It's fall y'all!

{first 4 images: Fall @ the Fraziers, last 8 images, from Martha & various others}

Its finally brisk outside... I broke out the fall decorations yesterday & purchased the first of many (& have almost completed) jumbo bags of candy corn for the season. My thoughtful mom surprised me with the beautiful pumpkin loaf pan from Williams Sonoma & Pumpkin Spice bread mix... delish! We ate some smokey cheese and chips & salsa with the football game on, I went to the pumpkin patch & did some fall shopping with my mom, we (see: Ryan) worked in the yard & we (see: me) decorated the front porch, and drank some hot spiced tea late last night.

This is absolutely my favorite time of the year... the weather, the fashion (boots!), the food, the football, the fair, etc. I adore it...

& here's a yummy-looking adult Apple cider Recipe to kick - start your fall season, adapted from Martha. I am dying to try this soon...

Mulled Spiced Cider

2 quarts fresh apple cider (in a pinch, jarred from the grocery will do the trick)
1/2 cup firmly packed light-brown sugar
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1 teaspoon whole allspice
2 cinnamon sticks + 10 for garnish (1 per mug)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 dash nutmeg
1 1/2 ounces rum (sometimes I substitute Spiced Rum for extra flavor)
With cloves and allspice in a teaball, cook all ingredients in a crockpot on low 2-8 hours (it smells divine!). Stir occasionally to dissolve sugar. Want to make it quicker? Just warm in a medium size pot on the stove on low heat 20 - 30 minutes or until your concoction is simmering & the sugar is melted. At this point, add 1 1/2 ounces (Bacardi) Gold Rum per mugful when poured. If pouring into a thermos, combine and pour at the end; just don’t cook the rum. Serves 10.

Happy Fall Monday!

the chair.

Finally, here is my birthday present... our wingback recovered! I am in love! I wanted a pattern that was bold, but not too bold or too trendy where I would grow tired of it over the years. I also wanted a color/pattern I could move from room to room and not pigeon hole myself. We are really happy with it... if you need a very reasonable re- upholsterer in Dallas, I have got the place!

I also sewed some pillows to tie in more of the gray/ blue color... I fell in love with the fabric, but it didn't work on the chair, so I moved it to some pillows on the sofa...

and a for neckroll-ish pillow for the bench...

I also sewed a blue/creme pillow in a coordinating fabric for Senga to lay her little head on this winter. We pulled the colored rug out of this room, moved it to our bedroom, and pulled this one in from the garage. We had it in here a few years ago, but at the time, it seemed too dull and needed more color... now, we have color elsewhere, so this little thing made a reappearance to tone & calm the room back down. I love it now, it is more peaceful and seems to fir out taste & personalities more.

Happy late birthday to me & happy, happy Tuesday!

mugs.

I stumbled across this happy blog, faces in places. As you "well, obviously" can see... people send in images of faces they stumble across throughout the day. I feel like I notice faces all the time... so, I love that someone has taken the time to make a compilation. They are so intriguing all together. I love this... happy little reminders.

Happy weekend everyone! happy. happy.

LV.

Without a doubt, still my favorite advertising presentation & collection, as of yet. I have been spying it all over Pre-Fall & September issues for the past month and literally cannot. get. enough. So preppy, posh, and feminine....{Sigh.}

from LV. duh.

the bench.

ALERT: Please excuse these HORRIBLE images... I used my iPhone because it was available & convenient... like always. :)

I have always loved the shape of this bench, but was never so much a fan of the fabric. It always seemed a bit drab looking to me... so, while the other two chairs are getting professionally upholstered, I decided to save some dough & try my hand at reupholstering... what's the harm in trying, right? I tried to take some pics a long the way, but bare with me, I got very focused & lacked images in some areas.

I first began by intricately observing the bench to see the details & taking pictures to help me remember what I needed to replicate. I then removed the legs, careful to label them so that I could line them up again properly. Next, I found the piece of fabric that should obviously come off first: { usually the back or bottom.} In my case, it was the bottom cover liner. I carefully removed the stables with priers and a flathead screwdriver... careful not to rip the fabric so that I could recut my new fabric to the exact sizes needed. Then just go step by step in what seem to be be the easiest and most effective to come off next. The dissembling part is the longest and most tedious... I ended up with blisters on my hands 5 hrs. later. IMPORTANT: Again, TAKE NOTE of EVERY contruction detail... and take pictures of each section along the way so you won't forget.

labeling.

dissembling.

The sides of my bench were the most tedious and difficult, but it varies, obviously, from piece to piece.

Then, basically, I just started carefully stapling the fabric back in place exactly like I took it off... making sure to keep it taut, and in my case, (with the stripes) straight. I covered the bottom cushion first, then moved the the arms... the only trick is just making sure your staples stay hidden and secure along the way. (Make sure you are stapling into the wood, and not the batting.

