My Fall Book Pumpkin

A few nights before Halloween I decided to attempt to make my own book paper pumpkin. I do not think it is too late to share this, although some of us are already thinking about December, we are still in Fall.

There have been many versions of this pumpkin but I first came across these on EAK! a House! and Craftberry Bush. This was too cute a project to pass up. I used a reasonably old (but not antique) book. I found this image online and decided to use it to carve out the outline on a piece of cardboard for a template.

I used part of a box headed for recyling to cut out the template of just one half of the pumpkin.

I removed the cover and spine and placed the template on the first page of the book ....and proceeded to cut into the book taking a few pages at a time.

I must have been tired that evening as I did not realize until I was halfway into the book that it had 480 pages! I could have picked something smaller but it was too late to quit.

I used a pair of scissors. An exacto knife is another option. Once I reached the end I proceeded to cut along the bottom to get a better shape. This is not a "perfect" pumpkin and it was not intended to be.

I used a brewed teabag to antique the pages a little..I could not do all 480 pages but attempted some!

I had a branch of an indoor plant that was dying and so I cut it to use as the stalk. I placed it within the spine and then proceeded to hot-glue it and used a baggie clip - these are always so handy - to hold it in place while the glue dried. I let it sit all night to allow it to adhere to the book.

The next morning I decided to cover the stalk with some hemp I had on hand to make it look more substantial.

I started at the top of the stalk....

...then realized I had left an offshoot to cover too.

 So I undid it and started hot-glueing the smaller branch first. In order to cover the tip I glued a piece upward (see arrow) and at the tip proceeded to wrap around while glueing and working down the branch.

I held the twine in place with a baggie clip while the glue dried.

Then I started at the top of the main branch again and worked my way down in the same way.

I covered the pumpkin where the stalk meets the pages in order to add some character to the piece and show where the stalk "grows out". I went around in circles a few times and glued as I went along.

Yes, there is a gap, but that is ok.

Lastly, I decided to add a piece to the base and formed a circle with some hemp and hot-glued that to the base. (You might see a glimpse of strings of glue here and there but I removed them once the glue had dried).

Here is the final piece. I am not sure if the stalk is too large...my experience with pumpkins is limited (I did not grow up being familiar with them..different countries, etc).

I looked at other pics online and found this..

via

and this..

via Google images

So I think I am ok with this one - my rough-around-the-edges book pumpkin.

What do you think? Do you think I should make the stalk shorter? This is easily remedied. For next year I might add some more tea to the pages for a little more color variation. This is such a fun project but I would recommend using a book with fewer pages. I think mine will suffice for this Fall season.

I am linking this mini project up to Home Stories A to Z

   

and Someday Crafts

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

One Week to the Pewter+Sage Dining Room Mood Board Challenge

I hope a lot of you will link up to the dining room mood board challenge hosted by Pewter + Sage. It is a perfect opportunity to realize the extent of one's creativity and to challenge oneself while having fun and seeing what others have come up with. Here are the details of the Mood Board Monday party next week, Monday, November14th.

One has to choose any of these four dining sets as inspiration for a dining room mood board. The choices are:

1. David Stark Wood - Slices Organic Dinnerware from west elm

2. Penumbral Doily Dinnerware from Anthropologie

3. Chirp Collection, Lenox Simply Fine Dinnerware, available at Macy's

4. Philippe Deshoulieres "Dhara" available at Bloomingdale's

Four very different dinnerware sets. Does any particular one appeal to you? Why not challenge yourself and try something out of your comfort zone, something different. For more details go here. Participants must visit Pewter+Sage next Monday, November 14th to join the party and link up their mood boards. Give it a try! I am toying between two of the choices..you will have to wait and see which one I pick.

