Simple Fall Decor - 8 Ideas...

I've had fall in my  home for a number of weeks.   It's all really 

simple with just small additions here and there.  Let's take a peek...

We'll start with my favorite.  

It's simply an ironstone pitcher plopped with faux foliage that rests

 beside a new candle gift I received at the end of summer...

This grouping rests on my coffee table...

Across the room - this duo sits on my piano.  Some more 

winding foliage brings them into fall...

Moving into another room - a few fall additions to my plant table...

An urn vase with more plopped fall foliage...

A grapevine wreath from a previous year...

One little faux orange pumpkin makes this grouping say 'fall' 

with no other changes...

And finally - out to the porch where my sprinkling can and 

black wicker rocker move from summer to fall.

I told you it was simple!  

Thanks for joining me.  And Happy Fall!  ~Joyce

A DIY Vertical Fall Garden...

What an awesome morning I had.  

I stopped at an unadvertised yard sale (on a Thursday!) - and had the 

unexpected pleasure of a tour of the neighbor's backyard garden.  

If you have a small space to garden - you just may be intrigued too.

   Come along...

This overall shot shows the space that was utilized... a small area between the house & garage (which sits at the rear of their lot. )

In this raised bed with poles - the owner grew about 12 tomato plants.   

They get tall - like over the top boards - and she gets ton of tomatos...

Working our way clockwise - this is the sweet potato bin.

  Normally sweet potatoes need to be grown on a hill.  But this bin

 works great with no digging needed.  The dirt is all nice and loose.

  And they showed me some of the harvested sweet potatoes - 

they were beautiful!

Directly behind the sweet potatoes - another vertical area.  

The corded trellis can be purchased online and is sturdy enough to grow watermelon and other squash.  Yes really!

These lush and tall plants are peppers - of about every variety imaginable...

To utilize even more space - some tomato plants were added right

 next to the garage wall.  This time on bamboo teepees.

And the little single squares in front of that?
They held squash...

And we're not done.  

On the other side of the small yard - I spotted this wonderful fire pit.  

It's construction is very simple.  They dug a hole and lined it with

 bricks (see them standing up down there?)  Then they went to our

 local river and helped themselves to some river rocks.  The flat

 pavers were from their own stash and weren't being used anywhere

 so they became a little 'patio'.  

'Mr. Gardener' made a few pallet chairs and wa-la - 

the cutest little backyard fire pit area you ever did see.

But there's more... hop on over to my Facebook page for 

more sightings from my morning.

Here's a teaser...

Happy Fall!  ~Joyce

A White Basket Through the Seasons...

Do you follow the 'don't wear white after Labor Day' rule? 

 How about white in your home?  Does it feel 'cold' in Winter?

   May I suggest that white works all year long - it just depends what 

you pair it with.  (White sandals with snow on the ground may be a stretch.) 

 But for most things - it can totally work.

 Let's take this white basket...

Fill it with it with colorful leaves and pumpkins and you've got Fall...

Pine boughs and ornaments...

...or bunches of berry branches make it Christmas...

A cozy blanket with take you through Winter...

Some yellow forsythia or tulips or whatever strikes your 

fancy will bring it alive in Spring...

And summer?  Even empty white says 'summer' - so we're good.

And if you'd like to take this vintage gathering basket through the

 seasons in your own home - it's available right here in my shop.   

White - it's a season's best friend!  ~Joyce

Linking to Let's Talk Vintage

Ticking Meets Fall Decor...

My grouping of recent finds included some old ticking.  

Authentic ticking seems to be desirable lately judging from how it

 is moving out of my Etsy shop.  So let's take a peek around

 blogland  and get some inspiration for incorporating blue ticking

 into our fall decor!  Ready?...

First up - just combine it with some fall berries.  

The orange and blue make a wonderful pairing...

Source

This tablescape in grounded on ticking and is almost spring-like.

  But the white pumpkins make it perfectly Fall in neutrals.

Ticking cut into strips makes great ribbon.  (As does most fabric actually!)

Add it to your fall wreaths.

Source

Stack it with tweeds and sweaters and it's coziness heaven!...

Source

Ticking and wool plaids... why not?

Source

Ticking makes great fabric pumpkins.  

These cuteys are unique and available on Etsy right now!

Source

I'm kind of cheating with this one...  See the ticking?  See the pumpkin?  

There ya go...

Source

Isn't this a great foyer or hallway greeting.  Can't paint a fancy sign?  

Try decoupaging a fall scene on an old board with your handwritten letters.

Source unknown

It's easy to make your own fabric napkins if you can't find 

what you're looking for in the store. 

 Just hem 4 sides of a square of cloth.

Source

And if you're looking for some old ticking - there are plenty of

 sources online.  Here's a piece that is currently in my Etsy shop...

Link to Ticking Listing

Oh isn't Fall fun?  ~Joyce

Shopping in Kalona, IA...

On our recent road trip vacation - I spent some time roaming around 

Kalona, IA with my cousin.  What a treat!   It's a very midwestern

 looking town.  Everybody knows everybody and is nice to each other 

and oh my - I was ready to move in!

Our first stop was a Fall Festival.  Not sure why I didn't take more pictures... 

but I thought this vendor's signage with just perfect...

Then we hit the Pink Begonia which was a little downtown antique co-op.  

Just love the name and the owner was so sweet.  She had homemade 

cookies at the check out and the antique cash register is the real deal.  

It's what she uses to ring up a sale!

Photo from Pink Begonia facebook page

Next up was The Shop which had sort of a modern farmhouse feel.  

They had great displays everywhere - including their sidewalk decor

But the best part?  

The Shop was having a yard sale - about a mile from the store.  

We boogied right over there and oh my... it was my highlight of our trip.

Take a peek at some of my stash...

I couldn't resist this party banner in black and ecru.  

Shop price - $18.  Yard sale price - $1!

They had lots of fabrics and linens and the prices were crazy good.  But I restrained myself and picked up just a few of the extra special pretties.

They left a tag on the child's slip which of course made it feel like 

a steal at - you guessed it - $1!

This dish caught my eye too so for $2 - in my pile it went...

And ticking... when I find the truly old stuff - I get it.  

Etsy buyers are liking it!

Dear Kalona - I'd be happy to return.  

You left a place in my heart for sure.

Why don't you hop on over to the Pink Begonia and The Shop 

via facebook and send 'em some love!  (links above)

And go take a road trip.  They're wonderfully refreshing!  ~Joyce

(Visit my Quilted Nest facebook page for a few extra trip pics.)