Halloween!

 We are ready for all of the spooks to come visit our house, tonight!

In fact, the Ghost of  ???????????? has been living at our house!!

Do you know who she is?


Everyone have a great time, tonight!!


Wanda

Fall Mantel in the Den

I finished the fall vignette on the den mantel.

Last week, I found this sweet tin pumpkin treasure from "Goodwill". (I love the price of $1.99 for a tin pumpkin)

I purchased the fall leaves swag from "TJ Maxx".

I've owned this ceramic pumpkin since the early 1990s.

The ceramic pumpkins with corn were purchased this year from "TJ Maxx". (Oh how, I wish we had a "Home Goods Store" in the OKC Metro Area).

The candlesticks I have had for years.  The crosses on the candles were purchased at Trade Days in Canton, Texas.  I spray painted the crosses with "ORB", and highlighted the crosses with "Rub-n-Buff" gold.  I then pinned the ribbon around the candles and added the crosses.

A closer look at one of the candles.

This year, I made a corn husk wreath for the mantel.  This is the first one I have ever made.  I was inspired by the Martha Stewart's Corn Husk Wreath.  It appears in blogland, thus I am not the only person who loves the different styles of  Corn Husk Wreaths.

I added white pumpkins along the mantel among the leaves of the swag.

Another look.

I am hooked on white pumpkins!

Loving the white pumpkins!

I added different gourds and pumpkins at the base of the fireplace.

Now presenting the finished fireplace mantel!

Here is the total look of the fireplace area in the den.

Yea!! LOOK !  I need to go on another adventure to find a rug for the area in front of the fireplace. 

I will be linking up to party at the following places:


Layla @ The Lettered Cottage

Stacy @ Not Just a Housewife

Linda @ Coastal Charm

Thank you for your comments either in person, face book, or by following my blog.  I welcome any of your design suggestions.

I hope you are having as much fun on your adventures as I am having on mine!

Wanda

Tweaking the Fall Decor

Before I had finished putting out all of the fall decor accessories,  I started tweaking the fall decor that I had already displayed.

Remember the Dining Room Table?

I changed the look with a larger ceramic white pumpkin from TJ Maxx.

 

I think the larger ceramic white pumpkin looks better on the dining room table.

I moved the small orange pumpkin to the living room.

When I was taking photos the other day of the kitchen dining area side table,  I noticed that the wall above the side table looked bare.

I added a brass pot with greenery from the old guest room (aka Sophie's Room).

Here is closer look at side table top.

I like how the brass pot and greenery warmed the area above the side table.


I am almost finished with the interior fall decor, and I will be sharing the den mantel later this week.


I will be linking to the following parties this week:


Linda at Coastal Charm

The Girl Creative


Our fall weather has been wonderful! I hope you are enjoying your fall season!


Thanks for following my adventures.  I love your comments!

Wanda

Breaking out a Fall Table Vignette

On Saturday, I pulled out a scarf  with beautiful fall colors that I used as table runner for the dining room table last year. The scarf was purchased at "Trade Days" in Canton, Texas.

I love the butterflies on the scarf.

Each butterfly is on each end and corner of the scarf.

Many years ago, I purchased the gold-leaf plates from Big Lots.

The fall gourds, leaves and pine cones were purchased on sale at Crackle Barrel

The small pumpkin in the middle of the table was purchased at Goodwill for $1.99 this summer. (I found the small pumpkin, while I was on one of my treasure hunt trips.)

Thirteen years ago, I purchased the hurricane lamps from the now defunct Bombay Store

.

Here is a final look at the dining room decorated for fall.

I like to pull a Holiday Decor together without breaking the bank!


In November, I will replace the small pumpkin with a turkey tureen. 


I am looking forward to linking up with some parties this week:


Amaze Me Monday #41

82nd Table Top Tuesday



Stay tuned!!  you know I will be heading out or creating a new adventure, soon.


I love your comments!

Wanda

YEA! IT IS TIME FOR THE FALL SEASON!!!

Well... we have been busy at the Collier Home.  Sophie is adapting to America just great.  The weather is cooling off from the HOT SUMMER we experienced in Oklahoma.  The Oklahoma State Fair has begun!  So, it is time to pull out the Fall Decor.


I have been working on a front door wreath.  I know many of you in Blog land are using yarn and felt flowers for your wreaths. I think those wreaths are fantastic.  I love them!!  However, since I had two fall colored mesh that I purchased on sale at the Paul Michael Company in Canton, Texas last November, I thought I should use it to create a front door wreath.  


Here are the colors of the mesh and the ribbons I chose to use on the wreath.

I had an old grapevine wreath hanging in the attic.  Yea, I did not spend any money for the grapevine wreath.


Now I was QUITE  INSPIRED by Kristen's Creations: Tutorial on Ribbon/Mesh Wreath...Easy! from October 2009.  Thank you Kristen!!  


I started with the grapevine wreath and tied one yard of mesh every other color on to the wreath.  Here is a picture with the two mesh colors tied to the wreath.

Here is a closeup photo of the ribbons I used on the wreath.

Another closeup of the ribbons.

I tied the ribbons on the wreath.  I only used ribbons and mesh on the wreath.  I will wait until after the mums and pumpkins are added to the front entrance before I think about adding anything more to the wreath. 


Here is a final look at the wreath.

When the front porch is completed with its fall look with mums and pumpkins, I will share the photos with you.


I am going to link up with:


Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday No. 80

Tip Junkie

Savvy Southern Style


Thank you for following my adventures.  I welcome all of your comments whether in person, on face book or as a follower of my blog.


