Thanksgiving Decor Inspirations

Happy Thanksgiving 
to you, and a bountiful Harvest season of decorating with the wonderful colors and symbols so abundant this time of year. I am posting a baker's dozen photos as my small part in stopping the rush of the general populous into the buying frenzy that has become Christmas recently..

Following this introductory image, I will begin with some projects and focal points that can be created using Silhouette paper crafting. The other images include needlework or favorite collectibles we have "gathered in" over the years.

Hope these vignettes provide some inspiration for your own space and collections, or your plans and dreams. Here is a framed cross stitch piece with a twig wreath and miniature Indian corn.

 My regular collection of birdhouses, brought into seasonal focus with a "single" thrift store plate that is decorated with a Silhouette leaf wreath design and text saying cut from vinyl and easily applied.

 Here are two of my favorite Williraye figurines, standing atop a recycled wooden box (I collect these of all sizes, too) which has been embellished with a Silhouette design of text and leaf.

 A small part of the decor, this be-ribbon'd oversized wrought iron key gets changed out for each change in season. Here the oak leaves and acorns are enhanced with a multi-layered banner tag that was cut using Silhouette files, combined and manipulated to the right size and configuration to suit my project.














An autumn grouping that features a vinyl design on a wheat-colored ceramic tile. This one was a gift from daughter Kenzie, whose creative genius and imagination has led me down this new path of paper crafting and digital design. (Bless you!)

Our entry-way wall provides a changing canvas and an opportunity to greet visitors in a new way each month. Here you can see the two-color vinyl text design with a wooden pilgrim (created by friend Lisa Glauser), with a row-style wall quilt I designed a few years ago for a House of White Birches publication "Harvest of Autumn Quilts".

Here you can see the whole wall ensemble.

 A shelf unit that has held many of my precious knick-nacks over the years, specifically my miniature houses collection. Showing here a few that still fit in the color scheme of autumn. A miniature patchwork quilt "Autumn Reverie" hangs to the side, and on the chest a collection of Pilgrim and Native American figurines.

 A cross-stitch pillow sleeve adorns the wing-back in the sitting room.

 A wooden cutout is featured on a narrow wall space. (This lettering was done with a digital cutter, too.)

 A tiny patchwork quilt in a miniature quilt stand adds color to the mantle.

A thrift-store find, this "handled" container was just the right spot for a cluster of silk and artificial orangerie. The Williraye cat always finds a way into my groupings, because his wonderful creamy color adds the right contrast.

Framed cross-stitch with other favorite folk art pieces.


Adding a house here and there is my way of remembering that Home & Family are the highest in my long list of Life's blessings.


Wishing you the best of the "giving Thanks" season. Please enjoy the reflective gratitude before you step into the Christmas festivities.

Be THANKFUL Letter Boxes Ensemble

I've been having more fun using Snapdragon Snippets' box letters.

This time my selected word is longer, so I brainstormed how to scale the letters for maximum space efficiency. Then I began the hunt for fun and dimensional elements to express what Thanksgiving means to me. Here's what I came up with: 3d acorns and oak leaves, dimensional cornucopia filled with 3d harvest-able things (carrots, apples, corn, grapes), spherical pumpkin, 3d turkey with his hand sign, pilgrim hat, and clustered wheat. 

 Detail photos will make it easier to see the paper shapes used. On the 'T' hang a trio of 3d acorns with oak leaves behind, embellished with actual perle cotton center stitching.

 The 'A' and 'N' are raised on a box I drafted and cut, so that the wonderful new dimensional cornucopia could make an "upstage" appearance. It is filled with dimensional corn, carrots, apples and grapes. The carrots are miniaturized from a box file. All others are "slice forms", including the 3/4" grape circles with center perforations that I improvised myself in Silhouette Studio.

Here you can see the "fruit filling" a little better.

 The 'K' is the same modified (shorter arm) version from my "SPoOkY" ensemble previously done, this time holding a spherical pumpkin.

'F' is the platform for the 3d turkey with his sign of admonition about the right attitude for November. (And always!) Above the 'U' floats the 3d pilgrim hat suspended on a wire.

 Finally comes 'L' with a cluster of wheat stalks, tied up with a bow.

Besides the 3d letter boxes, many of the designs featured come from Snapdragon Snippets. Search for them in the online store under that specific designer.

For a detailed list of the letter re-sizing, and the design files I used, email me with a request for the "Be THANKFUL Letter Box Ensemble" and I will email it back.

Jodi at hearthsewnpatterns(at)yahoo(dot)com 

"Harvest Blessings" Silhouette Project

Ahhhh!, Feels good to squeeze in a few moments 
to celebrate the Thanksgiving season.

Inspiration for this project has been bouncing in my imagination. 

I don't think tags are just for banners, as you can see. 
Here they adorn filled vessels and sit atop a re-purposed shelf box 
with vinyl phrase added onto a painted plank.

These two-layer H A R V E S T tags and the "Blessings" flourished phrase 
are from Silhouette designer Kenzie Daley of Snapdragon Snippets. 

Tags have cut-out letters, ribbon punch holes, and 
detailed flourished autumn symbols (acorn, pumpkin and leaf). 
These last don't show as well in a photo image as they do in person. 

Recycled glass containers - vases of two shapes plus a goblet-style candle holder - 
are filled with nature's treasures (pine cones, hemlock cones, horse chestnuts, acorns). 

In this closeup you get a better idea of the jar composition. 

A piece of corrugated paper has been curled around the jar or vase neck, 

with brown raffia wrapped, threaded through ribbon holes, 

then through a large brown wooden bead, with a rust ribbon accent.

One note regarding the "Blessings" design: I added the end flourishes, 
copied or reversed from the original, 
then added a few "berry" circle clusters that I love.

Hope you have time this November 

to do something fun with your Silhouette Studio!

Be sure to check out Snapdragon Snippets' many wonderful designs for the season.