The Stores Do It So Why Can't I?

I hate it when I walk into stores right now and already see Christmas paraphernalia. Can't we just celebrate autumn already? I have to point out I am being hypocritical right now because last Saturday I spent part of the day sewing stockings....Christmas stockings to be exact.
My friend Emma has a tradition of holding a sewing bee each fall. People come with their machines, projects, food and beverages to share and get their sewing on. I have been unable to attend, but this year I was able to steal away for a few hours.
The ladies at the bee were serious sewers (not a word I know). They were making quilts and following patterns. I on the other hand showed up with a bag of fabric, my new-to-me machine and scissors. I asked Emma for some paper and she gave me a brown paper bag. I drew a stocking patter and got to work cutting out a few ditties.
Here is what I made:

This fabric used to cover a cushion for in front of our fireplace. I loved it and when we moved I couldn't bear to throw it out. I took the fabric off the cushion and am now putting it to good use.

I have a big tub of old buttons. I love to pick them out and use them to embellish my projects. Delia actually, glued these ones on.

You may remember this fabric from a cabin inspired bench I redid. I have a few scraps left that are perfect for stockings.

I am gearing up for a busy two months. This is my FAVORITE time of year. Here is a list of our annual family activities through Thanksgiving:

Pumpkin Patch/Corn Maze/Bonfire on Sauvie's Island-We go at night to avoid the day crowds. I like the beer & bonfire as well!
Fiesta Apple Trip to Hood River- This will be our 11th year attending. Kiokowa farms has over 100 varieties of apples and pears. We ride through the orchard, hit the pinata, eat tacos and load up on our fall fruit.
Harvest Fest @ my parents- They have held a pumpkin carving and eating fest for the last five years or so. My mom is known for growing huge pumpkins.
Davis Cemetery-This is an awesome yard with tons of spooky surprises and creepy sound effects. We usually enjoy a treat afterward
Trick or Treating- A pumpkin shaped pizza fuels us for a night of trick or treating. We go down our street first (eleven houses in all) and the neighbors spoil our kids. After that we go to my parent's neighborhood where there are more houses. This year Delia is going to be Punky Brewster and Drexler is going to be Raleigh Fingers. No trendy costumes for us!
Burn & Brew Day- This is a personal event. I take a day and do yard work. I make a huge fire with the yard debris, listen to my tunes and enjoy some craft beer.
Civil War Football Party- This is the annual war between the big Oregon University's football teams. The Ducks vs. The Beavers. This year will be a big one!
Drexler's Birthday Beach Trip- Each of the kids want to go to the beach for their birthday. This is part of who they are. I love it.
The Ranch- For a few years we have had the opportunity to join my brother and his wife on her families ranch in Eastern Oregon. It is a great weekend of quad riding, good food and family.

I have decided to give a bazaar another go this year as well (thus the stockings) and am toying with the idea of doing an in home sale/Demarle party as well. Call me crazy (my students do).

Basketball Widow

My husband is a HUGE Portland Trailblazer fan. My Blazer basement is a testament to this. Once the NBA season starts I become a Basketball Widow. The older Drexler gets (yes he was named after Clyde "The Glide" Drexler) he wants to go to most of the games. This leaves Delia and I home alone and left to our own devices.
To celebrate our first night of freedom we busted out the glue guns and got to work. I finished up a few projects.

I made this on Sunday afternoon with some friends. We were produced more pumpkins than the patch down the street. I admit to scavenging stems from my local grocery store (shhh don't tell). I don't actually pull stems off, but rather look on the ground for decapitated stems.



I should have fluffed the side out a bit more...looks uneven here.

Target had some great stickers to add to cups for Halloween parties. They are awesome! I had a few empty glass jars hanging around and made some potions.

 A few years ago I bought some wooden coffins and never got around to finishing them. I spray painted them black and that was the end of it. Last night Delia embellished a coffin and I found this picture from Graphic Fairy I had printed off just because I liked it. I decided to put it on the front of the coffin with decoupage. I embellished the sides with vintage tinsel garland. I added some words and some old lace to finish it off. I have a few more I may play around with, after all the season has just begun.

Literary Pumpkins

My daughter has inherited the crafting bug. Unfortunately, she also has a hording gene. These two things don't make for a clean room...trust me I have experience. Her room is bazonked right now (this is a word I use frequently). My garage is bazonked right now. When I told her she needed to clean her room last night she told me I needed to clean my garage. Touche'.
We both avoided cleaning by creating something together as we watched The Amazing Race.



You can see a bit of orange showing, but for a a seven year old she did a great job!


I bought the pumpkins at Dollar Tree. They say they are carvable, but I ain't buying it. We simply ripped up an old German Literature book and really old grammar book.This may be sacrilegious for some English teachers, but since I HATE teaching grammar it is freeing in a way. Don't go calling my principal; I teach grammar I just don't like to.
Next we decoupaged strips to the pumpkin. It took me about twenty minutes to finish one. They are simple and cute. I think they would look great in an all white room. Since I have two kids, two dogs and a husband I don't know what one of those rooms look like. Maybe someday.

Here it is in it's little vignette

 This is another Dollar Tree creation. I simply made a crown out of scrapbook paper and added a little "sign" that reads Trick or Treat (sorry for the bad pictures). The final touch was a festooning neck embellishment. I heart festooning.

Pottery Barn Inspired Dresser

I bought this dresser this summer for a customer. I almost started painting it to their specifications and decided to check in with them. They didn't have the money and decided against it. The dresser sat while I waited for inspiration. Two months later I finally found a color that inpsired me; Sherwin Williams Sea Serpent. Here is the pieces that got my creative juices flowing:

I loved this dresser from Pottery Barn. I especially loved the color. I keep
visualizing a pirate theme or nautical room. Too bad my ten-year-old would only allow a baseball motif in his man cave.

Here is my version:

I like the original handles. I guess brass is making a comeback.

I painted this with my version of chalkpaint.I then top coated it with Annie Sloan Dark Wax. LOVE that stuff. This baby is up for sale now.

Halloween House

Tis' no secret I love Halloween. Each year my love for it grows; so do my bins. I am up to seven. Okay, I will clarify. I have one box labeled "Fall", four labeled "Halloween" and two for "Thanksgiving". YIKES.
I have rules around my holiday decorating. After Labor Day autumn goes up, but come October 1st Halloween is busted out. I broke my rule this year and did it yesterday...the 30th. Each year I tinker with things. This year I decided to keep the mantle strictly autumn and steer clear of Halloween.  Last year my vintage inspired collection was in my corner cabinets. This year, I put them in my kitchen bay window front and center.



I made this lovely couple last year. The postcard is vintage French.

 

 

 

 

I made the witch hat on the stand...

Made this this two years ago

 

I didn't take pictures of my downstairs decorations. I always put my favs upstairs and save the rest for the man cave. I have a few new projects up my sleeve for this month...come back and see.