All my wishes for a beautiful holiday to all of you!

FREE IMAGES Sadly, this holiday season is tainted with the tragedy that took place in Connecticut.  All of my deepest, DEEPEST condolences go out to the families, friends, and neighbors or the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.  In all of the chaos of the holidays, be sure to take at the very least a moment to bask in the warmth of family, old and young, close and not so close, human and furry.  It is our relationships with one another that are the true gifts.

I am so thankful for all of my readers, and I wish you all a healthy, safe, and beautiful holiday!
I plan on taking off next week, so I will be back with you after the New Year.

1. Sweet Paul, 2.-3., House of Fifty

My Christmas Wreath, other people's gorgeous wreaths, and Christmas mantel decorating ideas

FREE IMAGES Yup - another Christmas decorating inspiration post!  I've gathered up a bunch of wreath and mantel eye candy for you to enjoy!

Love this wreath of Noble Fir and Eucalyptus.  Love this one.
DIY here.

via Martha Stewart

A pretty glittery option - great if you're theme is white and metallics.

via Seasons of Joy

  The above is my first stab at wreath decorating.  After seeing the ones above, I can see I need a little practice, but I love the fuchsia ornaments! I also strung some fake pearls of various sizes together in little clusters, added some battery operated lights, and pinned on a few feathers I found at my parent's farm.  Yes - the greenery is fake, but it's from FMIL, so I had to make sure it was displayed...you know how that goes.

The Holiday Mantel, Demystified
from Eddie Ross for Country Living

The photo below has corresponding numbers with the tips for

1. Work what you've got. Ross started with the accessories that always sit on this ledge: the 1940s clock in the center and the matched pair of hurricanes at either end. 

2. Embrace asymmetrical symmetry. Moving inward from the hurricanes, he added objects that mimic each other, sort of.Note how the candlestick holding the textured gold ball is roughly the same height as the standing reindeer, though their shapes differ. Ditto the prone deer and the brass cup of paperwhites. 

3. Throw a major curveball. Next, Ross introduced items—the framed portrait and loving cup—that don't even pretend to parallel each other. The purpose: Infusing the whole scene with energy 

4. Fill in the blanks. The designer tucked gold garland throughout the arrangement. For a final stroke of genius, he draped glass beads from elk antlers hung on high. "The silver and gold strands help the mixed metals seem intentional," Ross says. 

 In the above photo: Ross purchased the silver-plate hurricanes at Costco, the deer figurines at Michaels, and the stockings on Etsy. The elk antlers are over 100 years old.

via Country Living

Love these canvases on the mantel , especially the one with the lights behind it!
via The Lovely Cupboard

via BHG

via HGTV

12 Soft and Elegant Christmas Mantels

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I love to create a soft and elegant atmosphere in our home during the holiday season, choosing colours and accessories that naturally complement our current decor.

One of my favorite areas to decorate for Christmas is the fireplace mantel in our living room.

This year, I'll be making a simple green garland swag adorned with some long, white branch picks and a wide silver ribbon crafted into a large, flowing bow.

While searching the web for some fresh design inspiration, I fell in love with these

12 Beautifully Decorated Christmas Mantels:

Images via: Wendi @ Classic Chic Home on Pinterest

I love the simple elegance of these Christmas Mantels.  Do you have a favorite?

I hope you're feeling inspired to decorate your mantel for the holiday season in your very own unique and beautiful sense of style!

~ Wendi ~ xo

12 Tips for Creating a Beautiful Christmas Mantel

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As a fireplace is often the focal point of a room during the holidays, its mantel is an ideal location to showcase a beautiful Christmas vignette.

Deep indigo walls provide a dramatic backdrop for this blue and silver holiday design scheme, as stately glass cylinders offer a modern contrast to the elegant, crystal sconces.

Gold and white poinsettias float softly across this pretty mantel and cascade gently to the hearth below.  Velvet stockings hung with ribbon lean to the room's classic design style.

In this home, a Victorian sculpture and two antique candlesticks create a sense of symmetry above a delicate arrangement of green and gold garland.  Three strategically placed hanging ornaments add balance and repetition to this sophisticated vignette.  

In this eclectic display, a cluster of gold and silver decor pieces are cleverly fashioned in the shape of a Christmas tree, using the wall surface to gain additional height and dimension.

A red and gold colour palette is given a modern edge when presented in an asymmetrical layout, while tiny butterflies offer an additional unexpected element to this traditional design scheme. 

Fresh greenery is stunning in its simplicity, and adds a wonderful fragrance to a room.  Small sprigs of eucalyptus and a few pears complete this lush and lovely holiday arrangement.

Lightly frosted garland and an assortment of white and chartreuse flowers look striking against this rustic stone fireplace.  An oval mirror and slender candlesticks add a touch of sparkle and glam.  

A vision in silver and white, this mantel is decorated with the homeowner's collection of miniature Christmas trees.  Twinkling lights further enhance the dreamy quality of this glamorous vignette.

Soft pink taper candles add height and interest, while a gorgeous wreath hung in front of an over sized mirror creates a sense of depth to this soft and romantic display.   

Lovely prose in a lyrical script becomes the centerpiece for this enchanting holiday arrangement. Wisps of green magnolia peek between shimmering ribbon and glass ornaments, successfully balancing the sweetness of the pink and lavender colour palette.

Silver, white, pewter, and frosted berry ornaments nestle atop thick greenery, while beaded garland, crystal icicles and glass snowflakes float across the fireplace's dark mahogany facade.

(my 2010 Christmas mantel) 

Do your decorating plans include a beautiful Christmas mantel for the upcoming holiday season?