Bittersweet is one of our favorites here at SBP.  Both my family and Elizabeth’s know that fall means bittersweet around the house.

Just a little bittersweet adds instant "autumn" to Elizabeth's mantle.

Bittersweet was used recently for this lovely table display at a friend's birthday luncheon.

I used Bittersweet here with some limelight hydrangeas and some branches from a Japanese maple tree.

This is how I used bittersweet last year. I'd love to say that hole in my ceiling has been covered, but my life is just like yours - busy - and it's still there.

I’m about to talk about pumpkins, so here are my segue photos!

This picture is from last year. Now, I have enormous mums in these same urns. You'll see the current picture later in the post.

I LOVE this design. It's by a New Haven, CT florist, Chrysalis. I've included a link to their gorgeous designs below.

www.chrysalis-designs.com

So, let’s move on to pumpkins.  If you want to see an impressive display, try to go by Whole Foods:

If you don't have time for picture at a pumpkin patch, Whole Foods provides a pretty easy place to plop your kids down. I took this picture last year - on my phone - and truly captured the essence of this relationship between my middle daughter and my son. But, really, this is a photo op waiting for you! The lighting is best in the morning.

This display is on my front porch coffee table. It's so pretty lit up at night.

Add some faux fall leaves to your outdoor urns to further embrace the beauty of the season.

SBP reader Julie Davidson has this cute pumpkin on her front porch. She said since she is pretty limited this year on money for decorations, that her sweet sister gave her this gift to cheer her up! She can re-use it each year! This was bought at Harmony Home in Franklin, TN.

While spring, summer and fall are all seasons to celebrate hydrangeas, fall showcases dried hydrangeas and limelight hydrangeas the best:

Dried Hydrangeas courtesy of SBP reader Helen Curnuttes.

Limelight hydrangeas will dry right in the vase looking just as fresh as when they were alive. They will brown instantly with the first freeze - so be sure to cut yours this month! Elizabeth has them beautifully displayed here.

Sunflowers, cabbages and mums round out my favorite autumn flowers:

Sunflowers with Asparagus Fern

purple and white cabbages with sunflowers make a long lasting floral display

Sunflowers and Magnolia make an easy fall floral arrangement.

Mums – Can you believe I got these ENORMOUS mums for only $10?  I bought them across from the Green Hills Post Office at Johnny Howell’s farm stand.

For perspective, that front door mat is five feet across. Those mums are huge!

While I was at Import Flowers, on Murphy Rd, buying many of the flowers pictured in this post, I saw these gorgeous flower bouquets being made for a function at Vanderbilt:

Aren't these gorgeous?

Import Flowers will arrange flowers for you, which I did not know.  The above consists of 5 bouquets per bucket and you can pretty much tell where each bucket ends in the picture.  That first heap of flowers is one bucket!  Anyhow, Vanderbilt ordered 48 bouquets and asked for teal, plum, and yellow – with an autumn theme – and a budget of $10 per bouquet.  So, for $50 per bucket, this could be yours!  The bouquets start around $8 and you need to order at least 5, a bucket full, for Import Flowers to take the order.  I know I will definitely be taking advantage of this service in the future!

I hope you all are inspired to embrace fall and all of its bounty.

Happy Monday!

(Did you see our giveaway this week?  A $350 gift certificate to Lumen Lamps!  Check out all of our fun discounts and happenings in the THIS WEEK section!)

© 2010 – 2011, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

Fabu

First off, these fun crows and eggs from Fabu. The eggs are $7 each and the crows are $12.  I know the pictures are terrible; they are from my iphone…..but you’ll get a good idea!

The Beveled Edge

Next, check out this cute Halloween Village at The Beveled Edge.   That’s my eight year old daughter staring in amazement.

The Beveled Edge also featured all this skeleton stuff which wasn’t overly creepy to me, just fun!

Caldwell Collection

Caldwell Collection has these magnificent witches, and many more, for sale.  There is even a HUGE one (maybe 3 feet big?) that you could buy and just bring out each October for the next few decades!  She is fabulous.  Witches start at $95 and the huge one is just over $300.  Drop by Caldwell Collection, on Bandywood, to see them!

a la maison

a la maison has lots of Halloween decor as I pointed out last week.  My favorite are these pillows, black on one side and white on the other, handmade in Nashville and just $25-$30 each!  These old style jars are filled with fun witches brew ingredients for $17.95.  I hear they have some more in a similar style, made by the same person, for $25 that have candle wax dripping and more fun ingredients!  I love these….

Jason Parker Counce

Speaking of a la Maison, Jason Parker Counce’s handmade witches and other creations continue to be available for purchase there as well as at his booth at Gas Lamp Antiques next to the 100 Oaks Staples. His booth is at the far back of the showroom. Check out these pictures from his booth:

Custom Embroidery

Custom Embroidery has some cute Halloween things as well.  They always have fun seasonal items.  They were closed when I went by, so here are some pictures from the outside looking in:

Import Flowers

Import Flowers has some beautiful Bittersweet that they just got in on Wednesday (it’s yellow in the picture because it takes about 24 hours for the yellow “shell” to fall away after taking it out of the box).  I was there as they opened the box!   Check out the box of bittersweet ($18 a HUGE bunch).  I love the cabbages as they last FOREVER (I got them one Thanksgiving and I still had them out at Christmas!  They will start smelling like cabbage after a few weeks though….)

