Fall Crafts // Painted Pumpkins (Kid Friendly!)

Pumpkins and mums-- they're fall staples that I just can't imagine not including on the front porch. Each year, picking out the perfect, round pumpkins and the fluffiest mums gives me those happy tummy bubbles. The same ones that come with the first sip of cider and the first crunch of leaves underfoot.

When I was a little girl, I loved picking out the perfect jack'o'lantern pumpkin with my dad. We always went for one with that unique, squatty shape. Perfect for carving a goofy grin. Mark and I don't have kids of our own yet, but picking out pumpkins with my two little nephews proved how special this little childhood act really is. It's a great way to spend a fall weekend with your kiddos: roving through the pumpkin patch or wandering through your local farmers market. There's just something about the way their little faces light up about something so simple. It really just warms your own heart, and you can't help but smile too. It's nice when the biggest worry of the day is whether this fat pumpkin or that funny long one is better suited for a jack o'lantern.

But maybe you don't want your littles playing with knives? No worries. Have them paint their pumpkin instead. In fact, you can pick the smaller "pumpkin pie" pumpkins especially for this purpose. After all, what kid doesn't love getting their hands good and dirty with paint?

Get as creative as you want! You can use finger paint, puffy paint, or even glittery paint. Try out interesting designs with stencils, lace, or doilies to create unique effects. You can collaborate on a pumpkin as a family or give your kids their own little project. Best of all, this project gives your kids the opportunity to be completely creative, to just unleash whatever their little minds have imagined.

 I mean, how often do we get the chance to get good and messy?

And this project isn't exclusively for kids. It's a fun project for a ladies (or guys!) craft night. One of my favorite fall memories is painting pumpkins with my good friend Amber. I had this random idea to use pumpkins in my and Mark's October wedding, but didn't like the fact that bright orange would clash with our color scheme. So, I painted them white and added decorative swirls in puffy paint matching our wedding colors of plum and champagne. Check out our wedding post series to see how my "wedding pumpkins" turned out.

The best part of this fall craft? It's so brainlessly easy. All you need is paint and a pumpkin. You can't really go wrong. The finished product will add a little whimsy to your front porch decor, and your kiddos will be proud of their little contribution. Don't you just love the crazy-green pumpkin my nephew and I painted? Also, I'm pretty impressed with our collaborative effort on this one:

I know, I know. He's a little baby genius. I mean, I may be biased but come on... how could you not just be head over heels for that adorable grin and those grey-blue peepers? We had so much fun! Definitely give this a try.

Some themes to get you started:

- show your team spirit with football themed pumpkins

- use glitter spray paint and lace to get a glam effect

- paint your house numbers on them

- stencil your initials

- go crazy with pattern like these found on Pinterest

Comment below or tag me on Instagram with pics of your painted pumpkins! I'd love to see how they turn out!

Happy punkin pickin'!

Around Town // Catoctin Mountain Orchard

What single activity better heralds the arrival of fall than apple picking? I don't know about you, but I can't think of anything more autumnal than that.

Whenever fall begins to appear, one of my favorite places to visit in the Frederick area is the Catoctin Mountain Orchard. Located about 15 minutes north of Frederick city, the orchard is nestled at the base of the dusky, blue-green Catoctin Mountains, the easternmost section of the Blue Ridge. Driving up 15 North--the stretch of country highway that connects two Civil War towns, Frederick and Gettysburg-- has always been one of my favorite stretches of road. You wind imperceptibly upwards, through sweeping farmland, vineyards, and orchards. In autumn, the mountains transform into crimson and gold cavalcades of color, setting the entire landscape ablaze. Against that fiery backdrop, the white silos and farmhouses stand out starkly, suddenly pristine against all the autumn hues.

It's within this pastoral scene that the Catoctin Mountain Orchard resides. Rounding a bend in the empty highway, you suddenly spot it: a small metal building, not much bigger than a farmer's market stand, surrounded by orchards. An overly-bright highway sign depicting cartoon apples baskets and block letters points to your destination. The sign may be bigger than the market, impossible to miss.

