Mantle Metamorphosis

It's been quite a while since I have participated in Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch so I chose to share my fireplace mantle. My mantle changes with the seasons and holidays.

At Christmas I most often place my collection of Santa's on the mantle. This year I decided to place my Nativity on the mantle and we were able to enjoy it so much more.



This particular Nativity was made by my grandmother about 40 years ago. She owned a ceramic shop and painted this one for my mother. When my husband and I were young marrieds my mother asked my husband to rig something up so the angel would appear to be floating. He did this with a co-hanger and we have used it ever since. When my mother passed away 20 years ago my father gave this Nativity to me. It is one of my most cherished possessions.




A closer look at that angel that appears to be flying.




The Wise Men and their camels.




And the shepards.




This will remain up until after The Epiphany on Janruary 6th and we will enjoy it everyday. It is a real treasure to me.



Please take a look at other participants at Between Naps On The Porch

Christmas Has Come and Gone

It has been several months since I have posted on my blog but I couldn't let the time go by without posting some of my Christmas photos.

I have a passion for setting a beautiful table but more importantly putting together flower arrangements is a great stress release for me. This year I set my Christmas dinner table and made my flower arrangement on Christmas Eve after I had prepped dinner. I was ready for the arrival of my family and guests.



To either side of the flower arrangement I used mercury glass votive candle holders.



The dining room is painted a cherry red and one would think that I would down play the red and I usually do but this year I used a gorgeous red damask tablecloth from William Sonoma and I loved the way it looked with all the red. This photo shows one of two salt and pepper cellars that I found at an antique show many years ago. I place one at each end of the table. They are early 1800's pieces. The flatware is hotel silver and the china is Spode Christmas Tree.



Behind the dining room table is my antique sideboard and I placed three glitzy red trees in different sizes on it with one of my Santa's from my collection of Santa's.




At each child's setting I used silver snowmen napkin rings. At all other place settings I used antique silver napkin rings that I have collected over the past few years.



At the end of the dining room is French doors and I hung on each one freeze dried boxwood wreaths. I will be able to use these boxwood wreaths throughout the year and changing the ribbons depending on the holiday if I wanted to use them. I thought they were a good purchase.








Christmas has come and gone but I was very pleased with my Christmas tablesetting this year.