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‘sprucing’ things up

November 15, 2019

basketdetail

After my outdoor mum arrangement died with the recent frost, my friend Wendy suggested I cut some greens from an outside tree to make something to replace it.  So, that is what I did!

I collected a few items to create my arrangement – some white berries I had in with my gift wrapping supplies, a ribbon I had saved from an old wreath because the colors were so great – so neutral!   I thought I needed a little something else so while I was at the craft store, I looked around and found these pod-like things in the natural element section and picked them up.  They were the size I thought I needed to fill the space and they were a nice neutral shade.

basket closeup

With what I already had, my supplies cost me under $3. Actually, the worse part of the project was cutting the greens – not that it was hard to do, but it was so cold outside when I did it!

bow closeup

The small basket that contained the mums did not need many greens to fill it.  I kept the dirt in the basket from when the flowers were planted in it and simply poked the greens in!  Then, I shaped the ribbon the way I wanted it  – securing it with a bent-up paperclip (I know – but I couldn’t find any wire so I had to MacGyver it!) and attached it to the basket.

outside decor

I love the way it came out!  Simple and natural looking!  Thanks for the tip Wendy!

I hope today’s post will inspire you to create something of your own for your holiday décor, using materials from outdoors!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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edible birdhouse ornament

November 12, 2019

finished bird house feeder

I recently had a fun evening creating birdhouse ornaments with a group and today I am sharing this super cute idea with you.  This is a great activity to schedule in place of a cookie swap or a wonderful craft to make with children (though a wee bit messy).

These ornaments are simple to create.  Decorating a small, inexpensive wooden birdhouse from the craft store with seeds, corn, and millet creates a feeder for the birds when placed outdoors.  Use your creation as indoor décor on your holiday tree.  I put a little bird on mine!  Or, use it to decorate a holiday wreath – it would look sweet in the middle of a wreath!  After the holidays are over, place it outside as a treat for the birds!

bird feeder

Purchase small wooden birdhouses from the craft store.  In addition, you will need bird seed to decorate the houses.  Also, disposable bowls to make ‘glue’ to adhere the decorations to the house and disposable foam brushes to apply the glue.  Here is the recipe for the ‘glue’ – totally edible for your fine feathered friends!

Edible ‘Glue’ recipe is: ¾ cup flour, 1/2 cup warm water, 3 Tablespoons corn syrup, and 1 package of Knox unflavored gelatin.

To make the ‘glue’, pour the flour into a disposable bowl.  Add the water and mix.  Add the corn syrup and mix again.  Stir in the gelatin and whisk together until the lumps have smoothed out.  Reminiscent of paper mache paste, this mixture adheres the decorations to the birdhouse.

Smear the mixture you have created heavily onto the birdhouse and attach your decorations, aka bird food.  We used sunflower seeds, dried corn, and millet.  (Millet is sold at pet stores for parakeets).

creating a bird feeder

If you cover your workspace, use disposal bowls for the ‘glue’ and apply the ‘glue’ with small disposable foam brushes, cleanup will be simple!

Let your creation air dry for 24 hours.

I hope you are inspired to create an edible birdhouse ornament!

Have a fabulous week!

Thanks for stopping by.  Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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autumn in connecticut

October 29, 2019

pumpkingrouping

I know I complain about the end of summer but it is only because I hate to see my favorite season end!

fall in litchfield

Fall though, certainly has some redeeming qualities…

more pumpkins

I was able to appreciate some of them this weekend!

overhead view of pumpkins

I spent some time with family and when we took the time to slow down a little bit, we were able to reflect and appreciate the outdoor beauty of our state at this time of the year!

leaves

Driving anywhere here in Connecticut right now is truly breathtaking.

ppumpkin arrangement

These few photos were taken just walking from lunch…

pumpkin close up

pumpkins side view

I didn’t even grab any photos while we were driving – it was too spectacular to hesitate for a photo!  But I loved these groupings of pumpkins!

And, I loved to see how some of the flowers are still hanging in!

moon flower

I can’t believe these cosmos are still around!

fall cosmos

some pumpkins

It seems our leaves are at their height of  color right now – they seem mighty late this year!

row of pumpkins

I hope you are inspired to find some beauty in the season where you live.

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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diy mini metallic pumpkins

October 18, 2019

a trio metallic pumpkins in bowl

I diversify my velvet pumpkin making each October by introducing a new fabric to replace the velvet.  My original creations were velvet fabric pumpkins accented with real pumpkin stems.  In recent years, I have used cashmere and chenille in addition to assorted colors of velvet.

metallicfabrics

As you saw in a previous post, my first pumpkins of the year included one made from tulle.  Today, I am sharing photos of my newest pumpkins – mini metallic pumpkins!

gold pumpkin with beads

My mom gave me the idea when we were together recently.  At my mom’s suggestion, I planned on trying metallic pumpkins and white leather pumpkins.  I found some great metallic fabrics, but unfortunately, the fabric store I visited had no white leather.

coppermetallicdiy pumpkin

So today, I am sharing my mini metallic pumpkins!  They are made in the same way as the original velvet pumpkins – just a switch of material.  Fun!  What do you think?

a trio of metallic diy pumpkins

Thanks for stopping by!

fun with metallic diy pumpkins

Have a fabulous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie  

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first pumpkins of 2019

October 4, 2019

velvet pumpkin on book

In case you were wondering, yes – I did start making pumpkins.

