It's not your mother's pumpkin patch!

Since a few of you have commented on the fabric pumpkin in my fall banner...


... I thought I'd repeat a post I did last year about these yummy shabby/cottage pumpkins made by the incredibly talented Ronda of Tempting Textiles (formerly Cherry Blossom Cottage).

I've gotten a variety of pumpkins from her over the years (as well as slipcovers for my office chairs!)...

... and I absolutely love decorating with them in the fall!

They look great alone, as the main attraction...

...or piled high, making a colorful cottage pumpkin patch!

I think Ronda picked the perfect name for her new shop - Tempting Textiles... These guys are definitely tempting!!!!

Here's a sampling of some of the fabric pumpkins Ronda has in her shop right now:


Oooh la la!!! Just look at these white pumpkins with marabou fur trim and button accents!

Or how about these soft cottage-green floral pumpkins...

All my favorite colors... blue, pink, green, and white!

This fabric is wild and colorful and I absolutely LOVE it!!! Be sure to check out all Ronda's other fabric pumpkins at Tempting Textiles... Click on SHOP, then HOLIDAY BLING, and then PUMPKINS. And while you're there, check out all of her other creations, too... slipcovers, Christmas decor, and vintage items!

Now I know I just finished a giveaway, but to celebrate Ronda's new shop I'm going to pick a name on October 7th and one of you will be able to choose a set of Ronda's pumpkins for your very own! Anyone who entered my previous Autumn Giveaway contest will automatically be entered, as well as those who commented on the pumpkin in my banner... And, of course, if you comment on this post your name will go into the hat... So good luck to everyone!

Check back Wednesday and I'll announce the winner!!

Happy October!

Donna

My Decorating Style is COUNTRY ECLECTIC...

...according to a HomeGoods quiz I recently took...


I love HomeGoods. The garden bunny and birdcage on top of the bookcase in my banner came from HomeGoods. And I wrote about them here when I got these storage baskets for under our coffee table; here when I reorganized my bookcases; here when I prettied up our TV area; and here when I created a little vignette on our kitchen counter. So let's see how close their quiz came to defining my decorating style...

Donna, you are a Country Eclectic

You have wide-ranging interests and influences and therefore appreciate a mix of styles, periods, and objects. You would never use a matching suite of furniture or could stand a home that seemed cookie-cutter.


Well, that's true... After all, I did pair this old, ornate mirror with a very modern CD cubby...

But you love the breezy, layered look of wonderfully personal beach houses...

I have to admit, this vintage beachy seagull painting definitely 'spoke to me'...

... and the happy florals of English cottages.

Well, this vintage floral cottage mother's motto is one of my favorites! So far they've got me pegged.

Bringing the outdoors in makes you happy...

That's so true... I use bird garden statues and a basket of lavender (from HomeGoods) on top of the TV in the family room...

And Patience, who used to live in the garden, was moved into the house perrmanently last year...

a little chintz or ruffle or weathered furniture,

Patience sometimes sits on this rusted garden table.... yes, I do love weathered furniture...

...urns filled with tennis rackets, colored glasses filled with cut flowers, vintage-looking, mixed tea cups, and all things that give a sense of a happy, simple life.

Yes, cut flowers in colored glass makes my heart go pitter pat...

You value comfort. Your home is a warm and open friendly place...

I try...

and you feel happiest when everyone is cared for and relaxed in your space.

Spotty can vouch for that!

Elements like pillows

Very true... I can't resist big, plump pillows (from Marshalls) on the couch...


...or the windowseat.

throws,


I do love using throws on my wing chairs... lightweight throws for summer...


... and vintage chenille throws for winter.

overstuffed furniture, and good lighting set the mood

Is anything more inviting than an overstuffed chair paired with a "free by the curb" reading lamp? Okay, Mary Higgins Clark, I'm ready for your next book!

You may also enjoy layering different fabrics or mixing patterns to create a cozy effect.

I love layering... solid white paired with this vintage robin's egg blue tablecloth...


...or maybe a quilt (from TJ Maxx) layered over a white tablecloth...

Click here if you'd like to take the HomeGoods Stylescope quiz created by Deborah Needleman, editor-in-chief of Domino magazine. The results of my quiz perfectly matched my decorating style, Country Eclectic... So what's your style?

