boho lace pumpkins

i am always trying to find new ways to create pumpkin decor to enjoy in the fall...
i'm game to try anything to see if it will work.
i recently came across some photos of this past project, never shared here on the blog,
and thought i had better do that before the window of opportunity for fall decor closes!

these are a fun way to create pumpkins with a bohemian style vibe,
perfect in combination with the neutral hues, macrame' accents, and wood textures
in the 'of the moment' boho modern fall decorating.

continue reading for details on how easy these are...

painted toile floral pumpkins

i continue to be inspired by the current trend of painting pumpkins
to resemble blue and white Chinoiserie ceramics.
those colors aren't in our home decor palette, however,
so i painted a few more pumpkins
to match the brown toile pattern on some vintage dishes that i have.

my small collection of toile or 'Staffordshire' English china
 includes dishes from Royal Staffordshire, Alfred Meakin, and AJ Wilkinson.
the 'Brown Tonquin' pattern on almost all of them was designed by Clarice Cliff,
including the beautiful floral on the tiny saucer that inspired my artwork.

it's a beautiful look for fall that fits into classic, boho, farmhouse, and even coastal decor.

continue reading for more details...

Pumpkins on Parade!

I spent Thursday on the road with a van full of Sweet Sweater Pumpkins,

 delivering them to two of my FABULOUS local retailers here in Southern California - 

let me share them with you!

 One was A Beautiful Mess by Kymberley Fraser, located in Agoura Hills.

Her daughter took one look at the orange pumpkins and declared that the front window needed one...

I think she found the perfect place for it!

[although if it were ME, I might have tucked the pumpkin under his ribcage, in the place where his heart would be....'cause, well, these babies are the heart of my business right now!]

Kymberley's store is beautiful, and the neutral pumpkins fit perfectly

with all of her soft, warm, colors and the elegance of rustic industrial style.

I love how she has them displayed in this old wooden goat cart on a harvest table...

Kymberley has a selection of pumpkins in a neutral palette in sizes from mini to Extra Large
[the Extra Large size is ONLY available from these two retailers]

and now, she has some very special pumpkins made from Angora and Cashmere sweaters!

I delivered 12, and half of them sold before they even went into a display!

I so enjoyed meeting Kymberley's husband and daughter,

her store manager Amy,

and her really sweet customer Heather and daughter

(thank you so much for your enthusiastic support of my little product!)

_______________________

I want to let you know about a VERY special event this weekend

over at Julie O'Keefe Home & Garden in La Canada

[um, that's pronounced "Lah Can-yah-dah" for those not from the Southland. It has nothing at all to do with our neighbors to the North!]

Julie is hosting a party on Friday & Saturday, and Sweet Sweater Pumpkins were invited!
She's all stocked up and even has some new colors and sizes to offer,

please click HERE for information about her event.

Her shop is as lovely as her booth at the Remnants of the Past show was... 

speaking of which, here are a few photos from last weekend!

 Julie is an incredible floral designer with applause-worthy original ideas,

like these darling vintage linen flower pockets...

I can just see this on a doorknob, a doorknocker, an armoire handle, 

or filled with flowers as a sweet hostess gift for ANY season!

 The Limited Edition 'Luxe' collection Cashmere & Angora Pumpkins were very popular,

and perfectly presented some one-of-a-kind artisan button bracelets...

The regular Sweet Sweater Pumpkins nestled into several displays, 

showing how they coordinate with many kinds of decor:

 All of the vintage linen accessories you see here are handmade by Julie...

beautiful lavender sachets, cell phone purses, tote bags, aprons, flower pouches,

pillows, tea towels, tree & gift package ornaments.... I don't think Julie ever SLEEPS!

I am just so very grateful that Julie had my pumpkins in her booth at this wonderful show, 

and allowed me to come and be her booth helper.
We had so much fun working together to set up the booth, and then during the show!

This is the very best part of being in business - 

the amazing people I meet, the support I can give AND receive, 

and the wonderful experiences & opportunities that come my way.
______________________________

and just think...

it all started with a pumpkin ;0)  my grandpa would love that! 

