Wrapping up...

...the posts on the "barn reception" today. I thought I'd share just a few "odd - n- end" pics with you. And again thanks so much for all your kind comments throughout this lil' journey. I have so appreciated it and all those who have linked up to it on other blogs - that was so sweet of you!

This lil' vignette was at the entry door - a topiary, large scale birdcage, a chalkboard, her "Nan's" antique lamp all surrounded by grapes, white pumpkins, hedge apples and yes - beans.


The "new" tv (a wedding gift to the bride and groom) that showcased a slide show of their years growing up and together... We made a simple banner for the front.


We also used several pocket wreaths filled with burlap, hedge apples, money plant, peacock feathers and topped off with a bird.

We brought in a few tree limbs - this one is dressed with tags and paper flowers.

Two great John Deere tractors were used at the entry with some yellow mums to pop off the building - and to compliment that great yellow - you know I'm a farm girl - I love tractors!

This was the loft area of the barn - again, you just can't beat tobacco canvas - it drapes so well. Of course burlap and more big paper flowers were used at the corners.

Come on in...

A bride in her cowgirl boots...

Thanks again - Tiff and Shane. You all were awesome and you were so good to me and my family. Those two weeks of decorating were filled with lots of laughs and loads of fun! Thank you for including me in your special day.

I wish you a life of happiness and love. May God bless you both!

Have a happy day everybody!

Next up - pictures of where our new house is gonna be! We are getting ready to get started!

And pics of the shoppe - Christmas in the Country - next Saturday - the 13th!

Cathy

Wedding Table Centerpieces - "Country Style"...

...well these centerpieces are not maybe what you'd expect - BUT - they were different, perfect for their setting (in a barn, don't forget) and better yet - relatively inexpensive - which is a good thing since there were over 40.

On about 15 tables, we decorated with "real" sap buckets filled with sand to hold curly willow (free) and dried hydrangeas and sedum(yes, free and free) in place. They were tied with a piece of burlap and placed on an additional piece of burlap. For a pop of color - we used more hedge apples (which again - were free). A couple of simple votives and some white beans and split peas sprinkled around finished it off. Oh and I almost forgot - those white rusty balls - available at the shop - were added just for some interest.

...all lit up...

About 15 other tables were dressed with wire cloches and pretty birds perched high. They were set on cake plates - "borrowed" from many family members - for a lil' height. Some simple honeysuckle, hedge apples, a few dried hydrangeas, a candle and of course, beans, complete the look.

The simplest arrangements on the remaining tables were just various glass containers ( again - Borrowed) filled with beans, peas and candles. Simple - but pretty.

This lil' vignette was on the gift table - a large lantern filled with hedge apples, some leftover gourds, beans in a jar - imagine that - and some willow and peacock feathers.

You can see the willow a lil' better in this picture. Let me suggest if you don't own a "curly willow" tree - DO GET ONE. They are easy to root, quick to grow - make gorgeous accent twigs in all kinds of arrangements and do you know how expensive they are to buy at the store? - well, they are HIGH - that I do know.

Just showing you how pretty doesn't have to be expensive and...

...sometimes - more memorable.

Now, y'all go buy you some beans and get decorating!!!!

Happy Tuesday,

Cathy

The "Workbench" wall...

...of the barn. Yes, this is post number 3 in our "barn makeover" for Tiff and Shane's wedding. Jus' sharing with you what we started with and where we ended up. Tiff wanted something different - something casual, kind of "earthy", somewhat fallish - yet no orange pumpkins or mums. Well, here a few more pics of what those requests translated into.

As you can see - this wall had to be tweaked quite a bit. From the very beginning - we thought that this workbench would be perfect for the buffet line. But that shelf above - well, it was gonna be jus' for pretties. So here we go...

...some birds, some wire cloches, some green gourds...

...some white pumpkins, grapes and hedgeapples...

...lanterns, a wall of Christmas lights, yards and yards of burlap...

...old windows, lanterns, and big paper flowers...

...it was a pretty big focal point when it was said and done...

...it jus' glistened as the day turned into night...

I loved the way it turned out - it was different...

...but oh so pretty.

Happy Friday!

Cathy

Split Peas and White Beans...

...No - not to eat - but to decorate with. See I can't show you much of a picture - 'cause I'm working on a wedding (in a barn) for this upcoming weekend and everything is still a work in progress. But my mom and I had this idea to use "beans" to fill some jars - and since the colors are all "earthy" and whites - well split peas and white northern beans just seemed like the perfect mix.

Bags and Bags and Bags of Beans...

...all layered up...

...some just in mason jars with sweet lil' "baby boo" pumpkins...

...just makes for a simple, pretty and unique accent.

I'll be a busy girl the next few days getting everything ready to go. And I'll be sure and show you pictures - promise. I've just gotta wait till it's over - ya know, so it can be a surprise!

Have a beautiful Sunday!

Cathy

Morgan's Special Day

Oh what a beautiful Saturday it was for my sweet friend, Morgan. She was a stunning bride and her smile lit up the place because she and her new husband were so very happy. I'd been telling you all last week that I had been working on a wedding - I guess I should have said a wedding reception. You see, Morgan got married at one church and her reception was at another. And even though I didn't get to go to the wedding ceremony - I know it was gorgeous 'cause my dear friend Nell did the decorations there and she is one talented lady. I hated to miss the union but I stayed back to help get ready for all the well-wishers who attended the reception. So I'm gonna show you a lil' slide show - thought you might enjoy it. And I'm gonna give you a brief breakdown so you can understand some of the things you might see - like the pumpkin for instance.

*Morgan, a teacher, meets Jonathan, a pumpkin farmer
*They fall madly in love
*Jonathan proposes by having Morgan pick a carved pumpkin from the patch - "Will you Marry me?"
*Of course, she said yes!
*The wedding journey begins
*A Lemonade stand was made by her kind dad - it was a sweet tribute from Morgan to her late mother
*Many many many people gathered to celebrate the joining of these two people

- What a blessed, beautiful and extraordinarily happy day - for everyone involved.

Aunt Di, Beverly, Margie, Kathy, Amy, Jeremy, Christina, Fanola, Ann, Lizzie, Nell, Penny,Philip, Morgan and Jonathan - Thanks for including me - I so enjoyed the day and the friendship we all shared!!

Cathy

Fall Wedding Baskets

I jus' had to share with you a few pics of some baskets I made up for an outdoor fall wedding last weekend. The wedding was taking place right about sunset down by the creek - simply beautiful.



The bushel baskets were filled with Purple Baron Millet, vibrant colored mums, ornamental kale in white and cabbage in purple along with a lil' bit of trailing dichondra.



I think I had told you guys before that all mums usually have women's names. Well, these are Yellow Bethany and Red Regina. Have you ever checked to see if you share a name with a chrysanthemum? Might be interesting to find out. I have checked and unfortunately - there is no Cathy. Let me know if you'd like to find out - I'll share with you your special color.

Hope everyone is having a great week. It actually rained here today - what a blessing. It's been nearly two months since we had any rainfall - so it was wonderful to see it fall - hope we get some more tomorrow.

Happy Wednesday to ya!
Cathy Cobblestone