Fall Mantle and More!

I'm very well aware of something, as I sit writing this in HOT temperatures.  Some of you will immediately become grumpy when you see I'm blogging about fall mantles and decor when September has only begun to peek its head around the corner.  I know, I know...I get it.  I'm usually right there with you!  But August has taken a toll on our little family (hello-family stomach bug anyone?!) and we are ready for a new season to look forward to.  

And this is what I do.  When three-year old behavior challenges me beyond my wisdom and life hands me situations in which I just simply don't know what to do-I plug into what I DO know to do and this is how I unwind and leave the "what if's" alone for a while.   I decorate.  And move things around.  And then around some more.  Until at last I feel my brain, heart, and fingers all go "There, that's it!" And then I sigh a big, happy sigh.....

So without further ado, 

allow me to introduce our autumn state of mind decorating this year! 

I decorated the mantle in my most favorite way-with bits and pieces from here and there that somehow seemed to all make sense together.  Let's look at each piece of the mantle below and I'll give you a few more details! 

The brilliant orange vintage fabric in the middle of the mantle is actually a thrifted apron that was way too big for me.  I simply laid it out flat to use as decor and tucked the apron strings behind the Chevy tailgate!  The painted pinecones I made several years ago and always pull them out each fall...they are so versatile!  This lovely barn painting was thrifted and I painted the leaves on the branches myself! 

The brown paper flowers are made from paper bags (search: brown paper bag flowers) and the "Love" vase was bought on clearance at Kirklands.

This gorgeous, stunning painting was done by a local artist and bought at our Farmer's Market.  I am all about thrifting and finding bargains but I'm also all about supporting your local artists!  I figure if I expect others to support my shop, I must first learn to proudly support theirs. 

I could look at this painting all day long.  It tells a story to me. 

And last this side of the mantle is made up of a thrifted rake (Brett cut the handle off for me), a mirror bought at 40% off from Hobby Lobby, feathers from a friend, and bottles from my sweet grandparents.  

As I was putting this blog post together I thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of my other fall mantles throughout the past few years.  I hope this gives you some inspiring ideas for your own decorating!  I absolutely adore doing little displays like these....

I've even dreamed of decorating shop window displays as a job someday. 

Hey-you never know! 

With all the moving around, my sweet GIRL painting got moved to the bookshelf.

I think she likes her new home just fine. 

You all KNOW I can't do without a little bit of twinkle lights to add some brightness to these dark fall evenings so I hung a strand up all the way across our back windows.  My Kelly Rae Roberts art print just totally seals the deal for how much I love this view behind the couch now.

I like the top part of our built-ins to mainly look pretty and the bottom part to hold toys and quilts (You can't see the toys in this photo, but they're there!) That way it's a win-win for everybody in the house.  

I also had fun restyling these shelves in the dining room! 

Best idea EVER to hang these up because I can change my mind about what I want to display and it's as easy as taking down the old and putting up the new!  No hammering, nailing, or levels required.  This makes Brett all kinds of happy too.  

The art on these shelves are from my shop, The Wheatfield by Katie Daisy, and Cori Dantini's shop!

The last place to get spruced up a bit was our bedroom! 

I truly enjoy coming in here to relax in the evenings, especially nestling under my mama's quilt with a good book and some hot tea when the weather cools off a bit! 

What about you?  Do you enjoy decorating around your house,

or would you rather leave things as they are?