Showing posts with label Metamorphosis Monday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Metamorphosis Monday. Show all posts

10/03/2011

"Autumn's Harvest"...an Autumn Mantel

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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!
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Wow...can you believe it?  October is already here and we are well into autumn in my little corner of Colorful Colorado. 
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We live out in the country...with open fields surrounding three sides of our home.  This past weekend, honey and I spent time outdoors just enjoying the beautiful autumn scenery.  Autumn "sings" to all five of my senses, like no other season.  With the cooler temperatures, I feel revitalized.  The rich, earthy hues of autumn have truly painted a magnificent picture for my old eyes to behold.  Ohhh...and the sounds and scents of autumn...simply glorious!
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  As honey and I sat out on our little porch swing, I watched the soft autumn breeze move over the golden grains of grass in the open field behind our home.  Every now and then a pheasant would fly up out of the field...calling...calling that autumn was here!  I feel so very blessed to be able to enjoy autumn's bountiful harvest in the countryside!
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Well my friends, today I wanted to share with you my 2011 autumn fireplace mantel.  I am calling it..."Autumn's Harvest".  It is a simple mantelscape but it is filled with autumn's rich harvest.  I hope that you enjoy!
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"Autumn's Harvest"...an Autumn Mantel
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My living room fireplace...autumn 2011.
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As you can see...deep, moody olive greens, rich shades of red, and flaxen golds...make up the color palette
 of my living room.  These colors make decorating for autumn sooo much fun!
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My faux fireplace...
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I found this beautiful mantel at JC Penneys two years ago.  Honey made the tile insert and the hearth for the mantel to sit on.  I just love how it turned out...I have always wanted a fireplace mantel to decorate.  If you would like to read about how we created this faux fireplace...you can click HERE.
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"Autumn's Harvest"...an Autumn Mantel
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The rich, colors of autumn's harvest fill this autumn mantelscape. 
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The framed art above the mantel is a giclee print called "Southern Beauties" painted by artist Fran Di Giacomo.  It is one of my favorite pieces of art!  I love that the autumn colors of the mantelscape...mirror the same colors in this beautiful painting.
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The Autumn Mantelscape...
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Two large, terracotta french urns flank either side of the mantel.  A simple, tall sprig of colorful autumn leaves and a few birch branches fill the urns.  (Note: I just added the birch branches to the urns a couple of days ago.  A few of my photos will show the urns without the branches...in case, you may wonder.)  A few well-worn books, an old wooden box, and a few pumpkins join in to make for a simple autumn harvest mantelscape.  One of my newer treasure finds...a pair of vintage spaniel dog figurines have also found their way into this autumn vignette.
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A view from the opposite direction.
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"Autumn's harvest....
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where "earthy" beauty abounds...
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...my soul...my heart...my spirit...is full...
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...of the season's blessings"!
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I love how the reflection of the arched window in my living room
 can be seen on the glass of the framed art in this photo!
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The sweet little spaniel figurines! 
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"Autumn's Harvest"...spilling over to the hearth.
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A metal apothecary shaped container, filled with acorns, sits atop a large hatbox that is decorated with the fruits of a bountiful harvest.  Two tall, cast iron candleholders with twine covered pillars join in to complete the hearth's autumn vignette.
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Autumn's harvest...
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...an autumn mantel!
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I am joining these lovely parties...
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Thank you, ladies...for hosting these sweet parties for us!
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Well dear friends, I hope that you enjoyed a few of the "fruits" of autumn's harvest displayed on my mantel this year. Thank you sooo much for coming by! I would love for you to leave me a note to let me know that you were here...so that I can visit back with you.
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Warmest Autumn Wishes!
Lovingly created by Chari at Happy To Design at 3:20 PM 34 comments
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9/19/2011

