FALL INSPIRATION

This week, I finally started pulling some fall things out

even though the weather is more like August or July

than the chilly nights of Autumn.

I usually don't decorate too much for fall-

but this year I feel more inclined to do a bit more.

Maybe it's blogging and all the inspiration I am finding out there

or that we are planning a Halloween party-

so I feel like doing more than usual.

I was trying to find something Harvesty and Halloweeny to put

on the mantle in the living room.

It was hard for me to take down my favorite oil painting of roses,

I love it so much...

but alas, I did.

Trying to come up with somewhat french but a tad bit frightening items

to put up there wasn't easy!

But in the corner of the room

I spied something frenchy and a wee bit freaky

-according to the kids and pretty much everyone else...

This old molded mannequin.

and so I thought....

Why not?

(I found it at a thrift store wearing an old bathing suit-

I left the suit for them to sell and took the 'creepy' body.)

I added a chippy old window from a flea market,

some pumpkins and black birds and the white berry garlands.

I left those huge candelabras because they kind of remind me of the

Haunted Mansion at Disneyland

and thought they worked for the whole frenchy but frightening theme.

Not sure I am loving it...

I usually have to tweak things a bit before I am happy...

so I'll share the finished product next week!