Everyone’s doing it.

Decorating their mantels for Fall.

But, not me.  Nope.

In order to decorate a mantel, one must have a mantel.

                             It’s one of those details that makes all the difference.

I had a mantel.  Once.

It was lovely.  Of course, I just might be a little biased since I designed it.  That was my Michigan mantel which surrounded my favorite brick, and housed a firebox where we burned cherry.  Mmmm.  So fragrant.

I loved that fireplace.  The mantel too.  On a fall evening I could be found tending the fire, almost sitting in the firebox, to get in close to the heat and ward off the chill.  Great memories.

So what does one do when “everyone’s” decorating mantels and is without a mantel?  Decorate the top of a buffet or sideboard.

I hope you’re okay with my wannabe mantel.

See that purple flower in the bunch?  That I drove by several times and finally, I remembered my pruners and snipped it.  It’s an Aster.  An extraordinary Aster.  The prettiest I’ve seen along the byways…my favorite place for flower picking.

You’ll see here that I came home with a bit more than just the Aster.  {grin}

This was a super simple little ‘mantel’ arrangement.

Here’s how it all went together…..

It began with my Longaberger Oval Serving Tray Basket.  To it I added a lace thing that’s been hanging out in a drawer.  It belonged to my mom.  Probably my grandmother.  I never remember seeing it used anywhere.  So it was time.

Then I added my “Wan-eta Cocoa Boston” brown glass Mason jar to which I dressed with a sash of burlap and twine.  Next came the Amaranth.  That was a tall stalk of grain that I picked up from the Friendship Farms booth at the farmers’ market and cut to fill the cocoa jar.  (It even came with those lovely lacy leaves, courtesy of some creative insect.)  While at the farmers’ market I also picked up a Heritage Pennsylvania Crook Neck Squash.  Its color was a lovely tonal blend with the Amaranth and the basket, sitting on a strip of burlap I cut from a coffee sack, to make a runner.

All that golden beige and tan loveliness need some zing.  And that’s where that stunning Aster came into the picture and brought life to this still.

Something else was needed.  So I took one of the silverplate candlesticks that belonged to my mom, topped it with a votive candle, and set it in the crook of the squash.

So what do you think?

                  Will this pass for a mantelscape?

                                             Is that even a word?

Happy Fall!

Diane

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