Decorating for Fall and Halloween - Orange, Black and White with Gold Accents

Fall is finally here - Let the Decorating Begin!

Normally at this time I'm all excited for Halloween, but I'm feeling a bit low key about it.  I've only really decorated my mantle with Halloween decorations and kept the rest of the rooms simply Fall.  This corner table is an example:

I love this mercury glass lamp I found at TJ Maxx last year.  I decided to pair it with some gold accents - the picture frame (of my parents and I dressed up for the SCA) as well as a little pumpkin I found at Michaels a few months ago.  So cute!  I added some Antique books in gold and blue hues, tying the picture and pumpkin together - as well as some of our eclectic collection of pine cones/seeds from rare trees we've collected over the years.  And a few fake leaves, because...well, just because.  I'll put real leaves down when I find some good ones.

And then there is the Halloween mantle.  Last year I went all black and white, but this year I wanted a touch of color so I used shades of orange, too.  The skull is mercury glass (fake) from Target this year.  Cool find!

 Also, a crystal ball, mask, and some ravens.  Can't have Halloween without ravens!!

This mask is another cool find at Target this year - so Antique cool looking, but great bargain!  On top of black books, of course...

My 'Boo' and palm reading knick knacks...

And finally, another crow/raven on top of some more Antique black books.

Just a few tidbits from around my house.  I love Fall decorating, but Christmas is coming soon - can't wait for the real decorating to begin!!

Have a Great Weekend!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving - or as we sometimes call it Turkey Day! This year we had a far smaller and less stressful holiday. With the main breadwinner out of work still we simply couldn't afford to have people over and cook a huge meal. Not to mention as we are stressed we wanted a bit of peace and quiet. I did decorate the house a wee bit, though...

My fireplace is the main place to see - gourds and (fake) leaves and bittersweet vine. I added our little Indian friends on that side with all the nature - a wood carving, a squirrel, etc...

And on the other side are our Pilgrim friends. They have our candlesticks and metal pinecone. Just a bit of blending of the two sides. :)

I thought it was cute.

We did cook a turkey and the usual sides for ourselves (stuffing, corn pudding, sweet potatoes, etc.) And I made pumpkin and pecan pies as well as a few mincemeant tarts. Most of the canned goods we had leftover from either last year or previous shopping so we didn't have to spend too much. Mincemeat in a jar is the most expensive thing and I had two whole jars left over from last year's sale - still good until next October, can you believe it?

We aren't doing any Black Friday shopping. I did most of my Christmas shopping ahead of time when Borders was closing - got a few books and calendars, etc. I've had them wrapped since August so I'm pretty much ready. Still probably do a tiny bit of shopping, but I must stay on budget. I'm hoping things take a turn for the better next year!

And I'd like to close with saying I'm thankful for every one of you who comments and shares here on my blog and on their own blogs as well as all the wonderful people who buy an item or two from the Etsy shop. Thank you and may you have a wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy New Year!

November Inspiration - Etsy Update

Hello, sorry to have been so quiet lately. I've been busy and sick - and then sick and busy, etc. I'm working on a commission for an Etsy customer for three Shabby Sheep canvases - each a bit different so they can be hung as a group. The canvases are being very stubborn about the whole thing and I've been tearing my hair out working on them when I feel well enough to, but I am nearly done so yay!

Also - there are a few new items in the shop I'd like to point out. First up - a new set of Thanksgiving/Fall Prim boxes.

This set is the best looking so far, I think. Since each one is handpainted and stenciled and then antiqued and sealed - they never look exactly alike. This one is more matte finish than the last one and I think the colors all over look very nice indeed. I'll gladly keep this one around if it doesn't sell. :)

They are nesting boxes - they store nicely - I also like to keep some of my other holiday decorations inside them and then I know just where they are since the boxes are of the same theme.

They look great individually and stacked up high. I just love the Early American Font that spells out 'Give Thanks' on the top box. The middle box has a sprig of Bittersweet on it and the bottom box has three pumpkins. I also stenciled the backs so there is no true 'back' to them - they look great all around.

