - curious sofa

doll hands, vintage treasures -sadie olive (follow link for more)

clock face, pedestal cake stands, witch sillohette - sadie olive

autumn bird mobile -awe!!-  emilie friday

watch faces and an awning, very 'Sweeney Todd' - curious sofa

Part 2. Decorate that Door! I will be skipping this part since I'm cooped up in an apartment, but for those of you who can, try skipping the foam tombstones, and pull out that wheel barrow, throw some hay and pumpkins in it. Put up some lights, twigs, painted gourds, garlands, candles, a wreath, urns, flowers, corn, create a welcoming theme for your entry way...

painted gourd ghosts, and vines - bhg

martha stewart

 vintage characters, cotton, broomsticks, pumpkins and wheat on a carriage - curious sofa

 

pottery barn

good housekeeping

spell a message to your guests -country living

halloween outdoors

Part 3: Decorate those Pumpkins! You can paint them, carve them, glitter them, but arranging them, that is the magic of a display. Pair odd sizes together, sort in sections of threes, cascade them down steps, or a table....

gilded pumpkins, so fancy, but not uppity -country living

paint them white, then add black polka dots, stripes and swirls - house of 3

or, after painted, stencil them, stamp them, put them in urns and candy dishes- house of 3

paint them natural colors, in plaids and other patterns, and disperse them with natural pumpkins -bhg

ooh, a candelabra! I would love to this this lit. -bhg

glue mini ones to a moss covered foam wreath, then tie with a ribbon

fall bounty on a fabric wreath, so charming - craftstatic

acorns, pine cones, nest, sweet bird, can be up all season! love the peach and pinks! -knock knocking

Harvest filled pumpkin. Hollow it out, insert a water filled jar and fill it up, put on a pedestal. Easy!

love the plaid and argyle painting. with a nice shiny coat of sealer/polyurethane -country sampler mag

or a pretty, primative harlequin design

Henna pumpkins! I used to do henna way back when, got certified and everything. The key to it is having proportion in negative and light spaces. So basically, keep the design centered and even, thin lines, then swirl away. Start small in the center, and then build out from there to create, paisleys, flowers, lace designs...  here are some free ebooks, or google for more. Henna kits can be bought at craft or beauty places like Sally's.

Classic black and white. Simple vignette includes boxes, leaves and a frame. Don't have pretty boxes that fit your theme? Then wrap it in paper. Store the paper in the box and change it out during the seasons.

paint your pumpkins, hot glue ric-rac and sprinkle with moss.

 

freehand scrolls. or, you can always get this effect with those nifty vinyl stencils

skewer through a pole for a lovely pumpkin tower! put two flanking your front door or use as a centerpiece -country living

mini jack-o-lanterns on a multi tiered pedestal, ingenious!

pumpkin head in a jar! love the clear glass pedestal stands serving up gorgeous candy apples

beautiful pumpkin cascade, aqua looks so perfect in this autumn setting

dried hydrangeas, white pumpkins, candles in a serpentine pattern, lovely.

Thanks for your visit! Feel free to link to your Halloween ideas, I  would love to see what you have done!