HOLIDAY 2026: 'a BOOKISH season'

 

It's TIIIIIIIME! The holiday season is here! I'm working on holiday DIY home decor projects & ideas to share with you... and to no one's surprise, they build on what I've created and shared this autumn.

homeward found decor's holiday 2026 theme is 'a BOOKISH season' - and my book-loving heart is SO excited to bring one of my favorite materials for creating (book pages) to life!

Continue reading for more details...

AUTUMN: Sweet Sweater Acorns

 

One last 'autumn' project for the year...
Although unplanned, this one began as I was cleaning glassware. I was polishing stemless wine glasses when my microfiber polishing cloth covered the upside-down glass I was holding, and it was similar to the shape of an acorn. (My Muses show up in the weirdest ways...)

Now that I've figured out how to make them in a manner much like my famous Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins TM, I thought I'd share this fun DIY project with you  - just in time for you to make some for your late autumn / Thanksgiving decor. Enjoy! 

Continue Reading for my tutorial... 

AUTUMN INSPIRATION: 🍁 November

Now that Halloween is behind us, let's welcome in November! It's a month of transitions...The light, weather, and even time all change. We move from the high-energy public celebration of Halloween into the cozier home-centered celebration of Thanksgiving - along with thoughts of the upcoming Christmas holiday season.

Some people rush from one holiday to the next, and for a good many years that included me - but as I age, I am enjoying the liminality of the time between the big holidays. Time accepting that the very ordinary hours and days and seasons can be very enjoyable without having to redecorate the whole house and yard each month, without the pressure of being ahead of everyone else. I'm just not cut out for that anymore... and I'm okay with it.

The day after Thanksgiving is when I usually haul out the Christmas decor... but I know most people don't wait (My daughter Bethany is already decorating for Christmas, and she's AMAZING at it!) If you DO wait, I've included a link to a post sharing how I 'sneaked' some holiday decor into my late autumn/Thanksgiving decor, just to give you some ideas for blending the two together. 

I hope the ideas included below will help you enjoy all of the gatherings, festivities, and decor in November - before the big holiday rush. 

Continue reading for November inspiration!

AUTUMN: Sweet Sweater Pumpkin Pie

Since this post will publish *just* before Halloween, I know most people will be too busy to make anything new... so this project is perfect for the week *after* Halloween! It's a fun accent to your autumn home decor for Thanksgiving. 

I'm always thinking of new ways to use materials in my seasonal decor... and though this autumn I have primarily focused on books and book pages, I always have ideas for new Sweet SweaterTM creations on my mind. 

Last winter, I created a Sweet Sweater Sweetie PieTM with sweater fabric as the crust and pompoms standing in for cherries. When I came upon a persimmon/pumpkin colored sweater at a thrift store a few weeks ago, my first thought was 'It looks just like pumpkin pie!' - and we were off and running on a new autumn creation.

Continue reading for the full tutorial...

AUTUMN: Sweet Sweater Spookies!

Giving this happy ghost the moniker of 'Sweet Sweater Spookie' is cutting it close, since I didn't actually use a sweater to make it. But a crocheted blanket is pretty close to a knitted sweater - right?! 

It's actually a very quick project, so I thought I'd share it just in time for last-minute Halloween decorating inspiration!

Continue reading for an easy ten-minute tutorial...

AUTUMN: Book Pumpkins with Paper Bag Stems

Continuing with my 'bookish' inspiration this autumn, I made two pumpkins using paperback books...

I know making things using folded books & magazines is a craft that has been around for a long time - my Mom was making angels, trees, and Santas using magazines back in the 60's, and she and I made a few for our holiday decor back in 2016. They are an easy and cheap way to make pumpkins, too, and with the plethora of books in my garage, I figured I'd revisit the past a bit - simply because it fits my current theme! 

You'll find a basic 'book pumpkin' tutorial AND a quick paper bag pumpkin stem tutorial in this post.

Continue reading for more... 

AUTUMN: Make Peat Pot Pumpkin Stems

 

I was cleaning out my gardening tools storage area, and came across a stack of small peat pots / seed starter pots in a bucket. The bottom pot was a bit damp, and when I picked it up, I accidentally squished it - and an idea hit me!

With a little bit more water and some experimentation, I turned those peat pots into stems for various pumpkins - it's a little bit like working with paper clay or papier mache'.

Continue reading for my easy tutorial... 

AUTUMN Inspiration: 🎃 October

🎃 I tend to think of October as being 'Pumpkin Season'... maybe because I love pumpkins so much that I have created so many new versions of them! (Honestly, I am just not into scary / spooky Halloween - at ALL.)

I love the colors and elements that nature offers us in this season, and the ability we have to 'feather our nests' and make them cozy and welcoming for the colder months ahead. One of my favorite fall activities is harvesting natural materials and bringing them indoors to grace our homes before their life cycle ends. And I have always championed that we can diy our own autumn decor to make it exactly what we want, in our favorite colors, that expresses our own special style. 

