Halloween Tablescape 2016

Hallo Everyone!  It's that time of year when strange things begin to lurk around!   It's a little bit spooky, but a little bit fun here at The Decorative Dreamers house.  Once again I find myself under the spell of a very adorable and decorative tablescape.

How about you?  Do you enjoy decorating for Halloween?  I used to do a lot more then I do now.  With my sons being older and out of the house and no trick or treaters anymore, I find myself still wanting to join in on the fun.  So instead of focusing on outside decor I focused on creating an indoor treat for us instead.

This years tablescape began with my napkins.  I've had these checked fringe napkins for quite awhile now and since I have a boatload of them I figured I could spare a few.  I decided they would be the perfect background to showcase my carved pumpkin initial applique.  Isn't this just the cutest thing? After these turned out so well I wanted to keep stitching.  I love doing appliques and I especially love when I can make items for my own decor to showcase my work.

Next came the new addition of my table runner.  I found the orange and black buffalo check runner on sale at Ross.  I was thrilled to see that not only was it marked down but that is was a blank canvas that I could customize myself.

I started with adding this Witch hat initial font to each end of the runner.  This was a freebie font from one my sources.  I love how it looks though I do wish the hat was up a little higher.  Our last name begins with a "K" and this looks like an "R" to me.  Oh well!  It is what it is, right, and it was free so I'm good!  Happy, happy!

I then decided to center this Boo applique in the middle of the runner.  I love this one! Looks adorable next to my witch boot salt and peppers doesn't it?

 

After adding designs to the ends and the center of my runner I then decided to add two more Jack o lantern appliques in between at an angle.  I also flipped these two designs so this runner would be a great look from all angles of the table.   It was a little more challenging centering and angling both of them equally the same but I got it.  Whoohoo!

After I finished the tablerunner it was time to set the table.  I chose to keep my setting a little more simple to keep the focus on my beautiful runner and napkins.  I decided to use only orange chargers and black plates with the napkins.  The chargers I picked up a few years ago, can't remember where, but the black plates are new this year from the dollar tree.  I was pretty happy to see them because I've wanted some black plates for awhile now.

My hand blown purple goblets were just the right color for this setting and kept with the color theme.  One thing I was very focused on when I made the table runner was keeping all the appliques coordinating with each other.  I can't tell you how many times I looked at other pieces of fabric I had and thought, Oh this would be so cute with that.  Especially on  the candy jack o lantern or the hair bow on the other jack.  I resisted the urge to mix it all up with multiple fabric choices though, and chose to use only four colors; orange, black, purple and green.  I stayed true to keeping it coordinated and now I'm so glad I did!

The little ghosties were a fun and whimsical choice for my candle holders, though I did manage to add a few votives for a nice glow.  The orangish colored votives were a summer clearance from the $1.00 bins at Michaels.  I love those bargains bins, don't you?

After I finished my tablescape I couldn't help but notice how my shelves on the side table that were decorated for Fall just didn't quite match.  So even though I wasn't planning on doing any last minute Halloween decorating I just couldn't stop myself.

I'm so glad I pulled out my Halloween box.  It's always so enjoyable when you see some of your decor you have forgotten you had.  I knew I wanted to use my witch, aka Miss Abigail, I bought one year while working at SteinMart.  She was a must. I had totally forgotten all about the wreath I made too. I was so excited to see it and even more pleased that it was a smaller size.  I made this wreath smaller one year to sit inside of a simple larger fall wreath of berries so you could easily pull it out when Halloween was over.  That was a great idea, even if the berry wreath didn't last.  LOL!

 Doesn't Miss Abigail look so cute next to the broom parking sign, bad blood and poison wine mixes?  The witches sign and more ceramic ghosts I've also had for awhile now .  I just love how this side table turned out. So fun!  I had a straw broom propped up here, but had to move it because it was freaking the dog out.  LOL!  Ooops!

Funny, I just noticed I have a rooster sitting here that didn't get moved.  It must have blended in and i didn't see it until the picture.  Oh Lord, I must be loosing my touch!

Well, that's it y'all!  I hope you enjoyed your visit and I hope you have a whimsically wonderful and fun holiday celebration.

Happy Halloween!

Hugs and Waves,

Mary

 

Winter Comforts

Hi Friends!  I hope your week has been going well.  Mine sure has!  I've been so busy around the house getting things organized and ready for the new year ahead.  I have such a wonderful feeling about 2016 and feel so very grateful to be able to be home, organizing, cleaning, and creating comfort.

The other day, the sun was shining so brightly in the morning I just had to snap a few shots. Still snapping photos on my phone for now, but I'm much closer to resolving that and hope to return to my camera soon. 

It turned out to be a beautifully sunny but cold afternoon.  It was the kind of day where everything just seemed so right in the world.   Maybe, it started out that way for me because I felt so cozy and comfortable inside before setting out and about to brave the cold outside.

In my previous posts, I've been sharing with you how I've been making a few changes in the kitchen.  One of the biggest changes I made was to add curtains on the french doors.  Last weekend we got the curtain rods up and I hung the panels that I had made for the dining room a few years ago.  I had to make a few easy length adjustments and they were done.  I love the look of these so very much, I may not even worry about making any others with the darker fabric I have.  

I really haven't tried too hard to create a wintry scene in here but I did want to have the centerpiece on the table reflect the season.  These whispery white flowers I purchased a few years ago from Kirklands always make me feel so good.  They are such a great transitional look and remind me so much of paper whites.  Don't you think so?  I added in some plain willow branches to give my centerpiece a more wintry look and I was done.  I already had both the flowers and the branches.  It really could not have been an easier.

