We are an equal opportunity subject coverer here at Thistlewood Farms.
We talk about parrot earrings and exclamation points and rewritten endings and butter dishes and asking ourselves what Emily Post would do.
There isn’t a subject is too big or too small.
Just a random-thought day in the life of KariAnne.
Like yesterday.
I was arranging these incredible navy and khaki velvet pumpkins on the dining room table and putting wood pedestals here and there and adding in grapes and apples and tiny pieces of blue and white porcelain. And then? Stepping back and looking at the arrangement. And sighing. And moving them once more. And then? Stepping back and moving them all again.
And one thought kept going around and around and around in my brain.
Sometimes when you decorate and you can’t get it right?
All you need is a little control + Z.
You know.
Control + Z.
One of those amazing shortcuts on your keyboard.
The control-whatever keyboard clicks that save steps and time and make you feel like you’re a computer programmer.
Like control + B that makes everything bold.
Or control + I that makes everything italic.
Or control + U that underlines everything.
Or control + C for copy and control + V for paste and control + X for cut and control + K if you want to insert a hyperlink and control + home that goes to the beginning of the document and brings you back home.
Or my favorite of all favorites……
…..control + Z.
I use control + Z all the time.
Every. Single. Day.
It’s for when I’m typing an e-mail to someone and I’m trying to be extra funny and clever and I sit and think up amazing things to type and then just when I’m about to click send, I bump the keyboard and the entire funny, clever e-mail disappears and leaves a blinking cursor in its place.
No worries.
I just click control + Z and the e-mail reappears.
Or when I’m typing a blog post and a comment from someone pops up on my screen and I start laughing so hard that little bits of coffee dribble down my chin and I put the coffee cup down right in the middle of the number section on the keyboard….
….and the blog post disappears from the screen.
I don’t panic.
I don’t worry or pull out my hair or sob or cry or pound the keyboard in despair.
I nonchalantly take another sip of coffee and press control + Z.
Control + Z is the best.
It’s like the friend you always wanted to listen to your troubles in times of need and let you cry on their shoulder and with a simple wave of their hand….
…..make everything better.
With a click of the keyboard, all is exactly how it used to be.
All is right with the world.
I needed that keyboard shortcut yesterday.
I was trying to create a dining room table top with these amazing velvet pumpkins from LoveFeast.
This is my first dining room fall decorating in the new old house. I wanted to honor it. I wanted to make sure my plates on the wall were straight. I wanted to make sure my leaves were perfect and my wood pedestals were turned the right way and that the pumpkins had color and life and a background to make them look like the supermodels they are.
Over and over and over again I tried to get it right.
And still?
Nothing.
I was almost in tears from the trying.
And the not getting what was in my decorating head onto the dining room table.
Remember how I just preached on how to not overthink it?
Remember how I said to just keep it simple?
I didn’t listen TO MY OWN ADVICE.
*sigh*
Decorating physician heal thyself.
And then?
I went all control + Z.
I took everything off the table…
…and started over.
I turned the tablecloth slightly at an angle to give the entire display more personality. Then I added a glass vase that didn’t overpower the arrangement. I placed the glass vase off-center which helped frame the table display. Then I layered in the wood pedestals with the pumpkins and a bowl full of apples and these vintage napkins from my grandmother and gold accents and the amazing blue and white and wood platter.
And suddenly it all worked.
The moral of this decorating story?
When a decorating solution eludes you.
When you are overthinking fall.
When velvet pumpkins are waiting patiently for their day in the spotlight.
All you have to do is to take a breath, press pause, take a sip of sweet tea for inspiration and remember sometimes all you need is an angled tablecloth….
….and a little control + Z.
Want to create your own velvet pumpkin display?
Oh good. You’ve come to the right place. The incredible pumpkin creators over at the LoveFeast Shop are offering everyone a 15% discount off your order. Use discount code 18YG15. Good thru October 2018. For US mailing addresses only.
And if that wasn’t amazing enough—-they are giving away the chance to win a gift certificate to their shop.