Available at my store here.

And I have new jewelry to show off! First up - a Fairy Door necklace! I love fairies (as you probably know from my Fairy houses and also my Fairy silhouette) and this door pendant is so darn cute!

It's a Gothic/Medieval looking door - kind of Hobbit looking - just check out those tiny details! The door hinges, the window, the doorknob, etc.

Available at my store here.

And best of all? It opens up!!

You could put a pinch of glitter inside or a teeny tiny photo maybe. The door has magnetic closure - it doesn't swing open unless you tug on the knob to open. A very nice steampunk/fairy jewelry piece. I've strung it on a similarly colored chain, but you could change that easily enough - maybe a beaded necklace or on velvet or satin ribbon? So cute!

And the typewriter jewelry has a new addition, too!

I found a new setting I like a great deal - it is a bit more substantial than the filigree setting - I love both so much I've posted a necklace in both round settings. This H has the new setting.

You can see larger images at my etsy store, of course.

And here is another of the very popular filigree setting...

I love the letter E and as I was making this it struck me that it could stand for Edward. Yes, I am one of those secret Twilight fans. I like the books better than the movies. I can't help thinking this is an excellent necklace for Twilight fans as it is an old fashioned setting and using the typewriter key - well I'm sure he used one and probably has one in his room still. ;)

Available here.

If you have a Twilight fan you'd like to buy a gift for (or one for yourself!) - this would be a great choice. I could also make one with a B for Bella - or any initial you like. Make sure you convo me asap, though, the popular letters sell out fast. I've already run out of black N keys, but I do have some in white, etc. Just convo me on Etsy or comment here if you are interested.

Happy Thursday!

Etsy Update - Magic, Jewelry and French Houses

Fellow Etsy shop owners (or any kind of shop owner, really) - are you ever secretly glad when a listing or two don't sell right away? Meaning you can enjoy looking at them in your home just a little bit longer?? That's how I feel about my two recent French Lit houses...they are so cute together on my bookshelf. They don't want to leave, really...

SOLD

Every time I sit on my bed and work on my laptop or watch TV, read, etc. I glance over and think - aren't they sweet on that shelf? Do I really want to sell them? And they look so good together - shouldn't they be sold together instead of separate like you listed them? Oh well. I will enjoy them while they stay here anyway. :)

And some new type of pages for those who like Magic and/or Halloween...


These pages feature the ever popular Phrenology Chart and the really spooky prim style Raven or Crow, but also a Ghostly face and a really cool vintage style Magician pulling a rabbit out of his top hat.

Just random geekery, I guess. I love Halloween and I'm feeling like making Halloweenish things right now.

Bigger/better pics on the listing here.

The vintage French pages with various images (Alice in Wonderland, Parisian, etc.) have proved very popular. I'm having a hard time keeping up with demand at times. Thank you to all of you who have purchased them so far. They are really fun to look at - I keep promising myself I'll make my own to keep, but I haven't yet. I better do so soon before I run out of that book paper. lol

And I have some new jewelry up in the shop, too.

I made a new Round Filigree pendant necklace - this time I chose 'D' - it's so pretty. I ran out of N's, I think, which saddens me as I didn't make myself one yet. Darn. I'm going to keep hunting and hope I find one for myself.

As always - there are bigger pics on Etsy so you can see the jewelry better.

But this pic shows it pretty well.

And the back is just as pretty as the front, almost.

I love the chain I have for this necklace. I better see if I can get more this weekend.

And last, but not least...

I had to cannibalize a necklace to make a custom listing a few weeks ago so I made a new chain, etc. for the Art Deco style B pendant. I took some new (better) pics of it so I thought I'd share them here.

The back as an extra piece added so it isn't ugly to look at - I love the filigree style, don't you? This looks even prettier in person!

And it is definitely Fall now - cold wet rain and all. My achy bones aren't really happy with the change, but my kitty likes to cuddle more now so I'm not complaining. I just have to be careful to make sure he isn't under the covers before I sit down on the bed - he keeps burrowing for warmth. :)

Have a great weekend! I'm hoping to get down to the Soulard Market and get lots of fresh produce (and maybe a pumpkin or two).

