Home for the Harvest Tablescape

I've been a bit of a busy bee lately buzzing through writing the first draft of my second novel, so I haven't had a ton of time to post. But I have had some fun decorating the dining room for Fall with some of my recent finds.

It started with wanting to use the Croscill tablecloth and valences I found at the Goodwill Outlet Store a few weeks back. The fabric was so nice and the colors had just the right feel for autumn. The tablecloth was a perfect fit on my round table, while the valence got easily repurposed as a mantle scarf.

The colors seemed to work nicely with some of the Roseville pottery I've uncovered at surprisingly affordable prices lately.

Here's a view of the mantle and table together. I went with 70s era Carnival glass for the table setting.

You can see a close up of the table. The plates and the goblets and candlesticks are not the same pattern, but the color is close so I think it works.

The candlesticks are actually a new find for me. They're a Harvest Grape pattern and match the goblets. I got the pair for $5, which seemed to be a pretty good buy.

The dinner plates are called Anniversary and they're made by Jeanette Glass. I bought these a while ago and I love the many iridescent colors they reflect back.

Wishing you all the bounty of the harvest at your dinner table and in your thrifting adventures!

--Jenn

What the Woollybear Says -or- Autumn in Pennsylvania

A visit to the countryside around Western Pennsylvania offered plenty of souvenirs of this dry and dusty fall. The leaves are changing, yes, but crackle... Orange and browns mix and swirl in the Indian summer wind.

I thought you all might enjoy coming with me for a minute, as we savor the signs of autumnm and we listen to what our friend the woollybear caterpillar says...
"Harsher winter in the beginning, milder toward spring."

We'll see if our furry worm friend proves accurate!

It was a clear day yesterday for photos, but as for a kaleidoscope of color, well, it may not appear this year...
Still, I was nuts about this pair of happy acorns...
And the pumpkins await Halloween with brave faces...
The gourds offer a bountiful cornucopia of color...
Barns stand still and quiet awaiting next year's potential...
Weatherbeaten and waiting...
Afternoon sun casts long shadows through the lacy pine trees...
And we keep snapshots of 2010 because this year, like every year, goes by in a blur...

Wishing you a bountiful, beautiful week ahead of you!

Autumn Tablescapes: Fun in the Fall

How can you decorate for Fall on a budget? I had fun with it this year using some vintage Carnival glass, and a few discount rack items from Bed Bath and Beyond.

While I love the marigold Carnival glass, orange is not really my favorite color. I think I was scared by Harvest Colors as a child in the 70s...

So my base colors in Autumn are usually sage green and purple, with the Carnival glass serving as my warmer tones. I got the set of Jeannette Glass plates in the Anniversary pattern from Graham's antique mall in Ligonier...
And the grape patterned goblets and centerpiece bowl were thrift store finds.

The leaf placemats were a little over a dollar a piece at Bed Bath and Beyond.

The chair covers are actually 90 inch round tablecloths I got from BB&B's discount area. While chair covers were running a too-pricey $20 a piece, these were less than half that, and I just pinned them at the back with vintage brooches I already had....

They help protect the chair from my enthusiastic kitten friend, Alice...
She's not allowed up on the table, but she feels the need to supervise all activity for quality control...
We're still working on a few things. (Like "no climbing on the table.")

I'm also still working on the Halloween mantle, but you can see where I'm going with it. I need to find a permanent home for that lamp, but it's just so darned pretty I haven't moved it.
The little papier mache style decorations were largely from Tuesday Morning a year or two ago, just after the Halloween season.

And that's what I've been up to this week. I realized that as of September 11, The Thrift Shop Romantic was officially four years old! I'm not sure what that makes it in blogging years-- but I suspect it's about entitled to Social Security benefits.

So have a piece of virtual cake and celebrate with me! And I hope to see you again on Wednesday!

Driving Away the Autumn Blues

While the freshness of spring always tends to give my spirits a lift, autumn typically finds them settling like fallen leaves.

The chill in the air, the long hours of darkness, the sense that another seasonal chapter is coming to a close, I admit, it makes me a bit wistful and I work to remain motivated. Or perhaps the ol' brain just seeks to hibernate, and recharge for brighter more active days.

So as a little departure from the traditional Treasure Box Wednesday post here at The Thrift Shop Romantic, I thought I'd share with you a few things that have helped drive the autumn ho-hums away... Little things you also might want to try around the house to make it feel more warm, inviting, soothing and cheerful for those long cold evenings ahead.

Now, naturally, for individuals who believe they may have Seasonal Affective Disorder, this is something you should discuss with your doctor. My suggestions below are not meant to trivialize the condition, or "cure" it in place of actual medical treatment.

But given our busy lives, sometimes it really is just a small change... a little nicety... and unexpected merry detail that can help make even the longest, darkest day seem just that much brighter.

• Fill the house with an inviting scent. Whether you prefer a tart warmer, scented oils, or fragrant candles, a favorite warm autumn scent can temporarily help lift the spirits. While the world outside may be musty with dried leaves, a nice fragrance at home can trigger cheerier, comforting images of baked goods, fond memories, vacations or just warmer days.

• Light candles. Separate from the concept of scent, I've found lighting candles, and getting to see that nice warm glow, adds a lot to a room-- even if there's no special occasion-- and can create a cozier atmosphere. Obviously with kids and pets, this may not be ideal-- and would certainly require supervision to be safe. But as fall light wanes, a little flicker of light in the night does a lot to make the evening feel more special.

• Change textiles to richer, more vivid colors. Trade usual pastels for juicier colors and suddenly an autumn room takes on more life. I was surprised at the difference, for instance, in my bathroom, as I swapped out the pale greens, light pinks and whites, for this deep plummy purple, eggplant and warm dark pink. The room seems deceptively warmer-- and without ever touching that thermostat.

• Break out that Crock Pot. What's better than to come home from a long day of work and find dinner already made? A pot roast, soups, stews-- even a whole roast chicken-- are fantastic slow-cooked in a Crock Pot. And you can't beat the smell of home-cooking the moment you step through that door!

• Use reflective items-- luster and mirrors-- to bounce light. Those of us with older homes know, getting enough light isn't always easy. But the Victorians used items coated in luster-- a layer of metallic opalescence-- to reflect off the limited light there was, and flicker under the attention of candles. And this trick still works today. Add to that a few mirrors, or other metallic surfaces, and you can brighten up your space easily.

• Tackle that long-procrastinated craft. Whether it's sewing, latchhook, crochet, knit, needlepoint, sketching, beadwork, or a thousand different crafts, cooler days and shorter nights are a great time to think creative.

• Switch shower gel to a new, heavier scent. I know this seems like such a strange detail to suggest, but a good hot shower is the way so many of us start the day. And for those of us who really respond to scents, changing up the soaps you normally use to something new and fun-- and a bit more fragrant than normal-- is

• Take even fifteen minutes to a half hour, if you can, to curl up with a book or magazine. Time to mentally regroup can be extremely helpful when the days feel bleak and busy. So a little quiet time with a book... or my fave, a decorating magazine... is a nice way to settle down a bit and gain a fresh perspective.
  

Well-- that's all I have for today. But what are the ways you make the colder months warmer and more cheerful? Leave a comment below-- I'd love to hear from you!

• If you missed Sunday's post on Halloween decorating-- another fun way to make the house spookily whimsical for Autumn, click here.

If not, perhaps I'll see you Sunday when I hope to show the progress on the faux fireplace I'm installing! Take care, friends!