If you saw my last post you got to see how the Haunted Cottage on Cullen looked in October, I always enjoy decorating our home for the holidays and Halloween is no exception. I started adding seasonal touches in September with a few autumnal plants here on the front porch and lots of white pumpkins inside and out. The cottage went through a lot of different changes this particular season, I think it thought it was the main character in SPLIT, as in split personalities. I guess I couldn't make up my mind which way to go. You can see the Ginormous pumpkins we grew this year, they were a hit with the neighbors.
The picture above is what it looked like in September as Mr. Incredible recently brought home these wood milk crates, I was anxious to start planting in them. I really like planting in rustic crates or mop buckets, any junk will do!
The more rusty the better, it adds a whole lotta of character in my humble opinion.
This picture was taken late in the afternoon with the gorgeous sun setting behind. The milk jug was an old yard sale find so many years ago I remember my Mother having one in our home.
I loved the color combo of the Coleus and the Calibrochoa, sort of a purplish pink with some white makes a great contrast with the green Ivy. I used mostly black, white, purples and blues in my décor and didn't pull out the "traditional" autumn colors until November.
I fell in love with this color Hydrangea that I got at Trader Joes and they have dried up so beautiful, they are in my wicker basket hanging in the entry. I love how it mimics the colors in the Abalone shell.
I just loved the shape and color of the Don Julio bottle and hey drinking Tequila doesn't hurt either. I plopped the pumpkin seed packages on the shelf too just cause I liked the cute graphics. That scarecrow face is adorable! I'm a sucker for cute packaging too. Sad though I never got around to planting those seeds! There is always next year.
I buy so many white pumpkins that I need to grow my own, so I can have a big display of them! This white Cinderella pumpkin is going to turn into Cinderella's carriage this week for my neighbors' twin girls birthday. I'm sure you've seen the image of Cinderella's Carriage on Pinterest made out of pumpkins. I've been wanting to put my DIY skills to work and now I'll have the reason to do so. I've got so many scrapbook supplies and paint I should be able to whip it out before you can say, bibbity, bobbity boo". My hutch stayed decorated this way the whole fall season, but I added a burlap "Thankful" garland later on but didn't get a picture. 
The raffia pumpkins were orange and I spray painted them white so they would fit in with the color palette. I thought the silvery blue-green of the Eucalyptus added a nice touch along with the white roses. When November rolled around I went all out with traditional Fall colors with oranges, red, rusts and some metallic; silvers, golds, copper and brass!
I picked up a $3.99 bouquet at Trader Joes, I'm such a fan of their floral department I'm their best customer. I also added a few of faux elements, the Lotus pod {which I got and saved from a previous TJ's bouquet}, the orange berry spray and a few Heavenly Bamboo clippings from the yard.
I hallowed out a white pumpkin put a garden frog, filled it with water and arranged the florals inside it, I was very pleased how it came out. I have wanted to do this centerpiece forever, finally I did and it was so easy to do. You know I'd rather have flowers in my home than big fancy jewelry. No joke I may own one real pearl necklace but that's it!
What do you think? I know I typically plant succulents this time of the year but I wanted to try something different.
My gallery wall fills my heart with gratefulness and all the memories and images of loved ones.
I think I'm quite addicted to pillows these days. My girls are always commenting that I have a problem. I like getting them online or on sale and Homegoods has some for reasonable prices. I try and buy only the pillow cover because I ran out of space to house the actual pillow forms. But you know who loves those pillows more than me?
You guessed it, the doggies. They love to curl up on top of them and take naps. Only Snickers showed up for the pictures she follows me wherever I go.
This copper pitcher was a few bucks at a yard sale and I like the tarnished finish with the sunrise colored Roses. I thought this color of rose was breathtaking. I channel my inner Janice from Figs and Twigs, she has mad floral design skills. Want to be her when I grow up.
Moving into the family room another thing I've been wanting to do, is draw a pumpkin on a chalkboard and label it with all the parts of a pumpkin {yes my teacher comes out in various DIY ways}. This gold frame came in handy, it belonged to Mr. Incredible's Grandmother with a picture she had painted. I kept the picture but really thought this frame was such a pretty gold color and perfect for a chalkboard. I went to Home Depot and had them cut the chalkboard to fit. I didn't even have to paint a chalkboard on it, they already had it ready made at the Home Depot. Cheap and easy.
Nothing here is new except for the chalkboard, all the items I've made in years past or was found at yard sales/thrift stores. The Pilgrim couple was my Mothers, aren't they cute? She is where I get my love of decorating from. She was Country Living before there was a Country Living. Martha before there was a Martha.
The glittered pumpkins inside the lantern I made so long ago, some of the glitter is starting to rub off, I think they add some sparkle to the Autumn décor.
The Pilgrim couple is one of my favorite fall pieces to bring out this time of year. The wrought iron pumpkin candle holder got dressed up with a rust ribbon and a straw flower. It was a rusty brown so I painted it Cottage White.
On the other sided of the room is the sideboard and it has bit of everything. Burlap, glitter, metallic in the mercury candle holders, the potpourri and more glittered pumpkins. A glittered leaf sits beside the fall floral arrangement.
This sideboard piece belonged to my Mother who received it from my Aunt. I remember it being in her home in Newport Beach. I love having furniture or heirlooms that have been passed down from family members. It makes my heart happy.
Here is a close up of the ceramic Turkey in the bouquet. It came in a trio of Turkey herb plants at the supermarket. I got one a few years ago and planted the herbs in a hallowed out pumpkin, go HERE to check that out, I gave it to our Thanksgiving Hosts. It was marked way down after Turkey day! Score!
I made this wreath awhile ago and I still like it to this day. I think it looks so much better on our new white craftsman door that it did last year.
Well all of my Autumn décor has all been packed away and I'm excited to start pulling out all my millions and millions of Christmas boxes down from the rafters. I know all over the blogosphere it seems like bloggers have all their trees up and houses are twinkling with Christmas lights and holiday décor. I guess I'm "old school" because I have to savor each holiday as they come, I don't like to rush it. How about you? What is your school of thought, Christmas up after Halloween or after Thanksgiving?
