Sparkle. Fur. Autumn.

The sun came out for 3 minutes during a morning rainstorm.

The LIGHT!  The BEAUTY!  grabbed the camera.

... Fall through Winter wreaths on the bedroom double doors ...

Sweater pumpkins I made last year, so snuggly warm!

... Lace, Jewels, Texture ...

Fur rug from a thrift store becomes a cozy table runner

My husband got me this darling doggy for my birthday one year

sweet baby ceramic punkin

Found this stool at same thrift store for $4.99

and I had the furry fabric to drape over it.

Isn't it so FABULOUS?!?!?!

~ and you know how inspired I get by light and shadows ~

s  i  g  h

~ violet ~

Dining Room Decor

The food's not made but the table is set.

So at least I'm somewhat ready for

~ tomorrow's F E A S T ~

We inherited my husband's grandmothers 'Apple' pattern

Franciscan china and this is the first time I've used it.

~ It is perfect for Thanksgiving ~

Last year I made these tags available to download and print
for placecards. The pressed and dried and

glittered leaves
made it through another year so am using them again!
You can go to last years post here and download the tags
if you'd like to use them.

(and get an idea for making 'turkeys' from apples : )

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving holiday!

"O Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good!"

~ Violet ~

Fall Decorating 2010 Part One

He always has his nose in my photo-shoots

-
~ I glittered the pumpkin ~
First time to try spray glitter... it comes in a can,
like spray paint. But half the size and twice the price.
For some things I think it is worth it,
as it was to quickly glitter up this pumpkin, which is more
sparkly than it looks in the photo. really.
-
This little birdy made a nest in a shoe
-

She is so cute, so I let her stay

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The size of the beautiful autumn scarves this year!

Large enough to use as a table runner

when not being worn
-

Re-decorated the bookcase

Lots of Sommerset Studio magazines and others

published by them, now easier to see and re-read.
-

The expression on this dog figurine always makes me

S M I L E
-

Lassie Came Home

-

I've been collecting a few dog figurines

and birds. many birds.

okay, and nests.

and sayings about birds and nests

-

Found these white ceramic pumpkins last year

on sale after the season was over... at an antique store.

I will use them at each place setting on

Thanksgiving Day

-

Until then, they will decorate the dining room table
-

I'm not one for much orange color

But love the white pumpkins on the table for Fall
-

Could not give up all of the beach decor yet

So why not place some shells in a nest

(did I mention I like birds and nests???)

-

A photo I took at Pottery Barn

Just think of all the decor we could do if we just hung

boards from the ceiling with ropes.

(If Pottery Barn can do it, why not?!?)

-

Also at Pottery Barn

this huge bird cage ... now that could be fun decor!

(and very pricey)

-

Most of my Fall decor is in two bins still out in the garage.

I am in the middle of dividing my studio into two rooms

so the Fall decorating is on hold for a bit longer

except for the dining room.

and the

glittered pumpkin

-

I am sitting at my computer in a room that was once

so pretty and organized, and it will be once again,

as I am moving my 'working studio' (aka ~ often messy

with creative explosions) stuff upstairs to the room

that is directly above my studio,

that was my husbands home office,

as he has another space for his now

SO I HAVE GAINED ANOTHER ROOM!

See, the problem was not

that I have too much stuff after all,

it was I didn't have two rooms to put it all in.

-

That's my story and

I'm stickin' to it.

Nest

~ Autumn is inspiring some nesting decor ~

-
Time for Feathering the Nest with Candles
-
~ To add some sparkle and glitter and light ~
-
To delight our hearts to sing of the beauties of Fall
-
Renewing our HOPE
-

Inspiring a WISH

-

And setting our dreams to flight

-

-

May Our Nests

Be ever near the King

who loves us with an everlasting love

~ filling Autumn's splendor ~

-

with His very Presence

-

For you are of more value than many sparrows
-____________

-

Glittered 'nest' hanging and birds are a design by Wendy Addison

Photography and bird painting/calligraphy by Violet Skiles

Scriptures: Psalm 84:3 Jeremiah 31:3 Matthew 6:26, by God

Another Giveaway for All

... Okay, one more Autumn post ...

I was working on my Thanksgiving placecards this morning

And thought I'd share my revised "Thankful" tags with you

to download and print. Wish I had thought of this before today

because I'm sure all of you are shopping and baking and cleaning

like I should be doing ... and not online browsing blogs. Right?

Below are 3 tags that you can print out on 4x6 paper,

I used matte photo paper. I left a space to write in your guests

names, or use a computer font as I did. Then just cut each out into

a tag shape and punch a hole. These leaves were picked and dried

a couple of weeks ago. Today I used spray adhesive

and gold and copper glitter sprinkled on, then put the

stem through and taped it on the back.

-

-

I had to share these Turkeys we made.

Aren't they the silliest? If you can get your little ones

not to take a bite out of the marshmellow heads...

Be sure to have extra cheerios and candy corn and raisins

to munch on! They didn't like the taste of the

gumdrops so they didn't consume too much sugar!

-

We made these last year also. I can't remember where

the idea came from.... someones blog probably!

Don't they just make you smile???

-

Here are the tags. Left click for the largest image,

save to your computer and add some names, and print.

Now I really must get some work done!

Happy Thanksgiving!

~ Violet ~

Thankful and a Gift

Wishing you all a week of Thankfulness!

-

My last Autumn post this year, then on to Christmas!

Below is a tag I designed that I would like to share with you.

You can use it on tags or gifts ~ in a note to a friend ...

or use them for place cards on your Thanksgiving table

by adding the names of your guests.

Just click on it for the largest image and save it to your computer,

print it out and use your creativity to embellish it...

For the tag above, I cut a tag shape from

decorative scrapbook cardstock and embellished

with just some ribbon, yarn, and a fabric flower.

-

-

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Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His lovingkindness is forever.

Psalms 118: 29 TLB

-

I would maintain that thanks

are the highest form of thought, and that

gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder

G.K. Chesterton

-

From the fullness of His grace we have all received

one blessing after another

John 1:16 NIV

The Art of Autumn

These are watercolors inspired by the deep oranges, ochres,

burnt siennas and changing greens of Autumn.

-

This was a foggy morning ... as the mist was burning off
by the warm Autumn sunshine. Children playing in the leaves,
Oh the carefree days of childhood!
When finding leaves was the most important job of the moment!
-
Today I am thankful for:
-
the love of God
the love of my family and friends,
our dogs!
crisp Autumn days and
-
C O L O R
What are you giving thanks for today?

More Pumpkin Toppers!

I posted Pumpkin Toppers recently that I had made, and just had to make some more since I gave the others away. This time I'm keeping two : ) By the way, if you want to wear it as a hat you're gonna have to attach it to your head somehow!!! LOL! Scroll down to see how I made these. One of my best tips is to have good wire cutters, the first time I didn't and it was very difficult cutting through the stems. And be careful with the hot glue. Ouch. My fingernails had moss attached, and there's still some on my glue gun.

How To Make a Pumpkin Topper