Tuesday, February 9, 2016

A MANTLE - TO BE OR NOT TO BE...










When is a mantle 
not a mantle?




The first camellia of the season!


When
 it is a shelf!






There are a few shelves
 in the Cottage
 who desperately want to be 
mantles 
when they grow up.






Some are just youngsters 
with dreams of achievement
 that are quite beyond
 their reach..






Some
 are a little more 
advanced...






...but
 still have room 
for growth...






...then
 there is the one
 that has reached its full potential 
but,
 unless the sofa under it
 catches fire, 
will never have the ability 
to actually
 claim the title.












~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Now, 
let's get down 
to brass tacks...







This actual mantle 
in the sitting room
 is the heart of the home. 

 It is our main source of heat 
and gets a workout 
during the long winter months.

 A few of the crocks from our collection 
sit on the corner shelf.
 This is where faux greenery,
 not only softens the look,
 but is totally acceptable 
because of the heat
 from the stove pipe.








~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~






In the parlor
 there is a full fledged mantle 
which once held the glow of firelight,
 but now is content
 with the memories of long ago
 of the warmth
 from my great-grandmother's
 little black parlor stove.















~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~






The mantle 
in the guest room 
never had dreams
 of growing up to be
 anything other than what it was...

...a few old door casings,
 some odd pieces of shelving,
 an antique dresser,
 and backing off the shelves
 of a big box store.





















Now
 all those pieces
 stand as one
 and treat our guests to a 
soft bed and 
a warm welcome.






Hope everyone
 has a romantic 
and wonderful
 Valentine's Day.


...Judy...






Sharing today with:















































17 comments:

  1. Judy, I love all your mantles. Your home is a beautiful welcoming place. I bet your guest never want to leave. LOL. That is wonderful that you have your great grandmother's mantle. A treasure. I just look to see where you lived. No wonder you have a big flower.:):) Blessings to you and yours, xoxo,Susie

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  2. Dear Judy:
    I think I see the Homer and Laughlin creamer with George Washington there made into a topiary. That is darling. I love your wood burning stove and will miss ours when we move as we will have a gas fireplace. So glad you shared your lovely vignettes and shelves with love items adorning them!

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  3. Hi Judy, what a fun post! Lots of pretty stuff to look at. I really like how you made a over the mantel mirror using a dresser mirror, so clever! I have that exact same white cherub ornament that you showed in the last photo. :)
    Wishing you and hubs a Happy Valentine's Day on Sunday!
    Gina

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  4. Judy, I love all of your mantels both real and wannabes. You decorate them all so beautifully. I noticed your sweet hobnail milk glass pieces too. It's all so lovely. Happy Valentine's Day to you. Hugs. Pam

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  5. Judy your shelf and mantel vignettes are just gorgeous not to mention so very romantic! I love your beautiful transferware and milk glass...classic, Wishing you and The Captain a wonderful Valentine's weekend!
    XO Barbara

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  6. Goodness, you have a beautiful and cozy home, Judy! Your 'mantels' are 100% better than many traditional ones with your creative touch!

    We have a wood burning stove at the lake---it is not only beautiful but it can heat the whole house, which is quite large as long as we keep feeding it. Since my husband loves to chop wood as a hobby (!!!), we are usually good all winter!!

    Thank you for your lovely visits!

    Jane

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  7. Oh Judy, so many pretty mantles. Love your stove also. Your pictures are stunning and all your vignettes look great. Such a beautiful home.
    Have a great Valentine's Day.
    Hugs,
    Mary

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  8. Judy, I love your mantels! Wood burning stoves and fireplaces are so cozy. I love our wood pellet stove in the family room. Although it doesn't have a lovely corner mantel like yours, it does heat the whole house and I'm thankful for it this time of year. I had that mantel in the dining room specially built for me. It used to hang in the living room until we got our fireplace in there. I think mantels make a home so charming whether they are large, small, or actually surround the fireplace. You have a beautiful and cozy home. I love all your pieces of milk glass and red transferware! Thanks for sharing with us and Happy Valentine's Day!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  9. All the shelves/mantles are decorated so pretty! The camellias are in full bloom here all over the city...i lLove them so! Which color are your favorites?

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  10. All of your mantles, Judy, from the youngest to the oldest and all in between are beautifully adorn! May you be Filled with HIS love this 'heart month! Blessings, Cindy xo

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  11. So many beautiful vignettes!!!! I love the little heart garland! Did you make that?
    ~Des

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  12. Such a cute post, Judy. I love the corner mantle around your woodstove. I miss the lovely heat from a woodstove - one of the things we lost when we moved to town.

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  13. Judy,
    Everything looks so pretty! You have such a collection of lovely things!! Thanks so much for stopping by!!

    Hugs.
    Deb

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  14. You have many "mantels" to set up pretty displays on! They remind me of what you would see in a pretty B&B.

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  15. Oh Judy, you have a lovely home. And all your wanna-be mantels and mantels are just lovely. Thank you for sharing. Wishing you a lovely Valentine's Weekend.

    Hugs and Kisses,
    ❤️Ana

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  16. I will be featuring this post at No Place Like Home on Monday. Happy Valentine's Day, Judy!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  17. What gorgeous photos!!! I love your style! The heart garland is so sweet!
    Your blog is truly beautiful.
    Debbie

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Your comments are so special to me...Judy