Ahead of the Big Party Post (!) tomorrow, I want to share with you the simple fashion in which I decorated for the event. My go-to shopping destination for any party (or every day) is the outdoors. The side of the road, the woods, the garden, the pasture. Nature is the cheapest–and most beautiful–decorator you can find.
I had pitchers and old bottles everywhere inside and outside filled with fall wildflowers.
I was particularly taken with how the wildflowers looked in this old ceramic coffee pot.
Outside, we set up straw bales on either side of the main steps up to the porch.
Along with the straw bales were pots of mums, pumpkins, and fodder shocks.
The only real cost here were the mums. (An annual party-time gift from 52.)
Inside, an antique quilt served beautifully as a table covering.
And that was the sum total of my decorating–mostly free, natural, and vintage. There’s no need to spend a lot of money to put on a pretty party!
MMHONEY says:
What a nice covering for your table- – –
Who would have thunk it??????
On October 3, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Rose H says:
It ALL looks beautiful Suzanne. I’m so looking forward to reading ALL about it!
On October 3, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Yvonne says:
The quilt looks great on the table, but I would have worried about it getting stained! Everything looked fabulous!!
On October 3, 2010 at 5:30 pm
FarmYard Gal says:
Absolutely love the decorating!!
On October 3, 2010 at 6:01 pm
wvhomecanner says:
MMHoney, we loved the quilt! I especially loved reading all of the names on it – I think I may be related to a couple of those characters LOL.
Dede
On October 3, 2010 at 6:36 pm
Tracey In Paradise,Pa. says:
:happypuppy: perfectly lovely!! wished I could of been there!!
hugs Granny Trace
On October 3, 2010 at 6:52 pm
claudia w says:
You and Nature make a great decorating team!
Simply beautiful!!!
On October 3, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Sue Nugent says:
:snuggle: It’s so nice to be able to use a lot of your pretty collectables in such a manner. I don’t get much chance to do so, but I love showing mine off when I can.All of your arrangements are really nice.
On October 3, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Vicki in So. CA says:
Perfect.
On October 3, 2010 at 11:17 pm
Sally Ann says:
Simple and Natural…. just as it should be ! Simply gorgeous ! You did a beautiful job, Suzanne !
On October 3, 2010 at 11:31 pm
bonita says:
Sure looks inviting. Bet your guests loved it!
On October 4, 2010 at 2:56 am
glenda says:
It looks perfect!
On October 4, 2010 at 6:37 am
Carol Langille says:
How better to decorate than with what Nature provides? Love the bouquets and that quilt….oh, my….that beautiful quilt! I could not have put it on the table with food on it but I sure love it!
The coffee pot you call ‘ceramic’ is actually graniteware. Glass melted over metal. I collect those so you know I love it.
Sounds like the party was a huge success, Suzanne. Congratulations!
On October 4, 2010 at 9:10 am
Ramona says:
You are absolutely correct. When we had our big dance XMAS parties, my MIL would bring cedar limbs, holly, hydrangea blooms she spray painted and many other things she gathered from outside.
On October 4, 2010 at 11:38 am
lisa b says:
very beautiful ..love the fall wildflowers esp
On October 4, 2010 at 11:47 am
Kathie Truitt says:
Okay Suzanne I have a really stupid question. Like the poster above I absolutely love the quilt on the table. As a matter of fact I have a quilt collection and would love to do this but how do you clean a quilt? I have some old ones that need a cleaning. Do I take them to the dry cleaners? Advice please.
On October 6, 2010 at 9:11 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
So many people have asked about the quilt and I will be posting about it soon!
On October 6, 2010 at 10:22 am