A big thanks to the LoveFeast Shop for giving one lucky reader a…
$200.00 Gift Certificate
Here are a few more pumpkin display ideas from some of my pumpkin-decorating friends.
I like the slate tiered stand. What a great item for little finger foods and or fruit pieces at a gathering.
Oooo I love this display and the little velvet pumpkins! And the 'control z' thing!! Who says I'm too old to learn new tricks? :-)
It's just lovely!!!!
Are those real branches with the red & yellow leaves and dark berries? They are gorgeous. Could you please tell us the name of that tree or shrub? Also, the source for those darling wooden pedestals? Thank you!
I got the wood pedestals at Magnolia Market during their September Sale: https://shop.magnolia.com/products/small-wood-beaded-cake-stand? Happy day friend! karianne
Do you have any idea WHAT I JUST LEARNED?????? I know very well how this statement is going to date me. It's OK. I never had computer class. I never knew how to use all this crap on the keyboard. Typewriter keyboards never had all this stuff. I was doin' great to type 75 wpm, or so I thought...... And time moved on, left me behind technologically and made me feel so inadequate and dated. Then, one day KariAnne told me how to use Control + I, Control + U, Control + C and a bunch of other Control +'s. AND THEN, and then....came CONTROL +Z!!!! I have been reborn! I feel so informed, so savvy...just so happpppyyyy! Wait till I tell my grandkids I can use CONTROL!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you, thank you!!!
DITTO TO WHAT YOU SAID...FOR ME ALSO!!! I HAD TO WRITE IT ALL DOWN THOUGH SO I'D REMEMBER TO USE THEM WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENED OR I WANT TO MAKE A WORD BOLD!!! LOL YES, THANK YOU, KARIANNE!
Love the branches in the vases! Very fall and cute. Thanks for the giveaway- love the velvet pumpkins with feathers and the cozi blanket looks so comfy!
I love the glass trees, and of course, the pumpkins!!
I love the Ivory Velvet Pumpkin with Black Schlappen Feathers!
Thank you soooo much for the enlightenment about CONTROL! It is empowering to learn new things. I do love the branches in your clear vase. Could you please let us know where you got them? Your dining room is bursting with color. It is so different from its neutral days. It has a whole new wardrobe!!! Happy Day :)
I got them at Hobby Lobby! Here's the link online if you don't have one near you: https://www.hobbylobby.com/Seasonal/Fall/Fall-Floral-Bushes-Picks/Orange-Leaves-Berries-Bush/p/80825910 Happy day friend! karianne
blue. velvet. pumpkins!! i did't know i needed them until now . . .
I'm all heart eyes over the blue velvet pumpkins!! xoxo
I love the velvet pumpkins with their natural stems - that navy with the pop of orange leaves - just gorgeous! Thanks for the chance to win!
What a gorgeous format to learn some new tricks! Thank you. Beautiful job! Mary Ann
WHAT????? I never knew or remembered about all these "controls". You've made me one happy gal!! I can see control+z will be my next friend, thank you Karianne! beautiful tablescape.
I love the Control-Z, but here's another: You know when you "accidentally" fall for a "click here" for something fabulous, but it's a spoof or spamming website, then you get that popup that you don't ever want, and know better than to click the X or the "close" button because they are just useless and either don't close the popup or they send you to some other spammy site?? CONTROL-F4 closes any popup! I learned this at a cyber-security seminar last week, and just yesterday, PRESTO-WHAM-O, it worked!
When I first saw the tablescape, I flipped! The very first velvet pumpkin I ever loved!! The navy paired with the autumn leaves and apples??? Perfection! Definitely a Pin-worthy post! :) Chalk it up to Control Z!!! (And where has Control Z been all my life??)
Another wonderful post! Thx for all the Control + ? I had no idea I could do all that! Your table is beautiful!!!
Love wall the velvet pumpkins, big and small!
Love wall the velvet pumpkins, big and small!
Love it all! And thank you for a better understanding of “control”. I am with Lisa in above comments about those adorable and functional pedistals. Where did you find them?
