Playing with Pumpkins

Autumn is my favorite time of year. Growing up in Pennsylvania I have such great memories of apple and pumpkin picking, and walking to school gathering leaves of scarlet, copper, bronze and gold. Sadly in Arizona we don't enjoy such Fall delights. Nevertheless, I can pretend by filling my home with pumpkins, gourds and other signs of the harvest!

Herewith, my Autumnal tablescape...

 Remember I found these wooden chargers at Goodwill a few weeks ago? I knew I'd be using them a lot! The dinner plate is a deep brown with a black border made by Arabia of Finland. The little fruit bowl is Wedgwood Old Chelsea and features a crane sitting on a branch.

I found this wonderful casserole dish recently thrifting. It is Royal Worcester and the pattern is Evesham one of their most popular designs.

For the table runner I've used a pashmina that I purchased a couple of years ago in India

I wanted to incorporate lots of wood so I nestled my pumpkins into vintage dough bowls.

These two little carved ladies are from Switzerland. Aren't they adorable? Goodwill finds!

 My brother gave me this little lad when he returned from a stint in Germany. I love his knapsack!

Now for the sideboard!

So even though it's still over 100 degrees outside Fall is in the air inside!

I'm joining:

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

Open House Party Thursdays

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Through Life

Savvy Southern Style for Wow us Wednesdays

2805 for Potpourri Friday

Pillow Project

When our youngest went off to college several years ago I commandeered his room and turned it into my office/workout room/storage room. Do you have one of those? I got rid of the twin beds that he had grown up with and moved in a sofa and coffee table, treadmill and t.v. I realized however, that when all of the kids come home for the holidays someone always ends up sleeping on the couch. So I finally decided to go the day bed route.

 It took a bit of searching, but I found this beautiful day bed on craigslist. I ordered a buttercream yellow matelasse bedspread from Overstock.com (they have some great deals!)   

These are the pillow shams that the bedspread came with. Nice, but it definitely needs more pillows!

So I got to work! Now I know most of you creative types have already done this, and all of your fabulous blogs inspired me to try my hand at iron on transfers. What fun! I had about 6 yards of a lovely nubby linen and silk fabric that I had found thrifting a couple of months ago. I wasn't sure what I was going to use it for  but then it became obvious - pillows! 

With the help of the Graphics Fairy and my Printshop program I designed Country French pillows with roosters, hens, honey bees and wheat. Added to the mix are pillows made out of authentic Provencal fabrics that I've been saving for something special. Oh, and a nice green silk dupioni 

pillow found at Goodwill for $1.99. It's also down filled!

 How many pillows are too many? I still want to make some with crowns, but maybe I'll save them for the living room!

I'll be joining:

Savvy Southern Style for wow us Wednesdays

Debbie's Newbie Party at Debbiedoo's Blogging and Blabbing

Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday

My Romantic Home for 

Show and Tell Friday

                      French Country Cottage for Feathering Your Nest Friday

Cake Plate Parade

A few months ago I shared with you my love of crystal cake plates.Is there any other way to make a simple dessert look more elegant? Well, my collection continues to grow as I simply cannot resist when I find one at a thrift store! Here then are my latest acquisitions.

I found this lovely ribbed beauty today at the Goodwill for $9.99!

And how about this darling pastry plate? I love the ruffled edge of the turquoise base. 

Although this was made in Italy,  I've added a "Frenchy" tag courtesy of The Graphics Fairy!

This piece I found thrifting earlier in the Summer. It has a wonderful cut crystal base .

Okay, so this isn't really a cake plate, but I had to add this covered bon bon dish to the collection!

So here they are all lined up on the wall that separates my living room from my dining room.

Cake Plates on Parade!

I'm joining Cindy over at
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home 

and  Feathering Your Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage. 

Table Topper Tutorial

Over the years I have made dozens of these "French" table toppers. They are so easy to make and you can make them in any style to fit your own decor. So I thought I'd share a "how-to" today.

 I typically use decorator fabric which runs 54"-60" wide. The piece needs to be square so it takes about 1 1/2 yards depending on the exact width of the fabric you use.