Open from early summer through late fall, the Market is my favorite source for fresh fruits, preserves, and baked goods. Once you step through its stiff-hinged metal door, your senses are accosted with flavor and scent: baking bread, tart apple juice, cinnamon-and-sugar, plump peaches. Row after row of mason jars line the walls, precisely ordered on makeshift wooden shelves. Their labels hint to sugary-sweet creations within: blackberry jam, peach preserves, apricot jam, sweet habanero pickles, pumpkin butter. Nearby, blue farmer's baskets overflow with apples, plums, nectarines,  berries, and peaches. Large white baskets offer samples for you to taste. An old-fashioned "taste before you buy" mentality presides here.

The closest basket cradles small golden apples, each about the size of my fist. Round, sweet little fruits that my grandmother would call "bakin apples." The basket's label identifies their proper name: Blondees. Mark and I share one. My teeth sink in to its crisp skin, and juice spurts. I start, surprised at how juicy and sweet it is. No convincing is required to include a bushel in our cart. That's the hazard of visiting this place: you leave with baskets and jars of yumminess that you truly don't need but truly do want.

Whether you pick your own apples, wander through the flower field, or just shop the market, Catoctin Mountain Orchard is worth the drive. It's the perfect way to spend a late summer/early fall afternoon.

Catoctin Mountain Orchard

15036 N Franklinville Rd

Thurmont, MD 

Let's Go Camping

When the air acquires that crisp, tart scent, my mind immediately jumps to thoughts of campfire smoke, cozy sleeping bags, sweatshirts, and toasted marshmallows. The weather here in Maryland hasn't turned just yet, but in the evenings, there's a certain smell, a certain feeling, a certain something on the air...and you just know, fall is coming. 

Mark has always been an avid outdoorsman. He knows way more than the average person should about edible herbs, prime camping spots, rock climbing, and wilderness survival. His process for starting and stoking the campfire has to be some kind of ancient art form. I meanwhile am utterly ignorant when it comes to camping and survival. In a crisis, I would definitely be the first to go. But that blue-eyed Virginian has definitely imparted his love of camping to me. And now, as I tick the days on the calendar down to that date marked "Autumnal Equinox," I can't help but get excited for thoughts of fall camping trips. 

For now, however, I'll just have to satisfy my urges with this camping mood board. If you're into rustic farmhouse decor, you should definitely check out Painted Fox Treasures. They offer a whole treasure trove of vintage-inspired goods from baskets to blankets to lighting. I often catch myself aimlessly scrolling through their website, ogling and drooling over rustic pendants and canvas tote bags. It makes me want to redesign my entire house in a rustic industrial style. I based the above Mood Board on items currently available at their online shop. Some are even on sale! Definitely click on over and give them a look-see. 

And finally, in parting... 

This list of fun camping spots in or near Maryland:

Greenbelt Park

Gambrill State Park

Camp Misty Mount

Tree House Campground 

Assateague Island

New River Gorge

C&O Canal

Sources (clockwise from top):

my own image // cabin // sign // metal baskets // fireplace // weather vane  

Full Disclosure: I am part of Painted Fox's affiliate program and as such may receive a small commission for this post. However, I only affiliate with brands and companies I truly like. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Good Reads // August Roundup

It's been awhile since I wrote a Good Reads post for the blog. I've been spending more and more time working on writing for myself, and as a result, I haven't devoted as much time to updating this little space. Rest assured, however, that this die-hard bookworm has had her nose in a book all summer long. I'm excited to share my favorite August reads with you! Because the books I read last month were by far some of my favorite reads all summer, maybe even all year.

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer** my so-far favorite!
Mark had been on me to read this book for years. For some reason, I kept resisting. I suppose I expected a book about the infamous 1996 Mount Everest climbing disaster to be well... boring and depressing. Full of snowfilled sadness and frostbite. There is certainly snow, sadness, and frostbite in this book-- don't get me wrong-- but this book is about so much more. Krakauer really delves into the culture of mountaineering, the resilience of the human spirit, and the bonds of friendship, all while recounting a true event that will leave you biting your nails even though you know the outcome. Probably my favorite read of the summer.