Edited to Add: Both French Houses SOLD for Christmas. I miss them already. LOL

New Houses for Sale!

Another Etsy update. I've added three more Fairy Houses to my store over the past few days. The holidays are coming up soon and I don't know about you, but I get excited to decorate my mantle.

These houses are neutral enough to look great year round, though you can always add decorations to them for Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.


First up is the ever popular Musical Noteworthy House...

I think this is the first and only time I've given a music house a black roof - just like I always used to make the French houses with a red roof. Why not change it up?

I love this house - even the back looks great, doesn't it??

So cute on a shelf!


And for the Francophiles...

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A small vintage French book papered house. J'aime ma maison.

SOLD

Don't forget you can always store jewelry, miniatures, etc. inside!

And since I love the French paper so much - I made one in the same colors on the medium sized house...

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So pretty! I love these houses. There is just something about black and white - especially antique white that goes so well together. And they seem so fitting in the Fall - I can't wait to pair mine with a small pumpkin - orange or white to keep with the monochromatic theme?? Decisions, decisions...Papered all around, of course!

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And they go so well together. You could mix it up with the music house and a French house or buy both French houses together.

If you do decide you want more than one - if it is a small house and a medium house together they can nest within each other and be shipped together. (Two of the larger houses require a bigger box). You can convo me on etsy and I will make a custom listing for you with a combined shipping price.

All houses are one of a kind - I use pages from real vintage French books and antique sheetmusic. No copies. I hand paint them, antique them and seal them with a matte finish. A lot of work goes into each one.

Have a great weekend!!

More Etsy Items PLUS Halloween Decor Idea!!

Hello, all - I'm reporting to you live from my bed where I am confined flat out with some of the worst back pain ever (and that's saying something) for the foreseeable future. So, what better time to update both my shop and blog?

First up, I made a little Fairy house - this time with vintage French book paper and a red roof. Oddly enough, in the past I made text houses with a black roof and music houses always had a red roof so that's a minor change here...

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It's just too cute!

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I didn't antique it, either - left it clean and simple. I think they look good both ways, but if someone did want to buy it and wanted it antiqued I could do that - just convo me at etsy or comment here.

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Bigger and better pictures are on Etsy, of course.

Next up is a set of vintage French book papers with some pretty Naturalist images.

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These were inspired by Naturalist collections that people often collected in the 1800's and early 1900's. They would collect butterflies and pin them up to display, collect birds' nests and sea shells, feathers, etc. I put a little selection of my own on the french paper and as you can see it takes up much less room than a real Naturalist collection would. LOL SOLD

You could frame and display them all together or seperate them into groups - the pair of sea shell pages and the butterflies with the other insects, etc. It's all up to you. I wish I had one of those display coffee tables with a clear glass window to a collection below. I'd lay these out on the bottom and then add my own shells and curiosities with it. You could decoupage a cabinet or table with these, too. Lots of possibilities.

I just love nature and collecting things so this was a natural decision. LOL

SOLD

And last, but certainly not least - summer is nearly over and soon we will be facing the Fall again and my very favorite holiday - Halloween!! I decided to make a spooky little series for my own vintage Halloween theme and then I put it up in the shop so I guess I better make another set for myself. :)

I just love the prim crow, the haunted house, Phrenology chart and that spooky little eye staring at you. I'm going to frame mine and display them in the hall or the living room, I think. They'd look good all year round, really.

Doesn't this get you in the mood for Halloween?? I'm feeling it!

Just thought I'd share a few things that are in the shop. I'm getting antsy and a bit bored laying here in bed staring at the ceiling. I hope my back gets better soon as I'm feeling rather useless and the pain is pretty bad. If anyone has a link to a fun site or a shop or something they think I'd like please feel free to comment here. ;)

ETA: After a cat scan and resting my slipped disc is healing and I'm back on my feet. Yay. Just gotta take it easy and be careful.