leaves

cute animals

Will Your Pets Leave the Leaves?

Some pets can't get enough of leaf piles, but my scaredy pup doesn't like stepping on any surface that's not solid and definitely won't wade through masses of anything.

Some pets can't get enough of leaf piles, but my scaredy pup doesn't like stepping on any surface that's not solid and definitely won't wade through masses of anything. However, he will chase and chew anything that falls from trees including twigs and leaves — how about your furry friends?

Halloween

Yummy Links: From Katie Lee to Top Chef 7

Katie Lee admits that having the last name Joel helped her career get started.— New York Magazine Black ravioli with pumpkin is the perfect Halloween dinner.— Saveur Feeling sick?

Fall

Roundup: Autumn Leaves

Are you lucky enough to see turning leaves in your neighborhood right now?

Are you lucky enough to see turning leaves in your neighborhood right now? Even in the Bay Area, red maple leaves and crisp orange oak leaves are dotting the sidewalks and parks around my home. I love the hues and shapes of turning Fall leaves, as well as how designers translate the pattern into their work. One of my favorite finds is this Autumn Mirrored Chest ($1,699). This handcrafted chest is hand-painted with curling Autumn leaves, and features mirrored veneers and a hardwood base. True, it's a splurge, but what a beautiful spurge it is!


For some more reasonably priced Autumn finds, see below.

Fall

Casa Quickie: Mulch Your Fall Leaves

When your trees' leaves have all fallen to the ground, it's customary to bag them up to be hauled away by your garbage man. But before you go there, consider mulching them to help enrich or insulate your soil.

When your trees' leaves have all fallen to the ground, it's customary to bag them up to be hauled away by your garbage man. But before you go there, consider mulching them to help enrich or insulate your soil. To turn them into mulch, all you have to do is run your lawn mower over them, which acts like a food processor! It helps to spread them out in long rows instead of one big clump. Then you can spread the chopped up decaying leaves around any plants, trees, or flower beds you have!

summer

Cool Idea: Curtains to Improve the View

Missing pretty foliage outside your window?

Missing pretty foliage outside your window? Just because you live in a city flat with a window facing a next-door brick wall doesn't mean you have to suffer. You can let these Chair Couture Green Collection Curtains (inquire for price) compensate for your landscape loss. These unique, opaque drapery panels are made to order, and all feature the "sunlight through the leaves" look of the fabric shown in the photo.


Need some other leafy curtain options? Take your pick when you read more

Fall

How-To: Conquer Your Leaves Before Snow Flies

My favorite thing about Fall, aside from post-Thanksgiving leftover sandwiches (yum), is the vivid and warmly colored leaves on the trees.

My favorite thing about Fall, aside from post-Thanksgiving leftover sandwiches (yum), is the vivid and warmly colored leaves on the trees. But, as we move into Winter (when we'll deal with ice and snow), this seasonal treasure will require some maintenance. And even if it's begun to snow in your neck of the woods, it's not too late to wrangle the leaves. If you have a landscaper or a young neighbor willing to do the work, you're off the hook here. But for the rest of you, getting rid of those leaves isn't such a terrible task, and I actually think it's kind of fun and festive. There are a few ways to do so, depending on what tools you have. To hear them, read more

Thanksgiving

Steal of the Day: Pottery Barn Kids Thanksgiving Leaf Garland

I think garlands are totally underrated.

I think garlands are totally underrated. They only seem to make an appearance on Christmas fireplace mantels or at the birthday parties of five-year-old girls. It's totally discrimination. I think we should welcome cute garlands like the Pottery Barn Kids Thanksgiving Leaf Garland ($39.99, reduced from $59) into our homes whenever possible. The festive garland is made of felt leaves on a grosgrain ribbon. So much easier and safer than pricking your fingers sewing hundreds of pieces of stale popcorn together for hours on end, don't you think?

DIY

DIY: Pressed Leaf Art

It seems as if I can't get enough of leaves this Fall.

It seems as if I can't get enough of leaves this Fall. If you like celebrating the season by bringing outdoor elements into your home, then I have a perfect project for you. This pressed leaf art would look wonderful hung in multiples by a Thanksgiving table, and would also make great gifts for any arboreal enthusiasts in your life.

What You'll Need

  • dry, pressed leaves
  • Mod Podge
  • foam brush
  • wax paper
  • heavy books
  • scrapbook paper
  • frames

To find out how to make this pressed leaf art, read more

Holiday

How-To: Create Festive Tabletop Votives

Recently, I came across this great, simple trick from Better Homes and Gardens for transforming a holiday Autumn table.

Recently, I came across this great, simple trick from Better Homes and Gardens for transforming a holiday Autumn table. For a beautiful twist on boring old votives, collect colorful leaves from your backyard or nearby park. Then, tie the leaves to the votive with ribbon, twine, or yarn. Voila! You have a no-cost centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table. Just be careful not to get any of the leaves close to the flame. While I do love the fiery reds of Autumn leaves, I don't actually think that I want them on fire.

For another votive idea, read more

Thanksgiving

Cool Idea: Leaves Placecards

I saw this cute idea for placecards over at Another Shade of Grey and couldn't help but pass it along.

I saw this cute idea for placecards over at Another Shade of Grey and couldn't help but pass it along. I feel . . . what's it called? dumb for not thinking of this first, but that's life. My life at least. Just pick some fallen leaves up from your own backyard or neighborhood, the most colorful ones you can find, and use a paint pen to write the names of your guests. If you don't already own one, you can snatch up paint pens in a wide range of colors and metallics at your local art store for under $3. Or, if you're artistic, you could attempt to paint leaves with real paints: not as easy. I love the way these leaves pop against the white plate, so I'd suggest either laying it on a white tablecloth or napkin, or directly on your dinner plate, although that's not as cleanly. What do you think? Cute, right?
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