It's A New Season!

To Everything There is a Season,

A Time for Every Purpose Under the Heaven:

A Time to Keep Silence,

And a Time to Speak....

(Ecclesiastes 3:1,7b)

Hello and Welcome back to Carolina Panache! This past summer has been a season of change, transition and question. I've bounced back and forth between "Should I continue to blog"? and "I don't think I have the time!" to "What do I have to offer anyone?" But just as sure as the sun rises and sets and the moon continues to glow, each new season brings renewal and gives way to all things new but familiar. These past two months I've been pretty silent with my blog and have only posted a couple of times in these past weeks. I truly appreciate the e-mails from so many of you and your encouraging comments. So before the sun sets on this Sunday, the first day of a new week, I have renewed my commitment to share ways, ideas, thoughts and words with you to add panache to your nests and hopefully, create a haven where your family comes to land at the end of a long day and tiring week. May you enjoy each post and may you be inspired to live life beautifully!

AUTUMN! FALL! HARVEST!

Whatever you call it, this IS my favorite time of the year. We are two days away from the official start of Autumn. I have already started adding fall color and scents to our nest.

Last week we painted our formal living room "Homestead Resort Tea Room Yellow" - wow! That's a mouthful! It is one of the colors from the National Preservation of Historic Homes Society. It is a beautiful, soft shade of yellow and it makes my formal living room come alive with fresh color - the perfect background for the warm, saturated shades of fall. I love to add seasonal vignettes around everyroom. Mantles, end tables, bookcases and shelves - no place is safe from mini pumpkins, acorns, fall leaves or tiny gourds!

In the picture above, mini pumpkins are used for placeholders on a Woodland themed tablescape. To get this look for your table simply cut a section of solid ribbon, hot glue one end around a large straight pin or fancy toothpick, using a permanent black or brown marker write the name of each guest and then insert the pin in to the pumpkin! What could be easier?

Natural, colorful materials like wild berries, pinecones, squash, and tree branches are used to build an inviting centerpiece. A medium sized pumpkin is cut and carved-out to hold a 4" pillar candle. To get this same look in your home, buy one pumkin - about the size you would use for a fresh pumpkin pie - cut a 4" diameter hole and scoop out the flesh - about 1 1/2" deep. Insert your candle then attach clusters of berries or small pinecones around the top edge of the cut. I use colored toothpicks to attach the berries. Next, cluster larger pinecones, gourds, mini-pumpkins, small branches and moss around either side of the larger pumpkin with the candle. If your table is long, extend the clustering as needed to create the proper scale. Keep in mind that the carved pumpkin will not last very long so you may want to save this step for a special dinner or party.
I love amber glassware! The color is rich and warm and for me it's the perfect glassware for an Autumn table. Here amber glass is paired with red plates and white soup/salad bowls. The combination of these three colors allow the cornucopia filled with mums and artichokes to take center stage. Recently, I found woven cornucopia baskets at the Dollar Tree. They offered various sizes and the best part - they were all $1!
Here is another pretty fall tablescape. Pretty shades of warm butterscotch, orange, and amber paired with pottery and rustic accents lends the air of a homey harvest dinner to celebrate all the bounty the earth has produced during the season. Natural and fresh cuttings from late summer foliage makes a nice transition and accent color to the other warm shades.
As we get closer to Thanksgiving this is a great craft to share with the kids. Miniature clay pots are painted black and the rims are painted various colors to resemble hat bands. A black fine point marker was used to write the names of your guests. The add the white polkadots simply use a white paint pen with an ultra fine point. Just dab the white paint on the black and allow to dry for 2-3 hours.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"30 Days, 30 Tips to Budget Friendly Home Decor"

Day 12 - Tip 12

Fall is the time to cozy up your interior spaces. When shopping for home decor items, look for pieces that can be used for multiple purposes such as display baskets that can hold fresh fruit in the summer and then move to the powder room to display seasonal fingertip towels. Nothing is more pampering during a dinner party than offering guests a fresh hand towel for their personal use. Another great solution is reversible bedspreads or comforters. You get two looks for the price of one! Nothing can freshen up your space like a change of color or pattern.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks again for stopping by. I hope you have picked up an idea or two you can put to good use! For those of you aware my bestfriend's fight for her son's health, we are asking that you continue to pray. Andrew needs a miracle! While surgery has helped tremendously, there is still a long road ahead if God does not intervene. Andrew is 12 and he has Stage 4 brain cancer. It was only diagnosed 4 weeks ago! On top of this, my friend's husband's company has gone bankrupt and he has lost his job and his insurance. We are asking God for a double miracle and I believe it will happen. Please remember to lift up the Dorsey family this week in prayer. A wonderful friend has set up a fund at their church to help this family with medical and living expenses during this time. If you would like to help, please contact me at oopsadaisync@aol.com. I will be happy to give the details. I know that God will greatly reward you for anything that you can do.

Until I see you again,

Live Life Beautifully!

~Alisa