Christmas Mantel at Hansel and Gretel

I always have so much fun decorating my house for Christmas. Since we have moved, I have been chomping at the bit wanting to get all of my decorations from the storage units. It really stinks to not have my Christmas closet anymore! Shelves to the ceiling held all of my rubber maids! I also kept 3 trees in there! Only one was out of the box and standing. Now, I have to drive a few miles down the road and load up the car and a trailer and then make another trip to get it all to Hansel and Gretel! I really didn't mind this year since it was a new house and I could re-do everything! I had lots of fun over Thanksgiving weekend when my fellas were off in the woods hunting. I had the house all to myself and got so much done!

I have this HUGE fireplace. It's like chateau-in-the-mountains-huge! I can literally stand inside! I didn't really have an idea of what would make it onto this monstrosity. The area from the mantel to the top is not very big. It's just really wide. As I was opening all the boxes on the porch, I found my Penny McAllister collection. This stuff is gorgeous, y'all! I absolutely love it. It's all handmade and since she passed away a few years ago, my pieces have become even more special to me.

The window painted like a santa belt and believe spelled out is courtesy of my talented sister, Natalie! She made this for me several years ago and it's one of my favorite pieces!

A close up of a few Penny McAllister pieces and my favorite wood Christmas Tree!

There is a smaller den off the kitchen at Hansel and Gretel. We use this room a lot. It's where homework gets done and dinner gets eaten! I wanted some real garland for this mantel, but haven't found any. Maybe someone has extra and they want to share? Or maybe, I could actually go and buy some. hahahahaha, I'm still in my pj's and it's 2:15!

This mantel has a few things on it from my first decorating attempt. That window...it's one of my favorite pieces, the clock, the 4 and the small foundry pattern were all there before. I added John Connor's first kill. It was hanging over the mantel last year with a Santa hat! Oh, that shed was there before, too. I just moved it over to allow for those fun trees to have a spot! 

The two frames are from one of my favorite frame makers, Leah. That santa is part of my collection that is in another room. I needed a space filler and he fit the bill! I picked up those two small reindeer in Tennessee at Marshall's. I am loving reindeer this season!

I'm linking this Christmas mantel to:

Hansel and Gretel Pictures!

I bought a new camera....yes, another one. Anyone get the feeling the problems are user related? help me

I have been dying to share photos of the Hansel and Gretel house. It's dark, people. Very dark. Yes, I have all of these cool, I mean really cool, light fixtures. They just don't put out a lot of light. We are in the woods. Not a lot of sunshine coming in! So, here goes. There seems to be a never ending supply of stuff to do around here. Lots more decorating and I need window treatments! I think I've taken a break from working all day on the house. I guess I need to get back at it this week!

This room needs some work. It still doesn't have a light fixture. I need Rhodas living room fixture over at Southern Hospitality! Or at least the same one at that price! The mantel needs a little work.  I guess I need to look at a mantel linky party and get some inspiration or just dig through my Pinterest boards? Just pretend you don't see the extra-large TV on the right. It's there and not going anywhere, but let's just pretend it's not there, can we?

I love this kitchen. LOVE IT! We added the yellow boards on the ceiling. Those cabinets? I am thinking about painting them? What do you think? The red light? My favorite purchase from Maine. The Sunbeam bread chalkboard. I die. It's so perfect there! My aunt gave me the closed sign. I find it fitting since I do not cook. Thank goodness for husbands that like to eat and can cook for the family! I guess that means the kitchen isn't closed, but it's still fitting! (wink)

Just a little framing vignette...with a little sparkly skull thrown in for Halloween!

My favorite window from Southern Accents. I love, love this window! Those antlers? They were outside on the barn and fell a few weeks ago. I thought they needed to come inside! A few pumpkins here, too. Just a sprinkle of Halloween on the inside. Most of our decor is outside!

Got corks? ha.....we like wine around here! FYI this collection has been accumulating for several years!

A day full of rest!

I was incredibly lazy today. I don't know when I've not moved from the couch! I know it has to do with the weather and the time of year. I went to Southern Accents yesterday and re-did the windows. They are having a HUGE mantel sale!! So, we took down Christmas and put up MANTELS! It was fun....except for the dust! I have never seen as much dust as in that place.....did I mention I'm allergic? Yeah, seriously! I knew when I was watching it fly through the air, that I would not be able to breath long. By the time I went to bed last night, my throat was itchy and sore and my eyes were red and puffy! I woke up this morning and felt like my head weighed 400 pounds. So, I did nothing. Well, I did a little computer work. I also talked to someone about a tv show! Ooh, I was really excited about that! I have nothing to share, yet.....but, maybe soon!