Holiday Mantle Decorating Ideas
Jollification for all! You know mantles are one of my weaknesses….A quick vignette turn about in a snap just makes me one happy go lucky girl! This is the place to jump in if you have the fever like I do! Think of your mantle as a lovely spot to bring you joy and cheer plus total creative satisfaction in a snap! Sort of mini art camp therapy…..riiiight!
Sometimes I start by taking everything down….the clean palette approach if you will. But….. when I have a good backdrop, (say a drop-dead knock-out mirror)….and lots of other goodness to get to in my life, then I will just peel away the front layer (so to speak) and put a new face on Dolly!
Divine inspiration is everywhere….playing with the tiniest details is one of my favorite ways to get lost in a creation. I really don’t think too hard about where it’s all going…I just start to fiddle…and as I play things start to come alive in the most enchanting ways. Makes me giddy you know! I am entirely OK with faux greens, but I always tuck a bit of mother nature herself into the mix…..I have no shame over plastic greenery, but the real stuff is just so ……well….real. So I always snip a mix from our property and tuck it in here and there.
You know I’m a sucker for gigantic vessels….I adore the clear glass variety, as they give me another spot to tuck my goods, but a gorgeous jewel tone little number is pretty magnificent this time of year too. You cannot go wrong with heaps of sparkling colors undulating over the top….my eye just wants to linger, and surely it moves my inner most heart. Takes me back…..way back that is. More than anything…as I will always tell you…..take pleasure in the process, your moment, whatever you are creating or doing…..it will let the entire holiday unfold even more beautifully than you can imagine.
Cheers and Good Tidings!
Xoxo,
T.
Tracy Porter
Labels: holiday, make & create, more Tracy Porter, soulful nesting & decorating
Reader Comments
Hi tracy! love the mantel…of course! love everything you do my dear! there’s nothing better than cozying up to a warm fire this time of year with all the added holiday sparkle! i just want to add…if it wasn’t for you, i never would have started blogging and now i’m addicted! happily addicted…..happy holidays to you and yours!
erin
Hi Tracy,
I enjoyed seeing the front of your studio building decorated for Autumn. Would you post an image of the building decorated for Christmas? Would love to see it!
Snow day here; Coffee cake going into the oven. P.J.’s still on. We’ll shovel later.
“Oh Happy Day”, Kristen
(Quoting Gus from my daughter, Eva’s favorite video)
Tracy – wonderful mantle – so inspiring! I just filled a lovely glass bowl with antique ornaments with a lovely glass garland just this past Sunday and see that I am channelling you again – so happy to do so!
Am still home with the wretcched flu – perhaps it’s time to move on to “White Christmas”? Have a wonderful day!
Hey, everyone!!….Tracy, thanks for the mantel ideas and inspiration…I’ve been fiddling with mine for the last few days, and today’s post was just the spark I needed!!….girls, check out the following link on You Tube for a video of Straight No Chaser singing Carol of the Bells: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVgCOgtklew&feature=related…..if you’re not familiar with them, they are a men’s a capella group from Indiana University, and their sound is fabulous….you can hear more of their songs and order their CDs from their website at http://www.sncmusic.com…cheers and holiday happiness to all!!!…..warmly, Kat
TRACY….isn’t it just so inspiring to no end to hear from ladies all over the world….I know it would be for me…I swear it would open up the viens in my head…lolo…if there is any….lolol…I would come up with things that would be out of the normal sinc….”"”"”oh speaking of that I wanted to put a bug in your hear….when you do your tunics….keep ME in mind….now that I am older I want to cover up as I dont like the look of my skin….(old age spots etc) can you do blouses with sleeves below the elbow or to the wrist and then do cut outs….even in the pants or capris….where we are covered but it still will feel sexy and only will show our skin here and there….hope you get the picture…..I have always wanted to design cut out clothes….maybe showing the sholder only and cut outs going down the sides or front or even the back of pants…I have found a few in my travels and keep them in good shape cause I never know when I will find any others…..sorry I am not one of those women that can wear shorts peddle pushers or capris and have there white veiny leggs showing….I wear Leggs summer hose which gives it a slight tan….tried all those spray on tans…and they end up getting on your clothes or streaking….so I opt for a very sheer hose…NEED YOUR HELP…..YOU COULD MAKE A MILLION OFF OF ME…….IN THIS ALONE!!!!!!
BACK LATER….GOT TO GET COFFEE ON ……and Greet the day with gusto!!!
Ooops!!…..sorry about “cheers” being included in their web address!!….Kat
Love the eclectic mix on the mantle, so charming!!! So glad you are keeping a lookout for Mama and kitty, I’ve been worrying about them!! December is adorable!! I’m sure Kit and Teddy will love them, we never had a dog that didn’t get along famously with all of our cats!! What a special Christmas gift the kittens are for ya’ll!!!
TRACY…..I swoon at this display of JOLLIFICATION!!! ….you have inspired me to use my trifle dish is so many fun ways! AND draping sparkly goodness around with beaded garland is my new FAVORITE thing to do!! Happy Tuesday to you! xoxo
HELLO….ITS ME AGAIN….just ordered the Heaven on Earth top….and had to have the sleeves altered on my Gypsy Queen tunic…wearing it for Xmas Day….since I am cooking it will let me move…..and I know I told you but I found from Neiman…the cut out on the the right side of the leggs stretch pants…oh they are just slimming and make this Ole Gal…still feel sexy….I need it….I need all the help I can get……Love Ya Like A Sister!!!! XOXOXOOXOX
VALERY….I, too, gave up on self-applied tanning creams and sprays, and I now get a sprayed-on tan at a salon…looks like I spent a week on the Riviera without the sun damage to my skin….try it…I think you’ll be pleased with the results!!!!…..Kat
I just can’t get enough of this blog and your videos!!!
Loves…happy snowy day!
Oh, man.we are in for a blizzzard today and i LOVE blizzards! If it’s cold…boy it had better be snowy!
I am going to have to hook a sleigh up to our donkey Rodeo Jack, slam some antlers onto the goat…a cherry on his nose and giddy-up…. to make it in for the radio show….I could do it from my house, but imagine me doing that with 4 boys running around……what a crazy thing that would be….i would rather spare us all!!!
For the record, i would be making a disastrous mess of myself if i ever tried self tanners..as you mention…..surely i would forget to wash my hands and end up all oompa-loompa looking for days. I tried to wax myself once ( TMI I know) and nearly ended up in the hospital. yeah,….as we say here in the studio, you can’t be brilliant at everything. I am clear on that one! you don’t want me to be your esthetician ( whew, is that a hard word to spell…yikes) ok…
thanks loves for all your gorgeous chattering, love you for it….you inspire me so!!
My kids are so hoping for a snow day tomorrow….hmmm….
xoxo
T..
Hi Tracy,
It’s snowing here today, too! I am nesting/decorating and getting all bubbly like you do – love to wave the holiday wand of enchantment over the place on days like this!
The carving on your mantel is gorgeous. I like the lamb and the old books together with the light shining on them. It certainly does move my “inner most heart” and takes me back.(Your writing is divine!)
Erin, I have been on your blog and it is simply magical! Thank goodness Tracy got you started!
I have missed you and am so glad you wrote today!