Mantle Metamorphosis

Those after Christmas blues...do you get them? Guilty here - but it's all centered around the decor for me, nothing else.

And, are you like me? I can put up decorations, move them around, create new vignettes a mile a minute! But when it comes to "undecorating" from Christmas, I move at a snails pace and procrastinate even the smallest tasks. Not because I'm lazy, but I dread losing all the color, the sentimental ornaments and decorations we bring out just for that small window of the year. Warm and fuzzy...yeah, that's it! When it's all being packed away, I'm aware my warm and fuzzies won't be back until next year.

Well girls, I can't tell you how happy I was to have met new blogging friends throughout the holidays. It was like a free therapy session...there are more people out there just like me! Woo Hoo...I'm not the only one!

Then, one new friend introduced me to Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch, and her brilliant Metamorphosis Monday.

Spies Spirit: Mantle Metamorphosis#links

Just the thing I needed to pack away the color, and generate a new look. This is where we were at the beginning of the day...



I loved the color the chalkboard and greenery provided for all our holiday gathering photos.

So, now what? I began to pull from different areas, pulled out an artpiece I painted last year...and here we go! In a few hours...this is what we had.



I even pulled a couple of chairs from the dining room to flank the fireplace, something new for this house. They will come in handy for a Southern Living At Home party in a few weeks (my friends have become to rely on me hosting an annual January party to help cheer them up). (The photos will all enlarge for details just by clicking on them).










Everything I paint bears a scripture. The crystal pieces are glasses that I filled with rock salt and tea light candles. They look really great when they are burning, and they cost me $0.00...everything was already there - just had to be put together.



I admit, it's not my "dream" mantle, but I'm feeling pretty good that I pulled it together in a couple of hours.

I really want to bring back the chalkboard for Valentines Day, with a "love" for family theme. So, this little grouping will help me buy some time, and serve the family well for a few weeks.

For my friends that have written for encouragement from the blahs...get up and just get going. I've been to your home, you have great things! Think out of the box, don't put up what was there before your Christmas decorations. Group new things, new collections, new colors together! Be inspired.

"You must learn day by day, year by year, to broaden your horizon. The more things you love, the more you are interested in, the more you enjoy, the more you are indignant about, the more you have left when anything happens."
-- Ethel Barrymore

Get ready for 2010 to be full of excitement...make it happen! Keep learning, in fact, would you post to my very first LINKY? http://spiesspirit.blogspot.com/2010/01/these-are-few-of-my-favorite-things-my.html (it was one of my broaden your horizon quests). I feel so grown up, I think I did it (I just hope the darned thing works)! ;P

Donna