I am so happy! Fall is my favorite time of year. I love creating Fall pots for my clients and myself. They are so fun and add a great statement to any setting. The amount of creativity you can show with them is endless, and they can last through Thanksgiving. The video below has some quick tips to think of when purchasing faux items to mix in with your Fall pots. Then below the video is the step by step process I used when I created them for one of my clients. Enjoy!

First, I start off by cleaning out all of the annuals, but leaving enough soil so that I can have a good area to place the items into and plant the live plant material. I decided to place these beautiful white birch poles that you can purchase at many of your local garden centers. They provide height, elegance, and a great pop of white is always a winner; I just love them! 

Now comes the always beautiful ornamental cabbage, this one is called "Ruby Perfection". These plants are huge and will add such a punch of color. From their purple veins, to the hints of silver; what is not to love?

Third, adding a colorful perennial so that you will have a great item to work with even in the Spring, too. The Corral Bell I chose is the "Autumn Leaves Corral Bell". It is great because it automatically compliments the colors of Fall, contrasts with the cabbage, and adds great texture to the pot. 

Next, I added Creeping Jenny all around the pot that will come back in the Spring with the Corral Bells

 Here I have placed a Millett for height and a hint of drama. 

Next I added the faux Fall picks. As I said before I love to mix faux pieces with the real thing, as you never know when the seasons will change here in the Midwest. Also, this will ensure your pots look great even if the weather gets too cold or wet. I like to place mine using a center point to make them look like they are actually growing from that point, instead of randomly placing them in. 

I placed some more faux Fall picks. 

And them some more faux Fall picks. I really liked these because they filled the space nicely and kept with the color palette. 

Then, the great faux, carve-able pumpkins I talked about in the video above. These are so awesome because they won't wilt, mildew, or get eaten by hungry critters. Love it! 

Now comes the Fall statement piece that I adore, Bittersweet. This is an amazing Fall addition to your pots, and its the real thing, just dried out. You can literally find this anywhere plants are sold, as it is SO popular. What I did, was took some very fine wire to make it look like it was climbing up the birch poles. 

I also placed some at the bottom so that it looks as if it is spilling, or trailing out of the pot. 

Then I added the faux "Queen Ann's Lace". I kept this in a grouping to make it look like it had been planted. 

Lastly comes the faux Fall Leaves. I also wired these to poles. Don't be afraid to be creative, and purchase faux materials. I promise you that they will make you so happy!

I love it...I hope you love it too! 

I love bringing a touch of elegance to outdoor spaces. Below I have taken two beautiful Chandeliers that I found for great deals and transformed them into elegant additions to my lake house and guest house. This is an easy project that requires a repurposed chandelier, paint, and manila rope.

After my partner, Danny, and I found these beautiful chandeliers I decided to turn one of them into an amazing outdoor candelabra, and the other a repurposed chandelier. One we found for $5 from a garage sale, and the other for $15 from my local Habitat for Humanity. First, Danny stripped the candelabra for outside, of its electrical hardware and the plastic light bulbs. Coincidentally these were perfect for placing taper candles.

Next we removed the chain from the top of the one that we wanted to transform into a candelabra so that we could fashion it to a tree that overlooks our deck using Manila Rope. This rope can be found at many hardware stores. This particular rope is used on boats, and I have also used it for landscape projects. I thought that if it can withstand being used out at sea, then surely it will be strong enough to hold my beautiful candelabra above our deck. The braid that I used to fashion the candelabra to the tree with is called a 'Single Rope Braid - Chain Sinnet'. It is so simple! Here is the link to learn how to do it too!
http://www.instructables.com/id/single-rope-braid-chain-sinnet/

Now, my amazingly handy partner, Danny is starting to construct the rope support for the candelabra. He fashioned the rope to hang between two trees that are perpendicular to one another on either side of our deck. We then hung the candelabra from the rope, and simply measured the height that I felt was comfortable for the setting above my outdoor picnic table.

What I am doing below is melting wax into the candle holders to give them more support so that they don't fall out due to wind or rain.

Voila! The candelabra I decided to paint a nice matte black. Make sure you choose a paint that is for outdoors so that it does not rust or peel from the weather. I think that this makes a great statement on my deck and seating area. I am really glad that we choose hang it from the rope as opposed to a chain. It makes it seem so much more natural in an outdoor setting.

The other chandelier I kept it with the original hardware, but spray painted white. I think it goes great with the sunroom in our guesthouse. I wanted to hang it in a room that would still be seen from the deck and vice versa to add unity to both spaces.

​I love it...I hope you love it too!