"To Autumn"....an Autumn Buffet

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To Autumn
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O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stained
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof; there thou mayest rest
And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,
And all the daughters of the year shall dance!
Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.
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William Blake
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Autumn 2011 at Happy To Design
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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!
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Even though we have a few more days before the calendar officially says it's autumn...I am happy to report that in our little corner of Colorful Colorado...autumn has made it's appearance!
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The days have already grown cooler and the leaves have just begun to change color.  I sooo enjoy this time of the year!  When the busy days of summer...give way to the slower...more restful days of autumn!
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I have been busy, busy with getting our home ready for the new season.  Dressed in its warm and cozy autumn frocks...we are ready to welcome the season in...with open arms!  I hope that you are enjoying the changing of seasons as much as I am. 
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Well my friends, today I thought I would share...a little autumn in my french country dining room...specifically the buffet and a new autumn vignette.  I hope that you enjoy!
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"To Autumn"
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I have created a new vignette for the buffet in my french country dining room...an "ode to autumn"...so to speak. 
It's filled with autumn's rich bounty...autumn fruit, autumn leaves, pheasants, and a few of my favorites things...
which make me feel warm and cozy!
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A "Softer" Autumn Color Palette...
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I usually go "all out" with color when it comes to decorating for autumn, but this year I decided to do something just a little different.  I chose a "softer" neutral color palette of earthy creams, linen, and browns. Of course, the dark red wall color still serves up a good measure of rich color.
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Rustic Luxe
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Rustic Luxe, a term that describes a decorating style that combines the casual and welcoming feel of a country home with the luxury of the good life.  Today’s rustic luxe decorating is all about comfort and function. An old iron bed (rustic) may be used in a bedroom with silk curtains (luxe). A kitchen may feature worn brick walls and floors made from an old barn (rustic) but the appliances will be state of the art stainless steel. (luxe) Your living room may have a worn leather sofa (rustic) sitting atop a beautiful persian rug (luxe). Shiny mercury glass lamps next to an old wooden bowl full of fruit add to the look. (Source:OnlineFabricStore.net)
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Rustic Luxe and the "Fruit of the Vine"...
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The simple elegance of a beautiful, cream colored pedestal bowl filled with autumn pears and grapes...paired with a rustic, old wooden wine crate.
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I am enjoying the contrast between the "elegant" and the more "earthy" elements of this vignette.  The beautiful, curvy lines of the tall candleholder in contrast to the rough masonary material of which it is made.  The beauty and sparkle of the glass canning jars in contrast to their utilitarian use. 
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To me, autumn is "Rustic Luxe" at its finest!  The beauty, the gracious gifts and fruitful bounty that nature brings forth and provides for our comfort...a very good life, indeed!
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"Fruit of the Vine"
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A tall pedestal fruit bowl filled with grapes and autumn pears sits front and center in this autumn vignette.
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An old wooden wine crate, a pheasant, two old canning jars filled with candles and wine corks, and a couple of sprigs of autumn flora and leaves tucked in here and there...make up the right-hand side of the vignette.  Lots and lots of lush autumn texture!
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An old wooden wine crate...
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I love the rustic feel and texture that this old wooden wine crate brings to this autumn vignette!
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Two old, lidded canning jars...
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The taller jar filled with cream colored taper candles...and the smaller jar filled with wine corks.
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...and an autumn pheasant!
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A few days ago, I decided to enjoy the beautiful autumn afternoon out on our back porch swing.  We live in the country and the back of our home overlooks a large open field.  As I marveled at the beauty of the autumn day...two pheasants flew up out of the tall, flaxen colored grass.  It was truly amazing!  Pheasants are such beautiful creatures!
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"O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stained
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof; there thou mayest rest..."
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A tall masonary candleholder with a brown pillar candle, antlers, and a spray of
 autumn leaves make up the left-hand side of this autumn vignette.
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The sprigs of autumn leaves are made of crepe paper.  I love the deep, rich greens, gold, and rusty browns...and the texture of the crepe paper give the leaves a bit of a "dried out" appearance.  They look just like a leaf after it has laid out on the ground for awhile...beautiful...
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and...I love the old, sun bleached deer antlers!
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Voila...and there you have it!  
My ode..."To Autumn"...a dining room buffet vignette!
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I hope that you enjoyed!
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My french country dining room...dressed for autumn.  If you look closely, you will see that I carried
 the same "rustic luxe" theme of the buffet...over to the table centerpiece.
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I hope to share more of the table centerpiece with you later this week...so stay tuned!
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I am joining these fabulous parties today...
Thank you, ladies...for hosting these lovely parties for us!
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Well dear friends, I am so glad that you stopped by for a visit today!  Please leave me a note and let me know that you were here...I would love to visit with you!
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Warmest Autumn Wishes, 
Lovingly created by Chari at Happy To Design at 10:30 AM 39 comments
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9/12/2011

