'Fast, Cheap & Easy' Idea: Fall in Focus

In a companion post to this one on Saturday,

here is another 'Fast, Cheap & Easy'TM idea for decorating with FREE natural elements:

 use your camera!

 head outside, in search of natural elements that reflect the beauty of the season.

you might come across some gorgeous grasses, waving in the breeze, like these...

which are located in a median strip next to the parking lot of a car dealership!

[art class #101 tip:

by focusing in closely on the grass in these images and making it fill the entire photo, 

everything around it disappears. even the car lot. ]

even if you live in the heart of a city, 

you can find natural elements to photograph:

*head to a local park, museum, library, or even indoor courtyard at a hotel for great landscaping

*go to the farmer's market or green grocer to find fresh local food and flowers

*visit a local home + garden center or nursery for beautiful foliage and flowering plants 

snap photos to your heart's content (don't we LOVE digital cameras for just this reason?!)

and then head home to print them out - 

in full color for a blaze of fall, or artfully subtle black & white -

and frame them 

 [cheap frames available at dollar stores, thrift shops, and target dollar bins]

hang your finished work on your walls, lean them on the mantel or bookshelf, 

clip them with binder clips to a wire or ribbon strung across a wall or window,

or take them into your office for a lovely seasonal change at work.

in small spaces, this is a perfect solution to 'too much stuff'

and

it's an easy way to personalize your rooms each season.

while you are editing them, here's another idea:

add a quote about nature or fall right over the top of your image. 

[adding a layer of text is an option in almost every graphic/photo editing program. 

OR you can print out a quote on a piece of clear acetate, 

then place that OVER your photo when you are framing it.]

if you don't have a favorite verse or quote to use,

finding them is easy - a simple Google search gave me dozens to chose from.

check out my 'fall quotes' search results here

VIP Pumpkins!

look what you can do with my sweater pumpkin tutorial!!!

if you'd like to make your own versions of my original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins,

you can get the tutorial here 

this is Big Bear (been in the family for decades, and is very, very well-loved)

holding some VIP (Very Impressive Pumpkins) that i recently made 

for some VIP (Very Important Precious ones) kids in my life...

when i came across some very elusive sweaters with orange stripes, 

i knew i just had to make these with them.

my nephew, nieces, and grandsons will be the happy recipients of these fall treats.

over the years, i have seen so many different and creative versions made using my tutorial...

please share your photos on the HOMEWARDfound facebook page

or leave a link in your comment here so we can all see what you've made!

Back to Nature

the best thing i learned as a display designer & stylist is this:

there is a LOT of FREE STUFF out there waiting to be found in the world!

it's just waiting to be reinvented into something else.

it's free for the taking (sometimes it takes WORK, but it's worth it) 

and once you get into the habit of looking for it,

you'll be picking up stuff everywhere.

i am NOT talking about dumpster diving this time, either!

nope. i'm thinking about your yard. the alley behind your house.

the vacant lot at the end of the street. the park, the office complex, the schoolyard.

the ditch next to the country road on the other side of town.

i'm thinking of all the trees that drop leaves and pinecones and seed pods

of all of the weeds and grasses that grow in clumps and through cracks in sidewalks

of all of the ivy vines that climb over fences into schoolyards

tumbleweeds that blow across deserted parking lots 

thistles and cattails that grow in ditches by the side of the road

and of all of the dead branches on old trees laying in piles next to dumpsters.

all of those elements of nature are out there, waiting to be discovered.

waiting to be gathered, brought inside, and arranged with purpose on a mantel, table, or shelf

so that the gorgeous colors and delicate details can be seen up close

every photo here shows simple grasses used in various settings

all of the grass was free for the picking practically everywhere i looked...

all i had to do was cut it with a pair of scissors

or pull it out of the ground, shake off the dirt, and use it.

it really doesn't get much easier than that!

so when you head out on a drive this weekend, look on the side of the road -

and see if you can't discover some really amazing feather grass

or maple leaves or seed pods in a eucalyptus tree to add to your Fall Decor!

all photos by debkennedyimages [for retreat, 2009-11]

Pumpkins, Remnants, and A Beautiful Mess

I am so very pleased to announce that my Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins

are being sold by Kymberley Fraser in her beautiful retail shop, A Beautiful Mess!

