Notes from A Cottage Industry

Weekly words to live by.

Weekly words to live by.

Weekly words to live by.

Weekly words to live by.

Thinking outside the (tool) box.

...in regards to my autumn fireplace mantel, that is.

A few weeks ago while thrifting, I came upon the longest old rusty metal toolbox I have ever seen, and I knew exactly what I was going to do with it the moment my eyes landed on it. 

It sat in the garage for a couple of weeks as summer wound down, and when I was at last ready to switch my decor to fall, it was the first thing I grabbed to bring inside. I took down all of the summer mantel items down...

...and put my newest old treasure in its place of honor, front and center up there on the mantel.

Be still my heart. It looked even more perfect (to me) than I had pictured in my mind. I added some crumpled paper in the bottom of the toolbox, and then covered it with some Dollar Tree moss, and little faux white pumpkins. I added some old chippied wood stair rails for interest, and topped it off with my only large crow (raven?) that makes his appearance somewhere in my living room every year around this time.

More white pumpkins and candles in bottles softened the sharp edges of the toolbox, and finally, my Nevermore banner rounded out my autumn vignette. (See my entire Halloween collection here. ) 

I think it's just the right amount of spooky for me. When Halloween comes and goes I will edit the set up to be ready for Thanksgiving. (I have an idea up my sleeve already for that set up and it includes a bit of muted color...) 

In my next post I plan to share my autumn covered patio look, so stay tuned!

And just like that, October arrived.

Well, another page has been turned on my calendar, and I am praying (hard) that October is kinder to us than the previous months of 2020 have been. I do not believe that I can get through this new month if I think too long or hard about all of the trials and tribulations of our world currently, (I'm wondering how many of you are feeling the same way...?) so I have decided I will spend my time and energy on the people and things that bring me contentment and a little slice of happy to my heart.** 

(**I have very good reason to trust this month will be awesome, as today, a new grand babe is arriving!!! More details coming as our day unfolds!)

...

 

So.

October.

Aaaaah, October!

The month where autumn weather really arrives, with shorter crisp, cool, blustery days and chilly evenings. (Sweater weather!) I like to totally change things up around my home as the seasons change, and so, with fall comes a complete change up, both inside and out. (Do you do that too?)

I take the summery flower basket off my front door, and replace it with my umbrella full of faux sunflowers. (Because, Pacific Northwest.) I add oodles and toodles of pumpkins (both artificial and real) that are strategically tucked in nooks and crannies throughout both the front as well as the back patio areas, and inside the house. 

I switch my yummy smelling summertime wax melts (Orange Buttercream Cupcake from Better Homes and Gardens at Walmart) in my wax burners to a fall scent ( A Thankful Harvest scent from Better homes and Gardens at Walmart.) and I switch my sheets from my cool summer cotton to my favorite oh-so-cozy micro flannel.

I put away my summertime seasonal items, like the couple of birds nests I have, and the artificial hydrangeas in my copper boiler pot in front of the fireplace are replaced with wood for fires on cold autumn mornings. I'll be sharing some of my change-ups this week, to hopefully inspire you to work with what you have, and make your home your happy place, so I hope you'll check back! 

#acottageindustry #happyplace #October #acottageindustryblog