Bring on the Fall Touches!

Fall is my favorite season of the year- very short in Chicago- we go from hot to snow very quickly. So as soon as the first brisk morning happens, I feel the need to start pulling out all the cozy elements of fall decor.

 

Bittersweet and moss balls- love the color combination!

 

Throw in a few velvet pumpkins too!

 

 

Love all these different textures together!

 

 Throw a few orange hydrangeas in with the neutral ones -

 Need to find my big twigs of bittersweet and add those too! But I don't know where I stored them??

Pull out the plaid throws that I sent to the dry cleaners last fall!

 



 

Find those fur pillows that were made from old vintage coats and toss on the sofa!

 

And everyone knows that I love a little sparkle- so I decide to further embellish this old velvet pillow with a rhinestone buckle and throw it in the mix for fall!

 

Can't forget the pink and grey pumpkins- perfect for some spots in the house.

 Pin an antique pin on the white one!  Again a little glitz!

 

 

Plant these cute petite kale from Home Depot in the vintage silver goblets for just a touch of green!

 

Love this!

 

 

Check out  the buffet in the hall and find the horn and pewter flatware!



 Love transferware in the fall!  Just got these new green salad plates from Allison at the Polohouse!

Pewter ends of the flatware.

Just found these rust linen green velvet embellished napkins at a local store!

 

 



They are perfect with the transferware and dinner plates from Blackberry Farm that my friends gave me for my birthday last year!

 



 

Polish some silver flatware just to throw in the mix.

 Pull out the bone handled trays-

 

Finally, could not resist these for fall.  Another little combination of rustic swede with a little sparkle!

Perfect for fall!  I found these yesterday at Nordstrom's Rack. They are Vera Wang and they had lots of pairs in olive and a deep reddish burgundy color!  So comfy too!

 

 

 

 

            So until next week, happy fall everyone!  Hope you are enjoying it too! Time to put out your own fall touches!

 

Altered Bottles and Tiaras- Fit for a Mantel!

When I was at the Atlanta Gift Show in July, many of the vendors were featuring home décor with a religious feel.  While I did buy some of the pieces I saw at the show, I decided to make some myself using antique elements.  So for the last several weeks, I have been gathering vintage elements to design some "one of a kind things" for our next Pop Up Show- Tartans, Toddies, and Rhinestones. It is next week - Thursday night, Friday and Saturday, Sept 12, 13 AND 14. 

 A mixture of old books, French religious statues and memory candles are used for a vignette on a mantel.  A hand embellished vintage crown sits on top the stack of books.

Another vintage crown with antique cherub on old books.

 

One single fresh rose is all you need in these altered old bottles.

 

This old bottle has a French Holy Water Font that was from an estate sale in France.

I love the detail of this very special font.

 

 

Another vintage crown embellished with old "crest-like" jewels.  Just pretty to sit on a stack of books.

 Another old tiara with vintage embellishments.

 

 

 

I mix the old tiaras with the altered bottles to create interesting vignettes!  Lot's of details to study!

 

 

 I found this pretty old heart shaped box that is made of brass banding.  Just a few embellishments of wings and rhinestones make it perfect to tuck in a mantel display.

 

 

This is just a peek of what's going to be in the next sale.  Allison and Jen starting bringing lots of goodies to the shop yesterday and I was so excited to see their treasures.  Truly unique special things.

There's this gilded French slipper chair by Baker  that's upholstered in red tartan that I am dying over- it is so wonderful!  Pictures of their things to come later this week!

The sale is Sept 12th from 5 to 8 pm in the evening, Sept 13th and 14th from 11 am to 4 pm. We are located in an industrial area at 42 Sherwood Terrace Unit 11  Lake Bluff, Illinois.  It's about 4 blocks  east of Waukegan Rd .  Turn east at the light at Pasquesi's  Nursery and follow the road around and you will see our signs! 

Isle Sur La Sorgue- My Favorite Town in Provence

My favorite town in Provence was Isle sur la Sorgue. 

 The Sorgue river is  a clear blue green  and runs through canals in the town, creating this little enchanting town.  

 

 

 

On Sundays, there is a street market of incredible foods-

 

 

 So many olives to choose from- love all  these colors together.

 Big pans of paella ready to be served.

 I stopped counting all the different types of sausages!

 

 We purchased a slice of this fruit pate and a big chunk of sharp hard cheese with a baguette- it was divine for our  personal little "happy hour" back in our hotel!

 

The food market was huge and extended down every street and alley in the center of town.

 

The architecture in the town is charming.

 

 

Isn't this moss covered fountain incredible??

Antique stores are abundant-

 

 

 

There was a small area of antique dealers at the end of the food market,

 

I found a wonderful pair of door knockers for my doors at home.

 

 

 I love the details on them.



While I was shopping, a dog was thoroughly entertaining my husband.  The dog walked over to Jay and laid down a stone in front of his shoes.  When Jay kicked it away, the dog ran for the stone and brought it back to the same place.  Finally, my husband understood what the dog wanted and started kicking the stone up in the air and the dog would jump and catch it and bring it back to his feet.  I wonder how many American tourists that little dog has tricked into playing catch with him!

 

 See the small rock at his foot!!

So cute to watch!  Thanks little dog for keeping him occupied while I shopped!  

 

 

Love this restaurants communal table

 

And that drippy candelabra!  Many glasses of wine have been enjoyed here I bet!

 

 

The water from the river comes from a spring in the mountains about 25 minutes away.

The water is a clear beautiful shade of green! 

 

We drove about 25 minutes to get to the spring where the river starts.
They told us  that divers have been down over 300 feet, but never found the bottom of the spring!

 

A picture of the river flowing down through the mountain canyons.

 

 

 



Lupines at the restaurant where we had lunch.  Can you believe the color??

 

This pretty little town in Provence stole my heart. We enjoyed a delightful lunch on a bridge that crossed one of the canals.  It was a breezy, sunny 75 degrees.  I can only wonder how crazy this town becomes during the 2 big antique shows that happen here twice a year ( one is Easter weekend).  Maybe I'll just have to find out for myself!!!!