Apothecary Jars & Hurricane Lantern Fillers

Hello there!

I never get tired of seeing what people are doing when it comes to decorating their homes and hope that you agree because I'm sharing a few more Fall ideas with you today.

Have you seen the wonderful candles,candle holders and apothecary jar and vase fillers at Pottery Barn? Wow! They take my breathe away.  Don't you love the way they take an ordinary glass apothecary jar and turn it into something special with moss and a few decorative items?  Well, I love the look of PB but not being able to afford it, I have to find other ways to satisfy my PB decorating on a budget.

A few years back I purchased two very large glass hurricane lantern/vases and a large apothecary jar at Marshall's (for a fraction of the cost) to use in decorating.  These glass hurricanes and apothecary jar have held everything from shells to Christmas ornaments, faux branches to candles. I love their versatility throughout the seasons.

This year inspired by Pottery Barn vase fillers I found these extra large faux acorns (Kirklands) in bronze, gold and silver finishes and tiny pine cone ornaments and wire leaves (Dollar Store) complete this apothecary jar.

For the Magpie that I am.....A bag of glitter acorns that practically leaped off the shelf into my basket! 

 Of course they needed companion faux pumpkins and berries.

Because after all THEY were on SALE!

My rationale for these purchases:  Acorns and pumpkins transition from Fall into Thanksgiving, right?

Using Apothecary Jars and Hurricane lanterns in decorating is fun, considering they can hold any thing you might imagine.  They aren't just for candles anymore.

GO ahead turn your ideas into something wonderful!

Bee Creative,
Suzy

Happy Fall

Hello Friends,

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year and mostly a state of mind where I live. The weather is taking a turn to less humidity, cooler sea breezes and crystal clear blue sky indicating it is Fall in So. Florida.  Location doesn't keep me from fully enjoying seasonal decorating but I will admit a bit of longing for fall leaves and access to nature's bountiful foliage and natural objects to use in decorating.  Jeez, I have to go out and actually purchase these FAUX items some of y'all get for free <pouty face> and another thing, fireplace mantles, is it me or does it seem like everybody has a mantle to decorate?   I know there are people just like me that don't have a mantle and that just makes us get a bit creative with our decorating.  If you don't have a mantle, what/where do you decorate for the seasons?

My mantle is a Baker's rack in the kitchen.  I use it to corral uh, display my seasonal decorations.

Last year's pumpkin collection has been completed and this year I've added a chalkboard, compote, carrot pitcher, two ceramic pears and cutting board.  All are finds from the thrift store with the exception of the chalkboard.  My very FIRST chalkboard was inspired by this chalkboard found on Pinterest.  I'm totally hooked on the chalkboard pens.

This BOO sign was found at Target in Michigan and after trick or treat I can add the pumpkin to the patch.

 This compote is missing the lid but isn't perfect for holding flowers or fruit?

Here it is close up.  Lovely isn't it?

 The carrot pitcher will do double duty in Spring but because it is orange it works with the fall theme.

Look at these pears! Just ripe for the picking don't you think?

Here's another thrift find, the chopping board tied with baker twine, faux pears in a bowl that belonged to my Dad's aunt works well with the other natural elements.

By now you might have guessed I'm a huge Pinterest fan, it is my GO TO for decorating ideas for Fall and Christmas, and this time of the year is a bonanza of ideas.  I love the home tours and all the ideas that come from peeking inside other peoples homes to see how they decorate seasonally.  My inspiration comes from many places including Pinterest, the craft stores, store window dressings and magazines and HGTV shows to name a few. Where do your decorating ideas come from?

I'll have more fall decor to share with you this week so be sure to come back again soon!

Happy Fall Y'all,
Be Creative
Suzy

CANDY CORN DAY

Last year I "officially" dubbed October 1st as "Candy Corn Day". The little grands Sunshine and Lollipop were happy to play along with Mimi and celebrate the day with a handful of candy corn and a kiddie craft. We had a delightful afternoon painting triangular shaped "candy corn" in white, orange and yellow, then stringing them together with yarn to make a fun candy corn banner.  

This year I was in Michigan with Calvin Houdini (aka Jackson) and Little Miss (aka Isla) for Candy Corn Day.  Before I left home I traced large triangles on a office folder and stuck it in my baggage (don't you just wonder what security thinks about these kinda items in our baggage?) ready to pull out and have "craft" day entertainment.  I'd purchased paints and brushes so we were all set to go.....preparation is KEY with a 2.5 yr. old.  Jackson was excited to "paint" with Mimi, listening as the concept of candy corn painting was explained, he followed directions well!  In fact Jackson was a very neat/tidy painter and as he waited patiently while the paint dried between layers..... we had lunch and nap time. 

We also painted a little pumpkin and hung them in the window.  

Jackson and I had a great time painting and maybe in another year or two, Isla will be able to join us for Candy Corn Day!  

Although I missed the 2nd annual Candy Corn Day with Sunshine and Lollipops I did find Candy Corn socks for them.....and they were very happy! 

Hope you are enjoying the season of Candy Corn and finding creative crafts to do!  Please stop by again soon to see Fall craft projects I've been working on...

Bee Creative!
Suzy

LET'S CATCH UP!

Hello Friends,

Like a true friendship, time escapes us periodically and then we pick up just where we left off, never skipping a beat....I hope you have friendships like that, I'd like to think we have that kinda friendship here.   Well, it has been a long time and it seems this year has been flying by quickly without much blogging on my part.  I'll not offer any lame excuses and apologies, it's just been a busy summer for me.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! 

We have a new GRAND BABY GIRL!  Baby ISLA (pronounced eye-la)  MARIA was born in early August. She is welcomed into the family by her parents Amanda and Fabian, her older step-sister Destiny and her brother Jackson.