Located in Agoura Hills, California, 

this 2-year old retail boutique is a mecca for stylish shoppers

including celebrities, designers, and media decorators.
It's just undergone a refresh for the season, and is loaded with fall bounty!

Kymberley will ALSO have a full harvest of my pumpkins in her always STUNNING booth

at the Remnants of the Past Antique Show in San Luis Obispo, CA in October! 

This show is produced by my friend Judy Watkins, 

and has been featured in many magazines and publications (recently in 'Where Women Create').

Rachel Ashwell named it one of her Top Five Shows to attend, 

and it is host to the very best dealers of antique, vintage, and artisan goods on the West coast.

That's a photo of Kymberley's booth from the June show... see what I mean?

Such inspiring presentation and stylish goods.

[I can't WAIT to see what she has planned for the fall show!]

I am honored that she wants to include my pumpkins in her lovely setting,

and I'll be heading up there with a van FULL of them for her!

I've also volunteered to be her slave during setup for the show, 

and will be in her booth for the event on Friday night and Saturday. (not Sunday, though).

I am looking forward to being at this absolutely wonderful show once again...

A Beautiful Mess

28875 W. Agoura Road Agoura Hills, CA

www.aBeautifulMessAntiques.com

Remnants of the Past Antique Show

October 19 - 21 2012

Alex Madonna Expo Center

San Luis Obispo, California

www.RemnantsofthePast.com

 booth photo courtesy of 'A Beautiful Mess' by Kymberly Fraser

Fast, Cheap & Easy: Funkin Pumpkins!

the subject of  'fall decorating with pumpkins' just isn't complete

without mentioning fabulous FunkinsTM

[and seriously, go HERE to their website to see some JAWDROPPING ideas]

Funkins are lightweight resin pumpkins available in craft stores

and, for the truly CHEAP among us, at thrift stores.

these are really cost-effective, because they are reusable every year.

the thing is, Funkins LOOK like real pumpkins - and so just like real pumpkins,

you can carve them, paint them, embellish them, light them up...

 however, because they are lightweight, 

you can do things with Funkins that you can't do with real pumpkins:

hang them up, suspend them, cut them in half and hang them on a wall, impale them, 

add them to floral arrangements and potted plant displays... and more.

they become all-purpose decor props for fall and Halloween!

In the photos above, you see two large sized Funkins sitting in gorgeous black urns

at the entry to a residence that a partner and I decorated for several years.

each one is impaled on a wooden dowel that's been inserted into the dirt in the urn.

this holds the pumpkin upright in windy conditions.

this is a 'Fast, Cheap & Easy' TM way to add fall style to an existing planter.

 

 on the front porch, another Funkin joins a spooky topiary and some painted wooden pumpkins

to create a welcoming vignette.

the monograms on the Funkins shown in these photos

were all done with a simple black regular-tip Sharpie Marker

to coordinate with the welcome mat design, and to fit the elegant style of this client's home perfectly.

have you ever used a Funkin in YOUR fall decorating?

leave a link to your photos in a comment below, and let us see what you've come up with!

inspiration: collaged furniture

 i have a love affair with old paper.

creating things with old sheet music and old book pages makes use of their gorgeous patina & color,

which i find particularly appealing in the fall. it must be the golden colors of aged paper...

decopauging furniture with collages of vintage paper is a pretty easy project.

trust me, you don't have to be 'an artist' to do this!

just collect papers, then start applying them onto a clean, dry surface.

when i decopauge something, i have one of two goals:

1. to add dimension to the surface

2. to completely COVER the surface

on a project like the one shown above, where there is an 'accent' of decopauged papers,

 it's hard to tell what is real and what isn't:

the two cups, saucer, and brown book are real objects and can be removed.

the book page, a sheet of music, and an old letter are decopauged onto the surface.

on a project where the entire surface is covered, i go for lots of detail - as shown below...

 when i collage a project this way, i layer the papers as i work.

i begin with sheet music or book pages, and cover the surface with them using decopauge medium

then i add illustrated pages or postcards, then quotes or verses. 

sometimes i add actual photographs (on matte paper only)

then i select just a few of the most interesting pieces of paper on the surface, 

and i PAINT on shadows with a thin wash of a brown color paint.

this adds dimension to the project, and causes some of the papers to 'float' on the surface. 

then it all gets sealed with more clear decopauge medium. 

