Fall Mantel

My Fall mantel is done, almost!  Now that I see the pictures, I'm thinking of other things to add.

Do you do that?  Constantly tweek?

I see beautiful simple mantels which appeal to me, but my fireplace mantel just screams (yes, it screams) for something else: color.

I put a bunch of eucalyptus (it smells so nice!) in a large white and brown transfer ware pitcher.

Added floral sprigs, lotus pods

Books, Candles,

 Two ribbons

And a ceramic pumpkin.  I haven't seen any gourds or pumpkins here yet.  Maybe soon, then I can tweek again.  

Speaking of tweeking, I added ribbon to my armoire, shown in a previous post here.  But, I forgot to take pictures of the change.

  

Until next time, Honey

There will be an exciting giveaway at Potpourri Friday!  

Would you be interested in a

$50.00 Amazon Gift Card  

Go Here

Linking to:

  Savvy Southern Style
DIY by Design
Stone Gable
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Inspiration Friday  At The Picket Fence

Home Sweet Home at  The Charm of Home

Vintage Inspiration Friday at  Common Ground

Feathered Nest Friday at  French Country Cottage
Show and Tell at My Romantic Home

SNS at Funky Junk Interiors

Potpourri Concoction

 I make my own personal concoction of potpourri, but using larger botanicals instead of smaller pieces which we tend to think of  scented potpourri as being.  

The components were purchased in bulk which I packaged and labeled myself to sell in my store and use as gifts.

The starting point is rose hips which I flavor with orange and spice essential oils.

After the fragrances meld  together, I  

use 1-1/2 cups of rose hips in the bottom of each sack, and then pile the botanicals on top.

 Included are dried artichokes, pomegranates

 and quince 

Red ripen flowers, cedar roses, lotus pods

Plumosem stars and protea flowers along with a few others

It's both fragrant and abundant with Fall

 color as well!

This is my starting point as it's a bit difficult to think about Fall decorating when it's 104 outside.

Until next time, Honey

Linking @

My entry into  The Charm of Home's Home Sweet Home Party sponsored by Appliances Online. 

At The Picket Fence

  Common Ground

  French Country Cottage

   Stuff and Nonsense
    My Romantic Home
Under the Table and Dreaming
The Dedicated House
Coastal Charm
Savvy Southern Style

Sculpture Comparison

A  few days ago I showed you my sofa table.

I  told you about that twisted thingamajig  sculpture, mentioning how it is made, where it was from and where I purchased mine. 

It was once featured at Wisteria  for around $500,  as I recalled.  I only paid a fraction 
of that amount.  
You can read all about it here.

Well today I saw this one at One Kings Lane :

One Kings Lane

Much to my surprise it was on sale!  $999, marked down from $2020!! 
I was stunned at the price!   
It is a little larger than mine, but I  really like 
the character of mine much  better.   
I also like the price I paid much, much better!!

I like it even more than I did before!


Which reminds me of a little story:  When I was in the retail business (I owned 3 women's specialty stores & they were a bit upscale),  a customer was admiring a pair of earrings.  She wanted them so badly and they were only $20.  So what was the problem?  She studied them for them for a while, moaned and groaned,  and then she said, "I would like them a lot better if they were $200."

Until next time, Honey


Linking to:
A Stroll Thru Life
Coastal Charm
Savvy Southern Style
Stuff and Nonsense
From My Front Porch to Yours

 French Country Cottage

  My Romantic Home

A Little Red, White and Blue

It’s a bit quirky, not at all elaborate, and doesn’t scream the 4th of July,  but the sofa table behind my  patriotic sofa  is 

trying to blend some of the elements throughout the room 

to tie it all together.

Since the coffee table is having a

shell convention,  I  used a couple of shells

and starfish.

There are always books stacked around, so I used these beauties purchased from Angie at 

Knick of Time.  Love them!

What is this twisty thing?   At one time  this item  was in the Wisteria catalog and was also featured  on  a mantel in Veranda, though I cannot find the issue.  ( It was about $500).   Mine was purchased at the Warrington-Round Top show for a small percentage of the original price.

It is made from a type of seaweed  harvested in the Philippines.  

It is dried, twisted into shapes and baked.  

This one is mounted on a stand.

The vintage grain sack is a beauty!  It  is in   perfect condition and seems to be a type of vintage woven linen.  The tag that came with it says  “found in Hungary circa 1920".   A little patriotic flag banner was added .

A large blue transferware pitcher ,  a vintage crock  with blue print that I’ve owned for years, and a tall candlestick  complete the vignette.

