Morphed Mantel

Here, in all its 'plainness' is the mantel as it appeared here last week.  All stripped of its summer-ness and waiting for fall.

I started looking around the house (and basement and chicken coop) to see what was available and started adding things...

First, a throw from Scotland with rich red and gold...

Next, a pillow with the same hues was added to THE CHAIR...

Gasp!  I almost forgot about this!!!

I was so happy to find this great vintage olive bucket locally for a fabulous price; they're all gone now.  Why, why didn't I buy two, or three while I could??

A bare grapevine wreath will lean against the hearth; can't attach it to the brick!  (And I did remove the tag!!!)  It will have a bow if/when I can find ribbon I like!

Also added was this print of a watercolor (it's just 'leaning' in a frame for now).  I love the colors...very fallish, and it goes so well with everything else!  It's also a horizontal print and I'm very 'into' vertical.  Tomorrow it will be framed vertically, to add height. 

Since the mantel has an outlet, of course I had to add...lamps!  (These, however, have been replaced with some shorter ones)

This garland from HL was added; I've had it for years and have not been able to find another like it...

And here is the finished product (by the way, pumpkins ARE coming...just a little later!):

I love the blue shades in this brick!

The olive bucket was going to hold a bunch of 'naturals' but when I added them, it was just too much 'stuff.'  The addition of the asparagus fern (from the deck) looks much neater!

There was also a secretary in the entry way involved:

And look...one of Donna's ravens came to visit!

Next I'll work on the door, and then it will be time to haul out Mr. Scarecrow!

It's been just beautiful the last several days; I hope you have all had a great weekend and will enjoy an even better week!

I'll be joining some of these fabulous gatherings!

Fall Mantel Link Party ~ Design Stash

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Making The World Cuter Monday @ Making The World Cuter

Mingle Monday @ Add a Pinch

Show Off Your Cottage Monday @ The House in the Roses

Bedazzle me Monday @Everything Under the Moon
Creative Mondays @ Judy H-J's Thoughts - A Twinless Twin
Show Me What You Got @ Our Delightful Home
Dear Lillie Link Party @ Dear Lillie
Just A Party with My Peeps @ How to Nest for Less
Cowgirl Up @ The Farmhouse Porch
It's Show Off Monday @ Kampen Lane

Mosaic Monday @ The Little Red House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm 

Time to Shine @ A Diamond in the Stuff 
Tuesday Cuppa Tea@ Antiques and Teacups 
Table Top Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life 
Talent Tuesday @ Vintage Wanna Bee

Twice Owned Tuesday @ Creating a House of Grace

Tuesday Link Party @ A Bowl Full of Lemons

Knick of Time Tuesday @ Knick of Time

Tuesday's Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Anything Goes @ Type A

Club G.W. @ Charm Bracelet Diva 
Show Me What Ya Got@Not JUST a Housewife
Inspiration Board @ Homework
Rock 'N Share @ The Shady Porch
Be Inspired @ Elizabeth & Co.

What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants

Works for Me Wednesday @ We are THAT Family

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday @ Primp
White Wednesday @ Faded Charm 
Wednesday Link Party @ Very Merry Vintage Style
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style 
Show and Tell @ Blue Cricket Design

Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here

Create and Share @ Trendy Treehouse
Link It Up Wednesday @ Junk in Their Trunk
Sugar & Spice @ Seven Thirty Three
Show & Share @ Southern Lovely
No Orange Autumn Decor @ Homastyle

Share Your Creations @ Kristen's Creations

Treasure Hunt Thursday @ From My Front Porch to Yours

Time Travel Thursday @ Brambleberry Cottage 
Catch a Glimpse Thursday @ A Glimpse Inside

Creative Things Thursday @ The Vintage Farmhouse

Vintage Thingie Thursday @ The Coloradolady

Pearls and Lace Thursday @ Faith, Grace, and Crafts

Pin'Inspirational Thursday @ The ArtsyGirl Connection

Thrifty Thursday @ Tales from Bloggeritaville 
Cute & Creative @ Dumpster Diva

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Coffee & Conversation @ Passionately Perfect
Thrift'n On a Thursday @ Savvy City Farmer 
Debbiedoo's Newbie Party @ Debbiedoo's
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life
Creative Thursday @ Michelle's Tasty Creations and Crafty Ideas
Potpourri Party @ 2805

Chic on a Shoestring ~ Flaunt It Friday
My Romantic Home  ~Show and Tell Friday
Flaunt It Friday ~ Chic on a Shoestring

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Under the Table and Dreaming ~ Sunday Showcase
Sunday's Best Party @ My 1929 Charmer

It's Party Time @ It's So Very Cheri

The Tablescaper ~ Seasonal Sundays

A Blank Slate

It finally happened:  we got a little rain and it has started to really feel like fall in northeast Wisconsin.  Generally, our current temps (70s/50s) would have already started, but like most, it's been so hot and dry this summer.  The lack of 'normal' rain was depressing and the constant watering was exhausting - we've all been there and done that this summer;  and,.to add insult to injury, I am currently hosting a horrible sinus/cold/crud kind of thing and am ready for it to leave immediately!  OK--enough whining!

