What a Difference a Shade makes

 

Recently I decided that I wasn't happy with the look of the lampshades in our living room.  For some reason they just didn't seem to go with the rest of the room, and the light shining through them felt too harsh and bright.  I wanted to diffuse it a bit.  Then I found some burlap shades at a local "big box" store and decided to give them a try.

 What a difference!  They look so much better.  They actually allow more light into the room because they have a larger opening at the top, but the burlap fabric gives the light a warmer cozier glow.  The change really warmed up the room.

Here's a better picture of the corner of the room with the old shade. The light looks warm in the photo, but in reality it was really too bright. 

And here is the same corner of the room with the new shade.  So much better!

Thanksgiving Table

It's taken me forever to post these pictures, but this is how I decorated the table for Thanksgiving. We had fewer guests than expected, but that gave me more room for table wares.  In the upper left hand corner you can see some cute little mini-pumpkins on the windowsill.   

I bought a number of vintage postcards at a local antique store and used them as place cards.  I chose each card specifically with each guest in mind.  I found one with a dog in it for my friend who loves dogs and who used to have a doggy daycare.  I chose the turkey card above for someone I knew would appreciate a more traditional image.     

I chose the card on this plate for myself because it features a little girl in a plaid skirt, and my family is partly of Scottish descent.

 

I was lucky to find the beautiful tablecloth at our local Goodwill store.  I handmade each of the napkins with a beautiful floral fabric I found at the fabric store. Overall I think the table came out pretty well and I have a year to think about what I'll do with next year's table.