I've rounded up some fun pumpkin decor ideas, projects, and tutorials below to inspire you this month... and if you'd like to see ALLLLLLL of my autumn diy projects from the past 14 years, they are here!

AUTUMN: Book Page Leaf Wreath + Bonus!

It does seem like Deb's got a THEME going this fall, does it not? 😉 Yep, I'm letting my bookish obsession off the shelf as I make seasonal decor using BOOKS!

This wreath is a new iteration of an idea I have played around with for years: making replicas of leaves out of paper. I pulled out my box of old tattered damaged books again, and worked some autumn magic with them... 

Continue reading for my tutorial on making the leaves and then attaching them to a foam wreath form... plus an additional way to use paper leaves in your fall decor!

AUTUMN: More Book Pumpkins!

Before I continue into this project's tutorial, I have a question for my fellow creatives: Have you ever been 100% certain that you did something, and that there is photographic evidence of that something, and you can actually SEE it in your mind - but can not find ANY of the photos, or the blog post you swear you published, to prove it???? 

As I was posting my last project, a previous one came to mind and I intended to link it as 'Related Content'... but I can't find it. I am absolutely certain that I created this before, and posted it here on my blog and on Pinterest and my facebook page, while I was in my 'Yellow Era'.

I can't find ANY evidence of it. I've searched my computer files, my facebook files, my Pinterest boards, my blog posts (even drafts that never published). ZipZeroNadaNuthin'.

Guys, I have a photographic memory. It is stunning even to me how my brain works visually, and this conundrum has me spinning in circles because I know what I know. I made this same exact project using yellow books, and photographed it on my faux mantel. And yet I can find no tangible evidence of that... 

So I am doing what any somewhat sane but confused creative person would do: I'm making the thing that I thought I had already made. I'm taking photos of the thing, and I'm sharing them here on the blog. (And what do you want to bet that at some point in the not too distant future, those 'lost' photos and blog post are gonna' show up out of nowhere?? I'd bet money on it.*)

Continue reading for one of the easiest tutorials you'll ever see from me....

AUTUMN: 'Bookish' Pumpkins

SO, a funny thing happened as September began...
I had NO IDEAS for new pumpkins. Not a one. Which is entirely unlike me, because y'all KNOW about my love of pumpkins. My muses were still on vacation, I guess. AND THEN... on our delightfully rainy Labor Day Weekend, I stumbled across an idea!

I was re-sorting several boxes of books by size in our garage, and one stack of books suddenly slid sideways onto the floor and formed a half circle. As I bent to pick them up, I saw something... a shape, a whisper of an idea. I sat some similarly hued books aside, kept working on my task, and then brought those books into my studio to try out the idea growing in my head.

Here's a sketch of my idea for a 'bookish' pumpkin:

I had to play around with the books awhile to get it right - after two different iterations, I was finally happy with the result. 

Don't worry, this project is 'temporary decor' - nothing is attached permanently, it's all removable, and no books were harmed in the making of this bookish pumpkin! 😉

Continue reading for my tutorial...

AUTUMN Inspiration: 🍂 September

🍂 Easing into Autumn with a palette pulled from nature and inspired by the treasures of the season...

September weather in So Cal is still hot (we call it 'Locals Summer') and the skies are mostly bright blue... yet the light begins to change, the inland nights cool just a bit, and the leaves began to dry out. Sadly, they don't change color. But fall is in the air, and it signals a coming change.

A new side of nature unfurls all around me outdoors, and inspires me to bring a touch of the beauty inside to enjoy as decor. Hues of green, brown, tan, and shimmering gold capture the ephemeral light of early fall and set the stage for all that is on its way as the harvest approaches... 

May these ideas and projects inspire you to notice the approach of autumn!

tropi-FALL: faux bamboo painted tiki bar

I recently unearthed some of my VERY old project images from a forgotten online source, and though they are very rough, I wanted to share them anyway... since this project plays a part in my current love of tropical style. 

This isn't a tutorial, folks. I'm just sharing a fun project from my past. I was a decorative painter for a decade, painting murals and faux finishes in homes and furniture for my small retail store. 

Back in 2002, my friend and co-worker at the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, Linda, asked me if I could 'revive' an old piece she had in her garage. I went over to her lovely home on Mercer Island to see it...

...and oh, what I SAW!

August Inspiration: 🌴 Tropi-FALL!

I'm never really ready for summer to end... even though our summers here in Southern California have become triple-digit adventures filled with insane afternoon winds and wildfire smoke. I only venture into our sunny backyard before 7 AM and after 9 PM.

