Monday, September 24, 2012

DIY Dropcloth Oak Leaf Garland and Fall Table


Most of my Fall decorations are still buried deep in an unorganized garage, so I decided to make some new ones this year. First ... I am not into banners or garlands, but I really liked the garland that Lucy at Craft Berry Bush made last year. Check her tutorial on her oak leaf garland she made.

Google search brought up the oak leaf shape that I liked.
  I downloaded it to Microsoft word and using the original size, I enlarged it inch-by-inch to make different size patterns. I think I started out with a 4", then 5", and 6", maybe even had a 3". 


I cut a piece of fabric from a used painter's drop cloth and getting some areas where there was paint, was a plus. I cut out several of each size. I went by the directions that Lucy gave using a chenille stick to iron the veins in the leaf.  
Spray starching stiffens the fabric and caused it to curl a little. You can iron more curl into each point. I used an old dish washing fiber sponge to dab on some brown and yellow watered-down craft paint.  
Then with an old toothbrush, I splattered watered-down red paint on. I did not dip them in tea/coffee because I felt it would cause them to ravel more. A little ravel makes them look more natural. Then I glued them to sisal twine.
 
This year, I am really feeling "harvest" so wanted to carry out that theme on our dining table. Burlap runner, old kitchen crocks filled with fruit came to mind but what could I fill them with?   Most of my fruit and gourds were in my Fall Harvest Mantel and I did not want to buy more. I found two old grapevine pumpkins; painted some gosh-awful reddish-brown with some red berries on top; so they got a dry-brush of orange, some leaves, berries and raffia added to the tops.  Looked better. The piece of grapevine was pulled off the old wagon on the front porch and had just the right drape to wrap around the three crocks. The dropcloth oak leaf garland fit just fine. Wish I had made more leaves. Decoration looked okay ... but needed something more ... I wanted to keep it simple, but this was too drab, so added the blown glass pumpkins that I had collected last year and that helped. The one with the beautiful curly stem and the tall one came from Pier 1, about $17.00 each. Small ones bought at Thrift Stores for just a dollar or two.
The crock in the middle was my Mom's that she used to make yeast bread. I still have a picture in my mind of the rising bread and being tempted to stick my finger in it. That would have gotten me in a lot of trouble. She also made her biscuits by pouring a bunch of flour in the bowl, made a "well" in the center, added the salt, baking powder, shortening and milk and rolled it around, worked flour into it until she got it to the consistency that she wanted. She never used all the flour, but had this large ball of dough that she rolled out and cut her biscuits. Don't know how she got the right amount of everything. 
I have made biscuits like this too, but don't remember exactly how I did it. The rim of the crock was her whetstone to sharpen her kitchen knives. The rim of the bowl is still dark from using it this way. This big old crock brings back good memories. Happy Fall you'all.



Blessings,
Audrey Z.  

I Gotta Create
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Linking to Funky Junk Interiors ... Table runners. Saturday Nite Special link party via Funky Junk Interiors

16 comments:

  1. Love it! The leaves are something different and I like the "rustic" look of them. Wonderful idea and your table looked beautiful.

    Hugs,
    Stephanie

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  2. LOVE Audrey and look you copied your graduate button:) I still have not had time to even code it. You are looking like the Harvest season in every way. I love it too. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. How pretty Audrey...thank you so much for taking the time to let me know about your beautiful garland...I love how you added a bit of colour...thanks again Audrey hope to talk to you again soon..xo
    Lucy

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  4. Audrey ... those leaves are so great ... I'm not really a garland girl myself, love what you did when the leaves. Beautiful tablescape. :)

    Happy fall!!

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  5. The harvest theme is wonderful and using the vintage crockery is the perfect touch. You know I'm a sucker for family pieces and I love that one of the bowls was you mom's! I never heard of the edge being used as a whetstone but I see how it could work. I'll think of your mom every time I look at my bowl, now! ~ Maureen

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  6. Beautiful, great idea.
    If I only had time, I love so much things, my head is spinning.
    Love, Annette

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  7. Audrey,
    I absolutely love this tablescape!!

    Very pretty!!

    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  8. Love your harvest table - those leaves are fabulous!
    Kelly

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  9. A great looking table...you really did a good job on the leaves. Just as cute as they can be.
    I would love to see more of your house. :))
    xo bj

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  10. Hi Audrey - thanks for visiting and commenting. Making your own chalk paint works pretty well, I've painted several pieces of small furniture and frames and waxed them when they were try and it looks much the same as commercial chalk paint. There are lots of 'recipes' for mixing. I am using dry plaster of paris but several other dry ingredients apparently work too.
    Needs lots of mixing to make the paint smooth. Fun to try though.
    Joy

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  11. I love your leaves and all your fall touches! My Mom always made homemade noodles the way you discribed, so your post brought back memories for me too!

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  13. Very pretty. I like this idea.

    Thank you for linking up at the Wildly Original party.
    <3 Christina at I Gotta Create!

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