Feeling so inspired lately!!! Welcome sweet September ~

I can't explain my crazy ideas but we have several HUGE magnolia trees

in our front yard and I've always thought that the seed pods were so beautiful.

So I go gather a few up and spray them with Kilz and proceed to paint them

with beautiful metallic colors, just wanting to maybe turn them into ornaments!

This was really just an experiment though...and some of the pods still burst open

doing what nature told them to do. I also saved some to dry to see if I could work

with them later on. It's all an experiment!

Next project table: I want to create a handmade nature journal/book.

I'm in the beginning stages but want to incorporate beautiful dried flowers,

insect wings, and of course ephemera and lace. We'll see...this is a work in progress!

I had these beautiful plaques/placemats hanging in my old studio 7 plus years ago.

They are illustrations from the book "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady"

I FINALLY hung them in our old farmhouse this week.

That only took 7 years.

I've also been working on this wonderful lavender soap and

have had several orders too...

It smells heavenly!

Another project in the works?

A restoration of sorts.

For my dear brother-in-law.

Normally, I wouldn't touch this wonderful, aged Santa face!!!

I love old, crusty and vintage.

But my BIL hangs him in the middle of a huge wreath on their front door

during the Christmas season. And with the sun setting on the front of their home,

he's deteriorating fast.

So he's been caulked and primed and the undercoat painting has started!

This one just came to my mind this week.

Why not buy a few fall elements and add them into our

spring wreath on the front porch???

I can pull them out at the end of the year and I'm golden for Spring again!

HAHAHA!

I just crammed the elements into the wreath to give you an idea.

I'll be sure to share it finished!

EDITED TO ADD:

My finished wreath!

I'll just pull out the fall elements again come spring ~

AND LASTLY....

An old birdcage pendant light!!!

I've had this old birdcage top for years and years now.

SO I thought I'd order a pendant/plug/switch lamp kit to see 

if I could transform it into pendant light!

Oh my...here we go!

With the encouragement of our son Brad, I totally took apart the new lamp socket thing

and had to feed it through the opening at the top of the bird cage.

Just remembering how it came apart and how to put it back together

correctly was truly the challenge.

BUT WAIT!

The hole wasn't large enough...and since my drill died a while back

it was time to go primal and I used graduating drill bits and a vice grip

to twist and turn that opening to be larger!!!!

And believe it or not, it WORKED!

And now?

I LOVE IT!!!!

I think the changing of the seasons has me working like a crazy girl!

Our weather has been a bit milder here in Georgia and it gives me energy!

Sorry for the long post but it's been awhile ~

Thank you always for stopping by to see me!!!

hugs and love,

Dawn

Welcome Autumn, I've missed you so!

It seems we blink and POOF! Summer is gone and fall has arrived!

The years are passing too quickly for my taste but

I've heard that as you get older, this is just how it is.

I love it when the shadows start getting longer in the afternoon and

when the sky is that amazing, vibrant blue!

I have many posts on my blog praising the fall of the year because

so many wonderful things have happened in my life at this time of year.

I wanted to share some of my most favorite images with you too!

These last two photos are from when we visited my parents a few years ago.

They live in the North Georgia mountains in Hiawassee, Georgia.

The photograph below was taken standing on their deck...THEIR DECK!

Ohmyland...it's so beautiful there in the fall!!!

This one was taken during that visit as well...in the mountains.

The colors were so beautiful!!!

AND GUESS WHAT???

Our precious grandson turned FOUR this past month!!!

I mean it about the time y'all, it's flying by WAAAY too fast!

Here a just a few photos from his party,

he had such a wonderful day!

Goodness gracious!!! Look at how big they both are!!!

Sweet babies...

I just finished up a wholesale order for a dear friend who

will be selling at The Country Living Fair in a few weeks in Atlanta!!!

She ordered a few lavender sachets and I found the most beautiful graphics

to print onto fabric for her! The order is complete and on it's way to her...

goodness I so hope they sell well!!!!

In other news... I AM STILL GOING THROUGH MY HOARD!!!

I'm trying to list things daily in my shop. Neat things, old things...amazing things!!!

ALSO...

I'm having a sale this week in my little Etsy store!

