Before & After Cans

As the days get cooler we start to prepare for using our wood stove.  Usually in the summer I put all of these things in the basement out of the way.  These cans we use for ash and for fire starter, usually pine cones.

They were in desperate need of some TLC.  So out comes the spray paint.

They look so much better!  After the spray paint I took a paint pen and a couple of stencils so we can distinguish what each can is for.  This would have been so much better with vinyl but I am one of the lone crafters without a vinyl machine.  Can you hear me sobbing?!  

One of the first fires of the year to chase away the chill.  It doesn't get any better.

Today is a perfect fall day.  The sun is shining, there is a brisk breeze and it's beautiful.  The only thing missing in this picture is the fall leaf colors.  Thanks to copious amounts of rain here this season and damage from Hurricane Irene, the trees are losing their leaves before the fall color peak.  I do miss those lovely colors.  Driving down tree lined streets all dressed in their fall colors is a favorite fall activity.  I am missing it.

There is plenty of beautiful color in my beautiful mums.  These two pictures are the mums when I planted them last year. They were so small and lost in the large planter.

These are the gorgeous mums now.  I think I will need to thin them out next year.  They are a spectacular splash of color.

It has been warm here.  This week is our first week of fall temps.  These are the last of the peppers I picked from my garden earlier this week.  This is the first year that I have had luck growing peppers.  Still no luck with the squash.  Something in this soil does not agree with them. I think it's squash vine borers.  Many people in this area have the same issue.

Tomorrow I will pick a winner in the rosette giveaway.  If you would like a chance to win stop here.

I'm linking to:

Crafty, Scrappy, Happy Me Thursday
Tickled Pink @ 504 Main
Weekend Wrap Up @ Tatertots and Jello
Get Your Craft on @Todays Creative Blog

Crochet Rosettes

The Time Out Cowl that I crocheted for the Crochet Along at Maybe Matilda was a little bare.  It needed a pop of color, something  fun.  A rosette would be perfect.  The yarn used for the cowl was very thick and I wanted to make a rosette that could compete with it and not be lost in the swirls of the cowl.

Here is the bare cowl completed:

 It was in need of a little something fun.  I crocheted this rosette.  It is very large. I believe there are 9 or 10 rounds.

 The cowl with it's little something to make it pop!!

I added a pin to the back and now I can use it anywhere.

 The size is perfect for this cowl.

 I made two of these rosettes pins and have one I would love to giveaway.  There are a few different ways to win

1)please leave a comment~

2) Become a follower~ 

3) Tell your friends about the giveaway and send them over~

Please leave a separate comment for each.  Thank you!!

 I will pick a winner on Friday, October 21.  Good luck!!

Linking to:

Burlap Pennants

I am still hobbling around on crutches and wearing a knee brace.  I have been icing it and hoping it would be better by now.  It is a little better but not back to normal.  I can't believe I did this.  It has not been fun.  My personality is not conducive to sitting while everyone around me has to do everything.  I like to be up and about and getting things accomplished.  I can bear some wait on my leg but have been cautious until I see the doctor this afternoon.  

While sitting on the couch with my leg up I decided the fall and boo banner needed some embellishments.  

Before:

 After:  I added some ribbons and a cute little bat.

Before:

 After:  I added a squirrel and some felt leaves.

This kept me busy for a little while and made time go by a little quicker.  

I am crocheting some flower embellishments for my cowl.  Trying to keep busy and sane.

Linking to:

Halloween Decor

I have been wanting to post this for a couple of days now.  It's been busy here and while I was lifting something out of the back of my van I sprained my knee and am now on crutches.  I also found out from the doctor that both of my knees are very arthritic.  I suspected this for some time now.  My knees have been making some crunching noises.

Never the less I finally have some thing finished.

Pumpkin vignette on our coffee table.  All of the pumpkins cost $1 or less.  I purchased them at the Dollar Tree and Walmart.  They were all bright oranges and I gave them a coat of paint.  The glitzy pumpkin is in there also.

 Other side of the coffee table.

 The mantle~unfortunately our tv is the most prominent thing but I added some leaf garlands to help hide the wires, pumpkins and halloween candelabras.

 This little pumpkin was first spray painted white but I wanted to pop so I gave it a coat of silver spray paint.  I love the contrast of the twigs and the shiny metallic paint.

 The boo sign 

Linking to:

Boo Decor

I wanted to make a fun Halloween sign for my living room.

First I started with an embroidery hoop and put some cross stitch material in it.

 

 I added a burlap ruffle and some black pom pom trim.

Then I stitched a spider web and spider (mostly free hand) and BOO!

I decided to finish it off with some rosettes from organza, felt and burlap.  Love all the different textures.

I also took another Dollar Tree pumpkin, gave it a coat of paint and embellished it with a burlap rosette and tie.

I'm linking to:

Glitzy Pumpkin Love

The many amazing pumpkin varieties in blog land and on Pinterest is amazing.  I love autumn and pumpkins.  I decided to give some of these fabulous ideas a try.  

This sweet pumpkin was only $1 at the Dollar Tree.

 I wanted to make it very sparkly and fun.  I purchased some Martha Stewart glitter paint and went right to work.

 I did not take long to see that this was not a full coverage paint and this baby would need a little more help to become a sparkly pumpkin.

 I had this wonderful Rustoleum spray paint already and decided to use that as the base coat.   It worked beautifully.  I then did a couple of layers with the Martha Stewart Glitter paint.

 Here it is all sparkly and glittery.

 These chip board letters were in my stash and I decided to add them to the lovely pumpkin.  I don't have a picture right now but I also added a small black crow for a finishing touch.

I'm linking to:

Crochet Along

I have joined the crochet along with Rachel from Maybe Matilda.  

The pattern that was used was the Time Out Cowl from Lion Brand.  I chose to use the yarn recommended for this pattern in a slate gray color.

Here is the completed cowl:

 Excuse the bags under my eyes.  Time for a facial and come cucumbers on those eyes or it can't be helped.  It's the signs of the impending age of 40 knocking on my door.

I chose to make the cowl the required length but ran out of yarn just a couple of inches too short.  I decided to keep it at this length.  I think next I am going to make a large colorful flower to make it happier.

 The pattern says it should be 52 inches, mine is a little over 48 in.  I am short and the extra inches would probably be too much.

Crocheting is one of my favorite past times.  If you would like to learn to crochet you must visit Rachel's blog.  She shares amazing tutorials with great instructions and pictures.  She makes it look so easy.  Give it a try and you'll be hooked (corny, I know, couldn't be helped).

I am linking up to: