I have been very sick all weekend with a terrible cold. It’s my 5th or 6th cold since August, and I am so over being sick! I wasn’t up to much this weekend besides sleeping and sipping tea, but I did manage to winterize my mantel. If it looks rather familiar, it should. I just shopped other parts of the house and tossed them up there. Love using these vintage keys in all of my vignettes.
I always find this time after Christmas and before Valentine’s a challenging time to decorate. Perhaps some of you have already Valentinized your mantels. I’m just not feeling it yet. Perhaps you all will inspire me!
For this mantel, I decided to stick to earth tones, texture, and some feathery “snow” to bling it up a bit.
It’s wintery yet warm which is what I was going for.
If your mantel seems to be missing something, try adding bits of feathers. For some reason, it always seems to help! You just can’t go wrong with neutral colors and lots of texture. It’s my failsafe.
And before a ton of you give me warnings about fire hazards, no worries. I have no intention of lighting the candles directly under all those woodchips!
So now it is your turn! I’ve seen some fabulous posts floating around the blogosphere of winter mantels. Come link them up so we can all be inspired! Please display the button with link back so others can join in the fun. The linky will be open all week, so jump in when you can!
WOW! Beth your fireplace is stunning in winter white. Gorgeous job! I adore the pitcher and the feathery fur.
I just posted mine coincidently. We must be thinking alike today since I had no idea you were hosting party this until now. I'm all linked up. Thank you for hosting and I'm looking forward to the inspiration ahead.
Hapy week to you.
Warmly, ~Melissa
I love yours Beth! Au Naturale is beautiful.
Thanks for the partaaay!
I love your winter mantle. Did you make the woodchip wreath? Sorry I won't be linking up, still don't have a winter mantle, but might leave my red barn door up and give it some Valentine's love later this month.
Brittany
http://www.prettyhandygirl.com
Yours looks beautiful! I need to change mine up a little more. I tend to get it a certain way and then leave it. Thanks for the inspiration!
I always find this time hard as well. I don't like bringing Valentines Day out early, but want something winterish. I LOVE what you did! Thanks for the inspiration! I love this blog!
That board and batten looks fabulous!!!! Your mantel is just lovely. I love all the natural tones. I am so not motivated on my mantel yet. I can't wait to see all these for some inspiration!
What a lovely mantel! I love how the feathers really warm it up and your wood chip wreath is awesome!
T.bird
Lovin' your feathers! Hope you feel better soon! I have a sick little boy right now- no fun!
So lovely, Beth! I love the feathers and the wood chips together. I still have my Christmas mantel up. Can you believe that? haha I guess I'm having a hard time letting go this year.
Oh and, I hope you're feeling better SOON!
Your mantle is so pretty! I love how you used feathers to create such a cozy feeling. I also really love your pretty iron mirror! This is such a gorgeous look!
Thanks so much for the fun linky! Your mantel is gorgeous, like everything you do! Thanks for sharing with us and God bless in 2011!
Beth,I love your winter mantle..Simply beautiful..
Hi Beth,
Your mantle is GORGEOUS!! I love everything you did, phenomenal job! Thanks for hosting! XOXO ~Liz
I love your mantel, Beth. Feeling bad certainly didn't hurt your decorating skills.
Feel better soon, friend.
Beth-
I'm so excited to see the board & batten behind the fireplace. The mantle is beautiful. I love all the texture. My mantle has a 52"TV above it messing up my mantle-potential! Can I do a "mantle-like" surface?
Lu-hu-huve it! The feathers are a perfect accent! Of course, that board and batten behind isn't too shabby either. Can't. wait. to see it all!
It's gorgeous! I really like the feel of it, the browns with the white is very outdoorsy and clean!
Oh and I'll be back to link up tomorrow. I did a winter mantle a few weeks ago and posted about it, but I have since added a few things and want to post the updated look. Thanks for giving me the reason too
Very pretty, Beth. I like the pine cone and the keys are a nice touch…and the candles. Everything!
I just did my mantel today. No time for a post today but I will tomorrow hopefully and join your party!
XO,
Jane
Oh, it's gorgeous, gorgeous. i definitely haven't VAlentine'd mine yet. We still have most of our Christmas stuff up. I know…ARG. I almost linked up that mantel because it's kind of winterish, but it's really still my Christmas mantel, so I resisted..haha. Love it. Can't wait to see you soon.
Beth~ Your fireplace looks BEAUTIFUL…I hope you feel better soon!
No JOKE, I JUST finished my fireplace transformation ~ NEW TILE & Decor!!! I was planning on posting the reveal on Wednesday, but then saw you were hosting this linky party and wrote a post tonight instead. I hope you come over to SAS Interiors and check it out @ http://tinyurl.com/24l8dxf
FEEL BETTER!!
~Jenna, SAS Interiors
http://www.sasinteriors.blogspot.com
Love your mantel!!! Looks great and the feathers are perfect! Thanks for hosting!!
Love your mantle; the pictures really drew me in. I especially like all the textures you used. I would never think of using feathers but they look great. Thanks for the idea!
The feathers are a fun touch and add a great new texture. Thanks for hosting!
Thanks for hosting this Mantel Party! I LOVE how you have decked out yours! The mirror, the wreath, the candles, it all looks terrific! I really like how it is winter themed but not in a traditional sense. I wonder if I can try something like that this year.
DD
Your winter mantel is lovely, Beth. The board and batten wall is fabulous. I hope you feel better soon. We have had the same crud around here for what seems like forever. Today is the first day I am feeling human again. Take care.
