Eye-Chart & Nature Summer Mantel

You might not know this about me from reading this blog (which is all about doing things…) but I’m actually NOT one of those people who like to change things around all the time in their homes. Really. Pillows and linens usually stay the same for years in our house, not just months.

If I like something, it stays awhile. However, one of the things I like about blogging is the incentive – and inspiration – I find on from blogs and  Pinterest to change things up just a bit. And the mantel is one of the easiest things to do something seasonal with – as long as it doesn’t cost very much (but I bet that is something you DID know about me!).

So I decorated our mantel for the summer with items I already had – some for years and others that were recent finds. It took me all of 10 minutes, and most of that time was gathering the items from around the house.

The cement-looking urns, mini bell jars, and apothacary jars are all from thrift stores, and I’ve collected the shells (some found, some bought) through the years to fill the jars in the summer months.

This eye-chart is new, though. I fell in love with this tray when I saw it in a Country Living magazine a few months ago. I have never in my life ordered something I saw in a magazine, but I actually did this time, thinking it might be a fun addition to our gallery wall.

It was larger than I anticipated and didn’t work on the wall, so I propped it up against the old window on the mantel (when it was still dressed for spring – I removed the ironstone platter and set this in the same spot). The colors and style work along with the shells and the urns, so it’s staying for the summer.

So I guess I did spend $23.00 (with shipping costs)…but that is a rarity for me.

Oh, but I’m sure you’re wondering about that beautiful, huge orchid…didn’t I pay for that? That beautiful plant, believe it or not, was a gift from one of my preschool students on the last day of school. It certainly rises above the usual apple-shaped cups and candy doesn’t it? Not that there’s anything wrong with those gifts…they just wouldn’t work as well on the summer mantel, would they?

I’m loving how just this season update is a reminder of the summer season- even if everything else in the house stays the same.

Hopefully you will soon see a change I’ve been wanting to make for months: apply mirror paint to the old window panes to change it into a mirror. ‘Cause DIY projects? Those I’m all about!

(Update: it’s done and I love it – see how to turn a vintage window into a mirror here).