Tale of Two Seasons!

Isn't November a wonderful month for decorating?

You can still use your pumpkins, gourds, and corn shocks 

for that harvest homestead look; 

but if you're really anxious for the holidays, 

you can trim your shrubs and evergreens for boughs, swags, 

and sprays of greens to fill your containers. My native holly was full 

of plump red berries until our terrible wind storm left most of them on the ground. 

I'd planned to use these with my greens for the winter arrangements. 

 A few hemlock branches, holly berries, and pine cones

 fill this neat wooden creche on the mercantile porch. 

The interior light brings the arrangement to life.

Here an old mustard painted tote sports bittersweet 

and hemlock branches for the best of both worlds.

This one's a bit out of focus,

but doesn't this trio look festive on the weathered bench?

 Didn't get much time to make new things since last weekend, 
but here's a tree made from an old wool army blanket.
 It's "trunk" is an old mill bobbin. 

My little sock doll is supported by an old glass telephone insulator. 

Her apron I fashioned from a scrap of an early wool coverlet and she clings 

to her little brush tree and bowl of berries. 

 She's a special order for a special customer!

Hope you can come to the mercantile 

this weekend to see for yourself!