Fall Tablescape 2012 {Reveal}

When I started to think about what I could do to make my Fall Tablescape this year, 

I really had to dig deep.

Especially because my attempt at "primping my pumpkin" 

for Fox Hollow Cottage's, Debbiedoo's and Mom 4 Real's 

Primp Your Pumpkin Party was an epic fail.

I mean...

EPIC.

So epic, that those pictures will never ever see the light of day.

FYI...

The idea of a chicken wire pumpkin is good in theory.  

Not so great in execution.

;)

I was kinda feeling a little sorry for myself, that I had left it to the last minute, didn't have a back up plan, missed out on the party, and was a teeny tiny bit jealous of all the pretty pumpkins that were being linked up.

Yes, I'm pouting.

See...

:(

I was kind of in a creative funk, 

so I wasn't even sure I could pull it off.

Especially since...

I gave myself one rule.

The only thing I could buy was the pumpkins.

That's it.

Nothing else.

The rest had to be strictly on hand.

That means...

No new plates.

No new glassware.

No new tablecloth.

No new placements.

No new napkins.

No new...  NOTHING.

And after the epic chicken wire 

primpin' my pumpkin craft fail, 

I didn't know if it was possible.

But, I was going to try.

If I didn't have it, I was going to have to make it.

Or forage for it.

And in my past life, before a tanked economy, 

I've never been a great one for foraging for anything.

Oh me!  Have times changed!

Wednesday evening I had to do a dreaded grocery shopping trip.

It was that or my kids were going to mutiny.

We were even out of milk.

Thank goodness I went!

I managed to find 3 pumpkins in white and green at $0.48 a pound.

The only 3 they had.

SCORE!

After paying about $15.00, give or take, for the pumpkins, 

I was on my own.

Surprisingly enough, once I got started, 

it started to fall together easily enough.

Plates:  Check

Stemware:  Check

Flatware:  Check

Cloth Napkins and Place Mats...  Uh-oh.

For the life of me I couldn't find my white cloth napkins
and
my sparse selection of place mats weren't going to work.

Solutions for the place mats:  Canvas ripped to size and left frayed.

and

Solution for the cloth napkins:  Linen cloth, ripped into large squares and left frayed.

Both I had on hand.

I'm really getting quite a stash of crafty stuff.

Who would have ever thought!

Napkin Rings...  Nope.  Nothing I had would work.

Solution:  A strip of burlap wrapped around the linen and secured with a black grosgrain ribbon.  Then I made numbered tags with the craft tags I ordered from Pick Your Plum a few weeks ago.  I secured each of them with a vintage clothespin that I bought this summer from The Changing Season  - A dollar for five.

Loving it!

Then I had to think of something for the centerpiece.

That was huge.

Like I said, forager, I'm not.

So, I started looking around the house 

and began gathering things up that I thought would work:

Kitchen scale from the office.

Vintage spools.

A grain sack.

From the shop, a piece of barn wood I had saved, just in case.

(Yes, I think I'm beginning to be a junk hoarder!)

Pinecones.

Spanish Moss.

2 Cream Candles.

And that's all I had.

Shoot.

So, I went outside...

Stole Borrowed some corn from the mega farmer 

that farms the field across the street. 

I don't think he will miss a few ears.

Grabbed some small dead branches from under the trees.

Picked some overgrown, dried out grass, along with some milk weed.

Looked for some ditch flowers, but couldn't find any.

Darn!

I figured I should probably try to work with what I had 

and see where I ended up...

And here's what I wound up with:

I love how it uses items from right outside my front door.

I love that it complements the colors in my dining room.

But you know what I love even more?

It was CHEAP!

And I kept my promise to myself!

Total Cost:  $15.00

And ya can't beat that!

So, when you're thinking about doing your Fall Tablescape this year, try thinking outside the box, or at least, outside your house.

Beautiful doesn't necessarily have to mean expensive!

You don't know what 

you might come up with.

Dream Big,

P.S.  I have to give credit where credit is due for the improved quality of my interior pictures!  

If you have a DSLR camera and have been shooting your pics on the auto settings provided on the camera...  Don't!  

I just recently took an e-course offered by Shoot Fly Shoot.  Hosted by the Kevin from The Lettered Cottage and his business partner, Josh, it's a step by step e-course of how to shoot pictures in Manual.    

It's the best money I ever spent!  When I say step-by-step, I mean step-by step.  Believe me, if they can teach ME how to shoot in Manual, they can teach anybody!  And once you pay, the course is always available to you...  FOR-EH-VAH.  Although I still need to work on blowing out the light coming in from my window, it's 100% better than the interior shots I used to take!  Ever wonder why I stage outside so much?  Well...  That's why!

If you've been frustrated with your inability to take good interior photos of your crafts and rooms like I have been, this is the place to go!  You won't regret it!  I promise!

I have not been paid to endorse this e-course.  The thoughts and opinions are my own.  

Linking up to:

Redoux Interiors: Link Party 73 & Mes Preferes
From My Front Porch To Yours: Treasure Hunt Thursday #74
Miss Mustard Seed: Furniture Feature Friday
House of Hepworths: Hookin' Up with HOH
At The Picket Fence: Inspiration Friday
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
Ivy and Elephants: What's It Wednesdays
Day of Chalk and Chocolate: Features and Friday Link Party
Funky Junk Interiors: SNS 158 Funky Fall Decorating
Too Much Time On My Hands: Get Schooled Saturday
tatertots & jello: Weekend Wrap Up Party
2805 Blog: Potpourri Friday
DIY Showoff: DIY Project Parade
Debbiedoo's: Newbie Party
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating: Flaunt Your Fall Halloween Party