burlap + pinecones = fall mantle

 = free and good

= basically free bc im a fabric hoarder, and GOOOOD

a couple weeks ago the kids and i drove to the area around our botanical gardens to gather pinecones.  lets credit this idea to another pinterest find. {are you tired of hearing about that site yet?!?}

when we first moved in our house, there was not a working fireplace.  not so good for my pyromaniac husband.  so installing a corner fireplace was one of the first moves we made.  tore out existing OLD built ins {considering our tv didnt remotely fit the tiny tv space anyway}

picture of old built ins from previous owners, before we bought the house...our tv sat on the floor in front of those built ins for a month before we braved the fireplace renovation

and made way for the largest fireplace we could fit {which just happened to be the smallest wood burning one they sold} ;).  we bought an antique mantle from plunderosa on hwy 59 and had it rebuilt by our handyman to fit our fireplace opening.

and then, bc there was just no other wall in our living room to place it, the tv made its final resting place above the fireplace.  it really does serve the room well, but it makes decorating the mantle a BEAR.

so i am always on the lookout for creative, low profile ideas.

this is the happiest, easiest...ONLY fall mantle ive ever had.

please ignore the eerie orange glow on the tv...should have turned off the lamp

pinecones = nature; candle sticks = already had them; burlap = left over scrap pieces from my christmas tree skirt; plastic pumpkins = 50% off halloween decor at michaels, painted them white with leftover paint from my office project

not to mention the fall fun that was had in all in the gathering

i love it when the ground is covered in a blanket of pinestraw.
depsite her happy smiles, this lady did not.
so she spent most of her time here

while brother and i did the gathering