I've been collecting pumpkins my whole life, and I love to decorate with them in fall.

my grandpa used to call me, his first-born red-headed granddaughter, his 'Little Pumpkin Eater'.

his nickname for me started a collection that my mom and I have been adding to for decades.

that's what seasonal decorating is to me: meaningful.

floral painted pumpkins

i recently went thrifting in Palm Springs
 and found some beautiful vintage china with yellow roses and gray & brown leaves.
the moment i saw them, i pictured a new version of a project that i created last fall:

 last November, i painted some of my ceramic pumpkins
with floral motifs that matched my brown English Staffordshire china collection:

they were a HUGE hit on social media (thank you all!)
and even won a creative 'pumpkin decor' challenge!
last year i also painted some mini pumpkins with the Jewel Tea 'Autumn Leaf' pattern
to match my grandma's ceramic collection.
i envisioned a similar paint treatment that would match the 'new' vintage yellow rose china,
creating the perfect additions to a beautiful fall mantel or table this year.

many people get a similar effect gluing pretty paper napkins onto pumpkins. that's ok.
but i love to paint, and i'm able to replicate the design from the plate, so i do it that way.
honestly? it's not hard. and it doesn't have to be perfect.
the end result is a very elegant fall decor accent that i made myself - and that no one else has.
  i LOVE that part!

continue reading for more details...

Tropi-FALL: 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...

harvest moon shadow box

miniatures are all the rage right now...

from dollhouses and tiny 'rooms' that sit on bookshelves

to tiny spaces behind walls and accessed by little 'fairy doors', 

it's a trend that engages our childlike imagination.

i was inspired by that to create a sort of miniature setting,

and chose to use a shadowbox frame as the structure for it.

a simple project that took very little time to assemble,

it makes use of items i have used in past projects...

and i hope it will inspire you to try something similar!

continue reading to see how it all came together...

AUTUMN: 130 Pumpkin Ideas from Deb!

 
Looking for DIY pumpkin decor inspiration and tutorials?
You've come to the right place - it's Pumpkin Season at hwF! 

CLICK HERE
to see every single one of the 130 different pumpkin posts 

that I have shared here on the homeward found decor blog - since 2012!

You'll see my most recent designs inspired by Taylor Swift:

I have created  yellows, tropi-FALL, and neutral pumpkins,
as well as green, orange, and white pumpkins 

Find ALL of my posts containing pumpkins

that I have painted, collaged, covered in fabric, glued stuff to, 
and of course made using thrifted sweaters... 

including my top three original pumpkin decor tutorials,
with my Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins and Original Glass Globe Pumpkins:

Enjoy perusing my posts for new ideas and techniques
to help you create pumpkins that fit YOUR style and YOUR home decor!

Happy Fall, Y'all! 
~ Deb

I Admit It, I'm Plain Ol' Vanilla....

While I love the occasional seasonal addition of a bright, happy hue to my decor,

I am basically a vanilla girl. 

Warm, soft neutral colors are my preferred palette, 

and my go-to design choices year-round are always pale and soft,

like a melted bowl of vanilla bean ice cream with caramel sauce.

Great. Now I'm hungry!

So anyway, each Autumn, while everyone else is decking their haunted halls 

with orange and rust and yellow, (or maybe black and purple)
I am creating serene, luscious, warm & cozy vignettes from shades of vanilla and brown sugar.

In Autumn, my Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins in neutral tones are ALWAYS on the menu,

(see some of the ways I have used them in the past here)
 and this year is very, very vanilla....

In one area of my office/studio, I have small wall shelves over a daybed.
These provide a canvas for an ever-changing seasonal display for my collected treasures.

Here on these shelves, my pumpkins nestle into containers of many kinds:

Creamy sweater pumpkins perch on top of 

a rolled-up canvas military belt and an old roll of medical tape, 

as well as in a little galvanized bucket.

 My miniature clay pumpkins sit on the shelf and on the back of a vintage toy truck
(that reminds me of my Grandpa Ward's truck each time I look at it)

Coffee mugs with my initials serve as pedestals for a sweater pumpkin 

and a tiny 'found objects nest' that I made.