 You also need 3/4 yard of coordinating fabric for the border. Cut this into 4 strips each 5" wide by the full width of the fabric. In other words, if your main fabric is 54" wide make sure your strips are 5" x 54".

Pin a strip of fabric with the right side of the strip against the wrong side of the tablecloth and stitch using 1/2" seam.

Now fold the border back against the right side of the tablecloth and press. Turn under the raw edge 1/2 inch and press. That gives you a 4" border.

Topstitch the border 1/4 inch from the inside edge.  Trim the edge of the border even with the edge of the tablecloth. Now repeat on the opposite side

 Next you'll do the remaining 2 sides. Before you topstitch, there should be about 1 inch of border fabric hanging over each side. I merely tuck these under and press in place before stitching them down. If I feel ambitious I'll miter the edges, but most of the time I don't bother.

From start to finish you can make one of these in about an hour!

It's also fun to use a coordinating fabric on the back and make a reversible topper.

Add caption

I am joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.
 http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

The End of Summer

Remember all those dishes I found at the Goodwill a couple of weeks ago? Well, here is an end of Summer tablescape

incorporating my new finds with some old favorites.

 I started with this tray that my darling husband brought home from New Zealand for me

 many, many years ago.

 I added this charming hen casserole dish, some wooden candlesticks, and a 

bouquet of sunflowers that same darling husband recently brought back from Seattle.They dried quite nicely!

 Here are those awesome wooden chargers I found for $1.50 each at the thrift store.Next I layered the Adams Empress dinner plates and an Arabia  bread and butter plate. The brown linen napkins belonged to my grandmother Emily. All are set on table runner I made out of leftover drapery fabric.

 These beautiful goblets are made by Lenox. The pattern is Antique Brown. I received them as a wedding gift.

 A few random pitchers and crocks give great texture to the table and are great for serving sauces or gravy.

And now aren't you ready for the days to get a little shorter and the nights a little cooler?

Chocolate Almond Breadsticks

Today I thought I'd just share with you one of my favorite party recipes. Years ago I was a caterer and though I rarely cater professionally anymore, occasionally I'm asked to help with a wedding. I made these Chocolate Almond Breadsticks as part of  wedding brunch for a friend of mine. They are light, crispy and sweet and would make a nice addition to a dessert buffet or afternoon tea! They are so easy and can easily be made ahead of time. Bon Appetit! 

Chocolate Almond Breadsticks

INGREDIENTS

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

• 1/2 cup salted almonds, toasted and finely chopped

• 1/3 cup raw sugar

• 4 ounces milk or dark chocolate, finely chopped

• Butter, melted

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl mix the sugar and nuts together.
Unfold pastry puff dough on a lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin,  thin dough to ¼-inch thick. Cut in half. Lightly brush one side with melted butter.
Sprinkle entire surface with sugar-nut mixture, pressing it into dough. Next sprinkle chocolate pieces evenly over surface.
Lightly brush other half of dough with melted butter and place over top of side 1, butter side down. Using rolling pin, seal pieces together.
Brush the top of pastry with melted butter and lightly sprinkle with sugar if desired. Cut into 12 strips
Take a strip and twist. Transfer to a silpat mat or parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Press ends into baking sheet to prevent breadsticks from untwisting during baking. Chill for 15 minutes before baking.

Bake for 15-20 minutes until puffed and golden brown. Let cool. Makes 12 breadsticks

Garden Surprise

Don't you love getting something for FREE?

 About 6 weeks ago I noticed a new sprout in my herb garden that quickly grew into a vine. I had harvested all of my lettuce and spread some compost in the area so I left it alone. I thought it might be a cucumber vine so I put up some stakes for it to climb on.

It spread rapidly and I could see something dangling from the vine. Hmm, that seems a bit chubby for a cucumber! What is it?

 Oh look! It's a cantaloupe! I've never grown cantaloupes nor did I plant any intentionally, but clearly I had spread some seeds in my compost. What a fun surprise! Who says there's no such thing as a 

free lunch? And I noticed yesterday there's a second little cantaloupe on the vine, bonus!