a fall project - front door planter

I wanted share one of a few quick little projects I have for some really simple, inexpensive fall decor.

The first is this planter basket that I have for our front door. I wanted something that felt like autumn, but wasn't overly pumpkin-ey just yet - transnational decor, if you will. 

Originally, I had seen Nora Murphy hang a similar kind of woven basket from her door, filled with gourds. I loved the look, so I started looking at thrift shops, trying to find a similar basket. I knew I could order one, but if I could find one to reuse first, I knew it would be so much cheaper. Sure enough, within a couple days I had found two. I think I paid $2 for this one.

I picked up a couple ornamental kale and cabbages.

I love the details on our front door, as well as the colour.

I removed the plants from the pots and loosened up the roots a bit.

Then I just planted them in the basket.

Now, these are outside, so when I water them, the water will just drain out of the basket. The root ball was quite elaborate and tight, so I'm not too worried about loosing soil. You could easily line it with some plastic and then plant them, but I would then add some packing peanuts or something for some drainage, so the roots aren't sitting in water.

This was a two minute project that cost me less than $10, and it looks great for September!

a girl's morning out

Yesterday I spent the morning out with my mom and sister. My sister's been on bed rest and then recovering from her c-section, and is finally feeling like herself and itching to get out. Of course it's the perfect excuse to get out with her! So out we went - for coffee, thrifting, the greenhouse (again!), and then to lunch.

Years ago, when I only had one or two children to tote along, I went to every estate sale and weekly auction, and regularly circulated through all the local thrift shops. I would collect for the entire year and then have a huge tag sale on the Thanksgiving long weekend. It was something I loved to do. But over the years, it's just gotten harder to get out with four kids. Gone are they days when they sleep quietly in the stroller while the auctioneer rambles on. Plus four children take up all extra room in my vehicle which would previously have been used to pile in furniture and finds.

And while I do try to get out antiquing every so often, I don't usually make it to any thrift stores. But yesterday I was reminded how much I enjoyed hunting through one. We all found some great things, and decided we needed to do it more often!

Of course all good days out begin with coffee and croissants - yes Mom, even if we'll be eating lunch in two hours... These were from De La Terre, and are a favourite.

Our next stop was The Watering Can, a greenhouse with a flower market and cafe.

It was so nice walking though the greenhouse, where it's so warm and sunny.

After this, some thrifting, and then onto to lunch at The Grand Oak for soup and a sandwich. They also have fresh breads, cheese and lots of different preserves and gourmet food items to browse.

I've brought home a couple different plants over the last few days. Usually I have cut flowers, aside from some Myrtles and Ivy, but I couldn't resist these. A Helleborus (left), Begonia (middle) and an Oak Leaf Ivy (right).

I'm always drawn to greens and soft whites, and I love the hints of blush and burgundy in them all. 

I also couldn't pass up a bunch of White Parrot Tulips.

So, my thrift shop finds...

First, I have to preface this one find, those little bamboo forks, by saying this: Never ever, have I ever, not even in an antique store, let alone a thrift shop, have I ever found bamboo flatware. I've looked. So when I looked into the random junk bin of kitchen cutlery and saw bamboo, I audibly gasped.

They were a dollar.

(For all you American readers - 77 cents!)

I scored a collection of these great square canning jars.

I found some books, a waste basket, and a nice sized basket with a handle that will be perfect for an Easter arrangement.

And yes, this is my third copy of this Martha Stewart book, but it's in way better condition than my others. One of them will now be used to tear out of, like I would a magazine.

So I think it's safe to say I'm hooked.

Weekend Snippets

I can hardly believe that included on my list of things to do this weekend was back to school shopping.

How is that even possible?

I won't pretend though that I'm not excited for the Fall that's around the corner.

And it seems that each day it gets a little closer as the nights seem to feel slightly more crisp, and every now and then a maple tree seems to have started donning it's brilliant Fall colours.

Willen is up at the cottage for the week with Ryan's parents until we return for another week, so Hudson and I have been spending some time, one on one.

We spent some time driving around on Thursday afternoon, visiting some local thrift shops and market stands.