Hugs,
Sherry
Beth yours looks great – I love vintage keys!
Beautiful!
Thank you for this! I still have my mostly Christmas mantel up…because I don't know what to put up next. Sure to get lots of inspiration here!
Hi! New follower here, found you via Jess of Frugal with Florish! So glad you did a winter mantel party… I love all the ideas to look at. I've been "hemming and hawing" ever since Christmas, but didn't know what to do… it's completely bare right now and I needed to do something! So I've been working on it, thanks for the inspiration AND motivation!!
Hi Beth! Im sorry you have been sick…However your mantel doesnt look like you threw it together sick…its GORGEOUS! Im all linked up, BUT…I cant find your Mantel Linky Button to put on my blog…Sorry to be a dufus! Its probably IN FRONT OF MY FACE :-O
If you get a chance…shoot me an email/comment and tell me where it is so i can display it…Hope you feel better soon
blessings…xoxokara
Wow we really most be cosmic sisters. I hadn't even seen your mantel before I linked up, so imagine my surprise when I spotted your white feathers! Two great minds, one wonderful thought.
Love your mantel, and kuddos to you for pulling that of while sick.
I truly hope you will feel better soon and that 2011 will be the year of strong and good health!
Hi Beth! There are so many words that come to mind when looking at your mantle … stunning, classy, whimsical and romantic! All of the elements incorporated work beautifullly together. It's the perfect winter mantle. Thanks for hosting such a great gathering, despite your not feeling well. Please get better soon!
My mantel totally needed this inspiration. Off to check out some blogs, thanks Beth!
Thanks for having a party!!
Your winter mantel is very classy. Love the feathers – the perfect touch!
Thanks for hosting! Gorgeous mantel. I'm your newest follower. Check me out sometime at Ninth Street Notions sometime, if you want.
I love the white with the wood on your mantel and the feathers are the perfect touch. I haven't finished my mantel yet, but I linked up my faux entry mantel, becasue I just had to join your party. Thanks for hosting another fun Mantel Party.
Cool! I like what you did
It's warm and goes with the season too. I really like the feathers 
No mantle for me:( We have a 55 inch LED hung above our mantle (built in thank goodness) and I only have an orchid on it.
Yours is pretty and soft. I like it. Feels cozy.
No mantle for me:( We have a 55 inch LED hung above our mantle (built in thank goodness) and I only have an orchid on it.
Yours is pretty and soft. I like it. Feels cozy.
Fun party idea Beth! I really enjoy seeing mantels for seasons, so this is an excellent resource. Your woodchips are so unique and fun! And I'm a feather loving girl so it is all so lovely to me.
Love your mantel!!
Oh, pretty winter mantel! I love winter decor, your fireplace looks great!
And on being sick….do you take zicam? Seriously since I found Zicam I have not gotten full on sick even ONCE. I hate saying that because now I probably will but I take it when i feel the slightest twinge of anything and keep taking it until i feel better. Has worked every time now, for YEARS!
Thanks for hosting! Love that fire in the fireplace! So warm & cozy.
I love snowmen decorations and several years ago decided that between Christmas and snowmen everywhere that it was to much. I now save all my cozy snowmen for after Christmas. It always seems a let down to me when all my holiday decorations go away. Now I have my cheerful snowmen who come out in Jan. Feb is Valentine's and by March I'm ready for spring.
What a pretty wintry mantel, Beth! I love your wood chip wreath…so unique! Hope you are feeling better soon!…hugs…Debbie
Thank you for putting this mantel party together! It's a great source of inspiration, as is your blog! Love,love the wood chip wreath. Great job!
I love all the wood chip/shavings! I'm really into the whole rustic-y decor thing right now, and this is perfect! Linking up to your party! http://www.classycolumbusdesigns.blogspot.com
Beth,
Love the board and batten, it looks great, and the mantel looks so lovely, great mix of textures. Thanks for hosting, Laura
Again, thanks for the inspiration Beth. Took me a couple days, but I came back to post a winter mantel of my own!
Hey girl–
What a fun party you've put together here! You are the queen of mantels, that's for sure.
Your wintry mantel looks lovely. It does look warm, very cozy and inviting. I'm with you–I don't quite feel like Valentinizing yet.
Perhaps one of these days I'll be able to join another of your mantel parties. So far, Christmas is all I've been able to do. My mantel stays pretty much the same at other times. Am I a stick-in-the-mud or what?
Hope your cold is all gone by now!
I just LOVE your mantel…and I just had to ask you is that a gas fireplace….because it would go perfect in our home and we are looking to purchase one! Can you please email me and let me know where you got it? Thanks so much and again you are such an inspiration to a new blogger
~Kara
http://tizzilish-kara.blogspot.com
Your mantle looks beautiful! I'm trying to transition my house from "Christmas" to "Winter" and I have had a really hard time! Can't wait to look through each of the linked up posts! I'm new to this blogging thing and have really enjoyed reading yours
Dayle
http://www.thescienceofhome.blogspot.com
I LOVE your mantle! The feathers add that perfect "snowy" touch. You have very inspiring ideas!
Thank you for this linky .. it is so refreshing after the holidays to change it up and get away from santa figures and red and green! I am just sorry I can't join the party as my computer is ill and I cannot link it up right now! Enjoy for me!
Stacey
http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com/
Great winter mantel Beth…looks awesome…as does your B&B too! Thanks for hosting the party! Deb