Rustic Caramel Apples for Fall...

Technically, there's still one more day of August.

So let me explain...

The weather has cooled off, some of our leaves here in the Pacific Northwest are already changing colors, and our three sons went back to school today.

Tween / Teen Boy's Bedroom Makeover {Modern Farmhouse Style}

My main house project goal for the summer was to makeover our oldest son's bedroom. Hudson is 12 years old and has had the same bed since he was two years old. He's an athletic guy, who is almost as tall as his mom (hard to reconcile when in my heart, he is still five. ;). It was time for a bigger bed and updated style.

While I hoped to be able to incorporate the farmhouse feel we have in the rest of our house, I really wanted Hudson's room to be what he wanted too. So, I asked for his input. His list included: palm trees, sports and a mix of rustic and modern...

A Father's Day Dinner...

We celebrated Father's Day with a Father's Day Eve dinner at our house. I really looked forward to the dinner because I am so grateful for my husband, my dad and my brother-in-law, who are all amazing dads. They have invested so much of their time and love into the lives of our three sons. I am forever grateful.

I tried to make our white dining room look more masculine. ;) 

Our plaid IKEA throw blanket did double-duty as a table cloth. 

We ate on camping-style blue enamelware.  

~A Beautiful Fall Wedding ~

This past weekend, we attended my cousin Claire's beautiful, nature-inspired wedding. She was a stunning bride... And her groom smiled at her all evening. 

(It was very sweet!)

The wedding decor was rustic and vintage-inspired. 

DIY {No Sew} Grain Sack Pillow

Hi Friends...

How have you been? We just returned yesterday from a family vacation to the lake. In between loads of laundry and getting the kiddos settled back in, I made a quick and easy grain sack pillow for our master bedroom. (I think I was having nesting withdrawals.)

Do you remember when my Mom made us the rustic linen ruffled bedding for my birthday? (You can see the full post on that here.) It is my favorite bedding. Ever. 

I have been wanting to add a grain sack pillow for just a touch of contrast (color-wise) and also for that farmhouse feeling that grain sacks provide.

As we were driving home yesterday, my crew indulged me in a couple laps around a great antique mall (that happens to be above a large fruit stand - so everybody wins :).

That's when I spotted this grain sack with all its nubbiness, oatmeal in color, with faded blue logo and stripes. It was in very good condition and was priced at $26 (within the normal range).

I took it home and looked up some images online to see what style of pillow I liked best. I found this DIY Tutorial which I loved and mostly followed, with some modifications.

The cool thing I discovered is that a king size pillow is almost the exact size needed as an insert for a large grain sack. I already had a like-new king size pillow that I wasn't using - - so that made things easy (and affordable! ;).

If you are looking to make smaller, square throw pillows, refer to the link above.

Supplies needed:
Some affiliate links provided for your convenience.

1. Grain sack

2. Ribbon (or material that can be cut into strips)

3. Scissors

4. Xacto knife 

5. Pillow insert

6. Pencil

Start by stuffing your pillow into the grain sack. Fold the excess grain sack over and mark with a pencil where you'll need to make your cut. I took off nine inches.

Following your pencil mark, cut off the excess grain sack.

If you don't want there to be a raw (rough cut edge), you can hem the edges or use a new-sew adhesive.

Then, position your grain sack on something that will protect your surface, in case your knife cuts through. I used a small piece of thin scrap wood.

Using your Xacto knife, make three evenly spaced 1/2'' cuts through both sides of the grain sack. Go about 1" in from the edge.

Thread your ribbon through the cuts and knot. So easy!

I'm enjoying the little touch of grain sack in our bedroom.

Thank you for stopping by today!

Xo

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How to Bring Farmhouse Style Outdoors {10 Ways}

Comfortable. Casual. Welcoming. Rustic. 

These are some feelings that come to mind when I think of farmhouse style outdoors... Where a hurried life seems to slow down and the quiet beauty of nature is all around.

A place for family and friends to gather.

Whether you have an actual farmhouse with acreage, a suburban home in a neighborhood, or an apartment with a small entryway and balcony, there are ways to incorporate farmhouse style right where you live.

1. {Wood crates} A vintage bulb crate next to our front door serves as a rustic shelf for a pitcher of flowers. Fresh cut flowers are a quick & easy way to freshen up a porch.

Wood crates are also good catch-alls for toys and balls.

2. {Ticking fabric, grain sack and burlap} for cushions and pillows add that classic farmhouse feel. 

3. {Old tin buckets} as planters for a simple "just grabbed these out of the barn" ambience. ;)

A repurposed chicken waterer is right at home on the front porch. I found this one at a yard sale for just a few dollars  (I loved the rust for decorating, though it wouldn't work well for chickens ;). You can also find them at antique stores. New, you can expect to pay $20 - $25 for this size (2 gallon). 

4. {Chippy, weathered furniture} brings a comfortable feel to a covered porch. Use an old dresser for a plant stand, gardening tool storage, or simply a focal point.

5. {Vines} I'm so grateful to our home's previous owners for planting beautiful vines around the property. Here they are, growing up the side of our laundry/mud room.

And along a fence, vines, grapes and hops add old fashioned texture and greenery.



6. {Gates} are functional, but can also add farmhouse appeal. 

