A Merry Christmas Mantle

Hello all! And a happy holiday season to you. I’m a bit late getting some decorating posts up this year, family and events at our Brick & Mortar store have been keeping us super busy. Tis the season, right?! I actually had my Christmas trees set up early this year, but man it took me quite a while to get everything finished. Actually it still isn’t completely finished… But hey, it’s looking good and I haven’t let it stress me out one bit. If it get’s completely done – great! If not, that’s alright – better try next year.

One of my favorite places this year is my mantle in the living room. I was really hoping to get my fireplace brick re-done this year, but goodness, all of my own projects always get put to last. No worries though, I would much rather take the time being with my family than working on projects. However, the mantle for this year has made me very happy!

I started this years mantle off with some beautiful garland I had purchased last year at Home Goods. Pictured on my mantle is actually 2 long garlands together – you typically need 2 or more garlands to make a spot look full. (We carried two different really fabulous green garlands this year at our store.) After the greenery I added in two strands of my favorite brass bells we also carry at our store. These brass bells sell out on us every year. We better be sure to get much more for next year!

Kitchen Bestsellers

I have seen many people decorate their mantles with antique mirrors and I have just LOVED the looks they create. So I took the large gold mirror off my wall in the sunroom and added it to the mantle. I have played around with many different items over my mantle and just have not been that satisfied with them, but I think the mirrors could stay up there for quite a while!

The second mirror I found in an antique mall in Milwaukee, and yes that mirror is cracked – and no I did not purchase it that way… I bought it, so very carefully wrapped it and packed it in the car for the trip home. But once I got home I set it on the table and left to get the rest of the things from the car and one of the twins pulled the paper it was wrapped in and pulled the entire piece off the table – cracking it into 3 pieces! I cried… but was also so thankful that my little one didn’t get hurt. But the beveled glass with etching just cannot be replaced as the same. So instead, I let it sit broken for many months until I just decided to use it anyway!

The small green wreath with a cluster of small bells over the mirror is just adorable and brought the green from below and from the trees on the sides into the middle to pull it all together – blending it all perfectly.

The tall green trees on each end add lovely color, and then I added in different texture with the crystal gold trees too! Those crystal trees (you can see closer below) are inspired by some beautiful ones Vicki had purchased a few years ago. I wanted something similar to hers and thought these were really pretty!

I also have just a ton of mercury glass trees too. Different heights, different textures – I just love them! I have quite a few of them, but added 3 on the mantle in some little areas that needed just a little more “oomphh”.

The stockings that are hung there are super special to me as Vicki made them all. I thought they were the cutest things. I purchased them a couple years ago when I was pregnant but didn’t know at that time that I was having twins. I still haven’t gotten a 5th one made just yet, but hope to soon as I just found that same fabric again! The twins have been sharing so far, but this year they should really have their own. I will have to get to sewing this week…

I also love adding in some really cozy throw blankets and Christmas pillows for the winter season. My favorite throws are those warm fuzzy ones you can see on the chair below. The pillows are ones we have made in the past and match some pretty fabric ornaments that are on my tree.

I don’t usually have a theme for Christmas, but as I look around my home, I have found that this year I really spent a lot of time putting out a bunch of winter/pine/cedar greenery. I have my splashes of red here and there but I really dressed everything up with garland, wreaths, or pine picks – and I’m totally loving it! Especially in the kitchen, I can’t stand a cluttery kitchen so just a few Christmas greens added in here and there went a long way this year.