Mantel Decor--Take # 1

Hey y'all! Just wanted to let you know that I am searching high and low to see what works best for the mantel during this summer season. After reading lots of blogs and looking a tons of beautiful pics, I see a reoccurring theme. There are girls out there in bloggyland that are very creative and CHANGE their mantel decor from season to season ( maybe even month to month like I used to with bulletin boards when I taught school! ). I am one of those that has kept the same fru-fru objects in the same place on the mantel from year to year. The only exception would be Christmas decorating. But we are in July (even though Hobby Lobby has their Christmas glitter out and ready to be sold! Have mercy!).

I digress....

So, my plan--note that it is ONLY a plan, please---is to change the mantel with the changing seasons. The season that we are experiencing at the moment is the rainy one...day after day after day! I don't want my mantel to reflect that at all.

I purchased these cute heritage collection Ball canning jars ( I do not can.) from Target after many of my Facebook peeps told me that I could find them there. And, they were so right. I cut fresh flowers from the yard, but I ran out of hydrangeas, so I clipped a few phlox to have a variety of colors. I pulled out my pieces of white milk glass ( still need to add to my collection). Then, I placed them on the mantel....

 

 

 

 

But, we have a problem....if you stare at it long enough, it will become very apparent.

 

 

 It's very pretty, but................................................................................................

They are ALL the same height!!!!!!!!!!!  Hardly any variation of height at all!!! I am not a symmetrical person--seriously. This bothers me.

So, with that being said, you have now seen Take#1. I have shopped my home, and there is not much left from which to choose. {sigh}

After some chit-chat on Facebook, my sweet friend Cathi told me that she has a collection of antique Ball jars that I can have!!! I am beyond thrilled! ( I get excited over old jars....what can I say?). They are different heights too. When we can mesh our schedules and get together, I will add her collection to my beginner one, and we shall have Take #2.  Creating a summer mantel may take me until the fall to finish it! And then, I will need a fall idea. Be thinking for me! Y'all are awesome!

Sweet blessings,
Susan

The Elephant Has Been Eaten....Whew!

Hey sweet friends! As I jumped head over heels into the mantel and bookshelf project, I didn't think about how large or daunting a task it would be. I am so very thankful that Debbie at Painted Poppies was there encouraging me by texting and calling to check on the "elephant that I was trying to eat...". If you break it up in to small "bites," a project this big is very doable.

It took under three weeks to do simply because I was doing some traveling in between. Had I been home and "focused," I could have finished much sooner! But anyway.... it is DONE!!! So happy! And, I love it! Turning the dark wood into white magnolia and lightly distressing it opens up the entire room. Even the boys like it! They noticed without even being asked to tell me their thoughts.

Would I do this again? Ask me in a few months, and I will let you know! I will definitely do smaller projects--even have a few bouncing around in my head.  I really do like the chalk paint (Maison Blanche) and its advantages (no sanding prior to painting, no primer prior to sanding, repeat those phrases!!). The paint and wax (how you seal it) do go a long way under normal circumstances--if you are working on small pieces.

So, here are the before, during and after pics of my "elephant"---

 

Excuse the icky fireplace--we have never used it. I will show you how I "fixed" it in a few pictures!

 

 

Coat number one of three!

 

I love the distressed look from just a bit of sanding.

 

 Done!!! Check out the fireplace "cover!" And by the way, the chair and red pillow on the left that look out of place will have their own makeover once I figure out what to do. Just bear with me.

I got the stained glass window from our church chapel when the building was going through some remodeling. I wasn't sure what to do with it, but then I saw something similar on pinterest. I love the colors and the fact that there are broken pieces in the panes. Just as we are broken people and have to rely on God each day is my take on this window. It speaks to my heart.

Here is where I need your help! I am not sure what to put on either side of the mirror. At the moment, it will just stay like this. I have candles that I can place there, but I like to think outside the box...so if you have any cool ideas, please share them with me.

Sweet blessings,
Susan