Previous Christmas Mantels

I've been thinking about how I want to decorate for Christmas this year, and one of my favorite spots to decorate is the mantel in the family room.

I've reviewed photos from some of the ways I have decorated it in the past few years.

Last year (2014) I used gold, white, green and red.

2013

2013 Winter Mantel (After Christmas)

Christmas 2012

2011

2011 with coffee filter wreath

Seeing them all together helps me know what I liked, and what, not so much! I think the Winter mantel is my favorite, so that tells me, that white, with less 'stuff' looks better.

Another thing I am doing is looking through my other Christmas photos to help remember what I have, so when I go down to get what I want to use, I won't have to bring up 20 bins, I can pretty much, just pull out what I want, and bring that up from the storage in the basement. 17 stairs up and down with large bins isn't quite as easy as it once was, so I'll try picking out my items, and bringing up one or two bins instead! (Older & Wiser)

Are you thinking about how you will decorate this year?
Sharing here:

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Five Star Frugal

Shabbylicious Friday @ Shabby Art Boutique

Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme

Show and Tell Friday http://romantichome.blogspot.com

Comments

Linens & Things

I love finding tablecloths, runners, napkins, and other linens when I am out thrifting. Whether it be at consignment shops, GW, or yard sales, I will usually snap up a pretty linen if it doesn't have a lot of stains. I will show you some of my favorites. I found several pieces embroideried with this design at a favorite consignment shop. This blue runner (reversible to stripes), found on consignment. This is one of the nicer quality tablecloths I have found, $4.00 at a thrift store. This cloth was around $10.00 on consignment. This runner is also reversible to polka dots, and was a consignment find. This pink and white gingham is perfect in the sun room, and is a consignment find also. This is the most valuable table cloth I have found, and it was $2.00 at a nearby yard sale. It is a vintage Wielunder. They sell on ebay for 30 - 90 dollars. Mine is in pristine condition! Christmas tablecloth, consignment sale. Consignmen

Trash to Treasure

We had noticed this "jar" sitting near a trash pile, and my husband decided to see what it was. It was full of dirt, and covered in grime. After soaking it a while, it looked much better. The shape and color is very nice. At first I thought it might be a globe for a lamp or some type of candle holder. The bottom has an opening, and no markings. Do you know what it might be? This is how I'm using it. It's made of thick bubbled glass. Any guesses?? Know what this was in its former life? It makes a wonderful vase for faux flowers! It's a vintage fly /wasp trap!! Once yucky, now pretty!!! Joining: Wow Us Wednesday Home and Garden Thursday Share Your Cup Thursday Thursday Favorite Things Feathered Nest Friday Be Inspired Frugal Friday @ Shabby Nest Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove Junk Party @ Funky Junk Interiors

What's in the Hutch?

Yesterday I awoke in the mood to do some "deep" cleaning. First on my list was to dust inside the china cabinet in the dining room. Can you believe how much dust can get into a closed cabinet. Really, how does that happen? My cabinet has glass shelves and they were hazy with dust. This is a rather tedious job because I not only have china inside, I have all kinds of little "pretties" stored there too. It's one of the first things you see upon entry into our home, so I really should do this more often. I want show you the before, sufficeth to say, it had been a while since I had tackled this chore. Here are some photos showing the "after". Here is a collection of vases and crystal pitchers . These were all gifts except the smallest one in the front and the one to the right of it. China and a consignment shop cake plate. The china was formerly my MILs. More china . This little fairy lives here with her 2 sisters. They can all be seen

Sharing Shadymont, My Mountain Cottage

Search This Blog