Thanksgiving Inspired Mantel

I know I say this every time I create a new mantel. Believe me, at the time I really mean it. But for real, this Thanksgiving inspired mantel is my favorite mantel so far this year. It has all of my favorite elements – layers of white, black and wood grain, collected vintage items, bits of nature and at least one upcycled item. Yum!

Over the years, people have asked me what I really think about Thanksgiving given my family’s Cherokee heritage. I definitely have strong opinions about the day. But I was also raised in a military family and we moved around a lot, so for us, Thanksgiving always meant coming home. I can honestly say, my parents did an amazing job creating an environment where we continually honored our past while looking forward to a future filled with adventures and blessings so we could be of service to others. To this day, that would be something my Cherokee grandmothers would be proud of.

Last year for Christmas, my sweet friends Jenn and Vicki from 2 Bees in a Pod gave me these black and white framed photographs. I’ve used the old scale all around the house in different spots. Ironstone pitchers are something that I pick up whenever I see them. Ironstone is hard to find in this area sometimes. I found the Windsor Ware platter a few years ago at a great price. Some of these feathers have been given to me and others I’ve found in various places around the property or beside my car door at the store. For one reason or another, feathers find their way to my path a lot.

This piece of “art” used to hang in my bedroom at my parent’s primary home, Bliss Barracks. I use art in quotes because my mom has a European decorating style and when we bought it we thought it had “old world charm.” Imagine our disappointment when we got home and realized it had been mass-produced and wasn’t old world at all. What can I say, we were total newbies at the time.

I didn’t feel one bit of angst when I painted over it with chalkboard paint. As my funniest aunt would say, “Now that blackboard and antler combination makes a statement.” And she’s right. Don’t be surprised if you see some sort of version of this same thing in my office one day. It’s totally moody. I love it.

The turkey aftershave bottle is from Avon. It still has the label on it that reads “Deep Woods” for the scent and “Wild Turkey” must be the collection it came from. I love cotton and I could seriously leave it up all year. I found this old metal bucket while out shopping with my mom this past summer. The horseshoe reflects my love for all things equestrian and is also a nod to how important horses were to tribes across the nation. The platter is another thrift store find.

Seasonal decorating doesn’t have to be expensive. Find a few things you love and start layering. While you’re layering, create vignettes that tell the story of your home, your life and what matters most to your family. It’s a recipe for decorating success!

See you guys back here tomorrow. I’m sharing an easy to create Thanksgiving inspired wreath for the entry!

Many blessings,

CoCo