faux terra cotta painted hearts

one last 'heart'-themed project for the month!
when i found four plastic hearts in my stash, i turned two of them
into faux moss covered topiary hearts (see my last post, linked below).

i held two back for this project - 
an easy faux paint treatment that turned two cheap plastic hearts
into something much more elegant and 'natural'.

using paint to change things is one of my favorite approaches
to seasonal decorating (and to not BUYING more stuff that i have to store)...

continue reading for my easy tutorial and a few more ideas!

'moss' heart topiary

as i was creating the large faux 'moss' heart in my last post,
i unearthed some small plastic hearts that i had previously painted.
(those posts are linked below this one)
i decided to recreate them to coordinate with the larger 'moss' heart.

covering these lil' hearts with moss-like green yarn and fuzzy fabric was easy,
then i turned one of them into a tiny topiary.

continue reading for an easy tutorial...

plant a faux 'moss' heart

this wood heart-shaped planting box is the perfect way

for me to incorporate nature-inspired elements in my winter decor. 

even though i'm not focused on creating for a specific 'holiday' now,

you've seen this element on the blog previously

as three different versions of wreaths perfect for February.

(previous posts linked below)

moss is a hot home decor trend this winter
and is showing up in many spring decor collections online...
from sculptures and floral designs to very large framed art pieces made of moss.

while i initially thought of using real moss for this project,

i found that one of my favorite 'faux' materials worked much easier
and with a lot less mess!

continue reading to see more details and my big 'secret' for moss...

a serene winter wreath

i love a seasonal wreath, don't you?!

this simple winter season wreath
is created from remnants of an old white matlasse' bedspread
and adorned with natural elements from my yard,
reflecting the way winter looks and feels where i live.

a fabric-wrapped wreath can be made with YOUR preferences,

and i hope this one inspires you to create something you love!

continue reading for an easy tutorial...

time for a change... a new 'mantel'!

in November 2020, i created something i had wanted for a long while:

a faux fireplace and mantel, as a photo backdrop.

using some spare lumber and white paint

i cobbled together a simple 'fireplace' and attached it to

the old wood gate that hangs on my studio wall

(my dad built it in the 80's and i swiped it when he built a new one in 2013!)

this backdrop has been in constant use since then, and has worked pretty well.

there have been a few times when it has not worked well -

usually when photographing a wreath or wall art

that was too big in scale to fit in the space above the mantel.
(and those sharp dark shadows from the 'firebox' drove me mad!)

in mid-December of '23, i decided it was time for a change

and tore that faux mantel and firebox enclosure apart!

the result is very satisfying.

continue reading for more details...

welcome, winter...

my personal word for this next year is light 

along with the many meanings that word encompasses.

 i often hear people talk about how dark winters are -

yet after we remove the holiday decor, our homes feel lighter. cleaner.
(and yes, some say emptier.) 

but do we really want to fill them up again with a lot of stuff? 
why not welcome the new year with the lightness of a refreshed home?

i'm embracing the aesthetic of lightness and simplicity this year,

as well as a renewed focus on the beauty of nature in every season.

that's going to affect the way i approach my own home decor

and by extension the content i share here to inspire you.

as i plan and create new projects for the upcoming season,
i'm asking myself questions about how i want my home to feel,
how i want to feel IN my home, and how i can inspire you
to create a home you love to live in.

continue reading to see where i'm heading...

winter inspiration

the new year beckons with possibilities...

if you're looking for winter home decor tutorials and projects

to inspire you to create a home you love to live in,

click here for all of my past winter posts.

new winter content posts begin in january!

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wishing you the happiest holidays

Christmas arrives in just a few days,

with a New Year on the horizon...

as we wrap up 2023,

i want to express my deep gratitude for your visits, likes, and comments

on my seasonal home decor content across social media platforms,

as well as to the generous bloggers and home publications

who have featured my projects over the past year.

i love the creative community we have all built together,

and truly appreciate your support & encouragement. it means the world to me.

and i really LOVE it when you tell me that i inspired you to make something new!

i so enjoyed your happy responses to my 'terra cotta Christmas' themed posts,

and you can imagine my smile when i spied these items on the Terrain website:

apparently i wasn't the only one obsessed with terra cotta pots this holiday season!

i'd love to hear from you what your favorite homewardFOUND post was this year,

and what you hope to see from me in 2024...

some fun project images are already sent off for publication,

with ideas for new winter-into-spring decor projects percolating in my brain.

i'm currently enjoying the end of this year and the dawning of the new one

while embracing some quiet time and 'artist dates'

to refresh and refuel my creativity as i plan for 2024 projects + content.

i hope you find time to do the same - 

disconnect, rest, renew, and revive yourself

in whatever ways you need to.

wishing you the merriest of Christmases

and happiness in the new year!

creatively, deb

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terra cotta Christmas: a simply natural table

i'm gonna' be honest, i got stuck on this one.
just how do you incorporate terra cotta pots into a tablescape?

keep it simple.

as always, i used what i had on hand,
combined some varied colors and textures and elements,
and didn't try to do anything that YOU can't do in your home, too.

continue reading for a few easy ideas...