Bottom before the finish out fabric.

side arm.

bottom cushion completed.

Again, while working on the arms, just make sure your folds are pulled taut and you have secured everything properly with staples. The staple gun will be your best friend... and your worst enemy.

Below, I had to cover and clean up the side of the arms because there was a gap in the structure. You can make things look really clean with thick cardboard pieces cut to size and stapled in with batting then placed over it. It gives the side a cleaner finish and covers up your flaws.

I finally had to re-nail all the studding back in... I was really careful in removing it so that I could reuse them and not have to buy more. You can always just plunk them out and replace, but I took the longer route to save me a trip to the store and some cash. (This would definitely be an area you could cut down on time, if you choose.) Once you pull out the studding, take some pliers and straighten the nail shaft back to a 90 degree angle. (Sweet Ry did this part for me while watching football... ) I then carefully measured my spacing with new quantity of nail heads (after loosing a few), marked the placement of each with a a marker, and started nailing them in, again. You can use a rubber mallet to protect the nail heads, but I just used a good ol' BU rally rag and duck tape to cover the hammer and add some padded protection so I wouldn't scratch, dent, or knick the heads.

I then just screwed back in the legs and bought some 3" nails for reinforced support, and drilled them into the base.

See before: (sorry, its my only before image I have)

And after:

This little beaut has a whole new lease on life... and she only cost me the fabric and some cents on the dollar for the reinforcement screws.

Happy Monday!

taupe lovin.

Oh me, Oh my... Chanel is introducing its new Les Khakis de Chanel nail-polish collection tonight, featuring three military-inspired colors: Khaki Vert, Khaki Brun, and Khaki Rose. Woweee, I do adore these colors!

They are "A welcome contrast to the hit-you-over-the-head shades of summer..."

I will pair perfectly with all the Camel and Military inspired apparel for Fall... well, actually, in my opinion I think it would look smashing with just about anything you decide to don this autumn. { sigh.}

Chanel or online.

hello, world.

Hello out there, I am still alive! I just have been uber busy, some of which is my own doing {which is a wonderful thing... & thank you everyone for your kind, encouraging words about my graphic work & for helping me get the word out! I have loved being busy for those reasons.} & then of course, my day job keeps me trucking along at a quick pace. ha. Along with trying to figure more of the logistics out of MF Designs as a side business/ hobby... :)

I've been loving this poster... from here. Wonderful message & mission in life to attempt to follow.

I've been eyeing this wreath for Halloween & have already busted out the gold spray paint to work on various Halloween 2010 ditties. I also made my annual, (or multi annual... who am I kidding? I love Dollar Tree!) Halloween trip to Dollar Tree. :) Love that place for select holiday decorations. Yes, I know I am too early, but I looove it. A girl can, at least, start planning... and everyone knows you can never have enough ravens.

I've been greatly inspired by this installation by the Ferney's, so I decided to try my hand at cake painting... the concept was so fun and whimsical, so I busted out an old canvas & paints & attempted my own version for the kitchen. Painting really is the most relaxing activity on the planet... while I was satisfied with my end result, it pails in comparison to Paul F's work. {note: this is NOT my painting, I repeat, NOT my painting... its Paul F.'s. I do wish it was mine to claim, though.}

I have been literally scouring EVERY known online store, site, & resale shop for a well priced, fits my needs, nicely contructed project table. Still looking, but boy, they are pricey & if you are gonna spend that much, it needs to fit ALL your needs, right? right. That's what I thought. Maybe one day, soon... but, for those of you that want to know, there are a lot of 'make your own options' out there... just ask & I can point ya in the right direction. I do believe I am the 'Project Table Expert Connoisseur' right now... just saying. :)

Along with my birthday present, {recovering my wingback!} (it lives where the bench is in this pic - which is from last fall) we had to get that leather club chair (right) patched up due to, well, a mischievous little pup... she made her little afternoon snack the yummy side of the chair... so we are chairless in our living room right now. So, why not seize the moment! I took the opportunity of extra floor space to tackle an upholstry project of my own... that little bench is torn up right now & is being given a new lease on life & some sofa pillows are being recovered via Frazier Reupholstering Deluxe! ha. I have taken pics to do a 'How To' after I, hopefully, complete it this weekend. I can't wait to see the results... however, I could a dug myself into a really big hole. :) I obviously have been living at various fabric stores, as of late.

Finally, and most importantly, I also have gotten to catch up with some dear friends, lately... and I realize how blessed I am really am with the family & friends the Lord has put in my life, in good times and in bad. I have the greatest Family & Friends this side of the Mason Dixon... I just know it.

Happy Friday's Eve! Woweee its already almost the weekend! xoxo.

Etsy Shop.

{See Etsy Shop link on Right hand column of blog.} I still have lots to add and things to tweak... but hey, you gotta start somewhere, right? Off to bed, finally. xoxo.