Art Fair & Fun Fall Cards

This past Saturday, Dustin and I went to the Fountain Square Art Fair. There were different booths set up of artists selling their work, as well as different artists set up on the sidewalks painting, drawing, building, etc. Each work was different, and it was so neat to see the streets of Fountain Square become the "studios" of these artists. I found one artist named Sally Harless, whose delightful illustrations had a childlike character to them.


You can purchase her work at her Etsy Shop.

While strolling along, we discovered a delightful antique store. At first, a vintage suitcase caught my eye, but as we looked deeper, I found these delightful vintage glasses that I just had to have.



Aren't they just fabulous? They have a delightful hand-painted quality to them and I just love them! And the best part is, is that I got all four of them for only $5! How great is that!

After we left the Art Fair, we headed back towards home, only to get sidetracked by icecream and a little bit of shopping. I went into Archiver's, one of my favorite paper/scrap-booking stores (that I can only go into once a year, or I have way too much fun ($$$). While I was there, I found some delightful papers for my fun Fall cards that I've been wanting to make. So the rest of my Saturday evening was spent on the living room floor with paper spread out everywhere and these lovelies to show for it...








I'm excited to send them out to my family and friends in hopes that they enjoy this delightful season of changing leaves, hot cider, and pumpkins!

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Harvest Murderer

I know what you're thinking...
What an adorable face! Who could resist a face like that?

Well I can tell you that that face was not one I wanted to see when I came home today. You can ask anyone that I know, that I love decorating for Fall around my home. Well it seems that Jalen, our dog, is ANTI-Fall decor! Allow me to share the story with you...

This morning, when we left for church, we forgot to put Jalen [our beloved pup] into his kennel, trusting that he wouldn't get into any trouble. We didn't think it would be such a bad thing. [He's usually a good boy when we leave him out, especially if he goes potty right before we leave]. Upon returning home, we were greeted with big doggy smiles and slobbers. "Oh mommy! I'm so happy you're home! I didn't have any potty accidents!" As I entered the living room, I saw a small bit of something that had been chewed up. As I got closer, I noticed that there were little bits of orange and Styrofoam scattered about. I knew what it was right away. I looked at the yellow bowl that was sitting on the hearth by the fire place that held three corn husk and Styrofoam pumpkins, only to find it completely empty...not a single pumpkin was there. At this point, I was hot! The only thing we couldn't figure out was where all of the pieces had disappeared to.

Had Jalen really eaten every bit of those pumpkins?

As my husband entered our bedroom [where Jalen's pillow was located] I heard him say, "Oh my!" He walked out shaking his head and at that moment, I knew what was up. I arrived to see a dog pillow covered in the remnants of my precious pumpkins! It was everywhere!



Needless to say, the dog and I are not on speaking terms right now. I have a feeling that he's going to be pooping orange for quite some time!

Bouquets of Freshly Sharpened Pencils

There is something about the music of Norah Jones and the movie "You've Got Mail" that just makes me yearn for Fall all the more. And now that the trees are beginning to change colors, the nights are crisp and cool, and I have miniature pumpkins all over my home, I am just filled with glee.

Next week is my Fall Break from school and I can't wait. I'm going to begin working on my Fall lap quilt and my Happy Halloween cards. I found this delightful stationary paper the other day that I plan on using for the cards. Isn't it just darling?


I've been inspired by the creative genius of Jane's Apron and so now every cute little paper I see, I just want to claim as my own so that I can use it in some type of paper creation.

To share my excitement of this season known as Autumn, I will leave you with this delightful comic strip that I found in the paper today...

...need I say more?

There's No Place Like Home - Part 3

So, the whole point of us going to Virginia to visit family was so Dustin could take his dad to the NASCAR race. Well, since Tropical Storm Hanna had other plans for the East Coast, we ended up staying an extra day. Saturday was filled with rain, rain, and more rain. And what do you do in the Williamson household when it's raining outside? You play "Warry!" (or "Mancala" as some people call it). It's a very simple game that involves strategy, paying attention, and "using your marbles." The main goal is to move all of your marbles into your opponents slots, leaving your side of the board clear. Now, I haven't played this game in at least 2 1/2 years, so I'm definitely rusty at it. And my dad (who never loses, mind you) thought he could easily defeat me...well...


little did he know...

But hidden in that blond head of mine, was some hidden strategy and smarts! And ya know what? I didn't just beat him once...nope...I came back and beat him a second time! Who's the Strategy King...uh...Queen...now Dad?!

-----

After my victory dance and my Dad's walk of shame, my mom and I headed to the Quilter's Corner to look at their assortment of Amy Butler and Moda fabrics.

We found a beautiful fat quarter package of Amy's Midwest Modern collection as well as some beautiful black, white, and yellow fat quarters (I forgot to look at the designer) for my Nanny (my grandmother).

I also found some fabrics that I'm going to use for two different seasonal lap quilts. Now I'm not really big into typical Fall and Christmas fabrics, so I was very excited to find some that really fit my style.


These Moda fabrics (above), called "Pumpkins Gone Wild" by Sandy Gervais, are absolutely beautiful. They are filled with autumn-rich colors and even some pieces with "hand-drawn" looking pumpkins. This package came with 44 squares, so I'm really excited about what I can do with it. I'm thinking about using the larger piece, "Fresh Air" by Chez Moi, as a larger center piece and framing it with the squares.


The Christmas prints I found are "so elegant", as my mom and Nanny put it. The red is called "Holiday Flourish" by Robert Kaufman. It has a delightful gold shimmer to it, which just makes the fabric glow. I'm not sure who the white on white pieces are designed by, but I love how subtle they are. One piece has stars on it and the other has snowflakes on it. This quilt is going to be very simple. The whites will serve as the front and back and the red will be the binding. I'm going to then quilt it using some beautiful Finca silk No. 12 thread. It's going to give the quilt such a punch, but still have a certain elegance to it.

Oh goodness! Just typing all of this makes me want to stop everything and start sewing! But alas...I have homework to do...thank goodness that my Fall break is coming up in 2 weeks!

There's No Place Like Home - Part 2

A trip home can always guarantee that we're going to enjoy homemade waffles at my parents house. And since they're so absolutely yummy, I thought I'd share with you these tasty breakfast treats. Don't they just look yummy!

There's No Place Like Home - Part 1

My Hubby and I went on a mini vacation to Virginia last week/weekend. It was great being back in our hometown. We visited friends & family, relaxed a bit, and just had a great time.

I took several photos while home and because I took so many, I'm going to break them up into a few posts. The first wave of photos are taken at my parents' beautiful home [where I grew up]. It's a 95 year-old farmhouse that they have been remodeling ever since they moved into it 24 years ago. Much of my home decor taste comes straight from my mom's style...which I am so blessed to have "inherited" from her. Hope you enjoy!