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Borrow away GP! Thanks for everyone looking and commenting.

I love all the mantels and always get good ideas.

Thanks!

Mine in the kitchen

quote:

Originally posted by Jeanette:
Mine in the kitchen

Breakfast with Santa I love the peppermint striped ribbons. I wish this board would allow me to zoom in on the pictures. Do you have green Christmas balls mixed in with your ribbon and greenery? Very pretty.

Cara, thanks for doing a closer up view. Love the colors you used this year, so pretty.

Lucky, very pretty. I love simplicity and overdone just as well. Love your colors too.

MR, beautiful. I don't think I saw this pic before.

Jeanette, ho ho ho. I think Mr. clause likes it. Very pretty and festive.

Beautiful, beautiful pictures, everyone! So impressed.

I've been trying to post mine now, so frustrating with the resizing. They may come out looking like a postage stamp.

This is the first time in 3 years I've had any real desire to decorate for the holidays, it feels good.

#2 :

I was wrong, they came out lifesize, sorry.

Gorgeous, Miz M. Your fireplace is so pretty even without the decor. Looks Texasy if that's a word . I love the picture of the horse over the mantel.

Thank you so much, Georgia Peach! I added some gold, glittery snowflakes since the pic was taken, but I really regret that I didn't add the amber lights I normally use. I thought lighting the candles would be quaint, but it's really not, it's just dark.

quote:

they came out lifesize

Yes they did, just like my avi!!

Very pretty fireplace. Are you still in the same houe Jill? If you had posted your DR I would know for sure. I remember that room so well.

Happy holidays to you, dd and fiance!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: annie17,

Thank you, Annie!

I am in the same house, but am hoping to move sometime in the (near?) future.

I'll have to show you my dining room now, my fiancé brought a beautiful China cabinet (was his grandfather's) ... I love it!

Georgia Peach,
Thank you. I had connected with an old (meaning back a few years) member of this board named Judithva. She knew photography (a whole lot more than me!) and it turned out she lived like a 25 minute drive from me! So, she was teaching me how to photograph and learn lighting for table scapes and photos.

So, this was an experiment in lighting and seeing how the artificial and natural fire of a candle differed.
The table-scape was partially done and I was choosing elements from what I had already in my house.

Lucky,
Mine were all under 5 too! There was this thrift store (church run) in the next town over and I checked it often. They had a large shelving unit where they displayed the SP pieces. So, I was able to pick up some nice pieces.

The SP silver pieces I have tarnish easier here in Florida. The light salt in the air because I live near the Ocean makes keeping silver polished looking. I am getting used to the dark gray it becomes and I am OK with it.
I can clean it just before I use them for settings.

Jeanette,
Love all that red and candy-stripe! That mantel and over the TV looks so festive! AND you have a Santa!

VG, probably not, I was playing around so I didn't share these photos. But the photo showed 3 trays and I wanted Lucky to see them.

Miz M,
We went through a lot of hardship as well, I am so sorry about you losing your dear husband and your son's father. I can't imagine how devastated you were, and so suddenly! My husband lost his oldest brother while we were just settling into our move to Virginia. We were all shook off our perches. The bottom dropped out... DH and his brother were so close, and we saw him every day.

I am so happy you found a support group to talk to and eventually found a new fiance. I remember you sharing a photo of the two of you and you both looked happy. I am so happy for you that you are still together and it is working out well!

You have a beautiful home and I wish you all the BEST in your new home venture! I am glad you found someone who shares your love of decorating. My DH was not into it before, but after reading what you said about how he would ask about projects, DH just noticed the photos on this post and asked about them!

I was also so happy to see you posting!

I have always felt my mantel looked not quite right and this year I saw a picture of one with the oversized ornaments hanging from the end.

I had found the 2 largest ornies at TS's (the green one lights up) and the smallest one is from HL after the holidays last year. I like the mantel much better now.

Merry Christmas,
Candy

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Christmas Candy,

So pretty Christmas Candy. I've not seen this type of oversized ornament just the round ones. Your mantel is very festive. TFS and Merry Christmas.

Well, I'm ashamed to show mine after all these GORGEOUS mantles, but I'll do it anyway, lol.

This one may be less blurry.

My other mantle from last year, it looks SO bare and sad, lol. I couldn't find the garland to put on it last year. It looks MUCH better this year, it has garland and white lights on it and both my digital camera and cell phone are out of commission right now, so I can't take any pictures.

So pretty GypsyDancer. Hope you locate your garland. I spend so much time looking for my decorations every year. I wish I had one room to designate for just holiday decor. I'm loving the white mantels everyone has. I have a fireplace in my bedroom that I usually do not decorate. The stain of the mantel frame and shelf matches the moulding trim.....JACOBEAN !! So dark. I hope by next year it will all be white. Merry Christmas and thanks for sharing.

ETA...you have quite a Santa Claus collection!

Thank you Georgia Peach! Mine seem so sad to everyone's beautiful ones, lol. I did find my garland this year, yay! My cameras are both broken or I'd take a picture. And we'll look forward to seeing your mantel next year! I meant to say your WHITE mantel, lol. The one you have posted, I think is beautiful!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: GypsyDancer52,

I probably should have edited a bit, but here it is...my Christmas mantel.

These pictures just keep getting better and better. Belstone, your decor is stunning with the lamps and the pictures over your mantel. Your room looks so cozy.

Belstone, I have that same long double picture of the Santas that is on the left side of your mantel. It looks quite festive, but I'd like to see some close-ups, to better appreciate all your hard work.
TFS,
Candy

Thanks Georgia! Cozy is exactly what I'm going for in my little cottage.

Thank you Candy, I love those Santas, too. Here's a closer view (I hope).

Too much gorgeous, everybody!

This isn't my mantel (which I didn't do), but the top of my china cabinet which is mantel height. The room is notoriously hard to photograph, so this is as good as it gets!

So pretty Meldin and it's nice to see you posting. I love the plate collection. Merry Christmas.

Belstone, are your stockings and Santa Claus pictures needlepoint?

GP, it's nice to BE posting. Merry Christmas back at ya!

quote:

Originally posted by Georgia Peach:
Belstone, are your stockings and Santa Claus pictures needlepoint?

Alas, no...the pictures are just prints and the stockings are cheapo metallic brocade. We have hand knit stockings DMIL made for us but I can't seem to bring myself to hang them for some reason.

Mel! Your Santa picture is very much like mine! Those guys get around!

Bel, I have another one that looks a lot like your little guy at bottom right. I managed a local store 15 or so years ago, we gave them to customers who spent a certain amount. One per year, but these were the only 2 I could get for myself. I love all of yours. Wish I had more!

Great mantels everyone. Of course, I have a fave, but I won't tell

Thanks for starting this GP, it's given me some good ideas.

Nice to see you back Meldin.

Love seeing everyone's gorgeous decor!

Merry Christmas My2Gals. Your mantel is gorgeous with the traditional Christmas colors. Thanks for sharing.

Christmas Candy,
Love that Ornies at the end of the mantel. They are pretty and look good hung together like that.

Gypsy Dancer,
I like the red with the pink and green. I can see by the smaller photo how you are set up for Christmas!

I do not think your mantel from last year looks sad! I like it. Sometimes we are so used to our decorations we don't realize they do have impact, they announce the Christmas season!

Belstone,
I like the smaller frames w/Santa inside the larger frame. The two windows with wreaths are a nice addition. I like the stockings and the topiaries. Very nice with Christmas blocks! Thanks for posting the close up!
I am a fan of Christmas lights in the fireplace, I think they look magical!
I had them inside a basket in front of my gas fireplace in Virginia, real nice lighting at night!

meldin, I love decorating on top of tall furniture, adds height. And I love deer and small trees, so this is a hit with me. Nice to show some blue and white in with the red and white for dishes. I like the small plates hanging on the wall with a center Santa pic!

my2gals,
Nice decorations on our beautiful fireplace!

Here is mine from my Virginia house, have not set up any mantel here in Florida, not yet. Thinking of an electrical one we only would use the lights, heat in it maybe 2 or 3 times in January.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mary Ruth,

I do not have a mantel yet here in this house, if we do, we will build around an electrical one, I do not need to heat the room with A/C on most of the time. But I do have a table set up in the living room that is sort of my temporary mantel! LOL
Last year I pulled out a few pieces I could get to (we were unpacking boxes out of storage) and put them out.

I do love that deer (found at TJMaxx before moving) but it seems small on the floor, I think he will end up on top of the wall unit or china cabinet eventually (for xmas decor).

Beautiful picture of your mantel in Virginia. I love the collection of the Silver Trees and the mirror just adds to the elegance of the room. Your "temporary" mantel is nice too! I like how you have stacked the suitcases under the table. Seems I remember you posting awhile back showing us a closeup of the suitcases. Looks good.

Everyone has been so kind to post their Christmas mantels. Thanks for sharing.

ETA...now if you could tell me where you find these gorgeous items displayed

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Georgia Peach,

family room

kitchen

mmtsh, your mantel and shelf are very pretty. Thanks for sharing.

mmtsh, very pretty mantel and kitchen shelf. I have a clock very similar to yours on my Christmas Wish List.

mmtsh,
I like your clock over your mantel! The stockings are cute too! Nice to have a place to put lights too in the kitchen on that shelf!

Mary Ruth, my cabinet isn't tall. It's about mantel height. It's my favorite thing in the house to decorate seasonally.

Here's a pic of it in the room shortly after I got it. It's a lot more tricked out now!

This is a beautiful room Meldin. I love the flooring.

Thanks, GP. It was fun to do!

meldin,
Oh my what a FLOOR! the room is wonderful, what atmosphere! I see now why the Tartan works so well in your beautiful dining room!

Thank you so much Mary Ruth! Your mantel in your Virginia house is absolutely stunning! Everyone's are so beautiful!

I am showing the mantel in my family room. It is the room where we have our nativity scene, and our Christmas tree, and then we display our collection of Christmas books.

The mantel is super easy and simple. We just put some of our book collection on it. We also tuck books into the shelves, and they are in other places around the room.

My mother was a librarian and instilled a deep love of books in me. The first year I was married I bought a Christmas book for our home, and have continued that tradition every year since. I have been married 35 years, so there are those 35 Christmas books, plus the ones that friends and family have given us. Christmas books are a major part of Christmas for our family. Although my children are grown, when they come for Christmas they still sit and read the books, or take them up to bed to read at night. Sometimes we read them aloud to each other. It is really fun.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: cocok,

Cocok, thanks for sharing. Did your children have a favorite book they wanted you to read at Christmas?

cocok,
How wonderful to have all those books and the whole family shares in the tradition!

I would say they love all the books, but the hands down favorite is "Santa Clause and his Elves", by Mauri Kunnas. It is the red book, second from the left on the mantle in the picture.

The two books that I read every year for myself are "The Night Before Christmas", illustrated by Tasha Tudor, and "A Christmas Memory", by Truman Capote, illustrated by Beth Peck. To me the illustrations are just as important as the story, and I think the three books I mention all hit the mark spectacularly on both counts. Of course it is hard to choose because all the books are so good.