Bringing Autumn Indoors

This year I've felt so hugely inspired by the colours of Autumn, and have found much happiness in gathering some little bits of nature to bring the Autumn season indoors. I'm lucky in that I haven't needed to venture far to find what has been calling to me. Walks through the park and local woodland have provided me with a beautiful collection of leaves and acorns.... 

....and the allotment plot has gifted me berries and rose hips. 

Last week I cleared some of the Spring/Summer things from my fireplace, gave the whole thing a good dusting down (oh, the volume of dust was astonishing) and started to decorate for the Autumn Season. Actually I was a bit sad to take down my Baby Bunting which I made last year using yarn left over from the Cupcake blanket - I realised (with a jolt of guilt) that I never got around to sharing this pattern with you, even though I had promised it in the Spring. I am so sorry. I do have every intention of still making this tutorial as I get asked about the pattern a lot on social media. Consider it added to my list and I'll see what I can do during the next month or so. 

I absolutely love this kind of decorative faffing in the home, it is satsifying and joyful on so many levels. It doesn't have to be anything complicated either - a few little glass bottles or jars filled with some twigs/leaves/berry stems, maybe some smooth pebbles gathered from a walk on the beach or some pine cones picked up on a woodland walk - I find these things so beautiful to look at.

I have a small collection of old glass bottles that I've bought from the local collectors centre over the years - I never paid more than £1 for any of them (the old glass ink bottle was only 50p), but I do love them very much. Any little glass jars would do though, they don't have to be old ones. Try looking in the baby-food aisle of the supermarket, the pureed baby mush comes in the most dinky little glass jars that would be perfect for small displays of nature. 

I can't tell you how much I love my crocheted pumpkins (details in this post, in case you missed it last week), I absolutely adore them and they look fantastic placed all along my mantel.

I swapped around a couple of pictures, moving my beloved Loretta Grayson print over to the dining room, and adding an original canvas by Annabel Burton which I love as the soft colours remind me of that delicate Summer/Autumn season shift. I've been a fan of Annabel's acrylic paintings for many years, you can see more of her work here. She usually sells her originals on eBay, so it's worth keeping a look out as they change frequently. 

Something else I collect all year round is feathers - I find them completely irresistible and unless it's in a shocking state I simply cannot walk past a feather without picking it up and bringing it home. Over the years I've collected plenty of seagull feathers from various beaches, as well as duck feathers from the riverside. But my most favourite are pheasant feathers which are harder to find but just beautiful when you come across them out in the countryside. Pheasant feathers do seem to be particularly evocative of Autumn I think.

I added a few feathers to an Ink Bottle Posy for my Autumn display, and I really love the simplicity of it. I used oak leaves from the park, rose hips from the allotment and seeded stems from the montbretia plant growing rampant in the front garden. I think it looks delightful and just as lovely as any shop-brought flowers. And those pumpkins.....oh I just love them so much. They honestly make me smile every time I look at them!

Now I can't remember how much I've shown you of the Autumn crochet that's been occupying my hands and mind of late? I know I've put a few images on Instagram and Facebook in recent weeks, but can't think if I've shown much here on my blog. Well, I've been hooking up some leaves, berries and acorns to create an Autumn Garland which is something I've wanted to make for a few years now. You might remember my Autumn Wreath from 2013? This garland has a similar feel I think. I knew I wanted something seasonal to hang in place of the pastel-coloured Baby Bunting which I've just taken down from my fireplace, and a garland of leaves seemed just the thing.

The leaves have been a joy to make as I've designed new patterns for them and had loads of fun playing with the colours. The oak leaf was a major design challenge but so satisfying once I finally nailed it!

I've spent time during the last few days photographing and creating a tutorial to share with you. This will include patterns for  three Autumn garland/wreath thingies - a two-tone Beech Leaf, a two-tone Oak Leaf and a cute little Acorn. I've almost finished it (just need to do some final pattern checking) so will hopefully be able to publish all that tomorrow, just in time for the weekend. 

I have to tell you that today I finally pulled out everything I've been making during the past month or so and laid it all out to see if I had enough.....and it was just perfect. There were 4 sycamore leaves, 16 beech leaves, 12 oak leaves, 6 acorns and 4 berry clusters. I quickly hooked up some teensy little single berries and set to work creating my garland...such fun!

My garland is now hanging beautifully on my fireplace and I am thrilled with it.....I can't wait to show you tomorrow.....

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Comments

[Ana Maria]

Gracias Lucy.
Es todo tan bonito,como haces para tener tiempo para
todo.
Abrazos.

[Christine]

Lovely pictures! I can smell autumn when I look to it.

[Ans Harmeling]

Wow Lucy, what a lovely garland you've made. I absolutely love it!
And those cute pumpkins, they are adorable. Do you have a pattern of those too?
Thank you for sharing this all!

[Lynn]

I’m really looking forward to that Garland. So cute! I decorated my mantle yesterday. Home grown pumpkins and butternut squash spilled on the hearth and artificial pumpkins, gourds and fall leaves on the mantel. It’s too early where I live in S. California to find changing leaves and fall goodness. Autumn’s glory usually displays in December. I just mix the natural with the artificial and enjoy the season! I’m waiting patiently for the woodland blanket reveal....well semi patiently!