Simply type in FALLSALE into the Coupon Code box when checking out on Etsy

and you will receive 20% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER!

My sale will end next Monday, Oct. 10th at midnight EST.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE GOODIES IN MY SHOP!

I'm still pulling out boxes, looking through all the amazing things

I've acquired over the years because I can't help myself...

I love wonderful old stuff!!!

Stay tuned and keep an eye on my shop,

I'm adding more and more every week!!!

I hope you are well and that you are enjoying this change of season.

'Tis my very favorite of all!!!

Thank you always for stopping by to see what I'm up to,

hugs and love dear friends,

Dawn

Beautiful fall ~

So, here's the thing.

I've never...EVER...had a guest post on my blog.

I've had requests but declined them all.

BUT.

Who will I have as my first guest post?

My precious daughter-in-law Emily!

Our oldest son, Brent's wife Emily, is such a talented writer

I invited her to write a guest post for my blog!!!

I love fall, Emily loves fall as well ~

Thank you so much sweet girl!

It's coming. As of September 23, it is coming. What is coming? What could be coming that would be so worthy of a blog post? I will tell you what, fall! Here in the south we get excited about fall or autumn if you prefer. Our summers are long, hot and humid. By August, they feel never ending. And sometimes they are. Sometimes it can stay hot here until October. We southerners are so desperate for fall because the air is thick and suffocating, and because being covered in a shower of sweat every time we walk out the door is well, exhausting. We literally crave all things fall.

So when the first leaves fall, even if it may be from the lack of rain, we get excited. We start to break out or fall decorations and our fall wreaths as a sort of ritual that we hope will bring autumn roaring around the corner. We start gracing our mantels with fall candles that fill our homes with the scent of pumpkin and spices, apples and cinnamon, and my favorite toasted marshmallows. We longingly and lovingly stroke our scarves and thick knitted sweaters hanging in our closets. We start to bake apple pies, and cook creamy soups and thick stews. We delight in the fact that football season has started. Our hunters get geared up for hunting season.

Then, then it happens. It usually happens so suddenly we don't even notice. One morning we wake up, walk outside, and we are shocked by the crisp coolness in the air. Fall has arrived. The summer heat has dissipated, and the newness of fall has begun. The leaves have finally turned their brilliant colors of red, yellow, orange and brown. The breeze that blows through the trees has a chill that runs through it. The sun shines brilliantly, and the air is clear and clean. The ground smells of wet leaves and damp moss. We can finally go outside without sweat beading on our foreheads. Our days and nights are cool enough to open the windows and let the fresh breeze in.

Although fall may welcome in the coming of winter, it is a newness and freshness that we as southerners so desperately crave because of our long, scorching summers. Autumn passes quickly for us, and we cherish every second of it. It cools our bodies and our minds and makes us kinder. We look forward to it, and when it finally arrives the heat monster of summer is lifted from our shoulders, and we can relax. The changes of the seasons gives us perspective throughout the year. Just when we think that summer or winter may stay forever, we see the first falling leaves of fall, or the first budding trees of spring. We realize that even though we may not see it, it is in fact happening, and we can and should believe in it. Fall is coming, autumn is coming. So hold tight to that fact, light your pumpkin candles, drink a hot cuppa, prop your feet up, and look forward to welcoming in the season!

Wonderful, right?

Here is my sweet daughter-in-laws blog!

She's such a wonderful writer!!!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT HER BLOG!

I love you so sweet Emily!

What a beautiful post ~

thank you so very much!!!

hugs and love to my sweet friends as well,

xxoo, Dawn

A beautiful day ~

Friday afternoon hubby and I

headed up to the North Georgia mountains!!

We haven't been to my mom and dad's in quite some time

and it was high time for a visit.

We really only had one full day with them, Saturday,

and it was absolutely GORGEOUS!!

We did a little junkin' together and I found a few little things but

nothing really amazing.

My found treasures consisted of a few cigar boxes and an old bottle.

We had so much fun just seeing the gorgeous fall leaves and

being together. I hope you don't mind a few photos of our day!!

Thanks for letting me share ~

Wishing you a beautiful Monday precious friends!

hugs and love,

Dawn