framed-up fall mantel

I've featured the large crewel piece (created by my great-grandmother!) before but this is the first time I used an old window and empty picture frames. Natural treasures from the beach include driftwood and a large seagull feather. Natural treasures from the neighborhood include oak branches, acorns, various seed pods, and a pretty substantial piece of bark that I hauled home from a walk. Upon seeing it my husband only commented "Well, that's where the kids get it." A few pieces of glass including some of my milk glass collection and there it is. I am quite pleased with it and will probably leave it up until Christmas time.

alien invadors or milkweed seedpods?

Doesn't this look a bit like it has a face?!

Or perhaps like it is going to take flight?

beautiful seeds

One lovely autumn day we ventured out of the playground and off the beaten path into a puffy cloud of plant life, all gone to seed but oh-so-lovely to adventure through. The plants were taller than my children so you can imagine the excitement/fear of plunging into this jungle!

consider the cattail

A recent scientific experiment at our home resulted in a cattail being pulled apart seed by seed. Notice the amazing and efficient design and how many millions of soft seeds are packed into the "tail," ends tucked in those yellow yellow bristles. Such a strange and alien looking plant.

I can see clearly now

My last decorating scheme on the mantel was my milk glass collection. I appreciate the solid graphic nature of the white shapes but I was ready for something fresh.

Displaying multiples of anything tends to be visually interesting. I realized I had an accidental collection of clear glass vases in a variety of sizes, shapes, and heights and decided to go with that. My original thought was to simply layer them alone but I quickly changed my mind choosing instead to add autumn-appropriate elements from nature.

Brown has never been my first choice when it comes to colors but I think there is something pleasant about the connection to outdoors it has. I've used seed pods, acorns, driftwood, feathers, and dried flowers from the garden including the dramatic alliums. I think the dried blooms look a bit like fireworks. I will confess to nabbing a couple of extra pieces from my mom's basement to round out the collection. I have been rearranging and adding bits for a few days now but I think, with perhaps the exception of our growing acorn collection, I am done for now.