Romantic Mantel

The only major holiday decorating I usually do is during Christmas. But I just can’t help myself when it comes to making some little changes in my decor for the minor holidays and for the changing of the seasons.

So, for the month of February, I added a little romantic flair to the fireplace mantel.

My fireplace mantel is quite large and is a bit difficult to decorate. If I add too little, it just looks sparse. But I also don’t like a lot of little tchotchkes.

On a side note, I first heard the word “tchotchke” (that’s a fun word to say, isn’t it 🙂)when I used to watch the Christopher Lowell design show. Anyone else remember him???

Anyhoo, here’s what I came up with for my romantic mantel….

I started with a heart garland made from sheet music. You could also use book pages, but sheet music is what I had, so that’s what I went with. I just folded the paper and cut out some hearts. Then I used a needle and upholstery thread to string the hearts. The larger heart in the center is made with strips of paper….

 

On the left side of the mantel is a pitcher with dried hydrangeas from my mom’s garden and a floral oil painting that I picked up at an estate sale years ago….

I also added a little bird in a nest of raffia tucked into a silver cup…..

 

I kept the frame and boxwood wreath that I’ve had on the mantel for awhile now. I just added a glass heart with a ribbon to the center…..

 

On the right side of the mantel is a cast iron urn with white roses, a pair of shutters to add height, and a picture of my sweet sons that was taken a few years ago….

 

I’ve got one more Valentine’s Day vignette to share with you later this weekend.

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