Fall Entry Points: Inspiration Through Decoration

Fall can look a little bleak once the leaves have fallen, before winter wraps the world in white. Our yard is looking pretty tidy, with leaves raked and summer toys in storage, but I was inspired by the beautiful porches and doorways on Pinterest to do something more with our home's entrances to make them look more colourful and welcoming. The kids and I took a walk in the forest on Friday afternoon. Just behind our house is a wilderness of deadfalls and we were able to pull out birch and alder trees to cut into lengths for arranging on the porch. I'm actually getting a lot handier with a handsaw!

We "shopped" our home for accent pieces to use in our arrangement. The kids have great eyes for spotting objects to use. The giant log you see here does double duty as a prop for a bike jump during the summer, and the Pepsi crate usually holds painting supplies in my studio.

After we finished with the porches, we had some materials left. I had cut wild rose bushes for their brilliant red rose hips. This variety is not especially prickly and so it wasn't too painful to arrange them into something pretty. I didn't even wash the Pepsi cooler down - it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful. (that's a quote I love from the Nester.)

My studio door is pretty ugly - it's recycled from the house and smudgy with paint, but again, it's not perfect, but I can still make it beautiful. The leaves are from my peony bush, and the little burlap bag was from a brand of coffee I bought because I loved the bag - finally, a chance to use it!

Since I was immersed in foliage for several days, I couldn't help but start a foliage themed painting. I've been painting on it for the last several nights and it's so fun to see the changes as I add new layers and details. 

Another way to make the colours of autumn last forever.