A mantel accessorized

Even before I had 4 kids, I wasn't very into accessories, and it's only gotten worse in the last 6 years.  It has to be a special occasion for me to put on a necklace!  I realized that was true of my house as well.  I just don't have time to wander a store and find a little something here and there to decorate with.

I convinced Darling to build a mantle....

all in the name of Christmas decorations....

but once those came down, I didn't have anything to replace it with.  So I tossed a few things I had lying around up there to show that i had the intention of decorating it...someday.

Then one day, Darling made me mad, and I decided I would feel better if I went shopping and bought myself $100 worth of accessories.  Here is some of what I bought-

The little squares (that Darling says are weird, and maybe they are) are made from a fabric I loved and didn't know what to do with, so I covered 2 old canvas' with the damask.  The hammered silver vases are from Target.  The dark vases are from Michael's and are holding monkey grass from Walmart (BHG).  Those are test strands, I have since filled them in a bit more.  And the owl is a super cute Kindergarten art class project made by my super cute Kindergartener!  I need a tiny plate holder for it still, it is precariously perched there....
So, that is my before and after.  Sorry I don't have close-ups.  Maybe I can add those another day, I'm out of time today.  This was a thrown together at the last second post.  I wasn't sure how well I'd keep up with a blog, but I made myself promise to participate each month in...