MANTEL: DRESSED FOR WINTER

Hello loves! I don't know about where you are, but it is absolutely frigid here. We aren't used to this kind of cold around these parts. If you've been reading awhile, you know I help at my father-in-law's store, Davis General Store. The building was built in 1908 and there is no running water.

And no indoor restroom.

There is an out house........... Mmm-Hmm.

The temperatures were in the teens today. Good times, good times. I could see my breath inside the store the whole day unless I was next to the gas stove. And I still love my job. Now that you're imagining using an outhouse in the freezing cold, let's move on to the mantel, shall we?

I do love a mantel. It's like a canvas created for vignettes. No commitment. Easy to change up depending on the season or your mood. The same can be said for a nice sideboard or entryway table.

This year, I wanted to use the milk glass vases I've picked up in thrift shops over the last couple years. And, I thought I'd leave the mirror up from Christmas because I like the added light it brings to the room. Once I placed my milk glass and white wooden salvaged piece {not sure what else to call it}, I added in a couple of green vases and others that I'd spray painted. I topped it off with some green candles and fresh rosemary from our yard {which smells amazing and you can never go wrong by adding some plant life IMO}, along with some sprigs of gold, and a tiny, sweet deer I picked up at Goodwill. It still felt like something was missing, so I got the silver vintage garland back down out of our Christmas decorations and added it to the bricks for a nice contrasting pop.

Meanwhile, Curtis Loew is all like, "What is that black thing attached to the front of your face?"

I'm diggin' it. But, February may beckon the vintage Valentine's cards. We'll see.
Please believe there will be some flames flickering in that fireplace tonight. Holy Brrr.

How often do you change up your mantel decor? Am I the only one with this illness?

VALENTINE'S MANTEL

This year I decided to dress our mantel for Valentine's Day.

Normally, I don't really get into Valentine's Day, but this year, I'm feeling festive.

I saw a post on Instagram from Jamie of C.R.A.F.T. Blog that featured some conversation hearts in a jar, and that's what set me off. :)

I love this 'D' monogram my mom gave us for Christmas one year. I love the color, that it looks a bit worn, and that it has a little bit of a curl at the finish of the letter. I find myself using it in various places in our house throughout the year.

I also have five vintage cards that spell out our last name in its entirety, but I thought it would be fun to use the last four letter cards with the 'D' monogram.

The mason jar in the back is filled with flowers that Andrew has given me over the years. Any flowers that he ever gives me, I dry, and keep. You'd be surprised how many dried flower blooms will fit in a jar!

These skeleton keys are also something that I use often. For Valentine's Day, they remind of "they key to my heart".

Like I said, Jamie's conversation hearts inspired me.
I also purchased some cinnamon hearts, and threw in the peppermint sticks left from Christmas since they are red and white.

I've always loved this red frame.
I chose one of our engagement pictures, which works perfectly since we are wearing "Valentine's colors".
{PS - Anj's shirt is red and white stripes, not pink ... He later tore a hole in the elbow, and I kept the shirt because it was always one of my favorites, and it is what is used for the bunting that hangs from the mantel.}

And these vintage Valentine's cards - LOVE them!

Finally, I used the letter cards that I've used before at Christmas and Thanksgiving {so glad I bought these!!}, and just cut out some accordion hearts as background from some scrapbook paper I had already.

Seriously, creating mantel decor from stuff I already have, with maybe an additional $10 or less investment?

One of my favorite happies.

Do you do any decorating for Valentine's Day?

Have a great rest of the weekend, y'all!

CHRISTMAS MANTEL

Welp. 

Needless to say, the busyness hasn't slowed down.

But - I got the tree up, and the mantel finished! {One hop, skip (literally), and a kicked-up-drop-cord-leading-to-a-bloody-bruised-elbow later. Only I could manage such. Turns out skipping through the house with mess all over the floor mid-decorating/unpacking isn't the best idea.}

Here's this year's Christmas mantel:

 

All items were either thrifted or made, which y'all know makes me extremely excited/happy/giddy.

I'll post pics of the tree next time.

Have you finished decorating yet?

THANKSGIVING MANTEL

Who's ready for turkey?

And cranberry sauce? {The good stuff, from the can.}

And pecan pie?

Do you decorate for Thanksgiving? I'd love to see!

HALLOWEEN MANTEL

 I always try to buy things that I can use more than one way. I pick items that involve solid colors, especially neutral ones, and clear glass. That way, you can use them more than just once a year, or for one specific holiday. I've used the white candles, the clear vintage bottles, and the brown bottles several different ways. (The brown ones are recycled beer bottles. Anj bought them one weekend, and I thought they had a unique shape, so I kept them and soaked them to get the labels off. The owls were ugly when I bought them, but I spray painted them white, and I think with the right mix, they can look sort of eerie, but can also work well with winter decor involving lots of other white, black, gold and silver. Same with the black birds. They can look creepy with the right mix, but look totally happy and cheery with something else. Also, with the jack-o-lantern banner, I flip it to the other, plain pumpkin side for before Halloween when fall first arrives, and again after Halloween when it's time for Thanksgiving.) 

If you can find a color theme to stick to for your holiday decor, you can always make things stretch a lot further by using random glass, vases, candles, etc that match as fillers when you just need a little more oomph.

I also think that a mantel looks a zillion times better if you can find a way to create some height. That wire basket has been used several different ways as well. It adds some texture, but it's a neutral color and can be mixed with a lot.

I'm excited!

Do you decorate for Halloween?