Hi there, Friends! What comes to mind when you hear the word collection? A hutch full of matching dishes inherited from a loved one? A mismatched assortment of whimsical animal figurines? The best collections are gathered over time, treasured and displayed--not tucked away in a cabinet. There's no specific number that qualifies as a collection. In fact, mine each started with only a few pieces. Today, I'm sharing a simple, yet elegant Thanksgiving mantel that highlights just three pieces of my thrifted vintage transferware collection. If you're not a collector, no worries--a similar mantel can be styled by shopping your home, garden and maybe a trip to the grocery store...
Even if you don't consider yourself a collector, chances are, you probably have three pieces that could be grouped as a collection, somewhere in your home. Lack of space doesn't need to be a limitation. While large collections can be stunning, sometimes less really is more. Since I moved my mantel to the dining room, it's centered on the gallery wall with a china cabinet full of transferware in the corner and a plate collage of even more vintage transferware hangs on the opposite wall--so you can see why I chose to keep the mantel simple. Last fall, I arranged a vintage milk glass fall mantel but this is the first time I've featured transferware on it. Of course, I had to bring out my thrifted vintage turkey platter! I added white baby boos and fresh rosemary and....
...thyme from the garden. Remember the vintage sugar bowl and tea stained doily I scored at a recent estate sale?
Another thrifted sugar bowl is perfect for a small arrangement of white mums. Except for the herbs from my garden and the grocery store pumpkins and mums, every item displayed on the mantel and gallery wall came from a thrift store, yard sale or estate sale.
Tip: When shopping for fresh flowers, compare prices of small potted flowers to those of packaged bouquets. I clipped these from two $1 pots of mums, which were less expensive than a bouquet. Plus, the potted mums will produce more blooms I can enjoy in the garden.
Here's a view with my upcycled vintage plate sign ...
...and here's a peek at the mantel and gallery wall.
Do you have collected pieces tucked away that are ready to make an appearance?
Beautiful! Yep, I do have plenty tucked away, just waiting its turn as a new and varied collection for display. ;)
ReplyDeleteVery pretty collected together today. Great tip about cutting the potted plants. Every summer I usually see hydrangeas for sale at about $5 per flower, but a nice potted hydrangeas (with about 8 stems) will be for sale for $7 or $8 in the nursery section.
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! I collect turkey platters and now am anxious to display them. I was going to wait until after Halloween but now I might have to get them out now?
ReplyDeleteI love this look, Cecilia, I have the same lovely platter! It's a great idea to use collections in decorating!
ReplyDeleteThe plate under the 1 sugar bowl is Johnson Bros Devonshire in brown - it was my mother's everyday dinnerware. I hated it growing up, now I love it.
ReplyDeleteLove it, Cecilia! Simple but beautiful, and it looks great with your wall of frames and grateful plate :)
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful, Cecilia. I am an avid dish collector. Thanks for the tip.
ReplyDeleteLovely mantel! I think a fireplace is such a lovely focal point in a room. Maybe someday, I'll get a faux one and have to rearrange an already overcrowded living room! I love how the colors in transferware pick up the same colors in other designs; makes combining them look like they were meant to be together!
ReplyDeleteLovely! You know I adore transferware. Good idea about the flowers. And all the frames on the wall - such a teaser. :) Beautiful as always.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful mantel! I have a big ceramic turkey (opens up like a soup tureen) that I tried to sell at the garage sale, but no such luck. Now I'm thinking of keeping it:) Love the transferware and the greens!
ReplyDeletexo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home
This is so pretty! I love that you put the thyme in the little cup and clipping a live plant is always a great idea.
ReplyDeleteCecilia this post makes my heart skip a beat! So many things here to love! The thyme in transferware! The more I explore your blog the more I find us to be kindred spirits!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty! I love the clean look of this and how you included the live plants as well!
ReplyDeleteYour mantel is simply beautiful. I love your transferware too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your beautiful mantel at Snickerdoodle.
DeleteThat is so pretty Cecillia! I love what you did.
ReplyDeleteSo pretty with the baby boos & transferware & sprigs of rosemary.
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