We've got a mantle...or 5

One of the things we didn't have in our house growing up is a mantle because my parents' house doesn't have a fireplace. In this new apartment we moved into (shouldn't I have done a blog post about that?) back in July 2011, there are 5, that's right, 5 mantles. Foyer, living room, dining room, bedroom and office...1,2,3,4,5.

You see we live in a gorgeous house in Old Louisville and absolutely LOVE it! It's a neighborhood of homes dating back all the way to the 1830's. Our home from the best we can tell was first occupied around the 1890's.

For those of you in shock at how a seminary couple is able to live in such a fun place as this, we don't own the house. It's an 8000 square foot home that is divided into 5 apartments and we have one of them that just happens to have sole access to the front porch. So it's like our own little home without the responsibilities of ownership!

Anyways, there are lots of unique features that come with a home of this age: original wood floors, high ceilings, beautiful carved staircase. But one of our favorite features is that there are 5 (non-working) fireplaces in the apartment! Gorgeous, ornate, carved wooden mantles, cast iron grates and antique tiles line these beauties.

So as Christmas approached, you can only imagine my excitement to add Christmas decorations to these wonderful pieces of history. Our new stockings, some cranberry garland and an adorable "JOY" banner made my a sweet friend made my mantle quite festive.



I know, photography skills not so great. Someone want to teach me? :)

Better late than never, right?

I'm fully aware that there is probably no one reading this blog now since I've oh so successfully posted 5 times in the last 12 months. But you know, I'm ok with that. I enjoy documenting our life and the crafty adventures that come into it even if I do only do it once a year.

We've gone through two years of married Christmases without stockings that I really loved so this year I decided to make some. I will admit that I did experience a bit of a quandary when I thought how many stockings do I make? 2? 3? 4?

You see, I'd like for our future family to have similar stockings; but, God only knows how many kids we will have so for now there are 3 because that's all the fabric I have. :) Hopefully red burlap will be in stock for years to come and I can just spice up the print on the lining and continue with this tradition. Who knows.

I got the idea for burlap stockings at Christmas Village [big shock for those of you who know me] and found these cute fabrics for half off at Joann which is one of my favorite craft stores here in town.

Here's Dane's stocking (I know, not terribly manly but definitely the manlier of the two.)


And here is mine. Lovely vintage green holly print!