Fall Dining Outdoors

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Well, the first signs of fall hit us here in OKC the last two days and now

all of a sudden I'm in a fall mood.

I just can't do it when it's 90 - 100 outside but Friday it was 60 

and will be cool today too.

So I started thinking about lovely fall outdoor parties.

 

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That one above is amazing! I love the layered scraps of burlap on the table.

 

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Just a few white and green pumpkins plus white mums make a perfect

fall display.

 

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Oh....how I love all of this completely. The rough farm table with lace and 

shabby candelabra and candle holders. 

This is truly piece of art come to life.

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Lights strung amongst the blaze of autumn trees.

Like I said, yesterday the weather changed and I spent it curled up with the weenies.

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This photo reminds me of my Franklin.

I call Franklin my little fox cause he looks like a little fox except

he has droopy long ears and he's black, tan and white spotted.

Other than that he looks like a fox.

So it's really a stretch.

Did you know that when foxes are kept in captivity, 

their ears start to droop?

Anyway, yesterday I watched hour after hour of Penny Dreadful.

It was on Showtime in the spring. I wanted to watch then but I don't have Showtime.

So I found it yesterday On Demand and yippee...a tv-athon for me!

 

I can't resist anything with Josh Hartnett in it.

We don't see enough of him in my opinion.

 Everyone is good in it. 

It's a perfect show for Halloween - time. 

And it happens just that fast.

Last week I couldn't imagine fall ever coming again and this 

week I'm all in the mood for pumpkin - anything!

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Outdoor Dining

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Are you dining outdoors this holiday week and weekend?

I worked at the store on the 4th and will be working the rest of the weekend.

We had a surge of people coming in to buy furniture and necessaries for outdoor 

living. 

Seems many put off getting their outdoor spaces in shape till the very last minute.

The last few days have been super busy at the store but the 4th was REALLY busy.

I was worn out by the time we locked the doors.

The weather has been gorgeous here and I think everyone was inspired to live outside this week!

I know I have been.

I had a lady tell me at the store that I was such a great sales person.

I do hear this all the time.

I tell them what I always tell them. I don't care at all about selling...

I'm just interested in helping them getting their spaces together.

I live and breath decorating and live vicariously through their purchases.

It's just fun to me to help someone put together their space!

As example...my friend Deidra came in the store yesterday and saw an outdoor 

elephant sculpture.

She has a thing for elephants.

That's him...he's quite large.

Anyway....she said I don't need him. 

I said, "but he'd make a great plant stand or foot stool."

"Foot Stool!"

she said.

"Oh that's so practical...you know how I like my feet up!"

SOLD

She was like....Oh...you are good....you turned a foolish purpose into something practical.

Oh...I can rationalize any decorating purchase!

She happily left with him and several other things she absolutely had to have after

I pointed out how necessary they were.

Did you get all your celebrating done yesterday?

I had hotdogs, baked beans, corn on the cob and watermelon...

but more to come on the weekend.

I used these in our drinks to make them festive...

Aren't they fun?....like having a sparkler in your drink!

Keep Celebrating!

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Silverware Caddy

I was contacted by Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts a few weeks ago asking if I'd participate in the

 Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts Cape Discovery Summer Crafting Challenge

They provided me with a $25 gift card to do so.

I was asked to peruse their Spring Children's Craft Catalog and choose a craft to implement.

I was told I could put my own spin on the craft.

Which I did....but it kind of spinned off in a whole other direction.

It turned out not to be a child's craft after all.

 I was to pick one of the 72 crafts.

I chose a jungle inspired planter to duplicate.

You can view all 72 summer crafts for kids here - 

http://www.joann.com/search/_kidscrafts13/?page=3&isPrj=1

Here's a link to the original craft at Jo-Ann's.

Jungle Window Box

Well, I got to the store and realized that the space I needed a window box in...

I really needed two window boxes and I didn't really want to go over my $25 budget.

So then I spied this smaller wood crate and my brain wheels started turning.

After I found these lovely frenchy hooks in their garden decor... a light bulb went off.

I liked the look of the gray scrolly hooks and thought they would be a nice embellishment for the little crate. 

There were lots of great garden accessories. Many things I'd love to have.

I first thought I'd cut the hook part off and use them only as decoration.

But when those hooks turned out to be way too sturdy to even think about cutting off...I realized 

they would be perfect for holding something.

That is when I knew I was going to make a silverware caddy to use outside.

I bought all the supplies needed and did not go over my $25 limit.

Of course I wanted to do something to the finish of the crate.

I mixed up some vinegar and steel wool stain. Have you tried this? 

It's super easy and works very well. 

Just soak steel wool in apple cider vinegar overnight and then apply to the wood as you would any stain.

This stuff really works...so cover your work area or it will be stained too!

I bought wood beads to make feet for the crate and stained them also.

I let the whole project sit for a few days in which time the stain got dark...dark!

I knew I was going to white wash over the brown stain. 

So was not worried when it turned out darker than I'd hoped.

Here are all my supplies for the little caddy.

Two hooks - one for each side. Two glass containers also bought at Jo-Ann's, wood beads and some 

wired twine. 

I ended up not using the twine on this project but I'm sure I'll use it on something soon.

I applied a very light gray wash. 

Once done...I don't know that I needed to bother with staining it dark first but it did give it a depth 

of color...that I don't think it would have had if I hadn't gone dark first.

Here you can see that I attached the wood balls to the bottom with screws creating feet.

I was stalled for a bit about how to attach the hooks.

There were holes where you would have attached the hooks to a wall but I didn't want screws 

jutting through the inside.

In the end...hot glue was the answer.

I just hot glued them in place and that has worked perfectly.

You could make this same container but use decorative handles instead.

If you want this to have more of a country feel use mason jars for the silverware holders rather than the glass vases.

Here's the finished product. A sweet little silverware caddy.

You could use this for other things...place candles in the glass vases and it's a candle caddy.

Flowers in the vases and it's a chic country floral caddy.

But I was going to use it as a silverware caddy perfect for outside dining.

I whipped up these napkins from fabric I had on hand.

Little fairy roses picked from my garden provide a little color on the table.

I tell you...I've become a big Jo-Ann's fan ever since they sent me fabric to sew up in the spring.

See that project here.

Remember?

I hadn't been in the store in a long time before doing the fabric review and I was very impressed 

by the wide variety of supplies available and even more so by the upholstery fabric, especially.

I've been telling everyone that asks about finding good outdoor fabrics to go to Jo-Ann's.

I do this at Pier 1 when I have a customer that can't find outdoor cushions they like...

I suggest recovering what they have using fabric they will find at Jo-Ann's.

Now - there is a little more to this challenge.

If I get lots of pins of the image comparing my project with the original inspiration pic....

That one above....I could win a Jo-Ann $100 gift card.

Just pin to Pinterest and use the hashtag #summerofjoann.

Also...

If you go to joann.com now by using this link -

Jo-Ann's Preferred Customer Sign Up

You can sign up to be a Preferred Customer and you'll receive a 20% off coupon.

For those that want to pin without the comparison photo...here's another version for you.

So far I'm really enjoying this summer....all five days I've had of it.

I burned my fingers silly hot glueing a lampshade the other night...I'll show that soon.

I made it for the Goodwill lamp I made over...I'll show it too of course.

It used to look like this....

Now it has a new base and is painted.

I'll show it very soon...plus another craft I whipped up.

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