The North End Loft: apple sign

Yesterday, I was out in the gorgeous fall air playing on my potting bench. Potting benches and autumn go together for me like ice cream and hot fudge. There's nothing better than a pumpkin or two sitting on a potting bench waiting to be carved into jack-o-lanterns for Halloween, or a basketful of just-picked juicy apples ready for making caramel apples.

My husband made this potting bench for me last year out of pallets, and it's been so handy having it close to our little vegetable garden on the side of our house.

I brushed off the dirt, made a few quick and easy decorations for a fun fall display, and added some things from the garden shed.

My felt leaf banner embroidered last year was inspired by the talented Lisa at Lil Fish Studios.

Turquoise mason jars are topped with one of my prized thrift store finds, a set of heavy zinc lids. The wood tray is also a 75¢ thrift store find that was one of my first chalk painted projects. The apple cider label was simply printed onto card stock and taped onto the side of the tray.

The leaves haven't quite turned their fall colors here in Boise yet, so I picked these pretty colored ones off some inexpensive craft store stems.

My apple sign was painted by hand onto a piece of scrap wood. It was adapted from a cute sign with printable template shared by Cristina at Remodelando la Casa.

Remember my old faux painted milk can? It makes a perfect pumpkin perch.

Fall mums fill an old wooden crate.

My French Flower Pot is a galvanized bucket with a graphic from The Graphics Fairy transferred onto fabric.

When I searched my stash yesterday, I couldn't find a large picture frame for a chalk board, but I did have an old painted artist canvas I didn't want anymore. I have to say, it made the easiest and quickest chalk board I've ever made. I literally just slapped two coats of chalkboard paint on the top and sides with an old brush, let it dry a few hours, and primed it with chalk. Works great!

It was so fun decorating my fall potting bench. Wouldn't it make a great spot for serving a buffet for an autumn party? I better get busy carving those pumpkins and dipping those apples into caramel!

Enjoy another great fall day!