Autumn Touches in the Kitchen

I'm so anxious for autumn to start.  Here in HOTlanta, we had a taste of it a couple of weeks ago.  Now it's decently cool at night, but during the day, it's still miserable.  Fine.  I'll pretend cooler weather is here!  

I switched some things around in the kitchen.  
You know the line from Field of Dreams... build it and they will come?  Well - 

Change it and autumn will come!????
These changes were easy and very inexpensive, yet the room feels so different... it feels like autumn.

I pulled out this tablecloth which I bought on Ebay a few years ago.  It a Williams Sonoma pattern.   It's quite a busy, happy pattern, but it suits my mood right now.  I'm feeling fairly lively these days.

Disclaimers: I promise I ironed the tablecloth, but it sure looks creased in this photo. The chairs.  Still not painted.  Their turn in the paint room is coming soon.  Really.  I mean it!!!!

I bought this painted vintage breadbox from a fellow vendor at Rockin' B.  She gave me quite a deal.  It's pretty country looking, but I'm wanting more red in the house.  Plus, it's a perfect place for keeping a few things handy without them being out on the counter.  The green bowl is a recent yard sale find.  I love, love love it!  The color.  The shape.  The size.  Perfection!

This wonderful enamelware pitcher is another Rockin B find.  At this rate, I will never make a profit. 

I wasn't sure how I wanted to use it, but for now it's part of a vignette on the table.  I had wanted to use it as my iced tea pitcher, but it looks so good out on the table. 

 I keep a dish next to the sink to hold my soaps.  I change the dish to suit the season or holiday or mood.  I went with the green.  With all this red and green, you'd think it was Christmas!

The other autumn touch is a sentimental favorite. When Rudy (my hubby) was young, he and his mother spent some time making ceramics.  That was very popular in the 60's.  He doesn't seem like the ceramic type, but he loved it and it's a special memory. Each year when I bring it out, I love hearing him talk about it. He remembers clearly how much time she spent working on this piece.  I have been bringing it out each autumn - the colors really work then and it brings back such good memories.  I was very lucky - she was the sweetest mother-in-law ever.

I put it on the top of the hutch in our pantry, which if you've read my previous posts, you know is a key spot.  Our pantry is not hidden. 

That's all for now.

Be sure to check out my Porch and Garden Party.  It's not too late to join in!

I've joined in with the following parties:
Flaunt it Fridays at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
Vintage Inspiration Fridays at Common Ground
Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous
Friday Make Mine Beautiful at It's a Blog Party
Friday Fun Finds at Kojo Designs  
Frugal Friday at Shabby Nest
I'm Lovin' It Fridays at Tidy Mom
Saturday Soiree at A Little Lovely
Favorite Things Saturday at Bargain Hunting with Laurie
Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors  
It's So Very Thrifty at It's So Very Cheri
Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots and Jello

Pumpkins for the Porch

 I have seen plenty of different ways to decorate pumpkins over the years.  I am sorry to say that in the past I have not been terribly creative when it came to fall decorating.  I have so many things going now that it's not likely I'll go too crazy this year, but dang it, I'm going to put forth a little effort.  It really doesn't take much to give it some oomph.

My starting point is this wonderful ~ very heavy ~ wrought iron shelf that I bought at a recent yard sale.

I knew as soon as I put it on my porch that it was meant to have 4 pumpkins on it.  That was the easy part.  The hard part?  How should the pumpkins be decorated?

I could always leave them plain.  The orange color would really pop against the black. That could be understated and elegant (which is not me).  It would be easy - which would be great.  Or... I might leave them plain for a bit, then decorate them in a few weeks. 

When I'm ready to change the look of the pumpkins,  

I'll have plenty of inspiration.

As seen on Good Housekeeping

Gilded as seen on Fabulous Finishes

As seen on Ruthie's Renewed Treasures

As seen on Country Living

As seen on Home Improvement

As seen on Crafty Nest

These Mendhi designs are on a gourd, but why not try out the technique on a pumpkin?  Click here for details.

From Amber Elizabeth - this blog appears to have been removed

As seen on Parents Magazine

As seen on Southern Living - templates here

 

Well now.  I'm inspired!  The hard part will be deciding which look to go for.

Now it's time for another Porch and Garden Party. 

I WENT ALL OUT and joined in with a bunch of my favorite parties:
Make It Yours Day at My Backyard Eden
Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Designs
Power of Paint at Domestically Speaking
Spotlight Yourself at It's So Very Cheri
Show Us What You're Workin' With at Me and My Bucket
Get Your Craft On Thursday at Life as Lori
It’s Party Time  at Pony Tails and Fish Scales

Transformation Thursdays at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Strut Your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple

Strut your Stuff at Fireflies and Jelly Beans

Favorite Things Friday at A Few of My Favorite Things
Flaunt it Fridays at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
Friday Finding Beauty at Dipity Road
Home and Family Fridays at Home is Where My Story Begins
Friday Make Mine Beautiful at It's a Blog Party 

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Remodelaholic's Anonymous Meeting at Remodelaholic
I'm Lovin' It Fridays at Tidy Mom
A Link Party at The Twice Remembered Cottage