Hi there, everyone! I’m hoping that all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Did you get some decorating done over the weekend? I did so I’m sharing our 2015 Christmas mantel that I got finished this weekend.
I’m calling it A Peaceful Christmas Mantel since I included this Peace sign and white dove as part of the display. It is an expression of how much we need more peace in our world. You know, 2015 has been filled with some horrible events that occurred in our state and in our nation. And there seems to be so much division and conflict in our nation and in our world that I just wish that we could find a peaceful resolution to our differences.
The whole mantel is composed of various shades of my favorite color green, the color of life, nature, renewal, and rebirth and the most common color in the natural world.
The whole color scheme was driven by this green buffalo checked piece of wool fabric that I happened upon this summer at an incredible price. At first I thought I would use it to recover the seats of the dining room chairs, but instead I decided to use it for Christmas. To me, Christmas decorating is so much easier if I decide on a color scheme early!
And the whole idea of bringing peace into the scheme was born when I ordered the clay tag doves made by my friend Ann from On Sutton Place. You can see one of them on a package in the photo above.
Well, as you can see, I had a table skirt and some pillows made out of the green checked fabric. And I just had to have a pillow that said, “Peace!”
And, of course, stockings for the mantel!
Each stocking contains a green frog ornament almost camouflaged by the pine garland.
The pine garland is new this year. I always like to use fresh greens on the mantel, but quite frankly, by the time Christmas Eve rolls around, the greenery always looks a little dried out and that’s when I like for it to look its best! So I decided to purchase some artificial garland this year, and when I saw this longleaf pine garland at Taylor’s Garden Center, I had to splurge! It is so realistic looking that it actually fools people until they touch it! The bows were made from two shades of green ribbon and the large pine cone sprays were found at Hobby Lobby.
The pine garland isn’t lighted but I tucked some fairy lights that I purchased from Amazon (affiliate link) among the needles, and I just love them. For a very small amount of money, it’s a great way to add lights to unlighted garland or a display. I love them so much that I’m going to order a few more, and the mantel just wouldn’t be the same without them!
Leo and I made the wooden trees last year and used them to decorate for Christmas on the Front Porch. Leo trimmed them down a bit to make them fit in front of the fireplace.
These rustic deer seemed to fit right into the verdant, natural theme. They’ve been used in a few different places since we got them a few years ago at Forest Lake Greenhouses. One way to keep Christmas decorating costs down is to move around the items that you have to get a whole new look.
Love their spikey antlers!!!
The deer have planters on their backs, and this painted pine cone from a few years back fits right in.
Underneath the TV is a speaker that I’m always decorating around, and these bird nests from a few years ago do a good job of hiding it. And the eggs are green! Reminds me just a bit of Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss!
Underneath the wooden dove is a little snowy, peaceful village scene that I created which I will show you more of in another post. Have you ever wondered how the dove with the olive branch became a symbol of peace? Well, in ancient civilizations, olive trees were a valuable source of food and since it takes so long for them to bear fruit, they could only be cultivated successfully during long periods of peace. Therefore, they became a symbol of peace. And also in ancient cultures, doves, who mate for life, have been a symbol of devotion, fidelity, and family life for thousands of years. The symbolism continued in the Bible when Noah sent out a dove and it returned to the ark with an olive branch in its mouth representing hope for a new home and a new life for Noah and his family.
It is my Christmas wish that we find more ways to live in harmony on Earth.
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If you’re looking for more Christmas ideas, then you are in luck!
Our Christmas Ideas Tour is being hosted by the lovely Kathy from Petticoat Junktion, and I hope you find time to visit all the bloggers on the tour. Click on any of the links below to find lots of inspiration!
Monday – Mantels
Petticoat Junktion
My Creative Days
2 Bees in a Pod
Restoration Redoux
Atta Girl Says
Art is Beauty
Cottage at the Crossroads
Housepitality Designs
Shabbyfufu
Tuesday – Tablescapes
Postcards from the Ridge
Town and Country Living
Hunt and Host
Savvy Southern Style
All Things Heart and Home
HighStyle Restyle
This Makes That
Wednesday – Wreaths
Domestically Speaking
Our Southern Home
Mad in Crafts
H2O Bungelow
Sweet Pea
Around The Watts House
Thursday – Thrifty Crafts
Dukes and Duchesses
Confessions of a Serial Do-It-Yourselfer
Prodigal Pieces
The Interior Frugalista
Cupcakes and Crinoline
Girl in the Garage
That is so Pretty, I just love all the green. It does make you feel Peaceful. Hope you have a Very Merry Christmas, in you pretty house. Donna
Your mantel certainly is peaceful, Jane. I would love to sit with a cup of hot cocoa and just enjoy looking at it. Gorgeous!
