Fancy Pears

They are yellow forms

Composed of curves

Bulging toward the base.

They are touched red.

(excerpt from the poem Study of Two Pears by Wallace Stevens)

 I love to use pears for decorating in the fall.  And you just can't find a representation better than the real thing.

 (Oh, and I picked up that cute little pedestal at a thrift store for just $2!  I love that almost as much as the pears!)  I came across this project while perusing the blog Shanty2Chic.

    I loved the idea and so, here is my interpretation.

    I first started with an old frame that I had in my closet FOREVER.  It was yard sale find for $2 and was originally white.  It got a couple coats of Flat Black spray paint and then I rubbed it down with some brown craft paint.  Next, I cut my burlap to wrap around the cardboard backing in the frame and secured it with hot glue.

 

Once you have it all glued, you're ready to put the frame back together.

For the candlesticks, I used two that I had on hand and then went to the DAV (Disabled American Vets) Thrift Store.  I wanted more height variation and so I looked for shapes that I liked as well as tall and short.  I gave them all a good 1, 2,3,and even 4 coats of Flat Black.

 

And here was my result....

 

I love the green and black together!  Plus, I just LOVE green....and BLACK! (As you will see in my Laundry Room.)

Thanks Shanty2Chic for the great idea and for great projects all the time on your fabulous blog!

**The pears have since reached their expiration date and have been made into to some tasty muffins.  So, the centerpiece is adorned with mini white pumpkins now.

 

  Just as cute but, I am thinking of adding a little shimmer and shine to the pumpkins with some gold and burnt umber craft paint....just in the grooves, you know?  Can't just leave well enough alone....

Happy Pear and Pumpkin pickin'!  Oh, and be sure to check out all of the other transformations at The Shabby Chic Cottage!

And on Friday for Cindy's Show and Tell at My Romantic Home!!

Lush Fall Foliage

So, what's the worst thing that can happen after you sign yourself up for the Procrastinator's Party?  That's right.  Sickness decides to pay you a visit and stay for awhile.  Laid up and stuffed up.  Not much has taken place in the room I should be working on.  However, I wanted to share some Fall planting tips with you instead.
Fall has finally graced us with her presence and that means I get to fill my planters with ornamental cabbage. One of them being the mailbox planter.  I was going to line it from one end to the other with the cabbage, but then found this bright, cheery, yellow sedum that TRAILS.

I wanted to get more bang for my buck and, so, I decided to buy the 6-pack of cabbage instead of the 4-inch pots.  Last Fall I purchased the cabbage in 1-gallon containers to plant them in my window box.  With that size you get instant color and fullness.  The mailbox was too small for that size and with the 6-pk. I was able to fill the mailbox and put two in the window box.

 

If you're impatient like me, you want the lush look as soon as you plant.  To get the lush foliage a bit quicker, all you need to do is cross the plants at the root ball when you plant them.

They should look something like this when you have them in the container and are ready to replace the soil around them.  This way the large heads of the cabbage will be bursting forth with pinky frilliness.  I can't wait to see what they do by next month!

Happy Fall planting!!

Linked up with The Shabby Chic Cottage for:

Autumn Inspired Frames

I love Autumn.  Unfortunately the weather here is not making it conducive to bringing out the brown velvet throws and the pumpkins would probably rot on the front porch....On a brighter note: Fake lasts forever and looks great framed.

Meet the Pears.  They started out as worn out ornaments from Christmas' past.  To create your own lovely framed piece of Autumn, simply follow the steps below.  Sarah@Thrifty Decor Chick did a version of this here.

SO cute on plates!  Thank you for the inspiration!  Gotta love pears...whoever said there was anything wrong with being pear-shaped never saw their true potential.

Gather your supplies.  I used wrapping paper in rich, Autumn hues that I purchased at one of my favorite home and garden shops in Cambria, CA.  I grabbed some acrylic paints in green, brown, and gold, my frame (just one I had on hand), glue, and paint brushes.

I mixed two shades of green to use as my base coat.  Forest Moss and Italian Sage.

Once the first coat is dry, you can apply a coat of brown.  I mixed Burnt Umber with Gold.

I loved the way the ornaments picked up the dents and dings mimicking a true Bartlett!  Set your pears aside to dry and cut your paper for the background.  Brush white glue onto the surface you wish to attach your paper to.

Once you smooth your paper down, use a nail file to rub over the perimeter of the frame to get off the excess paper.

The paper would even be lovely framed on it's own......so very pretty.  Oh, yeah and I painted the frame flat black and rubbed the same mix of Gold and Burnt Umber over the top.  All you need is a hot glue gun and you're ready to add the finishing touch.

Click on over to Kimba's and check out other DIY inspiring projects.

Happy Autumn and faux pear decorating!
Linked up with Twice Remembered at Make Your Monday....so many ideas, not enough time:)

A Penny For Your Pot?

So, here it is...the first posting of Double Delight Designs. While I am chomping at the bit to get out my Fall decor...I am put off by the fact that it is still predicted to hit the 100's. So, I decided instead to post about my newest cheaply acquired item. I was at Home Depot the other day buying rose food and I came across this beauty of a pot. It had a small chip, as shown here, on the bottom and was discounted to $15 from $22.

Knowing that it would look great on my entry table, I took it up to the cashier and asked if it could be discounted any further due to the chip. She said, "Sure, how about a penny?" Needless to say, the beautiful brown pot has summoned in a little Fall...along with his friend Twiggy Pumpkin and has made my entry table warm and cozy. So, my question to you is do you ask for discounts? I once heard on an Oprah show that you should always ask, so I have put that to the test and have even been given discounts at discount stores!

Happy Fall everyone! Now go and get yourself a discount!
Participating for the first time in Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous!