Autumn Decorating: Watercolor Leaves

October 6, 2011

I woke up a few days ago and realized I’m missing fall. I’ve been talking about it, and thinking about it, but I’m not doing anything about it.

Enter, these leaves.

In a fit of autumn excitement over the weekend, I set about painting pretty patterns with watercolors that haven’t been touched since I insisted they make the journey to Ireland.

{For the record, I told you I would use them. You know who you are.}

I essentially just doodled with watercolors, playing with stripes and letting the water make fun shapes with the paint. I even brushed a little chevron pattern, and because it turned out a little funky and imperfect, I didn’t even hate it.

Once the paint was dry, I traced on a leaf shape and cut out big and small leaves. Then, with a needle, I threaded them together and hung them in the living room window.

And aren’t they just cheerful? I think they’d make a nice backdrop for a store window. Like Anthropology or Avoca. Now wouldn’t that be a great way to spend an afternoon!

When the sun starts to set, they turn all dark and moody and make me want to sit, with a mug of hot cider, light some candles, and tell spooky stories.

What about you guys, any autumn going on in your lives?

6 Comments

  • Reply Torry October 11, 2011 at 7:37 pm

    Cute project! My fun fall activity? Starting the annual trawl through my cookbooks to plan Thanksgiving – my bedside locker is piled high at this stage 🙂 I’m definitely craving anything buttery, cinnamon-y, and pumpkin-y too!

    • Reply emily October 12, 2011 at 8:26 am

      Ooh that sounds like a great plan! Have you made the Kitchn’s no-knead pumpkin cinnamon rolls? They are such a hit at our house!

      • Reply Torry October 12, 2011 at 6:33 pm

        Holy cow those looking amazing – and loving the no knead idea. Things always go a little awry for me when kneading comes into the frame; one of these days I’ll master it!

        These are so on the weekend baking list; the cats and the boy are both hopping up and down with excitement 🙂

        PS Just a heads up, I think Mozilla doesn’t agree with human captcha – it rejected correct answers a few times and I promise I not a robot commenter!

        • Reply emily October 13, 2011 at 2:00 pm

          Oh, good heads up, thanks Torry! Now I think I’ll probably have to make them this weekend too! Let me know how they go! And don’t worry if the dough is gooey, they always seem to work out fine in the end!

  • Reply Torry October 16, 2011 at 11:45 am

    THANK YOU for pointing me in the direction of that fantastic recipe! They turned out perfectly, and we have a *very* delicious smelling house this morning. I left them to rise in a warm oven which worked really well – the rolls are ENORMOUS and I have enough to pop in the freezer to enjoy another weekend!

    Pardon me while I go slip into a sugar coma now 🙂

    • Reply emily October 17, 2011 at 7:26 am

      I am so glad you loved the recipe! And yes – they are enormous!! They’re our new Christmas morning tradition! 🙂

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