Fabric pumpkins

The mirror is UP! And... I LOVE it! It adds soo much to the room! It took a little more than a normal mirror since the hubby didn't want to drill into the brick, but it all worked and looks great! Thanks  honey!
You may have noticed my new additions to the mantle and fireplace. I found this cute idea here. (be sure to check it out) I immediately ran to JoAnne to get some fabric!

Okay, so I found few extra pieces that I had to have along with the ones for fall! The great part? They were ALL on sale! Yay! The fabric quarters were only .99 cents each, and the homespun pieces were 30% off!

I took my roll of toilet paper...

Stuck it in a plastic bag, she used newspaper in her tutorial but I didn't have any and didn't want to use tissue paper, and the plastic bag worked just fine!

I wrapped the plastic bag up and into the hole of the toilet paper.

Unwrapped my fabric quarter,

and placed the toilet paper in the middle. I could have cut my fabric, but I wanted to be able to reuse everything after I was done with fall decorating.

I stuck all the fabric into the hole just like with the plastic bag.

Went out in the yard and picked up some sticks that I thought would work for the stems. Love the chunky one on the end!

Just stick the stick in the hole! Shape it a little bit and you are done! Or you can add some ribbon and bows!

Here they are sitting on my mantle.

I used some olive green tulle I had for the "leaves" but I really like the ribbon on hers too, so I may change them.

This one is my favorite, the color of the fabric reminds me of candy corn! And I love the chunky stem!

I made one using a paper towel roll too! Haha! I will go back to JoAnn this evening and get some orange burlap I think and redo this one... don't really like the brown.

Miss Koko was getting a little miffed at me, she wanted to play and tried lots of different toys to try to coax me to play with her!

I made one for the spare toilet paper roll on the back of the toilet too!

Love the print on this one! I have another fall project for you tomorrow.
I think I am burned out on painting... after painting Justin and Genna's house, I just can't get myself to pick up that paint brush!
See you tomorrow! Have a lovely afternoon.

Welcome Fall and the spiders.

I am still waiting for the hubby to put up the GORGEOUS mirror I bought the other day at Home Depot! Martha Stewart has a new line that just came in! Stunning! The whole line! Anyway, I decided to show you my banner project anyway... finally played with my Cricut, it has been a while. Haven't finished organizing my craft studio so I had to bring it upstairs to the kitchen table! Haha!

I had some burlap I bought months ago, I cut some triangles. I bought the cool doily leaves at Dollar Tree the last time I was there, the time I spent $50.00! HA! I know... who does that?!

I placed my letters that I cut with my decorative paper and my Cricut on the doily leaves and added the glittery fall leaves that I also bought at the Dollar Tree on the same visit. I then added some buttons*grin*.

I had some coppery glittery Ric-rack so I hot glued that to the top then layered all the pieces back onto the triangle and glued them down,

I also cut an owl using my Cricut. I then topped it all off with a red button!

This is my fall mantle minus the mirror. I decided to go with just fall for now and will add a little bit of Halloween next month and Thanksgiving in November.

Picture that gorgeous black mirror up on the mantle. Now you may be wondering why I don't just prop it up there to take the picture? Well, let me explain. Umm, it is 1 inch too big, but I fell in love with it, and knew that if I brought it home the hubby could make it work. See the two little brick shelves above the mantle, well they leave an opening between them of 32 inches, the mirror is 33 inches. So the hubby is going to hang it from the ceiling for me so it will be in front of the two little shelves, which I hate by the way!

I am loving the banner! I think I need to make a couple extras for some people I know! Here are a few close ups! Enjoy!

Close up of the left side.

The close up of the right side.

September always means spiders here in Bellingham, at least at my house! Can you see him? From what I understand they are mating this time of year. They are everywhere outside.

Can you see him now? My camera was being difficult and would not focus on the spider for some reason, so he just looks like a blurry blob!
So we had a change of plans! I am not going to Vashon Island, but I am going to IKEA and Shipwreck Beads on Monday! Cannot wait! First stop will be Starbucks! Now I guess I better work on getting that kitchen painted! For some reason all I want to do is search the web for cottage ideas ;)
Have a GREAT holiday weekend!

Dreaming of an Island Cottage

I know you have been wondering about our little cottage on Center Island... unfortunately we decided to let the original buyers go ahead and purchase the place. Which made us sad in the beginning because it was such a wonderful place!
But, we were able to find property that is available on the island...

there is a peekaboo view of the water through the trees *huge grin* Can you see it? *giggle* so excited! Keep your fingers crossed! By the way their are a total of 3 properties for sale but this is my first choice.





















I have been searching the internet for cottage building plans, this is from here. (You can see the floor plan there too)

And this one is the same company here. (click to see the floor plan)

Did you know that Lowe's sells house kits? Isn't this one adorable? (It is KC697 if you want to see the floor plan click the red lowes) I have already been into my Lowe's to talk to them about this one! Is it silly that I spent $40.00 on cottage magazines to research what I want the inside to look like! Haha! Anyway, things always seem to work out for the best don't they?! 
In other news, my hubby won't be instructing for the next 21 days, our airport is closed for construction! But he has decided to get a little instruction of his own, so we may be heading down south to Vashon Island and renting a beach cottage for the long weekend, I will read and bird watch while he is getting the instruction in a Maule. Then when he is done we can wander the shops, eat, and walk on the beach! Oh and yes Miss Koko will be with me!
Have a great afternoon! I am waiting for the hubby to put something up for me before I can show you my Fall decor... so maybe tomorrow?

Beginnings of Fall decorating.

Yesterday was a perfect Pacific Northwest day! Cold, windy, rainy, foggy, LOVE it! So when my friend Andrea wanted to meet for lunch we had to go somewhere on the water!

I ordered crab chowder with Caesar salad YUM! Then I happened to mention that I needed a new purse and wanted to go to La Connor. My favorite purse store is there. So we finished up lunch and headed south! Just like that!

Haha! I was looking for a brown or black purse but spied this one! It had a broken zipper inside that I would probably never use so she gave me $15.00 off!

I am preparing to decorate for fall... I just love each season, I could never pick a favorite! I am working on the front porch, the upstairs fireplace mantle and going to try to finish painting the kitchen.

Here's a couple little sneak peeks!

I went to Ross this morning, what a mistake that was! The line was like 20 long! So I put everything back that I had planned to buy and will go back this evening when hopefully it will be a little more quiet. I only had a few little things anyway, most of my shopping was done at home with what I already have.

Hope you are enjoying the beginning of the fall season too!