Magnolia Branches For My Christmas Mantel

So, on the way home from church today, I spied a big ole Magnolia tree growing wild in the woods - on a back road with very few houses.  I had G-Man turn the car around and pull off the road so I could trapse off through the briars in my "Sunday go to meetin' clothes" - all for the sake of getting a couple of Magnolia branches!!!  

At one point I had to decide whether to go over or under a fallen pine tree - I chose to go under and my knees weren't real happy about it.  I got Magnolia branches for my Christmas mantel and besides a lot of beggar's lice on my clothes, I came out unscathed.

Why did I go to so much trouble to get Magnolia branches?  See for yourself.

Christmas Mantel 2012

 AFTER

Working with a giant t.v. above the mantel is a challenge for me 

I kept on moving things around until it looked right to me 

After I added the burlap and Magnolia, it looked right!

BEFORE

This is okay, but don't you agree that 

 it looks better with the addition of the 

burlap ribbon and Magnolia branches?

 Okay, stop looking at la la loopsy 
and pay attention to the mantel, please!!!

 I intertwined burlap ribbon through the garland 

and added a few Magnolia leaves at the center

 

 The black iron candle sconces on each end 

were a Christmas gift from Alex last year

 I covered the glass with burlap

and tied a ribbon around them

- and then I tied on cards with sweet

 Victorian girls wearing holly in their hair

 Green glitter around the edges

adds just the right amount of sparkle

Old books and mercury glass are used across the mantel
 

 I covered this bottle with tumbled abalone shells,
added some vintage rhinestone jewelry,
and used an image of Mother and Child on the front

 

I dressed these old bottles up like royalty 

 for the 2011 Christmas issue of

Belle Inspiration

The two mercury glass jars came from TJ Maxx

I didn't care for the color of the floral metal work on the top

so I brushed a black glaze on them...

much better!

I like how it turned out, if I may say so!


Party Time @
 2nd Annual Mantel Party @ From My Front Porch To Yours
Met Monday @ On The Porch Between Naps
Tuesday's Tresures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
 Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style
Open House Thursday @ No Minimalist Here
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Have a wonderful week

Rhonda