I got the wood pedestals at Magnolia Market during their September Sale: https://shop.magnolia.com/products/small-wood-beaded-cake-stand? Happy day friend! karianne
I've seen these velvet pumpkins all over blog land, but I've not seen the navy until now! LOVE them! Also, please, please please share where you got the adorable little wooden pedestals! You continue to amaze me!
I love everything, especially the velvet pumpkins and gold flatware.
Beautiful arrangement...and awesome hints. Especially the control + z. I've done that so many times and wanted to cry. And today especially, in life in general, the idea a a control + z button is so appealing. Thank you!
I love the velvet pumpkins and would love to have some of my own. Absolutely beautiful.
Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow! Just wow! I don't know how many times the email or blog post I was working on just vanished. In fact, it just happened the other day. I never knew about Control Z!! I think it might just become my best friend!
Lovely table decor, KariAnne...loving the velvet pumpkins! And I have used the Control Z tricks several times since I first learned it from you!
Where did you get the blue and white and wooden tray?
Suzy, I just bought it at Hobby Lobby! Here's the link: https://www.hobbylobby.com/Home-Decor-Frames/Storage-Organization/Trays/Patterned-Rectangular-Wood-Tray---Small/p/80898439 Happy day friend! karianne
OMG! I learn so much from you! I can't tell you how many emails have been sucked right out of my computer (sometimes multiple times!) If only I had known.....but now I do know.....enlightened! Thank you KariAnne, and love the tablescape! xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Love love love the blue velvet. I have suddenly turned to BLUE everything. Even considering a blue velvet couch even though I have 4 XXL white dogs. And, most of all , my friend, thank you for the control+z. I never ever knew. It’s the little things in life like reading your blog and seeing blue velvet pumpkins for fall and learning about control+z that gives me such great joy! YOU are the best!
I love it, those blue pumpkins and woods and those branches, so thrilled to hear that I can get them at Hobby Lobby. And I did not know about all of the control + functions on the keyboard. Beautiful job Karianne! Pat
Love the navy and khaki pumpkins! Can you tell me the exact color name for them? I am going to order them for my dining room and want those exact colors. Many thanks!
Control z......Except on a mac....
I love the Cashmere Pumpkin Trio - Luxe Neutral.
Gorgeous! The strong colors atop the table balance out the strong color in the rug! I LOVE the red branches and navy velvet pumpkins!
I would love the chance to purchase some of those gorgeous velvet pumpkins & some velvet acorns. Thanks for the opportunity!
Those velvet pumpkins are beautiful, and the table display is too!
Those velvet pumpkins are beautiful, and the table display is too!
A $440.00 pumpkin, are you kidding?
Seriously, the best post ever! I never win anything, e-v-e-r but I feel like I just have!!! Opportunity to win one of those lucious pumpkins AND Control Z.....winner, winner! That control Z blows my mind. Knew if a few, but not that one! Mwah for both!!
“Of” a few, not “if” a few ...insert: typing too fast but will just blame autocorrect instead, teehee.
Just gorgeous!! Love your tablescape with the velvet and feathered pumpkins.
Great post and good advice!
I always say its a successful day when I learn something new. Control a , wow! I have needed this for so long
I usually lean towards the more traditional fall colors but that combination of the blue pumpkins with the apples and leaves is stunning!!
Love your first fall tour of your dining room, Karianne! And I love control + z too! I couldn't live without it. Hugs, Jamie
Ah, Control + Z! What a great trick that I never knew! Thank you, thank you!! It's always great to learn something new. And - Control + Z seems to work quite well for you. Your Fall tablescape looks beautifully layered - full of texture, with pretty neutrals and pops of color. Well done! Catherine, newest follower of your blogging adventures!
KariAnne- I just had to tell you that this post saved me tonight! I was writing a discussion post for a library class that I am taking, accidentally hit a button, and everything disappeared! Aargh!!! I had mentally filed away this post in the random recesses of my brain, though, so I found that post again and WALLAH! It's a miracle! Thank you, thankyou!