Simple Mercury Glass Mantel

Hello friends!

Today, I'm showing off our fireplace mantel all decked out for Christmas.

Yes, that's a big honkin' TV and speaker in the middle of our mantel, and the main focal point of the room.

We have priorities...TV over design in the Battles household.

I kept it pretty simple.

I used the mercury glass I got on sale at Kohl's back in July,

Pottery Barn stockings we got a few years ago,

and glittered pinecone tree I got at Marshalls. 

Although, I think I could have DIY'ed

it myself if I had to.

(Yes, DIY'ed is a word here.)

Other than that, I just mixed in some glittery branches and berries in my pitcher vase.

I also tried out flameless led candles for the first time, not only for safety,

but also so I wouldn't get soot on the wall.

 I actually think they look natural lit in the hurricane, 

and emit a pretty glowing flicker.

More features of the Christmas decorating we've been doing around

here coming soon!

I'm linking up again!

This time at Michelle's blog Ten June.

xoxo - Bethany

 

 

Christmas Crafts

Hello y'all!

I can't believe December is here!

In honor of the Season, I'm sharing with you a few Christmas crafts I've done recently.

All three of these ideas came from Pinterest. You can follow me here.

The first is for my big a Christmas dinner I'm hosting.

I made placecard holders from dollar store ornaments,

using this tutorial.

Here's how they turned out.

I will redo the actual placecards before Christmas dinner.

I just busted some out real quick to give you an idea.

Here's a close up.

I think they turned out cute.

The second one doesn't really constitute a craft, per se.

But, I had been looking for a way to display Christmas cards as they came in 

and saw this idea and thought it was easy perfect.

Simply using clothes pins to hang them on the garland on the banister.

Already had the clothes pins. Already had the garland.

Win, win.

This third one, is so easy it doesn't really qualify as a craft either.

But its a really good idea, from Layla at The Lettered Cottage

and I thought I'd share.

I needed a centerpiece that was substantial enough to fill my 

8 foot long dining table,

but easily moveable whenever I have company over.

This is what I did.

First, get a tray.

I got this plastic one from the Dollar Store.

 This is so you can easily move the centerpiece once its assembled.

Next, put a wreath of your choice on top of the tray.

This one was a plain one on sale at JoAnn's,

and I added the  floral picks myself.

Then get a footed bowl or candle holder.

I got this one at Marshall's for less than $20.00.

(I saw a similar one at Pottery Barn recently for $45.00!)

I didn't mind spending a little money on this because I know it will get used after the Holidays

for a jewelry catch all, potpourri dish, etc. 

 Put your bowl/candle holder in the center of the wreath.

Next add a candle...

Tada!

Easy layered centerpiece.

I'm linking up with Cassie for the Christmas Cheer to the Blogosphere

Craft Linky Party!

xoxo - Bethany

Trip Art

I hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving.

Mine was good...food, family, relaxing, online shopping...

A great weekend!

I realized over the weekend I never shared with you 

the art we bought on our trip.

We bough two small pastels.

One in Dubrovnik and one in Venice.

Here's the one from Dubronik.

We bought it without the frame and mat,

and Jason found a frame store going out of business and go it matted and framed for a really great deal.

I like what he picked out.

We have it in the downstairs bath and it really looks good with the shower curtain we already had in there.

I apologize for the poor pictures...there's hardly any natural light to be had - its so gray outside!

And the energy efficient light bulbs we have aren't exactly in place for the beautiful glow they cast.

And here's the Venice piece.

The artist also built and gold leafed the frame.

I'm don't really like the gold frame on the builder beige walls in the powder room,

but the wall color will change down the road.

With the right color, it will really pop.

Here's a close up.

Its of St Mark's Square, which was around the corner from our hotel.

*Sigh* I already want to go back.

Unfortunately, I'm headed off to work this afternoon and not Venice.

I'm pretty nervous because I'm giving a presentation I've never done before tonight.

Wish me luck!

xoxo- Bethany

 

 

Our Mediterranean Souvenir

So, as promised yesterday, here is our souvenir we bought ourselves on the trip.

A Turkish carpet!

Here is, in the foyer...

My front door is to the right in this picture, 

so you see it as soon as you walk into the house.

I really like how the navy in the rug picks up the navy walls from the dining room.

It's wool on cotton, 100% handmade, with natural dyes.

I really love it, and I think it adds a lot to our foyer.

I hope y'all are enjoying a cool autumn weekend!

xoxo- Bethany

Pretty Piped Pillow

Hey y'all!

Today I'm back with a new sewing skill.

Piping!

I made a piped pillow to match my skirted bedside table.

It turned out great!

 So great, in fact, I might have to pipe all my sewing projects from here on out!

Here it is with a peek of the skirted side table.

I think it ties it all together and gives it a more custom look.

