"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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Metamorphosis Monday...hosted by Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch.

Table Top Tuesday...hosted by Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life.

Wow Us Wednesdays...hosted by Kim over at Savvy Southern Style.
Autumn Arrives Party...hosted by Liz over at Savvy Seasons.
and
The DIY Fall Festival Party...hosted by Roeshel over at The DIY Show Off blog.

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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!

"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...

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Metamorphosis Monday...hosted by Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch.

Table Top Tuesday...hosted by Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life.

Wow Us Wednesday...hosted by Kim over at Savvy Southern Style.

Open House Thursday...hosted by Sherry over at No Minimalist Here.

"Roomspiration" Blog Party...Dining Rooms...hosted by Jena over at Involving Color.

Autumn Arrives Party...hosted by Liz over at Savvy Seasons.
The DIY Fall Festival...hosted by Roeshel over at The DIY Show Off blog.
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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, 

"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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 Table Top Tuesday...hosted by Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life.

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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...

"Ahhh...Autumn"

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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!
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September is here and I do believe that autumn is just around the corner here in colorful Colorado!  We have been having some really hot temps...up until this past weekend...that is!  A mini "cool front" made it's way into our little corner of Colorado and the highs have dropped down into the 70's!  Yeeehawww!  I am sooo ready for cooler days!
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Autumn is my favorite season!  I love that I can throw open the windows and doors and let the cool, crisp breeze fill my home.  I also love decorating for autumn.  I love the warm, rich colors and the textures that autumn provides.  Are you ready for the change of seasons?
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Well dear friends, my autumn decor boxes are waiting and I'm ready to do a little autumn sprucing here at my place.  I know it's a bit early but I'm soooo slow!  What takes most of you...just a day or two to do...takes me a week or longer.  Fibromylagia slows me down terribly...I hate to admit it...but it does.  Sooo...while I am busy with my "autumn sprucing"...I thought I would revisit a post from autumn of last year.  I hope that you enjoy!
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"Ahhhh...Autumn"
A Revisit from Autumn 2010
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"Ahhh...Autumn" an Autumn Vignette
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Autumn has arrived in my olive green living room.
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This is one of my most favorite areas in our home...this large window at the end of our living room. I have a dark cherry wood sofa table placed in front of the window and I always try to accessorize it beautifully because it faces the front of our home and everyone sees it.
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Autumn Acorns and Pheasant Feathers Cloche
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An embroidered velvet table runner, spun in rich gold and olive green florals, makes a nice foundation for my autumn vignette.
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The star of this vignette...my newly decorated autumn acorns with pheasant feathers...cloche!
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A Miniature Cloche
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This cloche is a bit on the small side. It only stands 8 in. tall...but as the old saying goes...great things come in small packages! Hehe!
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Miniature Acorns
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* I just love the miniature acorns that fill the cloche.  My three grandsons collected them for me a few years ago. Now some of you have already seen this little cloche done up with the minature acorns...so I was searching for something new and creative to add to it.
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Pheasant Feathers
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Yes...pheasant feathers! Using the pheasant feathers to embellish my little autumn cloche...came about quite by accident. I was using pheasant feathers in my autumn decor in other areas of my living room when the light bulb came on! Hehe!
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*My honey brought these fabulous pheasant feathers home to me...aren't they gorgeous? All I did was arrange the feathers around the edge of the cloche...slighty sticking them under the glass so that they would stay put. So simple but I just love, love, LOVE how it turned out!!!
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Pheasant feathers just "sing" autumn to me!
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I added a pretty gold satin ribbon with a decorative copper key to the top of the cloche...and VOILA!!!

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My french girl bust sitting atop an old book is situated just to the right of the cloche and two antique gold colored candleholders that are embellished with a toasty brown and cream colored damask pattern join this autumn vignette.
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Autumn Florals
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A very tall autumn floral arrangement stands front and center in this vignette. I found the beautiful antique gold and olive green urn/vase awhile back at Hobby Lobby...on sale of course! Hehe!  It stands about 12" in height and has a beautiful "fleur de lis" design on it.  I love it!!!
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A bird's eye view...
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Just look at all the rich autumn colors sported by the pheasant feathers...sooo pretty!
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On the left hand side of the vignette...a creamy white, cast iron bird...

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and three decorative skeleton keys tied together with a gold satin ribbon.
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Ahhh...bountiful autumn...
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so warm and rich...
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my heart and soul is full!
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Ahhhh....autumn!!!
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I am joining these fabulous parties...
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Metamorphosis Monday...hosted by Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch.

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Table Top Tuesday...hosted by Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life.

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Thank you, dear ladies...for hosting these sweet parties for us!

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Well dear friends, I am so glad that you stopped by for a visit today!  Thank you for sitting through a "revisit" post.  Hopefully I will be able to share some new autumn decor at my place very soon.

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Warmest Wishes!