[and OH do i have a tip for you!

don't buy the stuff labeled 'decopauge medium'.

WAAAAAY too expensive.

go to the paint department in any hardware store.

 find a gallon of paint that says 'deep tone base' on the label.

this is what is used to mix dark colors - black, chocolate, navy, etc.

it has NO TITANIUM WHITE in it. 

the 'paint' inside the can will LOOK white, but it will dry clear.

i recommend that you get a semigloss finish.

i also recommend BEHR paint. 

the hardest part of doing this?

getting out of the paint department and the store

without some 'helpful' paint associate telling you 

that you CAN'T use that without color being mixed in

and that it's NOT a decopauge medium.

yes, you can.

yes, it is.

run from these people! say thank you, pay for your gallon, and leave.

you will save about $15 a gallon buying this instead of 'decopauge medium']

 from small chests of drawers (served as a jewelry box) to a metal file cabinet,

to plain tables and old wooden ironing boards, a collage of vintage papers adds charm

and makes previously ugly pieces look interesting and beautiful.

 an antique folding wood card table with a damaged top surface

was decorated with a layered selection of Paris-themed papers and music.

this enhanced the sense of antiquity and made the table usable again.

[note: the diamond-shaped paper on the upper left is a hanging price tag, not part of the collage]

...and then, there are those projects that just defy the imagination...

this baby grand piano, which was turned into a wine BAR

and then covered ENTIRELY in vintage player piano & sheet music 

[it took me 40+ hours to do the collage and lacquer work]

 

this showstopping piece of furniture was created by my former husband and I

for our RETREAT booth at the Farm Chicks and Remnants of the Past shows in 2009.

all in all, it represents over 120 hours of work.

it was recently pictured in the Summer 2012 Issue of 'Where Women Create' magazine,

in a story about the Remnants of the Past show. What an honor!

i'm not suggesting that you collage a REAL piano... 

but then again... why NOT?!

 

a stylist's Top 5 Tips for seasonal displays!

some of the best tips & tricks i've learned and developed as a retail display stylist
[i've been at it for over 36 years, including designing booths at vintage shows like the one above]
work very successfully when applied to decorating homes... so i thought i'd share

the TOP FIVE techniques, tips, & tricks used in retail display

to help you get great visual impact with your seasonal decor!

1. start with a theme. 
my fall theme always begins with pumpkins, because I have a lot of them.
i've got glass, ceramic, wood, fabric, plastic, styrofoam, paper, dough, clay, terra cotta, real gourds,
and of course sweater pumpkins.
they spend far too many months packed in foam and cardboard, just waiting for their day in the spotlight,
so i give it to them for three months a year.

some people like swanky black & white accents with bling,

some like cute witches in orange and green and  yellow and black.

with a theme, I can coordinate all of the display areas in all of my rooms easily: 

every focal area has to have some pumpkins. 

i'm also big on natural elements: bleached leaves, faded roses, foliage & florals in pumpkin colors. 

add a few 'hard surface' elements: glass, silver, and wood containers.
So all of those elements together serve to define and express my theme.

2. find your focal points.

walk through your home, from the entry, and pay attention to where your eyes travel.

mine are the front porch, front entry, library table, mantel, buffet, dining table, and kitchen window. 

from small to large, each of these will hold the same theme, colors, and elements 

which will spread the season's 'story' all thru my house. 

by concentrating your efforts in the main focal areas, 

you'll get better visual impact AND save yourself time and money.

your seasonal decor needn't be on every single table, shelf, area - sometimes, less is more. 

(i can't believe i said that!)

the mantel is one of the main focal points as you enter this home.

 i didn't want to do a central arrangement or both sides, 

as these colors are so vibrant it would have been overwhelming. 

so i placed a clock on one side of the mantel,

 and a big colorful arrangement of flowers and pumpkins on the other side.

i practiced restraint  - something extremely hard to do!

in retail visual merchandising we normally do everything very BIG and very theatrical. 

 in a home, you have to dial it back a bit - especially in small rooms.