This definately won't be my last piped pillow!

This weekend, my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and nephew came in town to visit

and celebrate my other sister-in-law, Jenny's birthday.

We had a wonderful time getting to visit and 

I am looking forward to the next time we get together.

This coming weekend, we're headed to the Meditterranian!

I'll be back later this week with details. :)

xoxo- Bethany

Fall is here!

Even though it's still hot outside,

I've declared it Fall.

I made my first wreath ever,

and honestly it was sooo easy I don't know why I waited so long.

I think it turned out cute!

I also did a little fall tablescape on the dining room table.

I love fall...pumpkin spice lattes, crisp mornings, changing leaves...

I can't wait!

Are you ready for fall?

xoxo- Bethany

DIY Raffia and Vintage Finds Doorhanger

I was at Joann's yesterday buying some sewing supplies

and saw their fall decorations had arrived.

As I was browsing, I saw this doorhanger with bells.

Sorry I couldn't find it on their site to link up.

I thought it was cute and all, but then it hit me..

This would be a great project to use the vintage keys I've been collecting from estate sales.

So, I headed over to the dollar store and got this....

and this...

and came back home and sat down in front of the tv with this...

We bought a new blender and I'm on a smoothie kick.

And watched this...

VIA

Has anyone else seen this show? Its like a train wreck...I can't look away.

And simply wrapped the wire coil in raffia holding it with a few dots of hot glue.

Then I tied on a few keys and a rusty old calf bell  I already had.

This is how it turned out..

I think it really turned out cute and I only spent 2 dollars for the raffia and wire.

Plus, it was easy and quick!

I'm linking this post up to Cassie's linky party!

Hope y'all have great weekend friends!

-Bethany

2012 Southern Living Idea House

O.M.G. Have you seen the 2012 Southern Living Idea House?!

It's gorgeous!

It's a renovated farmhouse in Senoia, Georgia, just south of Atlanta.

There's something I love about every room....

I love the burlap drapes framing the front door, making it feel like a finished room.

The living room is my favorite room in the whole house...I love the Chesterfield sofa, the textures, the flea market finds, the herringbone tile work in the fireplace....I could go on.

I love the white cabinets juxtaposed against the black granite, the iron barstools, the vent hood wrapped in cabinetry to make it blend seamlessly..

 In the keeping room, the high back loveseat grounds the rooms and draws you in...

 I want a claw foot tub. Will you buy me a claw foot tub? And then redo my brand new bathroom to incorporate it? No? Okay, moving on.

 I love the modern sink in the weathered console. Beautiful.

Porches and more porches. Again, I love the mix of old and new. And how the curtains soften the whole space.

Who's up for a road trip to Senoia?

I'm in!

Check out additional images on the Southern Living website here.

-Bethany

 

Christmas in July

Hello, hello!

Last week, I had some Kohl's cash (basically free money to spend) burning a hole in my pocket,

 so I went shopping!

I didn't see any clothes I couldn't live without...shocker, I know, 

so I headed back to the housewares department.

And I spotted these on clearance..

Mercury Glass votives and hurricane candle holders!

 

I love mercury glass!

Last Christmas, I was  lusting over all the mercury glass in the Pottery Barn catalog.

VIA

VIA

VIA

But it wasn't in the budget to spend tons of money on Pottery Barn Christmas chotchkies.  :(

This year, I've  temporarily lost my mind offered to host Christmas dinner, so I really want the house to look festive around the holidays.

So I'm starting early.

Welcome to my Christmas in July!

VIA

-Bethany

Breakfast Room Drapes

Howdy friends! I've been busy...

24 yards of fabric plus lots of sewing equals

new breakfast room drapes!

Because we all love a good before and after...

Excuse all the crap laying around in the before picture.

 I took it back in April when we were moving in.

I'm just keeping it real.

This project was so rewarding!

Mostly because this space was in bad need of some window treatments 

 and its in the heart of the home and can be seen from multiple rooms.

Now for the details...

I loosely based my curtains off of Miss Mustard Seed's curtain tutorial

(minus the ruffle and I used actual window treatment lining whereas she used a sheet).

 I love the fabric I used! I got it at Hancock's on sale for less than $8.00 a yard.

Can't beat that!

It's called Michelle Village on Blue and Natural Drapery Fabric.

I also love the drapery rods that were used. 

They are Allen and Roth from Lowe's.

You can find them here.

I would highly recommend them because you can pick out the finials separately.

Also, they're solid wood and thicker than most metal curtain rods, so they have a more custom feel.

Because they're wood, we bought 2 eight foot long ones and Jason cut them down to fit our bay windows.

Overall, I spent $230. 

I think that's awesome considering I bought 24 yards of fabric!

Not to mention to have the rod and drapes done professionally could have easily cost $1,000!

 Yay for custom on a budget!

-Bethany