"Delicious Autumn"...an Autumn Buffet

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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!
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Besides cleaning up the aftermath of the weekend...I'm still plugging right along with the "autumn sprucing" at my place. I see that more and more of you are doing the same thing. There are only 11 days left until autumn is officially recognized on our calendars. Time sure does fly!
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Sooo...while I am busy, busy...I thought I would share a bit of my autumn decor from last year.
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 I hope that you enjoy! 
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"Delicious Autumn"...an Autumn Buffet
a revisit from September 20, 2010
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Ahhhh...Autumn! Delicious Autumn!*
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I read a quote the other day that I would like to share with you!
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*"Delicious Autumn! My very soul is wedded to it,
and if I were a bird...I would fly about the earth
seeking the successive autumns."
~George Eliot~
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*Delicious Autumn...An Autumn Buffet
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The autumn buffet in my french country dining room.
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Autumn is delicious! It enlivens my very soul!
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I feel like the bird that George Eliot wrote about. If it were possible...I would fly about seeking the successive autumns! After the long, hot, "lazy days of summer"...when that very first autumn breeze makes it way in...I just feel alive! I don't know about you...but I never get much done when it's hot! Hehe! I feel invigorated...energized!
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I even feel like redecorating everything! Hehe! I enjoyed the light whites and the bright spring greens of my summer decor...don't get me wrong...but I was ready for a change! Sooo...in comes the warm, rich colors of autumn! Ahhh...Autumn! Delicious Autumn!
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Ahhh...delicious autumn! How about a few autumn pears? Or maybe grapes...or berries?
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An old gray distressed table tray filled with autumn florals and berries...sits at the far right of the buffet.
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I love this tall pitcher with grapes...
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The leaves are done in all the beautiful colors of autumn. I found this pretty pitcher at Hobby Lobby.
It was marked 80% off...if I remember correctly, I only paid $4 for it!
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Three autumn pears sit atop a stack of autumn leaf plates.
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 Ohhh...and do you see the two autumn birds? Their little wings are formed with embossed acorns and oak leaves.
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Two of my newest cloches made of wire.
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I love the gray distressed finish of them! They look so frenchy! Hehe! The shorter cloche is sitting upon a silver pedestal plate. I added a few autumn berries and a yellow-gold pillar candle. Another sweet little bird makes up the handle of the cloche. I love it! The tall wire cloche stands a very stately 30 in. in height. I added a couple of autumn floral picks and more berries to this cloche. It came with the little urn that its sitting upon.
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And there you have it...an autumn buffet in a french country dining room!
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I am joining these fabulous parties today...
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Metamorphosis Monday...hosted by Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch.
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Thank you, ladies...for hosting these lovely parties for us to enjoy!
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*Well my friends, I'm so glad that you stopped in for a visit today!  Please leave me a note and let me know that you were here.  I would love to visit with you!
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Warmest Autumn Wishes...
Lovingly created by Chari at Happy To Design at 9:35 AM 22 comments
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9/10/2011

Sunday Favorites...No. 116

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Welcome to the 116th "Sunday Favorites" Party 


"Sunday Favorites" is a Sunday meme designed to give bloggers a chance to share a favorite post from the past!!!
For more information on how to republish a past post just click HERE.

