A White Basket Through the Seasons...

Do you follow the 'don't wear white after Labor Day' rule? 

 How about white in your home?  Does it feel 'cold' in Winter?

   May I suggest that white works all year long - it just depends what 

you pair it with.  (White sandals with snow on the ground may be a stretch.) 

 But for most things - it can totally work.

 Let's take this white basket...

Fill it with it with colorful leaves and pumpkins and you've got Fall...

Pine boughs and ornaments...

...or bunches of berry branches make it Christmas...

A cozy blanket with take you through Winter...

Some yellow forsythia or tulips or whatever strikes your 

fancy will bring it alive in Spring...

And summer?  Even empty white says 'summer' - so we're good.

And if you'd like to take this vintage gathering basket through the

 seasons in your own home - it's available right here in my shop.   

White - it's a season's best friend!  ~Joyce

Linking to Let's Talk Vintage

Ticking Meets Fall Decor...

My grouping of recent finds included some old ticking.  

Authentic ticking seems to be desirable lately judging from how it

 is moving out of my Etsy shop.  So let's take a peek around

 blogland  and get some inspiration for incorporating blue ticking

 into our fall decor!  Ready?...

First up - just combine it with some fall berries.  

The orange and blue make a wonderful pairing...

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This tablescape in grounded on ticking and is almost spring-like.

  But the white pumpkins make it perfectly Fall in neutrals.

Ticking cut into strips makes great ribbon.  (As does most fabric actually!)

Add it to your fall wreaths.

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Stack it with tweeds and sweaters and it's coziness heaven!...

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Ticking and wool plaids... why not?

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Ticking makes great fabric pumpkins.  

These cuteys are unique and available on Etsy right now!

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I'm kind of cheating with this one...  See the ticking?  See the pumpkin?  

There ya go...

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Isn't this a great foyer or hallway greeting.  Can't paint a fancy sign?  

Try decoupaging a fall scene on an old board with your handwritten letters.

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It's easy to make your own fabric napkins if you can't find 

what you're looking for in the store. 

 Just hem 4 sides of a square of cloth.

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And if you're looking for some old ticking - there are plenty of

 sources online.  Here's a piece that is currently in my Etsy shop...

Link to Ticking Listing

Oh isn't Fall fun?  ~Joyce

Shopping in Kalona, IA...

On our recent road trip vacation - I spent some time roaming around 

Kalona, IA with my cousin.  What a treat!   It's a very midwestern

 looking town.  Everybody knows everybody and is nice to each other 

and oh my - I was ready to move in!

Our first stop was a Fall Festival.  Not sure why I didn't take more pictures... 

but I thought this vendor's signage with just perfect...

Then we hit the Pink Begonia which was a little downtown antique co-op.  

Just love the name and the owner was so sweet.  She had homemade 

cookies at the check out and the antique cash register is the real deal.  

It's what she uses to ring up a sale!

Photo from Pink Begonia facebook page

Next up was The Shop which had sort of a modern farmhouse feel.  

They had great displays everywhere - including their sidewalk decor

But the best part?  

The Shop was having a yard sale - about a mile from the store.  

We boogied right over there and oh my... it was my highlight of our trip.

Take a peek at some of my stash...

I couldn't resist this party banner in black and ecru.  

Shop price - $18.  Yard sale price - $1!

They had lots of fabrics and linens and the prices were crazy good.  But I restrained myself and picked up just a few of the extra special pretties.

They left a tag on the child's slip which of course made it feel like 

a steal at - you guessed it - $1!

This dish caught my eye too so for $2 - in my pile it went...

And ticking... when I find the truly old stuff - I get it.  

Etsy buyers are liking it!

Dear Kalona - I'd be happy to return.  

You left a place in my heart for sure.

Why don't you hop on over to the Pink Begonia and The Shop 

via facebook and send 'em some love!  (links above)

And go take a road trip.  They're wonderfully refreshing!  ~Joyce

(Visit my Quilted Nest facebook page for a few extra trip pics.)

Toolbox Meets Fall Decor...

Got a toolbox?  I do - or rather I did...

I had this gem in my shop and was planning to fill it with autumn

 goodness (for my home) until it sold.  You know what happened right?  

It sold today!

But never fear - there are other wooden boxes around these parts.

  And in case you have a box or 2 in your stash too - here is some

 fall inspiration for the both of us from around blogland...

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Anything strike your fancy?  

I'm thinking a little burlap may be in order.  

And I plan to visit my garden to see what prospects it may hold.

Other filler ideas: candles, jars, pumpkins, pheasant feathers, 

faux flowers, horns, pressed leaves, small pottery....

Happy Fall box-filling!  ~Joyce

Glamping 101...

Have you gone 'glamping'?  It's a Pinterest phenomenon and I've been smitten!  

Since we recently bought a vintage Starcraft pop up camper - the stage was set.   

Labor Day weekend at our church-wide annual 'camp-out' 

became the time and place.  Come along...

Here was my go-to plan...
(the inside of the camper will be separate post - eventually...)

1. Find a few images that look inviting and use them for inspiration

    This was one of mine...

Source - Pinterest

2.  Target what is in those photos that intrigue you and include them

       In my case I decided generally on wooden boxes, fresh flowers and linens 

3.  Walk around your home and garage and gather anything

 that may work without being 'too much'  

(if you're taking your whole house - it might not be fun anymore!)  

    Some of my inclusions - a ribbon garland which I made earlier this year, 

a wooden stool becomes a side table, throws to cover the 

less-than-desirable plastic chairs, a wooden lantern from a 'free pile',

an old porch rug, linens and 'old' lace (as in - it already has some holes)...

4.  Gather a bouquet of fresh flowers - using whatever you have 

In my case - it was mostly grass.

5.  Stick to a general color & style theme

My colors are natural beiges and greens and white lace.  

The linen on the stool?  

A gauzy curtain I picked up years ago and

 used for  only 1 event.  I'm glad I didn't get rid of it!

6.  Devise a reason for people to visit your campsite 

       I have lots of magazines.  A homemade chalk board invites

 guests to help themselves...

7.  Plan the lay-out a bit in your head ahead of time 

          

But be flexible and let it fall together naturally on-site.   

I took 2 garlands and used just this one in the end.  Then a jar

 the held my flowers broke -  so I rearranged.  I also wasn't sure

how I was going to use the linens.  I just threw a few in and 

figured it out when I got there.

 The whole set-up took maybe 15 minutes.

 8.  Include lights 

     I like a bit of a romantic style - so tiny fairy lights and candles

 work for me - but be yourself!

Photo compliments of My Love

We just loved hanging out at our 'glamp' site. 

And quiet time with my Jesus in this setting?  Perfect!

Happy Glamping!  ~Joyce
Linking to Let's Talk Vintage