New Mantel Art and Fall Inspiration

"It's not really free but it's not new money."

Buzz Kill!!

I was relishing in the cute factor of my new mantel art. 
I was using words like "awesome" and "amazing". 
I finally said that I love free from the garage.

That was Bill's response. 
"It's not really free.... blah, blah, blah."
He is such a banker. 
:)

If you ask me it's an insult to all of us that love to repurpose stuff. 
Stuff that was in the Goodwill pile!

I had this picture.

It is a copy of a gorgeous painting we saw at The Met in New York City.
The Calmady Children by Sir Thomas Lawrence. 

I saw this copy at Kirkland's shortly after our trip to New York and I fell in love with it all over again. 
It was in my room for a while and then I moved it to Bekah's room.

I re-did her bedding with more blue and the print didn't have any blue except for the satin ribbon around the older sister's dress. Sometimes colors will pop out of a painting when in a room with like colors. Not this time. The ribbon was really the only blue.
 I put a $1.00 Aubusson print of herons in a frame and that became the new art for her room. 

I set the Calmady children in the garage and thought I would give it to the thrift store. 
I was waffling because it has such a nice, sturdy frame.

I took some photos of the mantel on Saturday to show off my no sew pumpkin. 

  

This morning I decided I needed a brighter white piece for over the mantel. I went out to the garage to look for stuff and I found the frame. 
I also found an old piece of tin ceiling tile from Old Home Supply in Fort Worth.

It fit perfectly!!

PERFECTLY.

What are the chances of that?

I smooked a little white primer on both

 and put up the new "art".

A project that I thought would take all day was done in a hour. 

I am loving the texture and simplicity of this piece and I can't wait the do some seasonal changes on this mantel.

Right now I have some faux pears and dried look grass and my darling burlap sunflower.

I also styled a non-spooky Halloween Mantel.
I got the raven in Alaska this summer so I will be using him as we get closer to Halloween. 
I am loving this mantel decor. 

I made the fall banner last year and never even showed it on the blog. 
It is no-sew. 
I will do a tutorial soon.

The mantel on Saturday.


The mantel today.

In spite of Bill's no new money spent philosophy,
I love it!

Katie

Don't worry I will show off more of the Halloween mantel in another post. 

Linking with,
Between Naps on the Porch 
 A Stroll Through Life   
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia   
The Scoop/ White Lace Cottage   
Savvy Southern Style  
 French Country Cottage   
The Charm of Home  
Funky Junk Interiors 

White Pumpkins and Fall Mantel

I have been seeing all the white pumpkins in magazines the last few years.

I have been making pumpkins like crazy since I found a good tutorial.

I made some cute ones to go on top of my 

nodders.

I made some black, white and lime ones during our labor day weekend crafty weekend..


Last weekend I got busy making some bigger ones for an antique basket for my hearth. 

I used white burlap,

white quilted fabric
 &
 a drop cloth.

I stitched up various sizes while I was watching HGTV.

I trimmed them out with greens, black, burlap and berries and

I set them on the hearth.

I ran to get my passport photo. While I was gone for about 35 minutes the hot mess had destroyed all my work!!

Here they are before the destruction.
I was too annoyed to take a picture of the destruction.

Really she just chewed off the sticks and trim.

I got the glue gun back out and retrimmed them all.

I put them all back together and took pictures. I will tell you right now that this dog will not be left alone with these pumpkins again.

I've had this basket forever. 
It was my grandmothers. 
It's in its "as found" state.

It usually only comes out for 
pumpkins in the fall.

I can picture her using it in her garden.

I popped a white pumpkin from Michael's in the garden trellis.

I picked up these deep toned daisies at the grocery store.

 The gate started out black. I found it in the garden area at Home Depot. It was only $14.95.

  
A little white spray paint and some metal embellishments and it's done.  

 I love my new white mantel. I am sure you all are sick of it by now.
I couldn't add too much color for fall.
I am just to wild about the lighter palette.
There you have it, my first fall display.
There will be plenty more coming.
Katie

Linking with some of my favorite parties,
Please be sure to check them out.
Savvy Southern Style
The Brambleberry Cottage 
Primp Your Pumpkin at Debbie Doos 
White Wednesday @ Faded Charm 
I Gotta Create 
French Country Cottage