COMMENT RESPONSE: Patience, my lady planter, was purchased a couple of years ago from The Christmas Tree Shop. She was a dark brown/bronze color and I sponge painted her light grey to look more like a cement planter. Ironically, that same year (after purchasing Patience) I saw very similar planters at HomeGoods!!!!!

Donna

And the winner is....

Patience is here to reveal her new look - and to announce the Giveaway winner!
(click any photos to enlarge)

It seems as though the majority of you thought the free flowing ivy was just the right look for Patience, and I agree... (Although, as several of you pointed out, it's wonderful to be able to change her 'do' so easily!) Thank you all for taking the time to share your favorite look and for entering the contest!


And now, Patience would like to announce the winner of the Sensible Chic book and a $20 shopping spree at Cherry Blossom Cottage (with free shipping provided by Cherry Blossom Cottage - thank you, Ronda)!!


(Click on logo to enter the Cherry Blossom Cottage shop)

The winner is.......................

Kady at Life on Bonnie Lane!

Congratulations, Kady! Please e-mail me your address so I can get your book in the mail!! I'll also be in touch to tell you how to place your order with Cherry Blossom Cottage!

Again, thanks to all who entered... I wish I had prizes for everyone!

Donna

I can't wait any longer.... (Part 2 of My Giveaway)

I know I said I wouldn't announce this until I pick the winner, but I can't wait until then!

In addition to the Sensible Chic book, the winner of my "Patience Giveaway" will also receive a $20 gift certificate to spend at Ronda's Cherry Blossom Cottage (see the cottage blue pumpkin in my banner? It came from Cherry Blossom Cottage!)... And Ronda has offered FREE SHIPPING to the winner as well!!


This is just a sampling of what you'll find at Cherry Blossom Cottage... Ronda makes the most amazing chair covers for office chairs and dining room chairs...

And she just updated her shop with Christmas items!! These glitter mittens come in a wide variety of colors and patterns!

Isn't this the sweetest little snow angel you've ever seen??

Wow - if anyone is looking for a vintage tablecloth for Christmas, look at this beauty!!

Here's another great vintage item from her shop... (love that color!)

And what a sweet apron to wear while preparing Thanksgiving dinner!

This is just a sampling of what she has in her shop right now and, of course, there are no guarantees that these exact items will still be available by Thursday's drawing, but Ronda always has a great assortment of goodies to choose from!

So, to enter the giveaway (deadline: noon Wednesday 11-12-08) just go to this PATIENCE post and leave a comment. Let me know if you announce this giveaway on your blog and you'll get two entries... Good luck to everyone and thank you, Ronda, for offering free shipping!!

Donna

The Great (Cottage) Pumpkin Patch

I have finally mastered Halloween minimalism (I used to decorate to the hilt when my girls were young)... I still decorate traditionally outside, but since I've succeeded in going bare bones (no pun intended) inside, I wanted the few things I do put out to match my new color palette. My old black, orange and gold decorations looked great when I had prim decor, but with the cottage style... not so much... So look at what I got last year! (click any of the photos for a closeup look at the beautiful fabrics... and there's a link at the bottom of my post telling where you can purchase these!!)

Have you ever seen such a yummy, shabby/cottage pumpkin patch in your life? It was so much fun getting these out again this year... I LOVE them!


Just look at these luscious colors!! And these are my only fall/Halloween decorations now... Talk about making life simple for myself!! (I'm beginning to see why people embrace minimalism!)


This sweet little pumpkin looks great in my mom's old crystal candy dish...


And I think this is perfect on top of the pie safe!


Oooh, this big one is just the right size for the coffee table...

Awww, this pink & white striped one goes great in the kitchen!

The colors in this one even match the lotus blossoms in my swan PBN!

Flea market cat loves how he looks next to this cottage blue one...

Now if you want your own cottage pumpkin patch, it's as easy as pie!!!

Go visit Ronda at Cherry Blossom Cottage. She has them in stock right now!

I have always been so pleased with everything I've gotten from her, which is why her shop has been on my sidebar since day one... I've gotten office chair slipcovers from her (to die for), and I got my little pink toolbox from her, too (although I don't know if she carries those anymore)... In addition to her beautiful creations, she carries a wide variety of vintage, one-of-a-kind pieces! Her prices are very reasonable and her shipping is very quick... so hurry on over there if you want some soft cottage pumpkins for yourself!

So thank you, Ronda!!! I just love all my goodies and can't wait to see what you're stitching up for Christmas (Try as I might, I just can't seem to get a handle on Christmas minimalism!!)

Donna