Enjoy the Beautiful Fall Season!!

Wanda

Sophie's Bedroom is READY!!

Wow!  This summer has gone by fast!  Tonight, Sophie, our exchange student from Germany, will be arriving in Oklahoma City.  We are so excited!  We have watched her plane travel across the Atlantic on the airline website.


I want to share with you her bedroom.  Remember how it looked liked a grandma's Room.  I think you will find there have been changes a happening at our house.


Here is a reminder of how the room once looked:

and a second look at the old room

Here is Sophie's bedroom, now!

I am leaving the walls undecorated, so Sophie can turn this room into HER room.

The bedding came from TJ Maxx.

I purchased inexpensive lamp shades from Garden Ridge.  They had a camo material on the shades.  I removed the camo material and recovered the shades with painter drop cloth material, and glued brown ribbon at the top and the bottom of the shades.  I spray-painted the gold lamps ORB.

I sewed the round table cover from painter drop cloth material, and used a zig zag stitch to add the trim at the bottom of the table skirt.

The table skirt trim is the very same material used to accent the window curtains.

The window curtains are made, once again, from painter drop cloth fabric with the fun and colorful material to the inside and outside of  each panel.

We purchased a new mirror (on sale 50% off)  from Pier One, a round pendleton paper latern from Target, the guitars and small amp were purchased from a pawn shop. I spray painted the small chair with ORB and recovered with  cream colored fabric remnant from JoAnn Fabrics.  Tom, my oldest son brought over the music stand and checked out the guitars before we purchased them. Also, Tom took the time to tune and restring the guitars.

The Lava Lamp had belong to our second son, Greg, when he was in high school.

Here is a quick look at her bathroom.

I stapled the bedroom curtains material around stretch bars and hung the artwork over each of the hand towel holders.

Here is a look at three of the artwork I made displayed in the shower area.

Hopefully, Sophie will feel welcomed and loved in her American home. We have no doubt she will add joy to our lives.  And, we look forward to having her family with us during the Christmas holidays!

Thanks again for following my adventures.  It should be a busy school year for my family with Sophie.

Wanda

Wanted: Teenage Bedroom not Grandma's Bedroom!!

Last week, We received a letter from Education Foundation (EF) announcing that Sophie, our exchange student, will be here on August 11th.  We had her mother, Jennifer, live with us for a full school year back in 1989-1990.  Now we are blessed to have Sophie come live with us!

Yes, we are very excited!  I need to get busy and get the bedroom ready for Sophie to decorate.

Here are a couple of photos of the room where she will sleep. (please note these photos were taken before I started a blog...nor have I  improved much with my photo taking and photo editing...LOL!)

This room needs HELP!  A ROOM MAKE-OVER is needed so a TEENAGER can live in this room!!! 

I am going to take everything down except the mirror off the wall, so she can decorate.  The red comforter set is going to be donated. I am replacing the red curtains and red table skirt with something to match the bedding.  I am loving lamp drum shades, so I have started my hunt for drum shades to fit the light sconces by the bed. (In fact, I think the light sconces should be painted silver or ORB)  What color do you think I should paint the light sconces?

I have this neat leopard print chair in the corner.  I think it is a keeper, beside all young ladies need a chair to drape their clothes on.

I already have my inspiration bedding selected.  Sophie has already noted she "like it" on face book. So, I am going to share with you a sneak peak.

BIG DIFFERENCE!!  Don't you think?  I like all the colors in this bedding and it goes with the brown ceiling and walls.

I am going to go to "Pinterest" and get started with selecting accessories I like for her room and bathroom.  Watch for my selections on "Pinterest".  

I am on countdown time before Sophie arrives!

Thank you for following my adventures!  I love all your comments!

Wanda

A Sketchbook of Birds by Charles Tunnicliffe

I have been wanting to switch out several prints in my house to frame sketches of birds.  I have noticed the price of several of the framed bird sketches and re-prints.  


Then, I thought maybe an option for me would be to find prints in books and have them matted and framed at Michaels or Hobby Lobby.  At least, I could purchase the mats and frames and complete a DIY project with framed bird sketches.  So, I headed over to the used bookstore, "Archives Books".  


I found the most interesting book.

for a great price of $4.95

I loved the sketches inside this book by Charles Tunnicliffe. The book is "Divided into five sections - Seabirds; Waders; Geese, Ducks, and Swans"; including  Birds of Prey; and Miscellaneous Birds.  The drawings were selected from seventeen of the artist's sketchbooks.  "C. F. Tunnicliffe was born in Cheshire, England in 1901."  Tunnicliffe usually noted on his sketches the location and the date of composition.


Mr. Tunnicliffe died before the publication of this book, "...but he did see color proofs of some of the pictures and took pleasure in discussing and corresponding about publishing details during the planning stages."


I am going to share with you a few of the pages from this book.  (Please note: my photos do not show the real beauty of each page.)

Charles Tunnicliffe had a wonderful talent. 

"In 1944, he was elected to the Royal Academy."

"In August 1974 an exhibition of his bird drawings opened at the Royal Academy."

He was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Society for the protection of Birds in 1974.

"Charles Tunnicliffe achieved distinction in several fields: as an etcher and engraver, water colorist, and book illustrator specializing in natural history subjects."

He died in 1979.

I am mesmerized by his sketches.  I do not think I can use any of the prints from this book to mat and frame.  I think it will make a beautiful coffee table book in my living room or in my upstairs landing room.  


Have any of you found prints in books and had them matted and framed either by a company or on a DIY project?


Please sign up and follow me in my adventures.  I wish each of you a wonderful week!

Wanda