Hi everyone! Are you enjoying this glorious fall weather as much as I am? The recent change in weather inspired me to pull all the fall decorations out of storage and to get busy decorating the house for fall.
My inspiration for this mantel display is this little guy. I picked him up at the auction a few weeks ago for $5. The vase appears to have been someone’s ceramic creation because there was a name and date on the bottom. Aren’t you wondering what year it was made? Well, it was 1977 when everyone was doing ceramics! It makes me wonder where the owl has been all these years. I’m just happy to have him residing on our mantel right now.
Using that mustardy gold color on the owl as my main color, I found this pretty ribbon and the acorns to go on a grapevine swag. I pulled out some little pumpkins and some leaves to camouflage the speaker on the mantel. Do any of you have to decorate around them, too?
On the right side, I added a bundle of wheat in a wooden pedestal bowl, newly painted, of course. The tall candlestick got a new coat of paint too. It was previously blue. And I picked up the Autumn Welcome sign at Hobby Lobby recently.
I added just a few more details such as the bead garland, the large acorns, and a few silk leaves. The jugs got dressed for fall, too.
Before I knew it, the mantel was all done!
Even Lucy has more “pep in her step” with the cooler temperatures and all the changes going on around the cottage.
I’m joining:
Autumn Mantel Party@Centsational Girl
Newbie Graduate Party@Debbiedoo’s
Barbara says
October 6, 2013 at 8:53 amJane, I always love visiting your site! Your house is so charming and inviting. I love all of your fall decorations and I’m tickled that you have your pup in the photo mix too! I am making “Meatloaf My Way” today!! So excited because it’s sooo delicious. Hope you and Leo are well. We still miss you here on the coast!
Kathy says
October 9, 2012 at 9:27 amI’m a little behind visiting my favorite blogs. I love your mantel. Your home is always so pretty. Have a fabulous week!
debra says
October 4, 2012 at 6:48 pmVisiting from Debbie Doos / Your Mantle is lovely but I am a dog and kids person so I love that you have your dog in your post! 🙂 She’s so pretty and it makes the post keeping-it-real:) In other words I know that no matter how lovely your home may be ? YOU TOO have dog hair to sweep up!! 🙂
Thistle says
October 3, 2012 at 3:49 pmJane,
This is so pretty! I love your owls! What a fun way to decorate for fall!
Thank you so much for inspiring me today!
blessings,
karianne
Dee says
October 2, 2012 at 6:46 pmJane,
Your fall mantel is beautiful. I love how you decorated the hearth too. I sure was taking a ceramics class in 1977. My sister painted an owl…… that one sure looks familiar. lol
CAS says
October 2, 2012 at 12:11 amIt looks great, Jane, and that was a “sneaky” and very clever way to hide the speakers!
CAS
Liz @ Infuse With Liz says
October 1, 2012 at 8:55 pmI don’t know how I missed this! I visited so many last week my wrists were numb!!
I love your owl! He’s a cutie! I even did ceramics in the 70’s with my Mom- she belonged to a class and I’d tag a long every so often! Love your wheat bundle! I’m always trying to get my hubby to sneak by a farmer’s field and get some for me, but he figures he’d get caught!! LOL…
Cecilia Bramhall says
October 1, 2012 at 5:32 pmJane,
I love that owl! What a good find and perfect inspiration for your mantel! It looks great!
classic • casual • home says
October 1, 2012 at 1:22 pmWOW. I need to get busy and how cute is Lucy???
Yvonne @ StoneGable says
October 1, 2012 at 6:49 amWhat a festive mantle! I love how you even decorated around your mantle too!
Doug Hickok says
October 1, 2012 at 6:41 amThe arrangement sure adds a beautiful touch. Thanks for stopping by my photography blog :^)
Karen says
September 30, 2012 at 7:30 pmYour mantle looks great Jane,Love your retro owl vase.
Susan in SC says
September 30, 2012 at 6:43 pmLucy looks like she approves of your lovely mantel!
Helen says
September 30, 2012 at 12:18 pmJane and Leo, Gotta love that classic owl! Great idea for the speaker. Love that plaid ribbon, too. Y’all find the neatest items for your mantle decor.
Kelly says
September 29, 2012 at 9:31 pmHi Jane, your Mantle looks so lovely. Love the owl. Yes I am loving the cooler nights here where I live. Have a wonderful weekend.
Pat@BPM says
September 29, 2012 at 4:29 pmThis looks beautiful Jane!
Happy Fall!
debbiedoos says
September 29, 2012 at 12:32 amIt is simply adorable my friend. I LOVE the owl!~
MariaElena says
September 28, 2012 at 8:25 amJane, what a beautiful mantle! I love the little owl and the jugs on the hearth are the perfect touch! Very, very pretty!
Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says
September 27, 2012 at 9:42 pmBeautiful mantel…love it, Jane! Love all the creative ways you came up with to create different heights…like the pedestal. Enjoying these wonderful fall days! Say Hi to Leo for me!
Roeshel says
September 27, 2012 at 9:12 pmSo festive and all ready for fall! I love your collection and that owl? Love it! Beautiful fall mantel! 🙂
Shannon @Cozy Home Scenes says
September 27, 2012 at 8:23 amVery pretty, Jane! I like the interesting items you used like the wheat and the owl to give your mantle your own special touch. I also like the jugs that you used on the hearth.—- Shannon
JoAnn @ SweetPepperRose says
September 26, 2012 at 9:10 pmLove it! the owl is so pretty 😉
Keeping it Cozy says
September 26, 2012 at 7:22 pmYour mantel looks so pretty, Jane. I love the bundle of wheat and the owl vase. How fun and unique… the colors are perfect for fall.
Jean Windham says
September 26, 2012 at 12:40 pmNice changes in the mantel. I just told Woody how much I enjoy your blog and seeing what is new at The Crossroads. The fall colors are inspirational as well as the pottery you have added. Great job. Jean
Kris says
September 26, 2012 at 11:06 amPretty mantel. I remember 1977 and making ceramics. If I recall, owls were a big thing that year. I also remember going to a ceramics class in 1970 too! HAH
Barbara F. says
September 26, 2012 at 10:22 amAh yes, I was so into ceramics in 1977! That is a cute owl vase. Owls are all over the place this year. Mantle looks lovely, Jane. xo
Carlene @ Oganized Clutter says
September 26, 2012 at 7:06 amThe mantel looks great. You work around the TV well. I like the jugs on the hearth too.
Melanie says
September 26, 2012 at 6:08 amYour mantle is lovely! Yes, the cooler weather has put some pep in our steps too!! Happy to see the cooler weather and hoping that those sweltering temps are finished for the year!!!
Mary says
September 26, 2012 at 5:02 amJane~ I love your new owl vase~ what a find and he looks so current! I love the twigs he’s sprouting to match the design along with your wheat in your pedestal bowl and grapevine swag! Chloe and Gracie are as happy as Lucy is with the cooler temperatures 🙂
michelle says
September 25, 2012 at 10:33 pmIt looks great. We are still having hot weather here. So it doesn’t feel like fall yet. I am so looking forward to cool weather.
Ann says
September 25, 2012 at 7:32 pmYou do such a good job at decorating your mantel even though the TV is there. I have to admit that I don’t decorate ours. The TV is so huge that there is just a small space on either side. Not much fits there. I found some narrow urns and they have been there for a few years. You have inspired me to come up with something for Christmas! Love your pictures.
Judy says
September 25, 2012 at 7:12 pmGreat owl for your mantel, Jane. It reminds me that I made a umbrella stand that was an owl in about that same year when my Mom and I took ceramics. I’m going to look for it. I think it’s in the garage. Thanks for sharing your mantel and for the reminder about the owl stand.
Shirley@Housepitality Designs says
September 25, 2012 at 7:09 pmJane…love the mantel….so many of your creative touches making it a warm and inviting mantel…I so love the owl planter!!!…
Karen says
September 25, 2012 at 6:13 pmLove it, Jane! And yes, I have to decorate around the A/V stuff. I love the way you were able to keep the height low with the swag and the pumpkins, and still have such impact with the colors. Loving these cool mornings down here in Cottageville, sure makes my morning walk-ercise more comfortable.
Gee says
September 25, 2012 at 4:15 pmGreat job!! I have been going around and around on my mantel… the only place not decorated to my liking. Why?? The flat screen TV that is perched a few inches above it. Then I see this!! Thank you so much for sharing.
Gonna go redo mine again! I am inspired.
Cheers, Gee
pop on by and visit me at my place.
http://www.simplymedesignesbygee.blogspot.com
Gina says
September 25, 2012 at 4:05 pmSo pretty, Jane! I love the owl vase. Funny how everything comes back in style again, isn’t it?
Kathleen says
September 25, 2012 at 3:58 pmVery pretty, Jane. I love that plaid ribbon.
Yes, the weather here has been great!
Sheila says
September 25, 2012 at 3:03 pmCute owl. He looks kind of mad though, lol.
jane says
September 25, 2012 at 3:12 pmI guess that’s because he’s so old, Sheila! And he has sticks in his head to boot! LOL!
Laura @ Finding Home says
September 25, 2012 at 12:13 pmLove that big wide wheat stack and that owl vase is fantastic!
Fine House says
September 25, 2012 at 12:02 pmYou did a great job – I love how the mantel turned out!
Kim says
September 25, 2012 at 11:45 amThat looks great, Jane. Yes, I am loving this weather for sure.