This week I embarked on yet another crafting extravaganza, in hopes that I'd find myself useful with a glue gun (I only burned myself twice!) and finding new ways to fill my home with tasteful, fun fall decor.
I've recently been inspired by some instagrams lately, highlighting various fall DIY crafts for the home. They got my "wanna-be creative brain" clicking away. Should I attempt recreating these crafts? Or should I come up with one of my own? I was battling my down-trodden thoughts that I would try to copy these people resulting with an end-product that looked nowhere near as grand as my inspirations. I decided I would mix the two – take some of the basic ideas from the others and adding my own found fall materials.
A journey up through Big Sur was just what I needed to get my own creative juices flowing. Pulling over at one of the various turnouts on Highway One, I swiftly snipped a few of what I thought at the time were fox tails – they're my favorite and I decided they would look just lovely in our home. (My dad recently informed me that these "fox tails" lining the cliffs of Big Sur are actually called Pampas Grass. Good to know – they are very different looking.)
Another turn off the main highway took us into Limekiln State Park where a short hike won me some interesting mini pinecones that I decided would be a perfect material for my crafts. Before heading back into the car I snagged a fallen sprig of bright green pine needles and jumped in the car, ready to make my fall crafts come alive.
On arriving home, I still wasn't sure exactly what would come of my wilderness materials and laid them on the patio till I could find their perfect place.
After a few days of brainstorming I decided the best plan of action would be to get out my hot glue gun, some twine, and scissors and just let the excitement of it all turn into something wonderful.
Some of the pinecone twigs were longer than others, so I gathered those together and created a bouquet of sorts. To hold them all in place, I wrapped the ends with twine which, to my delight, added the perfect finishing touch to my makeshift "bouquet". I tried to attach the bundle to the front door as a type of door trimming (like a wreath) but found it difficult. As we are renting, I felt in unwise to try hammering in a nail and leaving an ugly hole in the front door (I don't think the owners would be too happy about that.) Instead I attached a loop to the twine and hung the pinecone bouquet upside-down as a doorknob ornament. It looks quite lovely hanging there.
I quickly decided (without really thinking it out) that I would glue the rest of the smaller ones from twig to pinecone and so on, creating a long stringed garland. Thankfully, it turned out alright. Now where to put them?
I began stringing them around the house, like party streamers – some vertically along small spaces and others horizontally lining the larger walls of the studio.
The pine needles ended up on the table, accompanied by my little salt n' pepper birds and a few pine cone garlands – a nice "pre-Christmas" touch to our home.
After sweeping up the stray twigs and bits of leftover twine, I looked around the house and was happy to see it looking a little warmer. You see, fall reminds me of hot drinks, cuddling in blankets, staying home more, watching favorite movies, and lots of yummy foods with friends. I like how colors change around you (or are supposed to) houses get decorated and families come together. Since here on the central coast the fall days are still stricken with the shining sun and don't look much different than winter, spring, or fall, it's fun to pretend as long as you can that the colder days are on their way (even if they are few and far between.)
Take a look at my inspirations for getting crafty this fall. My good friend Toni Weber's blog "Adore Notebook" has a fun look into her hanging pinecone mobile. Another blog I follow, The Happy Hunters, always have different tasteful and trendy DIY crafts and ideas popping up. Their Instagram recently featured a lovely picture that could easily be copied of dried and strung wheat grass.
There's just one more month before the Christmas decorations come out! Take advantage of the yellows, oranges, and reds of this season. Add a little fall to your home! I challenge you to get crafty this season.
Happy Creating!