So...like almost everyone else, I'm looking forward to autumn!  I'm going to start my decorating inside...with the mantel.  Here it is with it's fresh face and no makeup!

The shelf is way too shallow for my liking, but it does have an outlet for lamps, and I adore lamps on a mantle!!  Twisting his arm Convincing the Headmaster to replace that shelf with something a little deeper takes time, you know!!

The Headmaster had begun to renovate this, his childhood home (in the south, it would be his 'ancestral' home!!!) before I came into the picture.  Though I would have made a number of few suggestions, he did a fabulous job, and with few exceptions, did every single bit of it himself...while actually 'living' in the house!  Not sure I would have survived that; no, I'm sure:  I would NOT have survived!

One thing I did chime in on was keeping the hardwood floor.  It is a beautiful maple, and its honeyed hue just screams autumn!  All of the floors, except the kitchen and bathroom, are this maple, but sadly they are covered with carpet (hence, part of the blame for the crud I'm hosting).  But...I digress.

There are two chairs that flank the fireplace.  And those walls:  I didn't realize how BARE they looked until I took all the summer stuff down today!  We do love the wall color; looks a little bright in the photos, but it is really like a Wedgewood blue.  I really do like incorporating blue into the fall palette!

Some of you may remember the blue needlepoint chair from this post earlier in the summer.  Though shabby, it has all the colors I love...look at the blue with all those gorgeous fall oranges and reds and golds (think bittersweet, Chinese lanterns, pumpkins, etc)!  Those drapes are a beautiful champagne colored silk...(my idea!!)  There are matching ceiling to floor drapes on the big picture window (the best feature of the house); I'll maybe do an 'after' shot to include it as well.

 

I did manage to spend a little time in the chicken coop and the basement (again,no wonder I'm sick!) rummaging through my stuff to see what was usable this season.  Any other year, I would have just 'thrown' stuff up there, but now that I have this blog and am posting for all the world  some folks to see, I have to be juuuust a little more particular!  Thanks to all of you for that!

I'll be sharing this with some folks below, and might finally have something to post on the Met Monday party next week (no, not tomorrow)!

Have a wonderful week, everyone, and thank you for spending some time here today!

Under the Table and Dreaming ~ Sunday Showcase
Debbie-Doos Newbie Party

Mop it Up Mondays ~ I Should Be Mopping the Floor 

Table Top Tuesday ~  A Stroll Thru Life 

Savvy Southern Style ~Wow Us Wednesdaywww.savvysouthernstyle.net
Ivy and Elephants ~ What's It Wednesday
2805 ~ Potpourri Party

My Romantic Home  ~Show and Tell Friday
Flaunt It Friday ~ Chic on a Shoestring

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Funky Junk Interiors ~ Saturday Night Special

A Mantel for Spring

Our mantel has been all spiffed up for spring!  While I adore preparing it for Christmas, after a while, I'm ready for something a lot more 'light' and, well, just springy!

This is the first time I've stood a picture in front of the mirror and I rather like it.  This past summer, our local PBS station featured an online art auction as a fundraiser, and I was able to bid from our home in Wisconsin.  Fortunately, I was the winner of this lovely watercolor by Jean Kreamer, an artist in Lafayette, La.  It caught my eye because it reminded me of my two sons, both of whom were very tow-headed when they were small.  It's titled 'The First Day of School' and I just fell in love with it!

The lanterns were leftover from Christmas (Hobby Lobby) and provide a nice balance, as do the (real!) ivies on either side.

The yellow vase on the left was a Tuesday Morning find (it matches chargers from Horchow) with a honeycomb and bee pattern.  The plate, a Limoges T&V LaCloche from a set found on eBay on the right, perfectly picks up the colors in the painting (how lucky was that?).  

We will enjoy this setting all spring, until it's time to head north!  Thank you for visiting!

Linking to Feathered Nest Friday

               Funky Junk Interiors:  Saturday Night Special

               Under the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase   

               Seasonal Sundays at the Tablescaper

               Debbiedoos Newbie Monday