For an easy way to incorporate a gate or two, prop them up on a porch or entryway. The picture below is from our fall porch last year. I used an old gate and section of fencing on the porch to add more of that "pumpkin patch" feel. ;) I found the gate and fence at a yard sale, but similar pieces can be purchased at Lowe's or Home Depot. 

7. {Arbors} add architectural interest year-round. They can support beautiful vines and wisteria during the growing months. In winter, string lights up on arbors for a "happy" dose of light, when darkness comes early. 

This arbor, set off of our gravel driveway, marks the entrance to our front yard.

8. {Outdoor seating} invites you to slow down and take in the scenery. I recently moved this bench out near the chicken yard so that we could sit and watch the chickens (may sound weird, but it's peaceful :). Is there a special place on your property - maybe in the garden - where a bench might encourage you to enjoy the view awhile longer?

9. {Outbuildings} like a chicken coop or garden shed open up lots of possibilities, as well as provide you with another charming backdrop. 

10. {Farm fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers} evoke simple country living perhaps more than anything. If you don't have space to plant fruit trees or build raised garden beds, consider a container garden where strawberries, tomatoes and herbs can be tended and enjoyed.

Find ideas on decorating with farmhouse style inside here!

And now I'm wondering, where is your favorite spot at home to enjoy some time outdoors? Or, is there a view you most love, looking out your window? I'd love to hear!

So glad you stopped by...

Xo

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Farmhouse Flowers (& a new favorite sign)

We visited a farmer's market on Friday, where a sweet

 sunflower bouquet caught my eye. 

A simple gallon glass jar for a vase atop an old wooden 

breadboard provide a rustic arrangement, fitting for a farmhouse.

The purple flowers made us think of the pink ones from "Horton Hears a Who." ;)

And remember this sign I made last week for a gift? (DIY here.)

The next day, our youngest made me a sign. 

Be. still. my. heart. 

And it came just in the nick of time as I was knee-deep in summer laundry and dishes!

For all you tired mamas or grand-mamas out there who fall into bed exhausted each night, you know what these little tokens of love mean...

So happy you stopped by today. I hope your week is off to a really good start!

Xo

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Rustic 3-Tier {Cupcake} Stand

Rustic elegance. Simple indulgence. Natural beauty. 

These tiered stands are fun to make and easy on the pocketbook...

If you, or someone you know, is cutting down a tree, keep this project in mind! ;) 

Or, you can find wood rounds from craft stores or even through Craigslist or Etsy.

My sister's family needed to take down a tree in their yard, so she gave us some wood rounds (as well as some new stumps for our fire pit - - more on that later). 

Between the tiers, I affixed Dollar Tree candlesticks 
just like I did here, using E6000 adhesive. 

From what I've heard, it's difficult to cut wood rounds completely level 
(think of how relatively thin they are, while being cut with a chainsaw). 

You may need to use a little creativity to make your tiers level. 
I tucked a small piece of folded burlap between one of the 
candlesticks and the wood round to help level one of the tiers.

When wood rounds dry (especially the thinner ones), they often crack. 
If the cracks bother you, use greenery to conceal them...

What are you busy creating (or dreaming of creating) these days?!

Thank you for stopping by!

Xo

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~ Rustic Linen Ruffled Bedding ~

Ever since reading Shabby Chic founder Rachel Ashwell's Couture Prairie book last year, I have been dreaming of white linen ruffled bedding... 

My Mom, in a true labor of love, custom made us this bedding for my birthday/Christmas gift this year. She did an amazing job!

Part of the fun was getting to personalize the bedding. My mom and I looked through a lot of pictures. I would tell her what elements I liked best. (Am I dreaming?!) 

We decided on a medium-weight, vintage-washed linen for an understated elegance.

The king-size duvet and shams have a 5-inch ruffle. 

The euro shams have a 6-inch ruffle.

Did you know that the more you wash linen, the softer it becomes?

I especially like the double ruffle bedskirt, with soft tattered raw edges.

All-in-all, it took about 30 yards of linen (!) to make the king-size duvet, shams, euro shams and bedskirt. After searching many places, we ordered the linen fabric from fabrics-store.com in LA.

A huge "Thank you!" to my Mom for this tailor-made heirloom bedding. I will cherish it!

And thank you, in advance, to my three precious sons for remembering that Mom and Dad's room is now a chocolate-free zone! ;)

So glad you stopped by today. I hope to complete some finishing touches to our master bedroom in the coming months. I'll keep you posted...

Hope your week is going well!

xo 

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A Rustic Prairie Style Centerpiece

Hi Friends!

I decided to put our large, shabby white flower box to use again. It feels nice to have some fresh plants in the house this rainy, and often grey, time of year. 

I love the life, color and natural element plants add, especially when we can't spend as much time outdoors.

I like these cabbage plants because they are small and have a pretty pale pink color. They almost look like roses in full bloom. I planted them alongside some Baby's Tears plants and then added some Spanish moss and burlap around the edge of the planter. I finished by tucking in a few Dollar Tree candles.

Some ruffles and slightly wrinkled burlap for a prairie feel.

 And now I'm wondering what your plans are for the weekend? Staying in or going out? Tackling any home projects?

Our oldest two boys have basketball games today and then we're looking forward to having some friends over for dinner. I'm helping out in our 5-year-old's class at church on Sunday and then we'll need to break open the backpacks to see what homework awaits...

Thank you so much for visiting. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

xo

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