Mid Summer Mantel

I know you all have been waiting for the next installment of 

"The Summer Mantel". 

Sort of like how we're waiting for the next season of Downton Abbey...right? (I hope you all know that I'm a "kidder" from waaaay back) I guess that it's safe to say that it's "mid" summer, now that we're into the middle of July. 

And once it's past the July 4th holiday, and those wonderful little Black-Eyed-Susans start blooming, then I have to hold myself back from going Sunflower crazy.

A few weeks ago, on the way back from St. Louis we stopped at one of our favorite Antique Malls, Artichoke Annie's in Columbia, Missouri. It's a real quality mall; big, and full of great antiques. No "garage sale" items here. I saw tons of things I loved but I'm really watching what I buy, so my only purchase was a piece of Majolica; a small dessert plate that would match the other few pieces that I have.

Once I had that new plate,

I had enough to put together a little grouping on the mantel.

I love the wonderful colors of Majolica, 

mine all have the gold and green in common.

Even with chips, it's still collectible and doesn't break the bank.

The colors of the pottery play off the silk Sunflower and Rudbeckia

(part of the Daisy family) that are now in the Wolff  Pottery vases.

A little English Cottage metal doorstop sits in the middle.

These sunny warm colors are my go-to colors of late Summer.

I'm lovin' this Summery display, so it just might stick around 

for the next episode; the "Late Summer" mantel...

And here are a few pics of what's happening in the rest of the Living Room.

And here's my little Italian desk in the corner.

It doesn't make an appearance very often.

Sunflowers have popped up in other places too,

so stay tuned for some changes in the Dining Room.

I'll be joining in for these parties this week:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Tips and Tutorials at Stone Gable

Inspiration Gallery at Ella Claire

DIY by Design

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

From My Front Porch to Yours

The Charm of Home

French Country Cottage

Shabby Art Boutique

Jennifer Rizzo

Craftberry Bush

xoxo,

Decorating My Fall Mantel

Since I LOVE Fall so much, I try to milk out all the decorating I can. For instance, I've had a Pre-Fall Mantel, and Early-Fall Mantel, now I changed up to a "Fall Mantel"; yet to come will be the Late-Fall Mantel. I guess you could say that I love all the stages of Fall. So transitioning into the regular Fall mantel, I traded out the sunflowers for some faux hydrangeas and some dried ones along with some faux berry stems and leaves.

 I've been playing up the more muted colors and neutrals that I love, just adding in a few splashes of russets and oranges and golds.

So the perfect time of the year to add in a few pieces of my flea market finds Brown Transferware that I picked up for just a few dollars each. My Wolff Pottery tall vases have become a fixture here. They are so easy to change out seasonally, and stacked on old books, they give the height that this huge mantel and ceiling need. Things can get lost here...

My little Tiger Stripe Pumpkins are nestled in a

 Staffordshire sugar and creamer set with leaves. (5 bucks at the flea)

And two of my Vintage Lefton Chipmunks have come out to play. I started my collection of chipmunks and squirrels at my first flea market booth from other vendors, never paying more than 10 dollars a piece.

You can see the Early Fall Mantel Here

 This is my old folding card table in front of the fireplace opening; perfect colors for Fall, and it hides the cavernous black hole. not pretty.

Did I mention that I love Fall...?

Vintage finds that last forever.

(yeah, I thought you might know that.)

I'm joining in for these wonderful Fall parties this week:

Fall Mantel Party at Centsational Girl

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

White Wednesday at Faded Charm

Share Your Cup at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

TTT at Stone Gable

Creative Things Thursday at the Vintage Farmhouse

Treasure Hunt at From My Front Porch to Yours

Rooted in Thyme

2805

At the Picket Fence

French Country Cottage

Stuff and Nonsense

Shabby Art Boutique

Jennifer Rizzo

Southern Hospitality

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Knick of Time Interiors

Fox Hollow Cottage for a Mantel Party

The Inspired Room

If you've missed a recent post,

 just click on any of the thumbnail pics under my header, 

they will take you to that post.

xoxo,

Romancing the Mantel

The weather here in southern Missouri is pretty changeable. Cold, mild, cold again. But we have had enough warmer days that some of our shrubs and bushes became a little confused and thought Spring was on it's way.

So that gave me the itch to change up my mantel. I still had my faux Amaryllis in my Wolff Pottery from Christmas, so it was time for them to go and bring in some budding branches. (faux budding branches, that it)

And while I was at it, I thought my little Country French Couple

might feel at home there too.

I love their sweet rosebud confection, pastel attire.

If you look closely you can see they are missing a few fingers between them,

but I love them anyway.

They are a large pair, over a foot tall, and that's good size for these.

So between a few budding branches and my little French couple

my mantle is taking on hints of early Spring and just a little romance.

It's only January, so I'm sure we have some nasty weather ahead,

but what's the harm of dreaming of an early Spring...?

Joining in for 

White Wednesday at Faded Charm

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday at Primp 

Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Share the Love Wednesday at Very Merry Vintage Style

What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

Good Life Wednesdays at A Beach Cottage

Knick of Time Tuesdays at Knick of Time Interiors

House Party at No Minimalist Here

Farmhouse Friday at LaurieAnnas

xoxo,