Every year at Christmas time I think that I have just the right amount Christmas sparkles and bows to create a beautiful fireplace mantel decoration, and then as I am browsing the craft aisles, I see new and wonderful lifelike stuff to work with. It’s amazing to me that so much is a total replicate of the plant or bough or fruit or nuts from nature. I have seen many of these manmade imitations of nature in my own garden, in our neighborhood, or along the road and now that we spend so much time in Florida, I see all the unusual pieces which are copies of the fruit and berries on shrubs and trees during the southern winter months.
I like to decorate a bit for each special dinner or party occasion and this mantel piece is one of them. It is a combination, I always like to add live evergreens as the pine scent is all about Christmas, then I add the beautiful leaves, pinecones, seed pods, ribbons, and of course, some tiny lights to make the decoration shine and sparkle when the lights are low.
I never know what it will look like as I rarely have a plan, I just use tons of material in these kinds of arrangements. Too much is never too much and I am happy to say they all turn out beautifully.
This decoration was in honor of one of our festive Christmas Dinner Parties. The Menu is delicious, easy and all the recipes are included via the links below. If you are planning to host Christmas dinner, try this menu, much of it is ‘do ahead’ leaving you with lots of time to visit with family and friends, enjoy!
Festive Christmas Dinner Menu
Small Bites
Caramelized Onion Jam on Brie Toasts
Herb Scented Balsamic Marinated Bing Cherries with Zested Orange
Main Course
Au Jus for Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding
Dessert
