This morning I was up early and watched the most beautiful sunrise from my front porch.
It was calm and cool out with the best little breeze. The more I sat there drinking my coffee, the more it began to feel like a little bit of Fall in the morning air.
Just about the time I walked back in to the house to make my third cup of coffee, I glanced at the mantel and thought ‘Oh why not ?’. So I began the dance. I took everything off the mantel and headed out to the garage to retrieve my quatrefoil mirror, and that was my jumping off point on this one.
I just went about gathering things from around the downstairs that were Fallish without actually being a pumpkin or autum colored leaves.
Yes, that is General Robert E. Lee.
Funny story.
I was in the South Asheville Goodwill over a year ago digging through the small-frame bin when I saw the ornate corner of a frame sticking out. There must have been a dozen other frames piled on top of it so I very carefully dug it out. My first thought was, ‘This dude looks familiar’. Now this particular thought is beyond hilarious at my house because I’m married to a man who is considered to be a local authority on the Civil War. So I went up to the checkout counter and paid my $7 and drove home with something that I thought Big Daddy might think was kinda cool.
Understatement of the YEAR.
Turns out it’s sort of rare AND valuable. You know, this was one of those ‘Thank God for the Internet’ kinda moments.
Who knew???
Poor General Lee had been leaned up against Big Daddy’s side of the bookcases ever since. It’s not everyday that I can work a big, antique portrait of a Civil War General into my design plans!
It took me most of the morning to be happy with my composition. The cool part? I spent zero dollars. Everything you see, I had either tucked away or was using in other rooms.
These pheasant feathers I got last year for my Thanksgiving table. I love the colors!
This small silver frame was a $3 Thriftstore find over the Summer. I originally got it for one of our bedside tables but never got around to it.
It looks much better here anyway! I just printed the word Fall out on a piece of book page scrapbook paper using the Kunstler script font. I think I used 120 point.
I’ll be changing this little frame seasonally, I think! I found these burlap acorns a couple of years ago at Michaels on clearence. I’ve NEVER used them !
What was I thinking ??
So there y’all have it, my first Fall decor idea! I’ve really enjoyed looking at the new composition on the mantel today while I was doing my housework. It’s a nice change of pace.
And this I dug out of the garage about 20 minutes ago!
Enjoy your holiday weekend!
Paige
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I love that acorn & your front door wreath among your other decor! Do you remember where you got the wreath? I'm really into the berry-thing. I guess your second cup or did you even get to your third cup of coffee really revved you up!!
Big Lots last fall! Thank you!
Love your fall mantel. My son has that same picture of Robert E. Lee hanging over his bed and has since he was a little boy. It was passed down to him by his grandfather who had it in the early 1900's when he was a little boy. I had no idea that it was rare and valuable!
I love everything about your fall mantel, but seeing the feathers reminded me of all our pheasant feathers we have that I've never used for fall. I've only used them on one of our rustic Christmas trees. Time for a change! Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful job on the mantel, Paige….so fun that you found the picture of Robert E Lee! The pheasant feathers look so pretty up there with the twigs and the antique books. Always love antique books!! And for $0!! Well Done!!
Catherine (latest follower of your blogging adventures!) 🙂
Paige, that mantel is so pretty. I adore the General's photo, and what a great story!
This gives me so much inspiration 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing at Something to Talk About!
Pinning!
Karen
Paige,
Your mantel is simply beautiful – and that is the key word – simple. You are a girl after my own heart – shopping from your own collection and decorating your home without spending again and again. Love the feathers, Gen. Lee, the gorgeous burlap acorn in white pitcher, and the Fall Print especially!
Love it all! What a score on the portrait! Sharing today on the Link Party and thanks so much for linking up!!!
your mantel is beautiful, and I love the portrait of General Lee, my favorite