The last Mood Board challenge at Pewter+Sage was for a room using wallpaper as inspiration. You can take a look at my eclectic living room mood board here. I had a great time putting it together.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Meghan from Wishful Thinking for including my blog in her list of inspirational blogs. Thank you, Meghan! I am truly honored. Meghan's blog is a catalog of inspirational finds and not only does she find the most stunning pictures she is also a talented photographer. I always look forward to reading her views from across the pond! I have yet to visit the others on her list due to continuing internet connectivity issues but I will do so soon.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

A Glimpse of One Week's Mini Projects

Along with other work-related goings-on I have been trying to complete smaller decorative projects in the house. I find creativity relaxing and in some instances, while the television is on in the background (and others are watching), I put my hand to some quick artwork. I can always find a home project that needs to  be done and on some days while watching a bit of television I can find my mind wandering to a new idea for artwork, repainting, furniture layout and so on. One of these mini projects I had been contemplating since early summer while I "accumulated" supplies.

This first one I think is still seasonal as we are not done with Thanksgiving yet and pumpkins are an integral part of the festivities. I saw this on a couple of blogs and decided it looked too good not to attempt to make my own.

I will reveal the details next week. I was determined to create something related to the Fall season before Halloween was over. I will not say much else except that I used a 480(!) page book.

The other project I completed on Saturday evening during the storm - halloween parties were either cancelled or postponed and we were housebound. This is a decorative piece for the basement/children's playroom which was so easy (and the coke can is part of it).

And lastly, I mixed and tested some sample paints I had from previous projects, again on Saturday night....

and started work on this...

I hope you will return to see more details. Have you been working on anything fun? I have some blog reading to catch up on. I have had and internet connectivity (and phone) issues for the past few days so therefore have not posted anything since earlier in the week.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

Light Up In Style

In anticipation of the snow on Saturday (and potential power outages) I took stock of my supply of candles and flashlights - did we require replenishments, batteries, and so on. Last year I bought a bunch of flashlights from L.L.Bean for members of my family living in the tri-state area. I picked up the solar-powered/crank-up ones as well as battery-operated ones. The kids, too, each have one by their bedside in case of emergency. Home Depot also sells mini flashlights in packs of 10 which we use while trick-or-treating with the littler kids in the family. They love feeling responsible for keeping their paths lit and it keeps them safe while they have fun. This also had me looking at my candleholders. On Friday I received the latest west elm catalog which  I instantly warmed to. Here is why.

To take a further look at these and others available go here. I am certainly not surprised to see the mercury glass ones or the fun, chalkboard votives. I love the look of the Manzanita Candelabra which looks like branches in the winter but really could be used throughout the year as suggested, and could be considered as a modern menorah. Each piece is different - festive, stylish, colorful or whimsical. In all honesty I could see each one of these in my own home.

Are you drawn to any particular votive or candleholder?

Please Note: I have not been compensated in any way by this company. The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the company and someimes on the purchase of products.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

A Luxury Villa in Camps Bay, South Africa

This luxurious home is situated 10 minutes from Cape Town, South Africa in Camps Bay. The Azure Luxury Villa is designed to maximize mountain views as well as unparalleled 180-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean. The expansive living room with its sliding glass doors is all about bringing the outdoors in. This enhances the sense of peace and calm which is carried through the entire house in the choice of colors and the low, relaxed furniture, the art on the walls and decorative pieces.

Images via

I love the wooden pieces of furniture (like the carved dresser) and the fireplace in the living room makes quite a stunning statement when lit. Interestingly, there are very few circular items (side table, a few decorative pieces on the coffee table, the basin on the vanity), to be found in a home with a lot of linear architectural elements (walls, windows, doorways, fireplaces, vanity, pool, and so on) and angular furniture. But these prove sufficient to contribute toward the overall sense of balance. The views of the sea are breathtaking. This house can be rented throughout the year; the cost depends on the season.

Do these pictures convey serenity? I think the architects have used the surroundings to truly create a paradise in an idyllic setting and the owners of the property have further extended that in their decor.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa