Between throwing a party and hauling our boat in from the lake for the winter, I managed to sneak in a few minutes of crafting time.
These tags are listed for sale at my Etsy shop now if you are interested. I certainly have been neglecting that shop lately….
The wallpaper they are laying on came in the mail Saturday, isn’t it gorgeous!! I can’t wait to make something with that. Maybe I’ll get to tomorrow, I am having a craft day with some friends.
The weather for our bonfire on Saturday could not have been more perfect!
I think we had about 20 or so for dinner, I pulled a bunch of tables and mismatched chairs together from the patios and studio and set it all up out in the courtyard.
All the rectangle shaped tables were covered in white table cloths, and I put my only fall colored one on a round table in the center of the line.
(you can tell I didn’t waste any time ironing them!)
My centerpieces were a hodgepodge of whatever was around.
This white, glittered pumpkin is one that I have used over and over, it is from Hobby Lobby and I added glitter to it.
The rest of the centerpieces were just vases of flowers I picked from the garden, a few votives,gourds, and some real pumpkins. Simple and easy, no money spent, not much time put into it.
This pumpkin (from a garage sale) I sat in a flower pot and placed on a tray full of gourds and a vase of flowers. It really has a cool glow in the candlelight!
So does my pretty friend, Angie. 
Here is the aftermath, once the food was gone and we moved on to the bonfire.
Dinner was simple and easy too. Well, at least it was for me! Everyone brought a side dish, I just made a spaghetti squash casserole (from my garden) and the cupcakes that Sugarwings decorated for me.
My husband grilled salmon and chicken, all I did was set out the food and plates buffet style in the house. I love parties that are effortless. I’m never shy to tell people to bring something with them, for one thing, it is fun to taste all the different things that people make. For another, I want to be able to have fun and be part of the group, not stuck in the kitchen.
(to Beth’s left is her handsome husband, Jeff. Too bad you can’t see his face, he is a cutey. But you can tell he is a cyclist, look at that physique!!)
I don’t know why we don’t use our bonfire pit more often. When we, sadly, had to take down the old barn, we kept the foundation and filled it with gravel, then added a curving gravel pathway back to the area. The big, gravelled space in the clearing of the woods makes a perfect area for a fire.
For parties, I string white lights along the path on one side and set out candles on the other.
The evening was one of those nights when it wasn’t so cold that you HAD to have a fire to stay warm, the fire was more of an accent to stare at and enjoy.
Although the flames did get a little hot when I decided to throw an old chair onto them. We all had to back away for a bit till the heat let up.
My husband thinks I have too much junk and he is thrilled when I surprise him and burn some of it at a party. Well, you do what you can to keep them happy, huh?
Everything looks so beautiful Karla! You always do such a good job with get togethers! I love the table decor! You made me hungry too, lol! I love anything involving squash!!
Love ya,
Amy
Wow! What a fun gathering you had. Thanks for sharing. I can’t believe how industrious you are, Miss Karla. From prolific crafting, to swap hosting, to thrifting, to entertaining, to writing articles… you do it all with aplomb! – Amy Bauer
looks like you had a great time. if i lived closer i would have definitely been a party crasher. Donna
My goodness what a wonderful party. I love the tables and decorations. My only regret is that I wasn’t there in person to enjoy it. Thanks for sharing.
Your tablescape is gorgeous! Your guests must have loved the wonderful atmosphere you created!
What a grand time you had! And you were worried about decorations? Maybe minimalist for Karla but so elegant and lovely! I know everyone had the best time!
Looks like a fun camp fire for ya, sweetpea! I love bon fires, but that’s bigger than ever hubs has made. I’m loving the beautiful tags you’re making, honey…..
Smooches,
Connie
What a fun event! It looks like everyone had a great time. Easy and simple is the way to have a party. It’s all about the people anyway.
Lorrie
What fun! The tablescape looks lovely and the weather was so beautiful. How fun to sit around a bonfire with friends!
Some friends of ours used to invite each guest to bring something to burn. It was always interesting to see what showed up.
How pretty everything looked. I bet everyone had a great time!!
What a party Karla! I like the idea of effortless parties too! I used to trade recipes; ‘minimum effort maximum effect’! Great idea to have a bonfire, though I think the fireward would visit us (too crowded here) and I don’t have any spare furniture, my husband has put everything in our woodstove already ;-D
Bonfires are the best!!! Love all your decorations, it was a perfect night for a gathering it looks like! See you tomorrow 🙂
You have sure decorated a lovely table and have friends, good food and warm fire.. What more can you ask for. Everything is lovely and I loved how you seemed to just pull from what you had (which is so beautiful to begin with)
and decorate a wonderful tablescape. That gave me great inspiration.. Thanks!
OH those tables look so pretty!!!
Now show me Beth’s husband 😉
Oh Karla! Please please please, if I ever come to the midwest, can I visit you? You are just the kind of lady my daughter always wanted to be, just throwing together parties so effortlessly (although I don’t think it can be that easy!) and having friends around with such pleasant gatherings. I am too much a loner to have ever managed it, but I do so vicariously enjoy your life. And I’ve said it many times, but you are so good to share it with us! And thank you for getting back to your etsy shop, I am enjoying my lovely little bottles in the bathroom so much, and want more of your goodies! Your Friend Bobbi…Oh! How long will you be incommunicado for SB? I don’t want to have Karla Foof Withdrawal!
Hi Karla!
My kind of party. Pot luck with everyone contributing is definitely the best way to go. Your outdoor set up was great looking. As for the table cloths not being ironed who cares? Your friends/family are only interested in having fun not critiquing your party layout!
