autumn in a different light

Fall on a warm sunny island is nothing like fall in the hills of West Virginia. It is beautiful...just a different kind of beautiful. I love warm neutral tones and that never changes, but they seem to make the most sense this time of year.

 

 

This is the guest bedroom of my home on Sanibel. The colors are as warm as the sun streaming through the windows...

 

 

Fall on Sanibel still means 85 degree days but I love to decorate with pretty knit blankets... and sea shells of course!

 

Warm natural wood pairs perfectly with sepia toned framed vintage prints.

 

My decorating go to's for fall

(or anytime at all!)...

Natural wood, Ironstone, transferware and sea shells.

 

 

The article about my home, written and photographed for Romantic Homes really captured these warm hues...

 

 

 

If you're looking for a little fall decorating inspiration, think about adding some brown transferware or Ironstone full of seashells to your pretty autumnal vignettes.

 

 

Pretty for fall...or any time at all!

 



country roads

I have been sorting through some old photo files and reminiscing about some of my favorite magazine article assignments. (I shared the sweater ideas earlier this year.) I had traveled home one fall to West Virginia. I shot a feature and was able to get inspiration at my friends' beautiful working farm. Here are a few B-roll images I took just for fun and memories...

 

 

The farm is one of my favorite places on Earth. I grew up running around this awesome place. My dad was the minister at Sugar Grove Presbyterian Church right down the road from this very building. The main mode of transportation on the farm is a four wheeler...and that's how we got around the day of the shoot.

 

This special guy is Chauncy, he's like family to me and this is his farm. I rode in a wagon behind him and this was my view as we crossed the creek...

 

As I look at this picture, I have to believe John Denver was sitting here when he first sang Country Roads.

 

And the sheep were the entire reason for the shoot. I was writing an article about repurposing old sweaters... sheep, wool, sweaters! That's how my "sheep shoot" idea came to be.

 

There were so many beautiful things to shoot that day. The barbed wire "wreath" and wild flowers glistening in the sunlight, the weathered barnwood and the Dutch door with a rusty horseshoe. It's all perfection!  

 

Below is an image from the article...

 

See a few of the sweater upcycled projects? Hint: the pillow covers and purse.

 

This pretty girl was my muse and she didn't even make the editor's cut for the magazine. But I loved her so here she is!

 

Few things are as lovely (or should I say "wild and wonderful") as autumn in West Virginia.

 

If you've never seen the leaves turning colors in WV, put a visit on your bucket list. You won't be disappointed. Happy Fall Y'all!

 

 

dressing the bench

Although living in South Florida on the Gulf of Mexico means it's summer all year long. I have learned that southern gardening is the exact opposite of northern gardening. Summer is too hot for most plants and winter is the time to really develop my green thumb. I try to make early garden preparations which includes getting organized. First order of business is to spruce things up. My potting bench gets a new skirt every year.

 

 

My potting table is an old wooden base with a door as the top. I also have a piece of galvanized metal which makes for easy clean up. Just below the top I placed 2 metal screw hooks that hold a narrow curtain rod. Every year I will make a skirt with a rod pocket so I can easily change the look. Plus it's ready for a refresh after enduring the elements all year long.

 

I tend to use thrift store finds for my skirt. I look for outdoor table cloths or shower curtains because both are water safe and hold up longer. I will sew a rod pocket and hem. Easy as can be. I loved this tablecloth because it looks like burlap.

 

I also like to clean my terra cotta pots and garden tools. I don't scrub the moss off of the pots though, I love the patina.

 

The skirt makes things look tidy and I can hide a lot of junk under there!

 

All that's left to do is to play in the dirt and make pretty things.

 

My green thumb is ready. If it's months away from gardening season for you, try making some pretty succulent window sill containers or a terrarium. There's always a right time to garden!