Weekend Reading 9.12.21

Yesterday was a somber one, I remember September 11, 2001 so clearly. My teenagers asked me what it was like so I told them my story.

I was on east coast time, vacationing with Matt in Puerto Rico when I went to the hotel gym to work out in the morning. In the distance on the television I saw a burning building and thought it was the latest Hollywood action movie. It never occurred to me that it was real. Then I watched a second plane hit the World Trade Center. Then I watched the twin towers fall in real time.

Those who lived it remember planes were grounded for days. We were stuck on the island, glued to the television. We were unable to get a return flight for five days and finally flew through JFK on our way back to San Francisco. I’ll never forget the mood at JFK, everyone was cooperative but collectively so very sad.

Two months later we were in New York City visiting Ground Zero where the embers were still burning. I’ll never forget the somber feeling in the city yet also the solidarity among the people. I visited the memorial plaza ten years later and it was heartbreaking to stand in that place. It always will be.

Favorite links found this week:

A very cool mottled tile backsplash in this redesigned condo.

Old world meets new plus so many arches in this Spanish style home.

I’m on board with this look: stained wood paneling.

Martha’s visual guide to all the pumpkin varieties.

20 apple recipes for fall cooking.

I’ve got a list of pandemic purchases, good and bad. What were yours?

Plan your trip with the 2021 USA Fall Foliage Map (by date).

Four ways to prioritize rest.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://distancebetweenplaces.com/?p=320

Leaf Embellished Pumpkins

I was at Trader Joe’s yesterday and they had just brought out their gourds and cinderella pumpkins. They are always a good price there so I brought a few home and embellished them with preserved leaves and a few fresh eucalyptus stems.

 

I purchased these skeleton rubber plant leaves a few weeks ago on Amazon, they are so delicate and great for so many fall crafts.

green leaves / natural color / brown leaves

I like these skeleton leaves so much I started creating a simple wreath too, attaching the leaves with hot glue to a gold wire circle.

These transparent leaves are great for so many fall projects: garlands, wreaths, bookmarks, art projects, even headbands.

 

 

This pumpkin project is simple, quick, and easy. Gather whatever gourds or pumpkins you like, real or fake, and dried botanicals or long lasting fresh stems like eucalyptus.

 

I used the skeleton leaves to decorate a few of the pumpkins, using Mod Podge to attach them. I used both fake and real pumpkins for this project, the leaves look fab with either!

 

I used a few extra dried ferns from last week’s roundup of preserved botanicals for fall to cover the top of a white cinderella pumpkin.

For these flat ferns, I used spray adhesive to attach them to the pumpkin.

 

I used hot glue to attach the eucalyptus stems to this green gourd.

 

I used three different adhesives during this project: Mod Podge for thin skeleton leaves, spray adhesive for flat leaves, and hot glue for stems.

 

These make great little seasonal objects for shelves or indoor vignettes.

 

 

Or use them in outdoor displays too!

 

So easy and so pretty!

Did you miss our previous article…
https://distancebetweenplaces.com/?p=307

Landscape Murals: Inspiration & Sources

I was walking through the Presidio in San Francisco and on my route was The Lodge, a hotel in the middle of the historic property. When I entered, I spied a giant ocean wall mural of the Pacific Ocean in the hotel dining room.

Landscape murals make a fantastic focal point that tell a story or create a mood. They bring a destination or travel vibe to any space.

Tropical or botanical murals started trending a few years ago, recently the landscape mural are resurging in popularity, especially the trompe l’oeil style (French for “fools the eye”) with old world pastoral scenes and panoramas.

The landscape mural has its history in centuries old painted murals from Europe. These murals always suit traditional interiors and hotels.

chateau de saulon

 

papiers de paris

 

Landscape murals are popping up in modern interiors paired with contemporary furnishings as an alternative to art or decorative wall displays. These create an instant focal point on wide walls. Consider them for dining rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, or home offices. Inspirational examples below!

wooded forest

eden mural  | mural source here

 

japanese ink wall mural

 

 

foggy hills – pacific northwest

vintage scene

ships mural

scandinavian fall

forest mural – installation & link here

french landscape

english landscape

country landscape

bathroom niche

tropical black and white

 

mirage view

gray chinoiserie

neutral forest

tuft & trim nursery – susan harter murals

If you’re looking for sources for a landscape mural in your home, office, or commercial space, visit these sources below!

Sources for Landscape Murals

Papiers de Paris

Jazz London

Susan Harter

Etsy

Walls Need Love

York Wallcoverings

Designer Wall Coverings

Kirkland’s

Lowe’s

Did you miss our previous article…
https://distancebetweenplaces.com/?p=287