More sweater pumpkins simply sit on the shelves, paired with small ironstone pieces.

BTW, the 'bottom shelf' you see in the photo below?
Not a shelf, actually.
It's a wood window box turned sideways, sitting on top of a bookcase headboard.
Using it this way gave me added display space AND storage for the piece.

I simply MUST include a nod to my favorite year 'round decorative element: Mister Big Bear.
My mom gave him to me over 22 years ago, 

and he's been the go-to cuddle spot for sick kids and sick Deb, 

has absorbed a LOT of tears on sad occasions, 

and has charmed grumpy grandchildren into cheerfulness countless times.
He's family <3 ... and he doesn't mind being dressed up!

Follow my original tutorials to make your own:
Sweet Sweater Pumpkins
Mini Clay Pumpkins

Find more sweet vanilla decor in THIS POST!

Linked Up:

Yesterday on Tuesday | Project Inspire{d}

Practically Functional | Creativity Unleashed

fall mantel: from still life to real life

it's been said that 'art reflects life'

well, i'm about to tell you how to make your DECOR reflect ART.

creating vignettes / displays in your home is fun. it's inspiring.

it's like playtime when you think spatially and visually.

but to some people, it's frustrating.

if you look at the photo above and think to yourself 

"i can't do that - i don't know how to arrange things"

well, let me tell you what - i've got a simple solution for you: you can cheat!

go to Google images and search 'still life paintings'.

 images will pop up and you will see all kinds of inspiring compositions by master painters.

[or just click here - i did the search for you]

just find one you like, and copy what you see in it. 
take, for example, this still life masterpiece by the artist Claude Monet:

 here we see a composition that can teach us a LOT:

*there is height on the left in the standing blue delft plate, which coordinates with all of the other dishes used in the setting.
(they don't 'match', but they do have similarities)

*the medium height of the large melon on the right balances the standing plate.

in front of the plate, there is a stack of peaches - in the same orange color and round shape as the melon.

*grapes in the foreground 'break' the edge of the composition - everything else is on a plate, very contained. the grapes are 'escaping' and lead our eye out of the frame.

*Monet has also used the 'complimentary' color combination of blue and orange

(opposites on the color wheel, and they make one another more vibrant)

maybe you'll have to use 'stand ins' for some of the elements in the original painting, 

but what you really want to do is to look at the composition and notice these things:

*the way there is a mix of  tall things and low things and round things and flat things... 

*look at how fabric is placed and how it gives a sense of movement to the painting

*notice where 'soft' flowers or food are in relation to the 'hard' books/plates, etc.

and then copy the way the items are assembled and arranged. 

this is how we learn - in art class, anyway. 

look at the masters, see how they do it, and do it that way. 

so that Claude Monet masterpiece up there could easily be replicated on YOUR mantel!

you could use blue and white Delft (Dutch) ceramics and pumpkins -

you'd still have the same shapes and color palette as he did, to get the same effect.

add in some gold and orange fall leaves to 'break the edge', instead of the grapes, 

and you've become a master artist! 

"ok", you say - "but what do i USE in MY composition?" that's easy.

everyone collects SOMETHING!

i collect pumpkins, and you can see some of the ceramic ones on the mantel above.

maybe you collect art glass, or BOOKS, or crowns, or hats... ???

so, let's start there: use your collections

*art glass in warm earthy tones compliments the season -

 fill vases with fall leaves & flowers, stack mini pumpkins on glass plates or bowls.

lean a plate against the wall and place a small pumpkin in front of it.

[the ceramic pumpkin 'top' seen in the photo above is the lid from a soup tureen. the tureen was smashed to bits and the lid survived... though it's not functional, it's still a great decorative accent.]

*select books with covers that either coordinate with or contrast the colors of fall.

you could choose all neutral browns and creams, or blacks and whites, or even the rich jewel shades of eggplant, chartreuse, and avocado

to mix with gold, persimmon, rust, and brown leaves.

stack them, line them up, mix them in a vignette with some leaves and pumpkins for fall.

if you have some great fall TITLES, or cover art, make sure you highlight those by showing them off.

