The "Other" Mantel

Yes, the other fireplace mantel that's in the lower level family area...

I don't post about it often because it's hard to photograph, and really pretty rustic.

We've always wanted a weekend cabin at the lake. 

(We live just 30 minutes from the beautiful hills of Branson, and Table Rock Lake)

Woodsy, rustic, lodge-y, comfort.

But, I don't have one, so this area gets to be the stand-in. 

Things don't change around too much down here. But I do try to keep the fireplace mantel seasonally decorated and the faux flowers in my wicker basket changed out.

It's where we hang out to watch tv and spend our evenings. 

It's functional, cozy, and not "white".

It's also where the kids and grandpuppy lounge.

and did I mention that it's not white?

It's about the same as our fireplace in the living room, which is directly above it, except this room has built in bookshelves on each side instead of windows...and a massive tv and wall cabinet....also wood, which makes it darker. But so much better to curl up with a fire and a good movie. So I enjoy the rustic, lodge-y feel with Pendleton Blankets, a few leather pieces, and a deer mount or two. 

...but I did want to share my Spring-ified attempt 

down here with my Majolica pitchers and teapots.

...and my florist buckets filled with faux forsythia.

which brighten things up a little bit.

I found this old 40's framed print at the flea, and it's here most of the year. The subtle shades of muted earthy tones, and shabby gold frame blend in with the vintage feel.

those are a few cows in the distance.

...love me some cows and sheep in a landscape.

Are you feeling lazy?

Come on over,

and don't forget to bring your blankie.

Joining in for these parties:

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Knick of Time 

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy little House

Inspire Me at A Stroll Thru Life

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

xoxo,

A Simple Centerpiece for the Garden Room

It's been fun seeing the shrubs, plants and flowers that have emerged here at the new place this Spring and Summer. Mid Spring, I was so excited to see a row of Forsythia at the back of the property line, and even though they were pruned to within an inch of their lives they are now becoming full and giving us a little more privacy.

Easy as 1-2-3 Custom Look Wreath

It's September, and you know what I'm doing...

This last week I started decorating for Fall, and one thing I wanted to do was put together a new wreath for the Dining Room mirror. I love a lush twiggy grapevine wreath with lot's of naturals and florals, but I don't want to pay a "custom" price for it. So, no matter what the season, I have an easy method to get a custom look.

Here it is out on the Sunporch. I'll be showing you the Dining Room a little later, but for now it's on one of my old "Fall" quilts on a wicker chair.

As you can see it's pretty wild, and pretty big;

Fall berries, leaves and Hydrangeas.

I've been making my own wreaths for years, and I almost always use this quick method.  One of the best things about it, besides that it's quick, is that this method is easy to take apart, redo, refresh, or reuse at another time.

 Start with your basic grapevine twig wreath. 

The more crazy twigs the better...

I like a wild, natural, just picked look.

Since I'm a bad DIY blogger, I didn't even think to get pics until I had that wreath hanging up on the mirror, and at that point I wasn't going to take it apart again to show the steps.

sooo...

I just used a few other elements to show how easy it is..

please don't get confused because there are two different wreaths.

I know...I know....

bad blogger.

End of Season sales are a great time to pick up those basic garlands and candle rings. I think this one was a large candle ring that came from Michaels a few years ago. The basic garland ring is of just little Lady Apples. I added the sunflowers a while back so I could use it on my front door, which requires a "skinny" wreath.

Then start layering. I left the Sunflowers and Black-Eyed Susans on the basic apple wreath then added in some Hydrangeas. You can add any blossom mix you like for your season. A Spring wreath might have Tulips and Lilacs on a Forsythia garland. This one I used faux Hydrangea stems, but on my Dining Room wreath I used real dried Hydrangeas. With faux Hydrangeas I sometimes trim the large blooms down.

Now you can see we're adding layers and depth and a lot of interest

 with the Apples, Sunflowers and Hydrangeas.

This grapvine twig wreath is actually a little small for this garland, but I wanted to show you how it all goes together. Just use some gardener's twine or floral wire to secure the garland wreath to the twig wreath. 

Here's the finished product. I just randomly put this together because

I'll be taking it apart again, but you get the idea.

