A Welcoming Autumn Porch

 

Doesn't it seem that when you get busy with life, the seasons just come and go too quickly, and it seems like you didn't even get a chance to look around? That's what this summer-to-fall was like for me. Too many projects and things going on, and I decided to throw a craft show into the mix—that was a mistake I'll talk about in a future blog post (!). 

But I really need that time to stop and look around, to observe what's going on around me—the changing seasons, the changing colors. I've found that if I miss out on too much of it, it sets me back. There's a subtle disappointment I feel when that happens. That's the problem with being too busy and working too much. 

I haven't even blogged in forever, and I miss it so much. I hope to get back on track and start sharing more. I have a book to finish this week, and so much to do. But all I want to do is sit on an autumn porch with a cup of hot cider and appreciate all of the change the season brings, all of the colors.

One last thing I am going to try to do today is to get into the inner workings of this blog and play around with the theme and see if I can get the comments section back and working. When I played around with changing the theme a few years ago (the theme is basically the design template for how things on the blog are organized), my comment section completely disappeared. Keep your fingers crossed for me that I can get it back today, because I miss hearing what you have to say!

Now, what shall we talk about on the porch?

Happy fall! 

-Laura

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Article and images copyright ©Laura Beth Love 2025 and may not be republished in print or other media without express written permission from the author. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Welcome To My Garden...Of China Plates

 

Welcome to my garden...of china plates.

Why do beautiful vintage dishes fit so well into a garden landscape? The answer is simple; each china pattern is itself like a flower, beautiful and unique.

Years ago when folks accidentally broke dishes, the shards often got buried in the back yard, tossed down the privy, or into a nearby river. 

Nowadays when I happen across an orphaned shard in the dirt, chipped and dirty with earth, I instinctively wipe off the soil and inspect it and try to identify the pattern. Sometimes I can tell what it is, and sometimes the pattern remains a mystery. But there is magic in those shards, the painted blue on white or speckled with worn pink roses. I imagine where it came from, who owned it, how it broke, what kind of food it once held.

Our dishes become such a personal thing, especially when we are growing up, or looking back on times past, on loved ones now gone who once shared their dishes with us too. 

There's a very personal connection we have with dishes, and china patterns. They are like a sort of link between us and family, our homes, and our traditions. Small links of lives. 

So finding an orphaned china shard holds magic for me, because it is like finding a piece of a broken link. A link between folks long, long gone, and times long forgotten. But the shard remains. 

Maybe I should toss it back into the garden. It fits well there, a resting place for old, long forgotten china, with long forgotten connections. 

 

Happy summer,

Laura

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10 Things I Love About Jewelry Making

So what is it about jewelry making that makes it so great anyway? What is all the fuss about?

Well where do I begin? 

Jewelry making has so much to offer—much more than most people realize! And the world of jewelry making is wide and vast. 

In my newest YouTube video I share with you 10 Things I Love About Jewelry Making, and I bet you can't guess what they are! 

Watch and listen as I put together this pearl and silver shell bead bracelet, and see how easy jewelry making can be. Who knows, maybe you'll be inspired to create something too!

Check out the video and be sure to leave a comment after you watch, and let me know what your favorite things about jewelry making are.

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Laura

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Article copyright ©Laura Beth Love 2022 and may not be republished in print or other media without express written permission from the author. For any link updates or corrections leave correct info in comment area

Autumn At Your Doorstep: Decorating Porches & Entryways For Fall

Fall is here and it's time for pumpkins and mums! It's easy to create a welcoming entryway to your home for autumn, and you

don't have to spend a fortune in the process.

Natural themed elements are the way to go: pumpkins, mums, cornstalks, rustic baskets and hay bales are all great ideas for things you can use to decorate your porch or doorway. 

Check out these inspirational autumn porch ideas and be inspired! 

I love the look of these old lanterns with white pumpkins

The use of garlands above the doorway makes this look complete.
from Thistlewood Farm

Pumpkins wrapped in holiday lights from Womans Day

The hanging baskets with mums add height to this pretty autumn display

Carved out pumpkins look stunning bursting with colorful mums 

I think the orange of the fall decor goes great with the turquoise house trim

Beautiful fall porch from Thistlewood Farms

Country style entryway with gourds, pumpkins and squash

These apple baskets go beautifully with these mums

Orange mums and pumpkins from Martha Stewart

Welcoming porch from BHG

Fall entry from HGTV

Cute pumpkin bow display from Mary Arts

Pumpkin house from Lola Legally Blonde

What do you think?
How do you decorate for fall?

Which do you like best?

Have a great week!
Laura

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Article copyright ©Laura Beth Love 2019 and may not be republished in print or other media without express written permission from the author. Originally published 9/21/13 and revised and updated in 2021. For any link corrections please leave correct info in comment area.