3. use color to pull your eye thru the space.

the photo above shows a display in the area just outside the front door.

from the first step up onto my covered front porch all the way thru the house, it's the same story. 

the pumpkin theme and the colors of orange, rust, and vanilla

catch your eye and cause you to look EXACTLY where i want you to look in the house!

i do that for two reasons: 

one, it's how i work. i'm obsessive that way. 

in retail, this practice is called 'color spotting' and it always works.

and two, this house is small. i mean, really small. it is a 1924 cottage, not even 1000 square feet. 

so to have too much visually going on [and definitely having too many different things going on] 

would cause me to lose my marbles staring at it all the time!

keeping the seasonal decor coordinated and simple, and placed strategically,

lets the color in the decor lead the eye of the beholder through the small space.

4. plan flexible, organic displays.

on my big long pine dining table, i grouped more of the same elements casually. 

i wanted the whole scheme to look sort of 'unstudied', just left there as if i had discovered it on a walk. 

i do add more stuff to my displays all thru the season. 

keep your displays organic (open to natural change). move things, add things, rearrange things. 

keep it interesting, not static.

one BIG change i make with my fall displays is this:

i begin in September with my pumpkins 'faceless'. 

that means if a pumpkin has a jack o' lantern face, it's turned toward the wall or back of the display. 

in October, i turn the pumpkins around so that the faces show for Halloween.

and then in November, i turn them back around again.

5. hang usable objects as art.
in a store, this is the equivalent of a moving hanging rack.
here, you see that door with old hooks i shared in a past post -
now it has a hanging straw purse filled with rust-colored silk roses and straw hats.
it's a neat 3-D artwork piece - i could have hung a painting here, but this is more tactile and fun.
find a coatrack or pegrack, something that you can alter, add to , and change with small touches.
functional items like scarves and gloves, umbrellas, even canvas bags of books
can look artful when arranged on purpose.

*** Hello to everyone visiting from the Funky Junk Interiors 'Love That Junk' Linkup!***
Thanks for the feature, Donna!

I've just added a brand new post with MORE ideas for re-purposing OLD DOORS!
click here to see what I've done with them over the years...

bonus tip:

6. use light to set a mood.
in the dining room table photo, and the foreground of the photo above,
you can see more glass vases with candles and fall leaves.
in the photo of the mantel, you can see a small lamp. 

warm light from candles and small lamps, a fireplace, or an illuminated painting on the wall

will add sparkle and glow to your rooms like no ceiling fixture or lamp on an end table can.

similarly, open window treatments will let in the golden autumn light

in the mornings and afternoons, 

creating changing patterns across the room and bringing it to life.

and with that...

a scented candle and beautiful music will be the finishing touches for beautiful rooms

that will welcome you, your family, and your friends in this autumn...

have fun creating seasonal touches in your home!

featured online:

Funky Junk Interiors | Love That Junk Link Party

Fall Porch Decor . Part 2

 here are a few more 'Fast, Cheap & Easy' [TM] ideas 

for using utilitarian items from your garden shed as decor props...

think about how the big stuff can be used to HOLD other items:

In these photos, an old metal toolbox holds Boy Scout aluminum camp plates & canteens.

a metal bicycle basket holds decorative apples 

[these are good looking FAKES from Dollar Tree, too!]

 tiny little galvanized pails [Dollar Tree again] hold candles

a galvanized bucket that you can't see holds branches

[free - they fell out of the huge tree during a windstorm]

a square metal storage box stands on end, to hold up two more candles

a rusty old galvanized washtub hangs on the wall like ART

 details like a sun-bleached bouquet of really old fabric roses from the thrift store

a wooden clipboard and the old wooden ice cream maker bucket

add another layer of color and visual interest to the grouping.

this fall vignette was created in about half an hour 

on a table made from an old door that sat on my back patio

it worked as a buffet / server during parties, and was a great place for a visual treat

that could be enjoyed every day.

and it made it SUPER easy to set up for a party or dinner outdoors!

the best part? 

all of this stuff can stay out in the weather and it will only make them look BETTER!