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
Holy Cow... this book was so good! Definitely a page-turner with a surprising angle into human relationships and how appearances can be oh-so-deceiving. Just to give you a taste: What would you do if you found out your all-American (or I suppose all-Australian since Moriarty is from Sydney) husband, the hard-working father of your children, had a horribly dark secret? Like a felony-sized secret?

Indian Killer by Sherman Alexie
Throughout college, Alexie was one of my favorite authors. This novel follows a series of murders in Seattle committed by a serial killer dubbed the "Indian Killer" by the media. Alexie casts doubt on each of his characters, making you certain each one could be the killer. Delving into magic-realism, Alexie questions the stereotypical image of Native Americans and of mental illness. A very thought-provoking read!

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall
After finishing this book, I wanted to lace up my tennis shoes and run 10 miles. Which is not something I can even do. McDougall sets out to find the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico whose culture centers around running. As in... these people can run hundreds of miles without stopping. Oh and did I mention they run those miles barefoot or clad in flimsy little sandals? Yes. Feel like a couch potato now? I did too. One of the best nonfiction books I've read in a long while... especially if you're into fitness, running, or hiking.

Dune by Frank Herbert
Somehow I made it all through middle school, high school, and college without encountering the sci-fi classic Dune. If you want to read something utterly and completely original, I recommend this book. I felt completely confused for about the first 100 pages as I grappled to understand the book's religion, languages, terms, technology, and government structure. Even the basic family unit was different, alien. After you get the hang of the new universe that Herbert created, you really can get caught up in the storyline. And then you realize that the novel was written in 1965 and the novel becomes something rather visionary.

What have you been reading lately? I'm always in the mood for a good book suggestion!

Morning Thoughts: Giving out Sweetness

Last weekend, someone shared a special thought with me. For the past few days, the words have resonated with me, flitting through my mind as I go about the bustle and hurry of the workweek. The thought was so simple, almost childlike really. Yet the simplicity of the words are what make them so difficult to actualize:

When a deer rubs its antlers against a tree, it wounds the tree and causes it to leak sap. Yet that very sap can be used to make balm for someone else's wound.

This simple analogy perfectly captured an attitude that I have always found difficult to achieve. The ability to give out sweetness and kindness in the face of disrespect, hurtfulness, or rudeness. 

As long as I can remember, I've had a reputation as strong-willed. While having a strong will can have its benefits, it also has its downside: a temper. So when someone dishes out a nice heaping of rudeness or anger at me, my natural instinct is to dish it right back. It's even worse if someone directs anger at someone I love. There have been times when I've overheard a waiter, a clerk, or some random person mutter at my parents or Mark and felt the white-hot rage monster rear inside my chest. Who are you to talk to husband/dad/parent/sister/friend that way? streaks through my mind.

But after hearing the sweet deer-tree-balm-sap story, I felt so compelled to make a change. What if I could just "turn the other cheek," so to speak? What if--instead of letting my natural temper flare and spit out some retort--I said something kind? How would it impact that person's day? Would it change their attitude? Change their heart? Soothe their spirit? Sure, I realize that some people are simply angry and rude, no matter how much fairy-nice dust you sprinkle on their head. But then how am I to assume what they're going through or even assume that the one clash is indicative of their entire personality? Perhaps they're simply walking around with a wound I just don't see. 

And maybe the kindness I show could be a little balm to that wound, helping their day without any cost to me. 

Hello September!

When I wake up on September first, my brain automatically charges into full Fall Mode. As if I could just willfully fast-forward the last sweltering weeks of summer and plunge straight into autumn's crispy goodness. Like a sienna-hued slideshow, autumn images race through my mind: tailgates, mums spilling out of terra-cotta pots, steamy apple pies, crunchy leaves, rotund pumpkins, cable-knit sweater sleeves, and foaming mugs of hot cocoa. But I've seen enough white-girl memes to arrest this onslaught before I go into a Pinterest- induced, pumpkin-spice seizure.

