coconut tiki mug pumpkins!

i was cleaning our indoor tiki bar the other day,
and as i moved some of the tiki mug collection off of a shelf to dust it,
i sat the two ceramic coconut mugs upside down on the bar top.
my hand stopped in mid-air as i looked at what i had done
and an idea came to mind...

 yes, i turn a LOT of different things into pumpkins!
first it was plates. now it's mugs. 
and it's so easy it's not even funny!

continue reading to see the details...

those ceramic coconut tiki mugs are actually VERY special,
as we purchased them on a visit to the MECCA of tiki -
Oceanic Arts in Whittier, California.
Mom and i made the excursion just before the pandemic,
and walked around the ginormous warehouse in utter AWE of the products.
if it's related to tiki culture and tropical decor, they had it.

for over 65 years, 'the Godfathers of Tiki' LeRoy Schmaltz and Bob Van Oosting
searched the globe for tropicana decor and art,
brought it to So Cal, and supplied homes and businesses with the best
in tikis, shells + sea creatures, carvings, floats, grass mats, lighting, and tiki mugs.
that includes Disney attractions, restaurants + bars, and Hollywood films.
if you've ever been in a tiki bar, there's ALWAYS something from OA in there.

when we visited, there were only two of these mugs available - and one was cracked.
i bought them both, anyway - and sweet LeRoy gave me a discount on the cracked one!
sadly, LeRoy recently passed away, and Bob closed the business.
( you can learn more about them here )

making these coconut pumpkins is SO easy:

just flip 'em upside down.
add a stem - mine are champagne corks. (and yes, you could paint them.)
add some greenery (these are leaf bunches pulled off of fake flowers)
that's it. you're done!

nope, i didn't attach anything... tho some double stick tape or museum putty would work.

amazingly, when i found these at Oceanic Arts,
one was a gloss finish and one was a matte finish.
this makes the combination of them in a display much more interesting.

don't have ceramic coconuts? try real ones!
or maybe the plastic sippy cup coconuts available at discount stores each summer.

TOP TIP:
if you love decor that is usually sold during a specific season,
buy stuff on clearance at the END of that season.
tropical decor is usually sold in summer, and fall merch hits stores in June (UGH!)
so i tend to find the best  tropical elements in June & July - 

then in August on final clearance if anything is left. 
this includes thrift stores!

arrange with other pumpkins and tropical decor elements
(like tiki mugs and bamboo trays)
for a fall display with totally tiki style.

some of you out there likely think i'm certifiable.
my flip from neutral to colorful decor in 2019. the yellow obsession in 2020.
the tropical/tiki fetish that seeps in here from time to time.
it's different, i know. but it makes me happy -
and if we can't decorate our homes with what makes US happy,
then what's the point anyway???

i just see things differently (oh MY, wait until you see my 2022 HOLIDAY theme!)
and that includes how i use the stuff i have.
my goal is to inspire you to use what you have, see things from a fresh perspective,
and make your home happy for YOU every season of the year.

related content:

my glass globe pumpkins - the original!

shared online:

funky junk interiors | new upcycle ideas #648

thank you for featuring my project, Miss Donna!
(AND seeing what i missed - that they look like CHOCOLATE!)

creatively beth | creative crafts linky party #115

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