[ALI DUFTY]

Nailed it indeed ! Another deliciously seasonal creation :)) x

[Angela-Southern USA]

LOVE it! I found a blue jay feather the other day and was thrilled to add it to my own collection of feathers. I love how you've added a few feathers with the berries. I have mini pumpkins all over my living room, to be so small they really do big much enjoyment. I look forward to seeing the finished autumn mantel.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Cathy]

Lucy whenever I look at your blog I can feel my seratonin levels rising - your use of colour and creativity never fail to inspire! Another gorgeous post full of autumnal inspiration, I shall look forward to your new patterns. Thank you for your generosity.
Cathy x

[Susan Smith]

Another lovely autumnal post. I too have a collection of old bottles, picked up over many years & used frequently for odd flowers & other bits. I also pick up feathers, and misplaced them in our last move, but a few months ago picked up a "wedge-tailed eagle" feather & it's large & beautiful. I keep thinking about giving leaves & flowers a try, but so far it hasn't happened. Thanks for your great posts & take care.

[Kim]

I never pick things/cut them or even pick them off the ground to bring home because I always think it is prohibited as belonging to either a private owner or the council. Is that not correct? Also I guess I find it best to leave things in nature where they will be enjoyed by many and may have a longer natural life, or be seeded and bear fruit.

[Sue]

Hi Lucy,
Thanks so much for this post. The anticipation of a new project(even small ones) is half the joy. I've been following you for several years and I think your tutorials are the easiest to understand. Your colors always inspire me. I love your photo walks through your neighborhood. Bless you & keep on inspiring all of us. Sue

[Monica]

Lucy, Thankyou once again for sharing the wonderful photos of your home with your beautiful creations. I visit Attic 24 everyday just to see what you generously share. Love all the colours for your Autumn garland. Looking forward to seeing it finished.

[Kimmy]

Love seeing all your gorgeous decorations. They really do bring on the holiday mood - whatever the season my be. Yummy scents are so important too. Looking forward to your finished garland post tomorrow. Thanks for sharing, as always.

[EL]

Beautiful indeed. In that 6th photo, the little pumpkins make me think of sea urchins... a thought to put away for next summer, maybe? or if you have some of the Lagoon left over... ;-)

[Margaret Simpson]

Thank you, thank you Lucy for the beautiful Autumn colours you have shown in this blog. I have lived in Australia since the mid 60's, and miss the change of seasons. I live on the coast in Central Queensland and we do not have such changes of seasons. So thank you the beautiful blog. 😊🇦🇺

[Tinke]

All that creative power <3 fond of it. That kitty of you must be the sweetest ever. Found my fall decoration stripped by my Girl. She drank the water, yuk. I'm looking out for that tutorial xxx

[Mary Lloyd Jones]

Never enough time to do everything but would love to! I walk along our lovely Belgian Prom in Menai Bridge every day and find lots of lovely bits ....there is also Church Island which is a dream fir my lovely Margo, a Wells Terrier i.e. Half Parsons Jack Russell and other half Tibetan Terrier, a totally lovely combination. Margo ,on a lead on the Island ,is absolutely fascinated by the rabbits! Lots of teazels ready for Christmas and beautiful berries. Lucy thank you for your lovely blogs...cheer up the darkest of days with colours galore!

[sew]

You are soooo good to us Lucy. I live in a retirement flat now and I think most of my fellow residents think I'm a bit potty as nobody else has conkers etc on a 'nature table' nor an assortment of random seasonal crocheted items on display! I don't care! I've just got two sticks out (for a change) and knitted a little Pudsey for Children-in-Need. Thanks Luce. xx

[CJ]

The autumn crochet looks divine, can't wait to see the finished garland. Lots of feathers here as well, along with a couple of bulrushes that have seen better days. I like those little vintage glass bottles as well, I have a tiny one with a lid filled with vintage pen nibs. As a (very amateur) calligrapher I like to imagine who wrote with them originally. Your mantel is looking gorgeous, very cosy and welcoming. I really must venture out and pick some bits for mine and for the kitchen windowsill. CJ xx

[Bela]

Everything you make is so beautiful! You have such an eye for colour and design. Thank you for generously sharing your creations with us.

[Angela Martin]

So looking forward to seeing the finished Autumn garland. You are so clever.

[Teresa Kasner]

I love all your autumnal crochets.. I can't wait to see the garland all done! I made one of the little pumpkins you shared.. made the little tendril.. but where is the pattern for the cute little leaf? I tried to figure out one on my own but to no avail. I will be making more of these! Especially your striped ones which will be next. Perfect for my Thanksgiving tableaux! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[NORA McGRANN]

LOVE LOVE LOVE all the gorgeous colours in this blog, Lucy..

Would love to have a go at making some of your wonderful creations..

Thanking you, as ever

Nora xx

[Laurie Mowat]

I love your little jars. I don't have any old ones just interesting jars from the grocery store. One trick I did learn about removing the sticky residue after you get most of the label off is to spread some peanut butter on it, let it sit for awhile and it should all come off. So if anyone else has that problem just buy the cheap peanut butter!
One of the things I have kept from the summer is a hummingbird nest that had fallen out of our tree. It didn't look like it had ever been used and it is a little
piece of perfection. I have it tucked away because I don't want it out collecting dust, I seem to have collected volumes of it too! I need to find some place to display it.
Beautiful photos as always. Keep enjoying your Autumn.

[Hilary]

So inspiring, makes me want to go out foraging and decorate our hearth. Thank you xx

[Pamela Whitelaw]

Such beautifull photos, Lucy, and lovely Autumn crochet settings. You have certainly set the mood for keeping cosy in the cooler weather. Thank you for always being so inspiring especially with colour. Your posts always lift my spirits.