Glad it went well for you.
Have a great week.
Lois
I love how you can take the simplest things and make them look like pure gold. You can’t fool me though, it’s in the way you put things together. Not everyone can do this! The look is wonderful and I love the old chair burning. I ONCE had an old hosier cupboard (my husbands grandmothers) that was pretty much down to the bare wood. I had it sitting outside as I needed someone to help me get it inside. My BIL got the bonfire going for all of us. You can imagine what I saw when I approached the bonfire….. To some people things are trash. To others treasure! We since have actually had fun burning the last of grandma’s hoosier. Fall bonfires are the best!
I seriously want to come to a party at your house, girl that food looks incredible. Spagetti squash casserole? Better be sharing that recipe soon! The decor is magical and it appears everyone is having a great time. Boy, when you say bon fire, you aren’t kidding! Man, around here they would have called in a 4 alarm fire! HA~!
The tables looked so good, and potluck is always wonderful. I do a lot of that too. I don’t think anyone ever minds bringing a favorite dish. I think sometimes we work ourselves into a frenzy when having people over and in reality our friends are not coming for the perfect house, that is perfectly decorated and perfectly clean.( Of course yours is always presented so creatively).They are coming to spend time with friends. Have a wonderful evening.
Jean in Virginia
Ironing………what is that??? I only use the iron for crafting. lol
Looks like fun was had by all. The food looks delicious. I’m glad your Hubby is home for awhile. And able to enjoy a party.
That was my thought when I saw the bonfire. “I wonder what Karla is burning.” It did not look like firewood.
I want to come to a party at your house! Your tablescape looked gorgeous! Your food looked yummy!
Wonderful photos! What a little glitter will do!! Laurie
Looks like a great time …I’m so impressed with your table ….. added a touch of class & a little Martha Stewart to your bonfire bight . I love it , wish I was there .
Sue
oh karla
every looks so pretty and the food described sounds delicious! What fun to be able to have a bonfire and share with your friends.
I love the tags they are beautiful.
catie
I read part of your blog to Jeff and he said “Karla is so good to me- she says nice things, and she sends me homecooked food”.
That is an awesome picture of the flaming chair!
That first picture belongs in Country Living Magazine! Kitty included! It’s BEAUTIFUL! That is my kind of gathering! I threw a bunch of stuff together for my Christmas Buffet table like have done here and I never had more compliments! I think I stole the idea from you anyway!
Karla,
What a beautiful party! My son and his friends love having “camp” fires in my unused veggie garden area!
Blessings,
Lorilee
You are definitely a girl who can throw a great party! Yes, I’m still alive! I know you can’t believe it. I got out some of my October decorations… and some of the things I got from you!! And I realized it’s been way too long since I checked in to see what’s happening in your part of the country! We just had a bonfire too on Saturday when some relatives came to visit. This has been the perfect autumn for it! I hope all is well there… I need to browse backwards and catch up with you!!!
It looks like it was a wonderful party – I
love the tables set up outside and the bonfire!
oH I AM ADDICTED TO YOUR POSTS.. I LOVE YOUR MIXING OF CHAIRS… AAHHH WHITE IRON, WOOD LOVE IT ALL……HAPPY TIMES… THEY ARE THE BEST!!!
XOXOX lAURA
Oh Karla, I want to come and party at your house!!! Honestly you are the most craetive, energetic, talented and FUN person I ‘know’. I am so in awe of you, lucky I live a million miles away otherwise I might be knocking on your door. Thanks for the info on the smoking stand…now I know and can amaze others with my knowledge!! lol.
kiss Noises Linda Lilly Cottage.
What a beautiful party setting! Can I come next time??hahaha! I have just discovered your blog and have now become a fan!!!
The gold flocked wallpaper is to die for!! I can see some beautiful Christmas cards and projects with that as a background. Tons of pretty glitter and angels! Too pretty!! You did a beautiful job decorating for the dinner party and bonfire. Looks like a lot of wonderful friends and good times!!
so beautiful karla..like right out of a magazine. still waiting for you to do an annual tea party for your bloggers:)
Oh, I love that setup!!! Simple yet elegant. Hello, HOW FUN IS THAT? You have inspired me to have a get together here. Can’t have a bon fire, as the draught in Miami has caused restrictions…STILL!!! But I can decorate tables with pretty white linens…hmmmm…you have got me going girl! I love the tables for SB. It just makes me want to rummage through it all!!! Gosh, how I wish I could be there! Maybe next year!
HUGS
I too look forward so much to your posts. Your blog is the best!
Showed it to my best friend, and she couldn’t believe all that you do. She said, “that Karla, she doesn’t sleep”. She was amazed as I am at your productivity.
And than to have a special party/event in the midst of all this. Incredible!
By the way, is your Twinkles with babies? I read an old post that you were trying to have her bred, and if so, it would correspond with the Silver Bella event. I haven’t read anything lately, so just wondering.
Love your set up for the party too. How fun of you to host that!!
Gretchen
the party pictures are just amazing- I’d love to have a party here…hmmmm.
Good morning, Karla! I have to tell you that your party looks like it was so much fun!!! I love getting together with friends and having an informal setting. I LOL’d about the chair and keeping your hubby happy! Ain’t that the truth? I have an attic filled with things he’d love to burn. ha.
Love the string of lights along the path!! It reminds me of fire flies. Is that a full moon in the background? Fabulous photo and a fun post!
xo
Becky
I think Jeff is a cutey too! He is an excellent uncle to boot!