  

The large fern in a  pedestal urn  sitting on the floor gives it balance.

I shopped the house for everything.

Wishing everyone a wonderful July and a festive

Independence Day.


Reminder:  Hope to see you at Potpourri Friday! 
 Link up begins on Thursday afternoon!

Until next time,

Honey


Linking to:
Savvy Southern Style
Between Naps on the Porch
Mod Vintage Life
A Stroll Thru Life
DIY by Design
At The Picket Fence

   Common Ground

   French Country Cottage

    Knick of Time Interiors

Patriotic Touch to the Living Room

My  living room/great room has taken on a Patriotic touch.  I was inspired by some of the pictures in various magazines, so the starting point was putting an antique quilt, made by my Grandmother, over the back of the sofa.

Then started layering on pillow, some of which came with the sofa, some of which I already had and added  a couple from World Market.

I left the seashell convention  in place, but made some changes to the sofa table.   Here is a hint.

Until next time, Honey

Linking to:


Savvy Southern Style
No Minimalist Here
The Charm of Home
French Country Cottage
At the Picket Fence
Common Ground
Stuff and Nonsense
How Sweet the Sound
Funky Junk Interiors
Between Naps On the Porch
DIY By Design

Seashell Convention

Seashells – I adore them!   I can’t resist the urge to overload  my coffee table with them.  No holding back for me.  When it comes to seashells, I’m   “All  In”!

Again this year, we (my imaginary housekeeper) and  gathered them together for a Shell Convention!

A large silver clam shell was filled with beautiful, colorful shells.

More  collected shells went into a large apothecary jar.

Starfish went into another.

Using a bargain silver tray (about $2 a year or so ago),  a vintage crochet piece was layered along with a stack of blue books  to contrast with the white coral collected long ago.

Isn’t it delicate?

A coconut picked up by the sweetest little boy  many years ago brings back sweet memories.  When plucked from under the palm it was green.   Gradually it turned brown and was treated to a coat of poly.

You might have noticed the bottom book title is named  “Overboard”.   Published in  1977,  it is a blue water tale of a couple who begin an adventure that becomes terrifying when the husband awakes to find his wife missing.

Add a flicker of candlelight for a bit of nighttime ambiance.  

But something is missing…the beach.
Until next time, Honey

Linking to:
Savvy Southern Style
DIY by Design
Shabby Creek Cottage
The Charm of Home
French Country Cottage
At the Picket Fence
Stuff and Nonsense
Funky Junk Interiors
Boogieboard Cottage
Homemaker on a Dime

Stained Glass Windows

I have been out for a few days, but don’t want to miss out on showing you my used windows.  In my case they are all  antique stained glass.

This one was actually a door we found, the bottom was cut off and the top portion was inserted into a pass-through, with the addition of a bit of trim.

Close-up  of the center medallion.

This is how it looks from the other side.

Love the red in this one.

This is a perfect match of the the window size and is hanging on the inside of the window.

Although not  a window, this piece hangs over a french door.

There is one more window,  a long  narrow one which hangs inside the window in the stairway landing.    Can't show you that one as the window will have to be cleaned before a picture  can be taken.  

Until next time,  Honey
Linking to:

Inspiration Friday  At The Picket Fence

Home Sweet Home at  The Charm of Home

Vintage Inspiration Friday at  Common Ground

Feathered Nest Friday at  French Country Cottage

 Fridays Unfolded  at  Stuff and Nonsense
Funky Junk Interiors
WoW at Savvy Southern Style
DIY by Design
My Romantic Home
Cowgirl Up at Cedar Hill Ranch
Knick of Time
From My Front Porch to Yours

Romance Books

 

Today  I’m doing a rerun of a book bundle project I did last year.    It involves a bit of  “Romancing”.     Romancing the Book Bundles,  that it.    It takes only a few minutes and adds a bit of Valentine’s Spirit.   Pottery Barn probably hasn’t thought of this yet or they would be charging  $39  $79 a bundle.

 All it takes is a bit of ribbon,  a bit of twine,  a piece of sheet music,  some printed script and an old photograph, or whatever inspiration you have on hand  to add…

 …a bit of romance to your books.  They will work well in a number of your vignettes.  The book with  the ribbon and script was in my 

Wedding Anniversary  post and is also in my current header.

Until next time, Honey
Linking to:
Savvy Southern Style
DIY by Design
Faded Charm
Cowgirl Up at Cedar Hill Ranch
French Country Cottage
At the Picket Fence
My Romantic Home
Funky Junk Interiors