1. A grapevine wreath for the base.
2. A garland or large candle ring on top, just tied on with gardener's twine.
3. Florals to tuck in for added interst and depth. Sometimes I hot glue them on, other times I just tuck them inside and through the vines.

This one is a little wonky since I didn't secure all the layers... just wanted to show you how easy it is to put a wreath together. I didn't need any special tools, and it doesn't make a big mess.
So here's my original again. It's a little more "Fall", whereas the "step by step" version is a little more "Summer".

You can put together a wreath like this in about 15 minutes.

Super quick and versatile.

If you want to change up your basic wreath each season it's easily done.

Just 1-2-3!

Now, have some fun making your own!

I'll be joining in on these great weekly parties:

Whipperberry
A Stroll Thru Life
Tuesday Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

WOW Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Inspiration Exchange at Ella Claire
DIY by Design
Homework at The Everyday Home
Stone Gable Blog
From My Front Porch to Yours
Share Your Cup Thursday
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Shabby Art Boutique
Jennifer Rizzo
French Country Cottage
The Charm of Home
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

xoxo,

Vintage Easter Joys Blog Hop

Hello Everyone, Happy Easter Week! We've gathered 12 Vintage Lovin' Bloggers together to Celebrate Easter and Spring this week. No matter what the weather, we're all decorated and ready to share the fun of Easter, with a vintage twist.

Rabbits Run Wild at All About Home #189

Hi Everyone, thanks for coming by. Thankfully we're back to more normal March weather. Still ups and downs but it's been above freezing at night. My forsythia bushes are still alive, but the blooms were knocked out, so none of those brilliant yellow flowering branches, except for the faux ones in my decor. On a family note we were able to spend a fun evening with our sweet little granddaughter and her mommy and daddy. We had been waiting until her vaccinations kicked in for a proper visit. It was great!

Stacking Painted Baskets

I'm very fortunate to have a long wall in the Hearth Room that can handle multiple pieces of furniture, and I've made use of it to bring back two vintage pieces I've had for years. I didn't know how they would look together, but I realized I'd need something of a different size and texture to go between the two. 

Fun Easter Graphics and Pillow in the Spring Hearth Room

I've loved this Big Bunny Face graphic since I'd seen it several years ago, so when I found it on a pillow cover from Amazon recently I had to have him to celebrate the season. He reminds me of the Peter Rabbit illustrations of Beatrix Potter so many years ago. Realistic, but a little whimsical, too.

In the Pink at All About Home #32

Hi Friends and Welcome,

I sure hope you all are feeling well, and coping with all that's going on in our world around us. It's important to keep a routine if possible, and to keep our mood and spirits "upbeat". If you'd like to take a little break and look for some fun and Spring inspiration then you're at the right place. Thanks so much for coming by to join the party!

Backyard Naturals Bouquet

One of the reasons I love Fall so very much is the change in the coloring of leaves, flowers, and shrubbery. Where Spring is full of greens and lovely pastel shades of flowers and buds, Fall can be just as amazing visually with all the glorious brilliant color. 

Favorite Antique Furniture: Sideboard Dressed for Spring

Do you have a piece of family furniture that you dearly love and wouldn't part with, but just doesn't fit in your décor aesthetic? A piece you can see the potential, but in it's current state ends up in storage or hidden away in some "off the beaten path" spot? Well, here's my story of a lovely piece of antique furniture that had been relegated to the basement for years.

Vintage Easter Inspiration

Hi Friends, I know Easter Week is a busy time for all of you, and sometimes we might need a little "extra" last minute inspiration to bring it all together. Maybe you're thinking about the table or a small gift for those special friends and family.

Snow and lilacs...

...those two things don't go well together.

I guess I could say we were lucky as compared to others of you out there.

Lot's of precipitation, but no accumulation.

Where we are in SW Missouri, it snowed and sleeted all day yesterday but didn't stick much. At one point yesterday evening the flakes were HUGE. It was really beautiful... just not for May. So I decided since I wasn't getting out, that I'd redo the faux florals in my urn here in the entry. I'd had daffodils and forsythia in this for early Spring and Easter.