[yes, you CAN judge a book by its cover for this idea!]

*add various sizes of pumpkins and gourds to your mantel, entryway, 

and dining table displays. then perch your crown or hat collection on TOP of the pumpkins.

this little bit of whimsy will spark up your decor in no time!

[i love the look of white pumpkins wearing a black top hat and a black eye mask.  

pick up simple eye masks at the Dollar Tree store in white, black, and silver.]

even if you collect white ironstone, you can work color into your displays

by filling them with interesting textures and shapes of leaves and grasses.

and that, students, is art class #101 for today...

go get inspired by the masters, and create your own decorative 'art'!

lost and.... FOUND!

Remember these lil' babies?!

After selling my neutral-hued and orange Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins for five years, 

I released a limited edition of them in PINK in 2013 - and you LOVED them!

(thank you from the bottom of my pumpkin' shaped heart <3 )

Recently Janet at Shabbyfufu shared one of her own photos of my pink pumpkins,
the one you see on the lower right corner of my image above,

and her readers were clamoring to get some of their own...

I couldn't oblige, as making them in quantity makes my carpal tunnel flare up
(and Deb is not happy when she is in pain!)

That's a big reason why I stopped making them to sell after 2013, and offered my tutorial.
The other reason was that my Dad was undergoing cancer treatments,
and time spent with him was way more important than making pumpkins.

Well.... I have a bit of good news for anyone hankering to get their hands on

a couple of my pumpkins: I FOUND SOME!

;)
Yes, you have a chance to get one of the last sets of 

my Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins in PINK, 

right here on the homewardFOUND blog!

 Tuesday Morning September 27 at 8 AM Pacific Time,
I'll have SIX SETS ONLY for sale here on the blog!
The PayPal purchase button will be on the right sidebar for your convenience.

Sold only in sets of 3 - varied sizes, pink tones, and knit textures in each set.

important stuff:
Shipping included, to continental USA addresses only.
Limited quantity available. No holds - Purchase required at time of order.
All purchases final. No refunds, no cancellations. No custom requests/orders.
Sale will cease immediately when available quantities are sold.

I'll see you here Tuesday!

NEW sweet sweater summer decor!

yes, yes, i HAVE lost my everlovin' mind, thankyouverymuch!

last Christmas, in the midst of my flurry of decorating in our Happy HULAdays theme,

i created some last-minute decor using.... you guessed it.... sweaters.

one photo of that project was part of this post back in December,

but really, the idea was so fun that it needs a bit more exposure.

with my mind on tikis and tropical style for summer, 
it's time to put them in the spotlight -
PLUS another beachy sweater creation from a few years back!

...continue reading for a bit of summer-y sweater fun!

Inspired by Charm likes Sweet Sweater Pumpkins!

 in the last few weeks of september, i was on a pumpkin-making mission

(i called it pumpkingeddon!) to prepare products for a huge corporate order.

but it was very 'hush-hush' and i couldn't share what it was for.

so i cut and stuffed and tied and tagged a few hundred pumpkins

and bagged them up in sets of three, one from each color palette (Light, Bright, and Neutral)

it was a special package created just for this company...

loaded them into boxes

and then shipped them off to chicago on a wing and a prayer.

from the corporate office, they would be re-boxed individually 

and sent off to customers who had ordered a 'grab bag' sort of offering.

yes, sight unseen!

i was finally given permission to share the news today:

my Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins are featured

in Michael J. Wurm's 'Inspired by Charm' October offering for 

LOST CRATES !

Michael and i 'met' when we were both contributing writers for FOLK Magazine

[not in person, just in lots of word-y posts, comments, and emails]

and he has been very generous in sharing word of HOMEWARDfound with his fans.

[the man has over TWO MILLION Twitter and Pinterest followers!]

he's a 'style spotter' for Better Homes and Gardens Magazine,

 a contributor to home decor and design websites and resources, 

one of his bffs is Kim Myles (yes, the DesignStar winner!),

so he's truly a design STAR himself...

and I am so honored that he chose my product for his Lost Crate offering. 

Thank you, Michael at Inspired by Charm!

Thank you to Jack at Lost Crates!