Isn't she darling in her little mermaid tutu?

Amanda was having gall bladder issues and they induced the baby thinking they would then do surgery RIGHT after the birth.  I booked a flight and rushed up to Michigan to help out with the family, only to find out they (the doctors) decided to do the gall bladder surgery a month later.  I was there for two weeks doing my Mimi thing with the "littles".  A month later I was back for the post surgery care to give the family some much needed help.

I'm happy to report all is well with my daughter and everyone is adjusting to life with a new baby and toddler.  Grandson Jackson is growing up and he adores his baby sister!  She thinks he hung the moon.

Now that I'm back home, it's time for the Fall decorating and projects!  l'll be sharing those with you next week.   So Ya'll come back now, real soon.

Suzy

Getting My Martha On

Hello Everyone!

The last few months have been busy ones around here, my apologies for dropping off the blogging world again.  First of all my computer battery died suddenly and I had to reorder and if that wasn't enough, the online company sent a battery that was defective.  But that's not the worst of it, I started receiving pornographic emails and to make matters worse, I'm still fighting a battle to get a refund. I tell you this because I have been without my laptop for two months and trying to do everything from my phone. Hence No Blogging.  That's just the beginning of my time away from blogland....

IF you have planned a baby or bridal shower then you will understand why I haven't had time to write. I didn't know that it would be SO time consuming!!  It started with the hours spent on Pinterest perusing the latest baby shower decorating ideas and the cutest craft projects....well you know how THAT goes.  I pinned every idea that might have a possibility of happening and eventually narrowed down the ideas to a few I thought I might be able to accomplish.

  Meanwhile , getting my "Martha" on, I haunted Hobby Lobby for just the perfect paper to construct the invitations from and looked everywhere for the perfect little embellishments, then spent hours cutting and constructing each little "onsie".  It was fun for the first dozen or so and then it became a daily project for the rest of the week to complete in time to get them addressed and mailed out. And that was only after finding direction to the obscure clubhouse location near our home town to include with the invite.

 Did I mention  that I had opted to have the baby shower in Jacksonville, or rather south of there in St. John's County?  Did I say that the clubhouse was out in the middle of no-where?  Anyhoo, yes, it all went well but there were moments when I actually had panick attacks, like when the bakery couldn't find my special cake order and the guy at the deli couldn't find the platters I ordered and the flowers ordered were in dormant bud stage on the morning of the shower! Ohh geez! Then I forgot the ice....OH yeah.  Did I mention I was making decorations and cake pops and trying to get everything 250 miles away from my home without melting and being crushed?

It all turned out nice and the shower was lovely.  Thank goodness for my sister that she took photos for me and after they have been edited, I'll post them for you.

Until then, take care!

Suzy

Cups Mugs and China

Hello Friends!

Most mornings I drink coffee from a TO GO mug on the way to work and at my desk I swill it down when I get a break.  It is a real treat when I can spend time at home with an actual HOT cup of coffee. I prefer to use my favorite cup and savor the flavor of Dunkin' Donuts French Vanilla.  Last fall my church had a rummage sale, I had admired these cups at Pier 1 many years ago and got them at the rummage sale for the  bargain price of $1.00 each. SCORE!

My Grandmother (Granny) had a beautiful set of china with dogwoods on each plate and cup.  Often on Sundays we would have a family dinner with her and she would use her beautiful china.  When she passed away, I inherited her china.  I love these delicate cups and even have one I use in my studio (the handle broke and I couldn't bear to throw it out) to wash my watercolor brush in when I'm painting.

You might have seen this plate before in one of my journals but since we are on the subject of china, I thought you might like to see them again.  On this journal page I "spill" about my desire for "new" china and the thought of parting with the old stuff.  

This is another journal page where I talk about the plate and my mother's love for china, apparently I have inherited that desire to collect miscellaneous plates.

Anyone else like to collect mismatched china or plates just because you like the design?  I know that I'm not alone in this....

Do tell....

Suzy

Painting with a Fountain Pen

Hello Friends!

Things are heating up here quickly in South Florida!  Actually we've seen mid-eighties already and close to 90 degree mark one day.  It's a bit soon but soon we will be acclimated to those steamy days and nights and 80's will look like a cool front to us.  I know that some of you probably can't relate to those temperatures at all but it is rather the usual weather for us.  Now that you have the weather report, here's what's been happening in my neck of the woods.

Remember me saying I needed to practice sketching and spending more time in my sketchbook? Well, I've been playing around with ink, the kind that comes in a fountain pen.  It's pretty cool what happens when ink and water meet.

First I sketched the birds in pencil and then come back to outline them with blue ink and then use a small round brush dipped in clear water to go over the ink. The ink reacts to the water and begins to spread out. A few more times with the brush and water and a dab more blue ink to make the shadows pop. The whole time I was painting/drawing this I was saying: ooh, ooh, this is fun!  I hope you'll give it a try! 

Black ink will produce nice grey shadows when wet.  

Purple ink with the help of Inktense watercolor pencils on the Little Bird. 

Do you have a particular time of day that you like to draw or paint or be in your studio?  My perfect time is at night when the house is quiet, just before bedtime and my mind is shutting down for the evening.  I'm relaxed and not over thinking what I am doing, my creative side kicks in gear enough to paint or sketch something simple.  Or first thing in the morning, before I'm really awake is also a good time for creativity in my studio. 

I've been busy, how about you?  Anything to share? Do tell!  

Grab your fountain pen and paint brush and give this ink thing a go!  Let me know if something good happens....

Bee Creative

Suzy