For today’s Friday field trip I am sharing my first creations of the season!

My very first pumpkin of the year is a simple gray velvet.

gray pumpkin on log

So far, I’ve only made two.

The second was an experiment.  I made it from velvet, but added a ‘top coat’ of tulle.  The tulle is a very special one…it was taken from my mother’s wedding dress!  (It’s the pumpkin in the first photo in this post.)  I want to try using the tulle in a few different ways, but the overlay idea was my first one.

pumpkins with shutter

I hope you are inspired to make some pumpkins of your own, maybe using some fabrics that are special in some way to you.

velvet pumpkin with plaid

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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pumpkin hanging

September 27, 2019

many pumpkin varieties

I was never much on fall.  I never really cared for the whole pumpkin spice, warm and cozy vibe.  And, I certainly never really cared that much for pumpkins.  I always enjoyed carving pumpkins, but other than that, I never decorated with pumpkins or got inspired by them.

It wasn’t until the white pumpkin entered the picture that I opened my eyes to pumpkin décor.  I love me a white pumpkin!

Once I started decorating with white pumpkins, I became much more interested in pumpkins as a decorating component.

pretty white pumpkins

Of course, making pumpkins from fabric and real pumpkin stems has become a staple to my October routine!    But now, every year, it seems there is some new aspect to using pumpkins in décor that appeals to me.  A great example of this happened a few years back when I first started noticing pumpkin ‘topiaries.’  I was so intrigued by stacking pumpkins and I started using the technique in varying ways.

pumpkin time

For Friday field trip today, I thought I would share this great idea from Terrain – something I’ve never used before  – hanging pumpkins!  You may have never thought about hanging a handful of pumpkins, but what a great look!

more hanging pumpkins

I hope you will be inspired to add this look to your décor this season, or to be inspired to try something new with your pumpkin décor on this first weekend of the season!  Maybe you will try using a new and interesting variety of pumpkin in your decorating!

autumn fun

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a fabulous weekend! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Note:  If you don’t live near a Terrain, you can purchase these cool spheres on their website!

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s’mores for dinner

September 20, 2019

firepit and snacks

Well, I didn’t actually have s’mores for dinner…they were dessert to my dinner of a fabulous cheeseboard and a glass of Napa wine!

Connecticut has had some cool evenings this week – perfect fire pit weather!

fire pit

On today’s Friday field trip, I hope to inspire you to enjoy something unconventional for your next meal.  Maybe some Ferris Acres (my favorite ice cream spot)…or, Trader Joe’s yummy cinnamon bun spread on apples!  Don’t rule out ‘cake for breakfast!’

Trader Joes cinnamon bun spread

Have a fabulous weekend.  Thanks for stopping by!

marshmallow on the firepit

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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old is new again

September 17, 2019

harvest moon

The old song goes “everything old is new again.”

That was the case for me this past weekend when I spent some time in the town of Mystic.  Even the evening views were ‘new again’ with the beautiful harvest moon seeming to hold court over the town!

Mystic drawbridge

The famous Mystic drawbridge under the harvest moon!

 

sticky bun at Sift

For a Food Network fan like myself, no Mystic visit is complete without a visit to Sift! If you haven’t been in a while, you may not have seen the new addition – including a rooftop bar!

While visiting, I realized that the hints of autumn were unusual since Mystic is always a summer destination for me.  So, there you go – ‘new again.’

1881 cider mill

B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill is not a place I would think about visiting on a hot summer day! The mill is even operational at this time of year!

 

bravo bravo

Even my favorite restaurant in Mystic – Bravo, Bravo is new again! It moved to a new location across the street from The Whaler’s Inn. Yes, still the same fabulous food!

I am sharing a few weekend examples of ‘new again’ with the hope that I can inspire you to also revisit a place you enjoy!

collage saltwater farm

All vineyards seem ‘new again’ after my trip to Napa! I have learned so much more about wines and vineyards!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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no worries

September 10, 2019

loving

I worked all weekend and couldn’t get started on any of the many projects I have in process!  I used my couple little bits of free time well – with those who matter. :)

Have a great week.  I hope to share some work in progress on Friday…but, maybe not!

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choose a season

September 6, 2019

pumpkins on display

You know how I try to hang on to the summer as long as possible?

Look what I needed to do at work today:

fall display

Kind of ironic, isn’t it?

fall mug

Putting out seasonal items is inevitable when doing visuals, but it is still hard to admit that summer is becoming a memory.

birch and fall

Have a wonderful weekend – enjoy whichever season you choose to embrace!

fall inspiration

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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