I love green, and how you incorporated it here into your mantel. Simply beautiful!
Green is one of my favorite colors too Jane. I love the natural elements and how you incorporate green in your tablecloth and pillows.
Jane, this is so pretty. I love the green. You did a fabulous job incorporating the TV which isn’t always so easy. I love the big pine cones and the trees you painted.
Everything looks just beautiful, Jane!
Everything is so peaceful and calm… with a beautiful natural feel… very cozy-chic.
With a side of elegant.
You sure know what you’re doing 😉
Happy Holidays!!
Beautiful!!! The green is perfect…. loving the bows on the mantle & that gorgeous garland has given me some inspiration!!!
It is beautiful! I love the way you used (my favorite) color green which enhances the pretty decorations. Merry Christmas to you & Leo.
Your green and woodsy mantel is so pretty! You incorporated so many pretty details together seamlessly!
Beautiful! I love the shade of green that was your inspiration for this year’s mantel. Your garland definitely looks real and the twinkling lights you added are the perfect touch. I can only imagine how great this looks in person.
I love all the green…it really is so peaceful! I wish my décor was this cohesive! I just want to move over to your place 😉 Lovely!
It really is a peaceful mantel. I love how you incorporated all the different shades of green into your mantel and home decor. It’s a very tranquil room.
This just might be my favorite yet! Fantastic job.
This is stunningly beautiful! I love the shades of green, and you have truly created a peaceful look. Perfection!
Jane what a beautiful display. I love the wool fabric and agree it’s easier to decorate around a color theme. Merry Christmas!
I so agree about the greens not being fresh by Christmas eve. I saw the cutest boxwood wreaths at Trader Joe’s yesterday, but just knew they wouldn’t last another month. Hopefully they will still have them in a few weeks. Love this entire collection and your use of the various greens!
Wow, absolutely stunning! I have never seen a Christmas mantel with a TV as the focal point look more beautiful than yours…you almost don’t even notice the TV! I love the lush green and your theme for peace. Beautifully done!
You did a BEAUTIFUL job!!! I admire people who are so talented. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Jane, that green is just so gorgeous! I love the combination of it all!
great job!
Hugs,
Karin
So beautiful… love all the green!
Jane, we love those pinecones and those sweet wooden deer…adorable! We’re also loving the greens you used…everything looks great!
Jane, your Christmas decor is divine! I absolutely love it! It’s very peaceful and the shade of green that you chose is gorgeous. Everything is so cohesive and goes together beautifully. I love the buffalo check too.
So very, very beautiful Jane….from the pretty pine garland to those great stockings that coordinate with the table skirt and that beautiful pillow….not to mention those wonderful packages!…The PEACE sign is not only beautiful but such a great message for us all during this particular holiday season….May you find great peace and joy this season Jane and Leo.
Ditto!
I love it all! You know green is my favorite color too! I love the pine garland and thought it was real myself! The Taylor’s do have wonderful things and is a traditional fun place to shop especially for Christmas! Great job Jane and Leo!
Jane, the theme of your Christmas Mantel couldn’t be more fitting this holiday season. Such a cozy mantlescape – love the shade of green you used. I am swooning over your wooden reindeer! Love the lighted trees in the galvanized pots and the wooden trees Leo made are adorable.
Green is my favorite color and I love how you have used different shades of it on and around your mantel. Your stockings are so great too!!! Love it all!
Love the greens, Jane! Beautiful mantel!
You two are both so talented, this is absolutely beautiful!! Your peaceful theme is so inspiring. I just adore this, and you two also! xoxoxo, Andrea
Jane,
Love the light green plaid and whites. So gorgeous. Simple and soooo pretty. Swooning.
Kris
Your mantel is beautiful. I really thought the greenery was real, looks amazing. I love the buffalo check material. Though I love my purple, green is in my top three favorite colors. 🙂
Jane, everything is definitely pretty in green checks! I love your mantel and the surrounding decor. Yes, we certainly need peace this year. I have the long needled pine wreaths that I bought last year at a local design shop because it looks so real just like your garland.
It’s beautiful! And oh so very peaceful, you and Leo did an amazing job! I see someone’s stocking missing though, Lucy’s must be too big to hang? 😉 xoxo
I love the one color tone on tone Jane, so attractive and different!
Jane you did it again! Beautiful! Do you make house calls? HELP