A Fun Fall Craft

It's that time of year to make your home all cozy for the colder months ahead. I thought this was a pretty harvest wreath and seems fairly easy. I always enjoy a good craft and thought I would share this one!

Golden Harvest Wreath How-To
This 22-inch wreath form was decorated with about 90 magnolia leaves, 150 wheat stems, and 25 feathers. If you can't find magnolia leaves, use any other sturdy, broad leaf. This wreath can last for several years: After the holidays, place it, front side up, in a flat box cushioned with tissue paper. Keep it in a cool, dry place. If a few of the magnolia leaves look tired when you unpack it, replace them with freshly painted ones.

Tools and Materials
Floral spray in brilliant gold White feathers
Magnolia leaves
24-gauge gold wire
Gardening shears
Wheat stems
22-inch wire wreath form
Hot-glue gun

1. On a clean, dry surface protected by paper in a well-ventilated area, spray the feathers and the top sides of the magnolia leaves gold. Let dry.

2. Bundle 3 leaves with a small piece of wire; snip end. Bundle 5 wheat stems with wire, and snip end. Repeat with the remaining leaves and stems. Wrap the bundles to the wreath form with a single piece of wire, alternating and overlapping bundles of leaves and stems. Keep them tight and close together.

3. Once the wreath form is covered, insert the feathers at equal intervals. Glue in place.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Midas Touches: In Full Feather and more holiday recipes, crafts projects, decorating tips, gift ideas, and simple solutions on marthastewart.com

Photo: Martha Stewart

Art Stop

Friday September 24, 2010

If you don't have plans tonight or tomorrow join us at ArtStop! Grab some friends, your hubby, or whoever and come enjoy all the wonderful Art we have in Des Moines. The free bus takes you around to the different art districts. It's a fun event and is really neat to see into the studio's of many artist's. Plus you get to see some great exhibits! We will be participating at The Mansion so come join us as we will be open late tonight! For more information visit here.

A few lovely Details

Wednesday September 23, 2010

Not only do I love the fresh color combination of this room but it also has a few details that can really take a room to the next level. For starters the addition of nail head on the bench is great! I also like how they alternated the nail heads and beefed the size up too! The sofa isn't lacking in details either. The tape application is a wonderful way to give an ordinary plain sofa a little more character. Plus look at this adorable pillow below. The bow is a cute addition to the pillow! I'm also loving the art over the sofa! The color, texture, & movement all help pull this room together!

Photos - Emily Gilbert Photography

A unique fixture

Tuesday- September 21, 2010

This light fixture was featured in the Hampton's Designer Showhouse this Spring and it is so cute! What a creative way to bring in some texture. It adds another layer into this vintage feeling dining room. I also love the detail of the slipcover chairs with engraved names on them. Too cute!!

Photo: Traditional Home

A Touch of Pink

Sometimes all you need in a room is a little pink. I love the soft accent of pink in this room. It is soothing, calming, & oh so inspiring. I also really like the gold accents in the space, especially the bangle style table. What a fabulous sun room!

Photos: Atlanta Homes Magazine

Barefoot Contessa- Great Recipes

I always enjoy getting my latest issue of House Beautiful in the mail. And recently I have really enjoyed a cooking series by the Barefoot Contessa they feature each month. They have been featuring the Barefoot Contessa in their magazine for a few years but just recently I actually started trying the recipes. They aren't difficult recipes and are fun to cook. Each issue has a new recipe and typically is somewhat seasonal. Here is a recipe I tried over the weekend. It was so yummy as the tomatoes are so wonderful right now! Enjoy!

CAPELLINI WITH TOMATOES AND BASIL

Serves 6

½ cup good olive oil, plus extra for the pasta pot

2 tablespoons minced garlic (6 cloves)

4 pints small cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes

18 large basil leaves, julienned

2 tablespoons chopped fresh curly parsley

2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

¾ pound dried capellini or angel hair pasta

1½ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Extra chopped basil and grated Parmesan for serving

1 Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add two tablespoons of salt and a splash of oil to the pot.

2 Meanwhile, heat the ½ cup of olive oil in a large (12-inch) sauté pan. Add the garlic to the oil and cook over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, basil, parsley, thyme, two teaspoons salt, the pepper, and red pepper flakes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for five to seven minutes, tossing occasionally, until the tomatoes begin to soften but don't break up.

3 While the tomatoes are cooking, add the capellini to the pot of boiling water and cook for two minutes, or according to the directions on the package. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the pasta water.

4 Place the pasta in a large serving bowl, add the tomatoes and Parmesan, and toss well. Add some of the pasta water if the pasta seems too dry. Serve large bowls of pasta with extra basil sprinkled on top and a big bowl of extra Parmesan on the side.

Photos: Barefoot Contessa, House Beautiful

A lovely vignette!

I am loving this little vignette! It makes me want to see more of this room! This chest is so unique. Talk about some stunning hardware! I could take everything in this picture home with me! I wish I had the right corner to make this happen!

Photo: Thibaut