Happy First Day of Fall, Dear Readers! It’s a perfectly sunshiny and warm Fall day, so we enjoyed a classic apple pie and ice cream outside with a cup of tea this afternoon; it was lovely.
“He has made everything beautiful in it’s time….” Ecclesiastes 3:11.
I hope you enjoy all the beautiful things that this season has to offer!
Fall might not officially be here (we’ll have to wait until next Tuesday), but the weather tells me that it is here. Waking up to frosty mornings, which turn into warm days, the days are shorter and the leaves are beginning to turn. So it was time to add some Fall touches to my space: amber glass, acorns and leaves, feathers and touches of gold….
The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady, open to the page for September. I painted the leaves gold since they were originally much-too-bright oranges and yellows.
The cover of Northanger Abbey is so perfectly seasonal, I had to face it outward.
These little wooden mushrooms I got from the dollar store are such a whimsical addition.
These interesting dried flowers are Sea Holly, Eryngium, from my mom’s garden.
The message of the “All is Vanity” skull illustration by Charles Allan Gilbert is applicable all year round, but it looks especially appropriate for Fall.
The covers of some books really are too pretty to hide: I also turned Anne’s House of Dreams face out, even though it’s a very Spring cover.
Are you ready for Fall? Do you change any of your decor for the seasons?
Today might have been one of the few last warm days of the season, I think. The garden is finished, the leaves have been falling rapidly, and the days and nights are getting colder. Which means that it’s definitely time to bring some warmth and coziness inside. This year my seasonal decorations are mainly on my office display shelf area, consisting of natural and whimsical elements.
I made these fabric pumpkins years ago, and still look forward to pulling them out each Fall.
New this year are these wooden mushrooms. I bought a bunch last year to make a toadstool garland for my sister, and then got a few more for myself. I debated painting them, but have decided to leave them plain wood for now. They add a touch of whimsy, but are still subtle.
I gleaned the wheat from the edges of the field across the road (there were some stalks they’d missed from after they’d finished harvesting). And, of course, it’s the perfect time to pull out my favourite “All is Vanity” skull illustration by Charles Allan Gilbert.
My nature box is filled this year with acorns, feathers, leaves and an interesting piece of bark. I like this little rotating display of natural elements.
I’ve also pulled out my beeswax candles; they create such a nice atmosphere in the evenings, as well as smelling lovely when burning.
Lastly, this little embroidered scrap canvas I made…15 years ago. It used to be a fabric cover for a plastic binder (when I was at college) but I’ve turned it into a wall hanging. I simply stapled it over a square canvas from the dollar store. Since the colours are quite seasonal for this time of year, I hung it in my bedroom.
Well, that’s all for this year’s autumnal touches. And just in time, as this weekend is Thanksgiving. Happy Fall and Happy Thanksgiving, Dear Readers!
It’s October now and it feels like it; the leaves are golden against a sky that alternates between crystal clear blue and stormy greys. When the wind blows, it often has a chill in it, and colourful leaves crunch underfoot as you walk.
The season is short, but it’s my favourite time of year!
Every corner you turn has another spectacular view. This is a small ravine close to where we live. It’s gorgeous at this time of year.
Even abandoned buildings have a romantic look to them.
And despite the signs of decay, there is beauty to be seen in the blooms and seedheads.
The trees are dropping their leaves…and their seeds! We will plant some and see if they grow.
We’ve been so busy harvesting the garden and have a pantry stuffed full of bounty from our tomatoes, cucumbers, plums, choke-cherries and apples. There are delicious treats ahead this winter!
In the meantime, it’s still the perfect time to go outside and explore; soon we will be spending most of our time indoors!
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
The leaves are going quickly. Only days ago this row of trees in our backyard were covered in bright golden colours and by today they are mostly gone. Bare branches are left in stark contrast to the pale azure autumn skies. The bright yellow leaves are slowly deepening in colour, and the days are cool and crisp. I love this time of year and, like Anne, I am glad I live in a place where I get to fully enjoy Octobers.
I am also happy that my sister was able to get these photos for me when she did, since I think this is the last time I’ll be pulling out this linen wrap skirt for this year. It’s time to reach for the tights and woollens and scarves!
This is the patchwork purse I mentioned that I was making. It took quite a while to finish, since I decided to hand stitch it to give more control over some of the very tiny pieces of fabric. I’m not a skilled quilter, and since I didn’t follow any pattern (each piece was fitted in place as I sewed) it ended up quite quirky! I think it gives it a rather authentic 1970’s feel though, don’t you?
After I finished the quilt, I then appliquéd it onto a canvas backing and then lined the entire thing to give it some strength, especially since the last one I made came apart. I was able to use so many unique pieces of fabric that I’ve saved over the years- you can even see in the picture above that I used a piece of the fabric from this skirt! Well, at least I know that this bag will coordinate with almost everything in my wardrobe…
Friendship necklaces used to be such a “thing” when I was a kid, but they kind of went out of favour, didn’t they? A few years ago I found this friendship necklace; the heart cut out of the centre of this piece forms the other necklace! I like that it’s so delicate and minimal.
Why is it so hard to find brown shoes? Have you ever noticed that? Since deciding that brown is my “neutral” I have had the hardest time finding nice shoes that aren’t black. I was so glad to be able to find these from Vionic. I think it’s about time to put them away for the season, though. They are perforated, which is lovely for warm days, but a bit chilly for autumn!
I hope you are faring well and enjoying your October, whatever it’s looking like for you!