Easter

I have a teensy pet peeve...

I like to keep my faux flowers seasonal.

I can't have geraniums at Christmas

or tulips in the Fall.

They have to stay seasonal and current.

I'm sure these will be changed out again by the end of the month...

maybe daisies by then.

(I'm hoping I'll have daisies by the end of the month...)

Here's a snow pic from the deck and my kitchen window.

Can you see the lilac bush on the other side of the fence?

(bad photo, I know. I don't have a zoom lens for distance.)

yes...it's not mine, 

and it's in my neighbor's yard.

a bachelor...

and it drives me crazy. 

But my arms aren't long enough to grab a branch

and harvest a bouquet.

I have to admit I've had fleeting thoughts of sneaking over the fence by cover of darkness. We watched Zero Dark Thirty last night and I think that those high tech night vision goggles and other gear might work for this kind of mission. (just kidding...I wouldn't do that...just a little temptation of the blooming kind). What can I say...I was spoiled when I was young. We had two massive bushes of lilacs and we had fresh bouquets all over the house, this time of year.

So I just have to look at it and imagine a wonderful fragrant lilac bouquet

filling an ironstone pitcher or a large crystal vase.

I've thought of planting my own bush, 

but I haven't found a good spot for one.

excuses...excuses.

so I'll try to enjoy some silk ones and maybe find a room spray 

or candle that will make me think they're real.

and while we're here,

you can see that some of my birdies are back here in the Entry.

This is what you do if it's too cold for the sunporch...

...and you're really lazy.

good thing there are two sofas...

one for each lazy kit kat.

joining in with these parties this week:

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Wow us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Hope you're having a great weekend,

I'll try to behave...

xoxo,

Grapevine Bunny Basket

Last week I was wanting something new and fresh for Easter and Spring; something that made a bit of a statement and that was fun and colorful. I was hoping (hopping) for a moss covered rabbit or something organic, so I headed to my favorite local wholesale-type floral shop to see what they had. I found this adorable black/white rabbit (made from some kind of grassy material) with a basket on his back. He was one of three styles of these cuties. Then I browsed their previously made floral arrangements and found an idea that I thought would work... 

The Skinny on Spring Wreaths

Each new season you'll find me fiddling with silk flowers and putting together wreaths, and this weekend I've been working on one for the front porch. But finding one that will fit is always a problem. Most of the time I just give up and go with a bunch of silk branches or flowers for the large wicker cone that's on the side of the front porch.

But last year we had an upset with some little finches that wanted to make a nest in the cone with my faux flowers. I thought I had managed to escape having to leave out green poinsettias until May...but no. They were all over that wonderful spot. So when I was able to hijack their plans, or so I thought, a nest of little eggs were dashed on the front porch concrete by accident. Well, birdie lover that I am, I felt horrible and realized that I would have to do better this next nesting season. 

That meant NO WICKER CONE!!!!

(said in the tone of Mommie Dearest's "NO WIRE HANGERS!!")

Here's a pic from last Fall so you can see the problem;

Lovely nesting spot in the white cone to the left.

 Please excuse the pumpkins,

but you can see what I mean.

...the perfect, out of the way, nesting spot.

You can also see my dilemma with my finding a wreath for the door. It's one of those glass storm doors, that only give you a few inches to work with. So if I put a wreath on the door, it has to be super skinny!

So, here's a better shot of my make-do creation, 

hanging on a recent purchase from Pier 1.

That naughty Nita, made me go out and buy this...

Isn't this blackboard just so cute and scrolly?

I have plans for it on the sideboard in the hall after Easter.

 OK, so back to my wreath dilemma...

I found a skimpy one in my stash, with white berries,

(Michael's for about 8 bucks)

which works for Christmas or Spring,

but it was too blah,

and needed something else...

like a twig or two of forsythia and a nest.

Just grabbed a few extra goodies from the flower bin and wired them on.

I think this may have saved the day.

Joining in on these great parties:

Savvy Southern Style

Cozy Little House

Mod Vintage Life

Creative Cain Cabin

Cedar Hill Ranch

The Dedicated House

Coastal Charm

French Country Cottage

Have a wonderful Sunday!

xoxo,