Confession: I don't even own a cable- knit sweater. 

Yesterday, I found myself whining that I "was ready for some fall weather already!" Mark grinned and shook his head. "I know, I know," I said. "Soon I'll be whining about the cold weather." Autumn is without a doubt my favorite season. But after autumn comes winter with the snow plows, frozen fingers, and salt-stained boots--and I'm not too crazy about that. So, I suppose I can hold it together a little longer and try to enjoy what's left of summer before it slips away for another year. 

I'll just indulge my addiction a teensy bit by burning a fall candle, sweating over a hot latte, and creating a fall mood board. 

What are your favorite things about autumn? 

Image sources (clockwise from top): 

mine // mine // Martha Stewart Mile High Pie // mine  // Lexington Clothing Co // Iopop 

Warm Industrial- Inspired Vintage Desk

Before getting married, I had a very eclectic approach to design. If I attempted to give the style a name, it would be some some hybridized concept like "eclectic-vintage-global-glam," a trail of adjectives that leave you blinking and thinking "Wait. What the what?" Then I married this blue-eyed Virginian who loved all things sleek and modern. Sheesh. How does that work?  Over time, however, we've come to realize that our mutual favorite style, while still eclectic, fits more into the category of New Traditional, with the occasional industrial twist.

This design style certainly inspired my most recent Furniture Makeover project. A vintage typewriter desk revitalized with a good scrubbing, a fresh coat of paint, and a new design. Here's what it looked like once we purchased it:

Good bones, am I right? My favorite feature (other than the hidden typewriter drawer) was the marble drawer pulls. They really set this piece apart. I couldn't wait to get at them with a scrub rag and some warm soapy water.

Here's what I used: 
-soapy water
-rags
- painter's tape
-sanding blocks (200-1000 grit)
-mineral spirits
-Annie Sloan Chalkpaint in Graphite and Paris Grey
-Annie Sloan Soft Clear Wax
-paint brushes
- paper towels

Voila! Like most of my Furniture Makeovers, the process of painting this behemoth desk was simple. I simply gave it a good cleaning and sanding in any damaged areas. Once the piece was wiped clean of any grit and grime, I taped off my desktop design. I decided to go for a feedsack stripe design, to augment this warm industrial theme.

The body is painted in two coats of Annie Sloan Graphite, while the stripe design is both Graphite and Paris Grey. After the paint dried, I heavily distressed the piece using sanding blocks, hammer and nails, and even a small chain. (Yes, I slapped a chain on the desk. Yes, it made me feel a little mean. But whatever-- it turned out pretty! Yes, I know it's an inanimate object.) Finally, I applied a topcoat of Soft Clear Wax and thoroughly buffed for a high sheen.

I am so pleased with how it turned out. The white marble drawer pulls cleaned up perfectly and truly set this piece over the top. While cleaning the piece, I found its manufacturer's label inside one of the drawers. Believe it or not, this desk is also a little piece of Maryland history. It was made in Baltimore by Lucas Brothers--once one of the nation's oldest office supply and furniture distributors. I like to imagine that this desk belonged to some mid-century teacher... but who knows.

The desk will be placed  for sale in Repurposed & Refined's downtown Frederick brick + mortar. So, if you're in totally in love with it, you're more than welcome to stop by their shop at see it in person. Or, if you can't wait, you can always message me here or on Instagram for more information.

Ahhh. I wish I could just keep it! But if I kept every project, I would definitely show up on that show Hoarders someday.  Want more furniture makeovers, here are a few more I've done recently! Also, if you're in the Frederick area this weekend, head over to Sweet Clover Barn. The ladies of Repurposed & Refined have a booth there, and Cassie of Primitive & Proper-- whose projects and home tours you know I love--has stocked the place full of vintage goodness.

Happy weekend!

Project shared at Nifty Thrifty Things link party.