Happy Fall!

Today is the first day of Fall!

Autumnal Hues

When the sunlight shifts, the days shorten, and the evenings cool, there is a change in my palette as well.

From the colors I pick to wear, to the colors I make into jewelry. Subconsciously,  my choices turn to the hues of autumn.

The golden sunflowers bow and brown.

 

And I reach for beads of the same glowing ochres.

 

A lovely rosehip = an antique vegetable ivory bead.

 It's the textures and patterns in nature...

 

...reflected in vintage heirlloms.

Autumn, I always feel that it's God showing us all the glory of his magnificent palette.

I hope you're enjoying this beautiful time of year!

New jewelry soon, at Age Before Beauty.

The Bell Jar

I have wanted a bell jar for a long time.

But not just any bell jar. 

An old bell jar.

A big bell jar.

I found it last week at Decorum in Iowa City. A chemist had it and kept a very old, very gorgeous microscope under it. 

I gathered some pods and rosehips from my garden and tucked them into an old metal flower frog. Then I added some moss. The curved, engraved, fabulous tray that it's on is from Artifacts.

 This amazing antique elf climbing a ladder was a Christmas present years ago from my Mom and Dad. I say Mom and Dad, but really more from Mom--- because I know she loved it and gave it to me instead of keeping it for herself.

Treasures... under my bell jar.

Gathering

 Each morning I fight the urge to slip back under the warm covers.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

The kids walk to the bus stop in the dark. Jackets, hats, and gloves are resurected from the bowels of the hall closet. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nature is slowing down, getting ready to go to sleep. 

 Poodles, however, are another story.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

The kids are back in school. We parents struggle to find out if the minute by minute calendar on paper really works in real time.

 The light shifts and dusk falls on evening soccer practice. 

In between I cram in work time. Trying, again, to find a balance between creative time and cleaning time. 

I walked outside on this rainy morning to document the creeping of autumn. 

I wear long sleeves even though it's still warm, and dream of draping the mantle with bittersweet.

 mmmmmmmmm, bittersweet.