*As a final little decorating touch, Lou Ferrel’s (owner Import Flowers) wife is having a “garage sale” from the trailer behind Import this Saturday.  Worth checking out if you are over there!

AND- Remember that EdgeHill Village is hosting a Halloween Block Party Thursday night, October 15th from 5-8PM!   Nest Interiors, located there, will also be hosting a Ransom+Scout Handbag Trunk Show from 2-8PM.  20% off all Ransom + Scout purchases!  Feel free to go in costume:-0!  Yes, I know I put the “0″ not the “)” as in “ooohhhh, if you dare!”  Featured Band: The Young Republic.

© 2009 – 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

Trunk Show

Tonight from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. or Wednesday, April 29th, from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. head to 99 Westover 37205 for a fabulous trunk show featuring Rowanne McKnight’s jewelry, Hannah Lavey’s by hand by hannah stationery as well as Mary Catherine Healy’s hand-painted stools and tote bags.  We all love something original, unique and local.  You will not be disappointed.  Stop by and you are sure to find that something special!

Judith Bright

is having a 15% off Mother’s Day sale!Stop by her house on the two Friday’s left before Mother’s Day, during her Salon hours, and pick up a piece from one of Nashville’s biggest jewelry stars.  OR, order online and enter the code: MAMA at checkout.  Judith Bright

Climb Nashville

A year membership. Go by Saturday May 16th  from 8:00 a.m. to 12:-00 p.m. and buy one for just $400!  This includes all the yoga, climbing, core conditioning and kick-boxing you can take.  Yes, this is after Mother’s Day, but you can bundle the thought up in a card and then go there together on the 16th.  You could even throw in lunch afterward!  Climb Nashville

Caramel Cake

Need I explain further? Dessert Designs.

Chocolates

The Cocoa Tree, on 5th Avenue, in Germantown.

Flowers

Arranged by you.  You can do this.  Go pick out some great ones at Import Flowers, place a grid of scotched tape across a clear glass rectangular vase and insert the lovelies.  Who wouldn’t be giddy to receive these? Or, call Ilex (615-385-2800) to arrange a beautiful arrangement for you.

Trabeautiful Designs

Elizabeth Trabue, owner of Trabeautiful Designs, makes original, custom notepads sure to make any mom sigh with appreciation.  Email her at trabeautiful@comcast.net.  Order by Tuesday May 5th to ensure your order is ready by Friday May 8th. Trabeautiful Designs

His is Hers Nightshirt

Order online from Claridge & King and get the cool Gothic Monogram!  We’ve had lots of readers order these and they all rave! Rebekka Vaughn, in Green Hills, also carries this line.  Claridge and King

Mickie Quick

Newborn at home?  Ask, beg or demand this: three nights of sleep with the help of Mickie Quick.  For $456 for three nights, Mickie will help your little one sleep and give you your much needed sleep!  She will have your little one well on his/her way to sleeping through the night. Call 615-400-3984 for this Nashville Baby whisperer to come to your house!  10 p.m.-6 a.m.

Queen for a Day

The bottom of this list, but the perennial top of all my gift wishes: A night, by myself, at a hotel… with a spa attached.  I want to stay up late watching sappy girl movies, have room service, sleep late and then get a massage.  Join the family for a late lunch the next day.  Gaylord Opryand has Relache Spa and is local company as well as a fun one night retreat!

© 2009 – 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

The starkness holds it own special beauty that the leaves of summer hide.  When I pull down my last Christmas decoration, I see my house with the same view as that stark branch…and I love it.   I don’t want clutter now.  I want to see the bones of my house that have been hidden under Christmas decor and garland for 6 weeks.

This is right where I was 3 1/2 weeks ago.  My house was stripped bare, yet I needed some flowers- or something- for my large clear glass vases on my mantel and on a table in my front room.   I went to Import Flowers and looked around.  I saw some Red Twig Dogwood branches.  Perfect.  I filled up the three tall vases for a combined $76.  They are modern, fresh, alive, and yet not fussy.  They are my January mood.

The branches are starting to turn green and bud with leaves and tiny flowers.  My kids love to see the progress of the branches coming to life.  As a preliminary celebration of our impending Spring, these dogwood branches have been perfect on all counts.  I fully expect to have them for another 3 weeks.  $76 and 6 weeks of life in my vases – a good deal.  And, perfect for my mood and the season.

Are branches the match for your Winter mood?

Import Flowers is located on Murphy Road past the Bowling Avenue intersection. Owner, Lou Farrell, advises that while the Red Twig Dogwood are near the end of their season, there are many other branches to choose from. I saw some Quince- both white and peach that are coming into season. Pussy Willow, native to TN, was also on display.  And he gave a great tip to share with all our readers: Keep your Pussy Willow (I know- I hate the word, too) for a week in water and then spray them with a matte hairspray.  This will make the Willow (see I eliminated THAT word….) keep for at least 6 months in great shape.  He has some that have lasted three years with this technique!

The website also has a price list and weekly availability as well as great local designers.  Check out these pictures of the Quince as well as Lou holding some great West TN Curly Willow- available in red, green and brown!

-Liza

© 2009 – 2011, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.