  

These are the hurricane lamps I purchased last fall on sale at Pier 1.  I think they will certainly be a new staple for me in my decor.  You may recall I used them in my centerpiece on the coffee table at Christmas. You can see that here, if you missed it.  Since I already had the snow filler inside them I decided to leave it.  I did switch out the size of the candles to a smaller set.  

I love how the snow sparkles from the reflections of the sunshine.  I wish you had better pictures to see just how pretty it really is.  These candles are electric.  If you are like me then you have these candles everywhere.  I think I may be addicted to them.  It's a good day when I find these on sale.  LOL!

I really am loving having curtains in the kitchen now.  It has just made my kitchen so much more appealing.  It's made the whole room more cozy, comfortable and inviting.  I am just so amazed that I have gone so many years without even considering them.  Of course, the Mr. has pointed out over and over again already how he has wanted to put curtains in here since day 1.  He has wanted them to help keep the sun out during our hot, hot summers.  I don't enjoy closed curtains and I especially don't like feeling too closed in.  I think I'll be safe because when I made these I didn't use lots of fabric.   I only made them just large enough to give a somewhat full look but not large enough to cover these doors certainly.  We shall see what the summer brings, but for now the winter is feeling very cozy so far!   

We're still working on more changes in here, slowly.  We getting it done though, just in between getting more organized and learning how to use my new embroidery machine.  In between, working on our sailboat and finding some time for thrift sale shopping.  Finally and most importantly getting it done in between taking care of my family and my pretty little pup too!  

Life is Good and God is Great, feeling so very thankful for all this winters comforts.

Thank you also for stopping in again and I hope you'll come back by and catch up again next time.  

Have a wonderful Thursday friends!

Hugs and Waves!

Mary

Basking in the After Glow

I admit it, I am one of those people who are slow to get on the band wagon! I usually like to wait a bit and see how something fares or something plays out so to speak before getting on board.  How about you?  Do you do the same?

Case in point today.... battery operated candles and LED lights. 

 It's not that I haven't seen these candles before or am unfamiliar with them or anything like that at all.  Heck, we sold them in all sizes and price ranges at Stein Mart when I was managing the gift dept.  I often had to create displays with them.  I was for all intensive purposes, well familiar with them.  I just hadn't ever actually seriously considered "buying" them and bringing them home. 

What changed all that?  Well I finally broke down and bought one to specifically use in the display above and below. 

I have loved this embossed and distressed wooden hurricane vase since the day I brought it home for it's simplicity and it's gentle softness in appearance.  I didn't want to put anything in it that would detract from the beauty of the vase itself.  

I finally decided that a large battery operated candle was a perfect fit for it .  I also love that I don't have to worry about blowing it out and having wax all over the inside of my vase.  It's a simple look on the table, but creates a wonderfully inviting centerpiece while dining.

In the den I decided to take things a bit further by adding another electric candle to my sailing vignette.  I think it adds such a warm look to this little corner that I just love.

I got this candle and another in a two pack that was on sale at Belks during their after Christmas sale.  I will have to remember that next year and add a few more.

My latest electric glow addition just arrived today.  I have been eyeing this little vase at Kirkland's for several weeks now.  It was on clearance with an additional 25% off so I decided it was time to bring it home.

I wasn't sure where it would end up.  For now, I have decided to put it in the dining room on my marble buffet table.  I wasn't too crazy about the fact that it was so yellow.  I was expecting white LED lights.  I guess I will have to look for those in the future!

As for now, not too bad!   I think I can live with it here!

Have you gotten into using more battery operated or LED lighting yet?  

If your a procrastinator like me you may want to revisit the idea.  They really are starting to get much more affordable and more widely available now.  

Come on, wouldn't you also like to enjoy basking in the afterglow?

I think so!

Birds, Bee's, Flowers and there's a Tree Outside

Let me tell you bout the birds and the bees and the pollen in the trees...wait, you mean that's not the way it's supposed to go!  Well, that's certainly the way it is around here!  LOL!

Please don't look too closely because the floor of my screen porch is covered in pollen again.  I have already thoroughly cleaned this porch once but it's back again.  Atleast this time is just a dusting and will clean up easily.  Just another beautiful reminder that spring is here, right?

I hope you won't mind, but I just couldn't pass up a chance to get back in the game with this tablescape challenge of Birds, Bees, Flowers or Trees from Cuisine Kathleen's.

It's been quite awhile since I've been able to play with you ladies but I hope this setting won't disappoint.  Also, please excuse the overcast look of my photos as the sun keeps going in and out trying to decide what it's going to do today.  

The best thing about this setting was I had everything right here at home at my fingertips.  All I had to do was pull it all together.

I had no problems finding flowers.

And certainly no problem finding any birds around here too.

I was especially excited to bring out my newest acrylic glasses that I bought from work several months ago.

They are acrylic hobnail glasses.  I saw these just last week at Hobby Lobby as well.  They also have them in different colors at HL if your interested.

I thought this flatware since it is so outdoorsy went pretty well with this setting too.

More birds... see I told you had lot's of birds!

Finally, because you have been sooo patiently waiting, let me show you my most favorite part of this setting.

This is it!  I actually had one thing with bee's on it!

One small little honeycomb candle holder that I picked up at a garage sale somewhere.  

Since it was so small and I didn't want it to get lost on the table I decided to make it a centerpiece by creating a whole cloche around it.  I love, love, a challenge!

Then to finish it all off I decided place markers were in order here.

Yep, those are actually old rusty metal markers I've used in my real herb plants.

Just print out a piece of paper with some names, a piece of tape and you are good to go.  Care to to be my guest and join me today?

Your always welcome!

And we can certainly talk about the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees!

Please be sure and visit the following parties for more beautiful tablescape settings at;

 Let's Dish Cuisine Kathleens

and

Tablescape Thursday at BNOTP

Have a great day and great weekend everyone!

Thank you so much for stopping by!