decorate Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Linda Nelson

SEPTEMBER SNIPPINESS

September 15, 2015

I woke up this morning feeling a little snippy. No, not that kind of snippy, but snippy in that I was very inclined to fetch my pruners and do some playful harvesting. I had spent the weekend catching up on much needed seasonal yard work; therefore, a little creative puttering time was well earned.

There’s quite a menagerie of things to choose from and decorate with at this time of year, perfect for segueing into autumn. I always enjoy making floral bouquets. This one is a combination of fresh cut flowers, shrub foliage stems, various floral seed pod stalks and succulent cuttings.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Abelmoschus manihot seed pods make wonderful decorative jarred specimens…..

©Linda Nelson 2015

….. and Crocosmia’s spent flower stalks make for September sprays of loveliness.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Snipping and scavenging seem to go hand-in-hand for me; my favorite finds from the forest floor are feathers and pine cones.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Did I mention that I woke up feeling somewhat squirrely, too? The simplicity of gathered acorns showcased in a vessel is a timeless look for any home’s style.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Well, that’s enough snipping, scavenging and squirreling around for today.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Now……. it’s time for a little cat nap.

©Linda Nelson 2015

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TWO HEARTS WARM UP A COLD AND SNOWY DAY

January 24, 2015

It was this time exactly one year ago that eastern Long Island, NY, was blanketed in over a foot of snow, and which didn’t seem to leave until the spring. Not this year. Last night we received our first honest snowfall; all of a mere, sloppy and slushy two inches. Despite this laughable amount, it is a tad bit damp, raw and toe-chilling cold outside.

©Linda Nelson 2015

So that’s why I had to make these little decorative charms. They may not warm up my toes, but they certainly warm my heart. Multiple layers of deeply saturated hues of paint were applied onto glued together layers of corrugated cardboard, sanded down, then applied again. A little bit of decoupage, some hand painting…… I had so much fun creating these.

©Linda Nelson 2015

They actually look quite delicious, don’t you think?

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…….A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

December 16, 2014

Brooches on treetops and baubles on Blitzen….

Do you dress your reindeer with earrings? No? Well, you should. You want them to look fabulous, don’t you? Get your glitz and glamour out of the jewelry box and on to antlers. And on to everything else.

©Linda Nelson 2014

Let’s face it, most of us gals have quite a collection of jewelry, yet we only wear a few choice pieces at a time. The rest sits in a box and waits. And waits. And waits. What a waste. Give those baubles a job for the holidays. Besides, with them displayed about, you may be more inclined to snatch one from your decorative vignette and dress yourself instead.

©Linda Nelson 2014

Oh, and what about glamorizing those little bud vases, jars and bottles you have stashed away in the basement? Add a few sprigs of greenery, and you’ve made a statement!

©Linda Nelson 2014

There you have it.

Now, go fetch your baubles and get creative!

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WHERE DID THE PUMPKINS GO?

October 11, 2014

I enjoy creating holiday specific tablescapes when hosting celebratory meals. However, I don’t elaborate on “decorating” for holidays, Christmas being the exception. My home’s decor consists of an era-mixed acquisition of items and furnishings, drizzled with subtle hints of the season at hand. I rarely purchase accessories from home decor stores, preferring to work with hand-me-downs from family members and curious finds from thrift shops and yard sales.

Where is this topic leading to? The pumpkins. Yes, all those pumpkin tutorials and pictures I posted in the past month. You didn’t think I was making them just for your viewing pleasure, did you?

Now, I must apologize in advance for the less than ideal light source in the photos, as my living room faces west. It’s shadowy in the morning, garishly bright in the afternoon, and I don’t bother using photography studio paraphernalia.

Anyway, I just thought I’d let you see where my patch of crafty pumpkins ended up.

First of all, I love books, especially coffee table picture books. I will never want an electronic book. Ever. But, see how these pumpkins are casually sitting on the book? Like they snuck into the room and just nonchalantly placed themselves there. That’s my style.

That mason jar? It has a stash of “readers” in it. Decorative AND practical. And well, what do you know? Another little pumpkin snuck into the room.

Above are my industrial pumpkins. They’re keeping the okra seed pod company.

The nest of pine cones was a nest of seashells throughout the summer, and during the spring, a nest of little blue eggs. I love these pumpkins because they don’t scream Halloween or Thanksgiving. They could sit there all year long and fit right in. That’s the way I like it.

See the dental mold mixer in the right-hand side of this photo? That’s my halloween decoration. Because going to the dentist is scary, right? And the railroad spike makes for the perfect weapon in a horror flick. By the way, I pressed those Dusty Miller leaves almost one year ago. They maintain a slightly brittle, yet leathery sort of existence. Give pressing some a try, as they make great natural embellishments for crafty things. They’re not very scary, though.

I made this scrap linen and feather pumpkin for a friend who owns a little beachy boutique. I think it will look adorable perched at her register counter. I hope she likes it. Until then, it will sit amongst some of the others I’ve made.

I hope you enjoyed viewing my handmade pumpkin patch as much as I’ve enjoyed viewing all of the wonderful pumpkins created by so many talented people from all over the map.

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