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Hello my friends!
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Welcome to the 116th run of "Sunday Favorites"
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I hope that you're having a wonderful weekend!  We are having another "beautiful weather weekend" here in colorful Colorado.  I'm spending a little time outdoors...just soaking in the sunshine and cooler weather!  With burgers cooking on the grill, moderate temps, and my honey here to share a leisurely weekend...well, it just doesn't get any better!!! 
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  This week for Sunday Favorites, I thought I would share one of my "favorite" posts called "An Autumn Metamorphosis in the Dining Room"...originally posted on September 19, 2010.  I am also using this post to join in with a couple of blog parties;  Seasonal Sundays hosted by The Tablescaper and Metamorphosis Monday hosted by Between Naps on the Porch.  You will find their links are at the end of this post.  Please go by and pay them a visit...I know that you'll be glad you did! 
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  Well my friends...I'm looking forward to seeing your Sunday Favorites posts this week and visiting with you!  You can sign up for the party at the end of this post!
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Have a super Sunday!
Chari
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Sunday Favorites My favorite post from:
September 19, 2010
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"An Autumn Metamophosis in the Dining Room"
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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!
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Ahhh...Autumn! I love the changing of the seasons!
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Everything is changing at my place! Not only are the greens of summer slowly giving way to the warm, golden hues of autumn...OUTSIDE...but the very same colors are changing INSIDE my home as well. This is true of my dining room at least. The light whites and bright spring greens that dominated my summer's decor have now given way to the warm, rich colors of autumn!
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Welcome to autumn in my french country dining room!
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Yes...the days are beginning to grow shorter, however the warm afternoon sun is still making its daily debut shining through the dining room window. I love how the rays of the sun look shining through the gold draperies...spilling upon the window bench and pillows!
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Just a couple of weeks ago...this little window bench was dressed in green! A row of fluffy white and spring green pillows could be seen. Now...enter the golds, reds, and warm toasty browns!
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Autumn leaves and brown willowy grass now fill a gold pitcher. Sitting upon the white column...they make a grand statement that autumn has arrived!!!
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My Summer China Hutch...
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The light whites and spring greens of summer on display in my china hutch...
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the warm, rich shades of autumn.
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My Autumn China Hutch...
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My very first "act" of autumn...was to change out the dishes in my china hutch.
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The darling little toile bird that seems to be sitting upon a nest of red, green, and gold ribbon and trim...is actually a tassel!
 Kristen from Kristen's Creations made this beautiful tassel! I love it and it really dresses up my china hutch!
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You know...I really do love my white and green dishes but it's so sweet
to be able to bring out my autumn dishware to enjoy for awhile as well!
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Yes...autumn has found its way into my little french country dining room! I'm enjoying the warm, rich colors of the new season! (Ps...my next little project is to find some pretty fabric to cover the back of my china hutch. Ahhh...a girl's work is never done! Hehe!)
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Update...September 10, 2011:  I have actually covered the back walls of my hutch since I originally posted this.  I found the prettiest toile scrapbooking paper.  If you would like to see how my hutch turned out...just click HERE.
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Besides hosting Sunday Favorites,
*I am also joining these lovely parties today...
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Seasonal Sunday party...hosted by The Tablescaper.
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Thank you so much, dear ladies...for hosting these lovely parties for us to enjoy!
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*Warmest autumn wishes!
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Sunday Favorites
Instructions for Participating in Sunday Favorites
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If you are participating in Sunday Favorites, please be sure to add your permalink and not your general blog address.
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Please copy and paste the Sunday Favorites logo button to your Sunday Favorites post or your sidebar so your visitors will know that you are participating. Also...please link back to the host blog, Happy To Design. This is important because it helps those who are visiting your blog, find the other wonderful blogs that are participating.
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Please do not add your link below, until your Sunday Favorites post is actually published to your blog.
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Thank you so much for your participation!!! I am going to really enjoy going through your "Sunday Favorites" posts!!!
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***Just a little note: Sunday Favorites Criteria***
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When I first started the Sunday Favorites meme, my initial thought was to offer a solution for getting a post out on the weekend without having to spend alot of time doing so...weekends are just a busy time for most of us! Copying and pasting a previous post is so quick and easy. Not only is this a quick and easy solution to the busy weekends, but it's also an opportunity to dig back into our blog archives and share a favorite "past" post once again! Many of us spend alot of time and effort creating a post and it just seems a shame that it is viewed only once and then forgotten about!
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I would like to reiterate that Sunday Favorites is a meme about sharing or revisiting a post from the PAST!
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Thank you!!!
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Lovingly created by Chari at Happy To Design at 6:00 PM 22 comments
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