I was quite pleased with what I managed to find.

A couple of scrumptious buttertarts to be enjoyed later - and no, they aren't my mom's. She's humble enough to agree that there are a few other local treats that can rival hers.

Every now and then, I have something specific that I'm looking for, and while I could just order one online, I know it's something I could find for quite a bit less, and so I set out in search of it. This particular time, I was looking for a basket planter to hang on our door. I had seen a few different ones online filled with mini pumpkins or flowers that really loved the look of. I simply couldn't bring myself to spend a decent amount of money on it when I was convinced if I just looked, I could find a more reasonable choice. And in the end, I did! Two actually.

The particular one isn't much of a planter, but it will be perfect with evergreen boughs and sprigs of  berries tucked in it.

It was quite a bargain at $3.99.

And this one, which is a proper planter, was $4.99.

Another clear sign that Fall is on it's way is the October issues of subscriptions that have been arriving.

This lovely knitted cream throw was another thrift store find. It was $7.99. I couldn't resist bringing it home, even though I really didn't need another cream throw! I just kept thinking of all the love and time that went into making this blanket... and now it's sitting on some rack for eight dollars.

The beautiful grey herringbone throw was my anniversary gift from Ryan. We celebrated 7 years last weekend and he lovingly picked out something that was a traditional seventh year anniversary gift - wool. Apparently, by year seven the couple has grown comfortable with each other. The modern anniversary gift is office supplies, which made me laugh, until I found a beautiful Kate Spade day planner. Along with that I ordered a calligraphy return address stamp with our new address on it.

Us celebrating at a friend's wedding.

And finally, a trip to the farmer's market provided us with a colourful assortment of fruits and veggies.

All locally grown - how fortunate we are.

Gone Thrifting

[Photo courtesy of Dreams on 34th St.]

A photo from the Ruffles and Rust show last month. I would have loved to have gone. But, as some of you may have been reading around blogland, there's a place you can shop all year 'round now! The new Ruffles and Rust Square in Snohomish, Washington! Booths full of fabulous finds and gorgeous old junk - like Melanie's from My Sweet Savannah.

Spring must be right around the corner. This morning I did a circuit of the local thrift shops and came home with lots of amazing finds! It's seemed like a slow winter full of dull auctions and unexciting estate sales, but today was different. It was exciting!

I can credit my avid love of thrifting to my mom and aunt. When we were little, my mom and her sister (both stay at home moms with 4 kids each; my mom 4 girls, my aunt 4 boys), would wait in line on Wednesday mornings at the nearest Salvation Army warehouse. They called it The Sally-Anne Shop, or Sally's Boutique. There was a line because this was the day that they put out all of the "new" merchandise.

Now this may seem funny, but it was actually serious business. Have you ever seen elderly ladies argue over odd balls of yarn? Well I have, and it wasn't pretty. We were assigned into sections, each in charge out scouting out a specific department. Anything that seemed like a good find, was gathered and would be edited later. We were crammed into a change room with my mother guarding the door, each of us girls fumbling around, trying on our finds, being handed item after item.

It was in this old warehouse that I developed my "thrill of the hunt" instinct. It was here that I discovered that just because something was thrown away, didn't mean it wasn't still useful.

Luckily, I married a man who understands this side of me. He likes to tell me that "He's been thrifting since before I was born". It's probably true. His mom is the same way. Their most embarrassing childhood story involves my mother-in-law, along with my husband and his sister, out garage saling one Saturday morning. Coming across a yard full of furniture, they began sorting through everything, quiet excitedly actually, as they seemed to be the only ones who had found the sale so far. While inspecting an old dresser, my mother-in-law was surprised to find socks and underwear still inside! When she asked the owner, who was now making his way outside, he informed her that this was, in fact, not a garage sale. He was moving in. Embarrassed, they quickly got back into the car, and continued on.

It's quite a lot of fun thrifting. It can be dirty, and a lot of digging, but those are the days that reap the most rewards, and bring the most excitement. One of the reasons I'm looking so forward to spring is the spring cleaning - that means decluttering. And where does all the unwanted "junk" go? - to the thrift store, just waiting to be scooped up!