Over the past few years, I've found a way to extend my own tropical style summer decor by including a nod to autumn: Pumpkins that look tropical! By creating some with tropical style, I embrace what I call 'tropiFALL' - a slow transition from summer to autumn that will be enjoyed from August 1st through September 30th. Our heat waves last all the way into early October - then the fall decor and pumpkins get their spotlight! (If you don't know this about SoCal, our 'Locals Summer' BEGINS after Labor Day Weekend - when all of the tourists have exited the beaches and amusement parks 😉)

As always, I'm sharing these ideas to inspire you to try new things in your home decor. I hope that even if tropical style isn't your jam*, you'll see some ways to 'bridge' your summer decor with touches of autumn decor - in YOUR style, and your favorite colors...

View these ideas below without thinking you have to do exactly what I do - picture them in different colorways, with different natural materials that will work in your home, with your theme!

beachy summer color palette

In my mind, all seasonal inspiration begins with nature.

The combinations of color that appear in every natural setting on Earth are flawless... consisting of perfectly coordinated shades and hues, contrasts and compliments.

So when people ask me 'How do you know what colors go together?' or 'How do you pick a color scheme?', I tell them to go outside. Literally! Because it's outside, in nature, every season, that you'll find the 'perfect' color...

Case in Point: the photo shown above, snapped at Newport Beach, California. It contains a perfect summer color scheme inspired by nature...

The palette of varied blues, grays, tans, browns, and whites

is crisp, fresh, and perfectly balanced between cool and warm tones, lights and darks.

This palette can be translated into a sleek modern look or a cozy country style, depending upon your preferences.

Here's one way to create rooms around that palette:

Spring Inspiration for May 🌼

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May arrives like a favorite guest, bringing gifts of sunshine, warmth, and blooming flowers... evidence of Mother Nature rising from her winter slumber, rested and refreshed, and ready for a garden party. 

Flowers seem to me to be the leitmotif of this month, so today I'm sharing inspired ideas using blooms in your tablescapes, home decor, Mothers' Day gifts, and even in your beverages! 


...and just in case you're looking for 'May Day' floral ideas to create right now, see two versions I've made here and here.

Follow along with me as we see what ideas are blooming this month... 

SPRING terra cotta pot garden 'totems'

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This isn't a secret: Deb becomes obsessed with POTS in springtime! I've waxed poetic about my collections here, they are the very first thing I look for at thrift stores and yard sales, and you'll find projects using terra cotta pots for every season of the year here on the blog.

I recently saw an idea on Pinterest and thought I'd give it a try... using plain old terra cotta plant pots to create 'garden totems'. It's a simple project that works as art AND a way to store unused pots in style:

This style is made with all the same size pots. Mine use varied sizes because that's what I have on hand - and that's my favorite way to decorate.

Follow along as I show you just how easy this one is...

Spring Inspiration for April 🍃

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'April showers bring May flowers'... after we've done a LOT of work in the garden!

Working in the yard or garden is an activity that we garden lovers can really 'dig in' to in April. Whether you've got pots of herbs on your kitchen windowsill or a full herb, veggie, and flower garden in the back yard - or anything in between - enjoying the relaxing pastime of growing plants is inextricably linked to springtime. 

Even if you aren't a gardener or plant lover who loves having dirt under your fingernails, you can still bring the beauty of a garden into your home as Spring decor - with art, books, fabric printed with flowers, and faux foliage and florals.

I'm sharing some garden-inspired ideas for this month, along with something to help with your spring cleaning enthusiasm, and a few new publications to inspire you. I hope that you'll incorporate the garden aesthetic into your spring decorating and activities... enjoy!

SPRING Easy Crepe Paper Leaves

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Spring cleaning gets me into trouble...
I unearth things I have forgotten about, the Muses jump into action with ideas, and the next thing you know, Deb is busily crafting something instead of cleaning something. Anyone else out there fall victim to this malady?! 

As I pulled a box off of the shelf in my studio closet, a roll of bright chartreuse green crepe paper fell on my head. (The Muses are not concerned with niceties when they want my attention.) I sat it on another shelf, turned around, bumped a small branch lying on the closet floor - and the roll of crepe paper fell off of the other shelf to land right next to the branch. I kid you not! 

The unruly Muses put an idea into my head, and I gave up on cleaning to give that idea a tryout. It worked, was FAST, and so I'm sharing it here in this unplanned blog post! (It's the first day of Spring, which I assume is why the Muses are in action)

Continue reading to see how to bring a touch of spring to your decor in a jiffy - even if the trees aren't budding where you are...

Spring Inspiration for March 🌱

D is for Daffodil. And Delight. And Deb!
This month, in honor of my birthday, I'm sharing some of my favorite things about Spring with you...

I've included a lot of references to flowers to get you into a springtime mood. I'll be picking up some bunches of daffodils and a basil plant at Trader Joe's, as well as wandering through some plant nurseries and garden centers, selecting annual herbs for our garden. 

There's also some beautiful music, a few inspiring quotes, a candle that I can smell even when it's not burning, a sip of something delicious, places I love visiting in springtime, and of course a few decorating ideas and tutorials to help you bring spring inside your home right now...