ic Kathe With an E: Beach Mantel Decor

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Beach Mantel Decor

Growing up back in Spokane, WA our family had a friend who owned a very rustic cabin on Newman Lake. By rustic I mean, no running water which meant bringing your own drinking water, and learn your way to the outhouse in the middle of the night.
Beach Mantel Decor
Nestled at the foot of Mt. Spokane it held cool, crisp, calm blue water. He didn't use the cabin much and offered it's use to our family as much as we wanted. I can tell you, we spent many a weekend and week there reveling in getting away from the city.  I always knew we were close because my mother would always ask "There!  Can you smell it? The smell of the pine trees?" And we would always answer with a resounding "Yes!"

I miss those long summer days of swimming, rowing around the lake, laying on the dock listening to Seals & Croft and working on a golden tan. We would also spend time catching big lake bass that my mother refused to clean but was more than happy to cook. Oh my mouth is watering just thinking about those fish fry's over an open campfire! 

Remembering that happy time is the inspiration of my beach mantel for summer.
Beach Mantel Decor
A little piece of nostalgia and of summers long ago. 
The lifesaver garland was picked up at Cost Plus World Market on one of my recent weekly trips into the store. 
Beach Mantel Decor
I had found this sweet blue shelf in the shape of a boat several years ago while thrifting. I filled it with a starfish and some shells I picked up, not on a beach, but at an estate sale.
Beach Mantel Decor
I decorated a Ball mason jar with some material I had on hand, burlap and a shell.
Beach Mantel Decor
My buddy, Cathy over at Vintage, Paint and More, gave me the inspiration when I saw her post here: Organizing With Mason Jars. I filled the jar with some faux pearls and glass marbles to appear as though I had found them all while beachcombing.
Beach Mantel Decor
The other side of the mantel has a blue vase I recently found at TJ Maxx set upon my go-to craft paper wrapped books.  An aqua starfish and shell lean against the books while a cobalt blue bottle, wrapped in rope and shells, from Big Lots sits nearby.
Beach Mantel Decor
The lake tray, in the perfect colors, was a recent find at Michael's, on sale of course!
Beach Mantel Decor
It puts into words everything a lake vacation is all about!

How about you?  Do you have any childhood memories of vacations spent at a favorite nearby lake?
Beach Mantel Decor


Like what you see? 
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32 comments:

  1. Kathe, your mantel is so cute! I didn't have lot so lake memories, but lots of Beach memories! The blues and shells just make me really happy and bring back great memories.
    hugs,
    Linda

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  2. Love this! We live in Spokane and really miss the beaches of Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. I'm going to work on making a beachy setting for my house. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  3. I've found myself returning again and again to the sea on my mantel. It seems to make me feel peaceful.

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  4. Cute mantel! I love the boat shelf! I've been looking for nautical pieces for my baby boy's nursery, and I would love to have a boat shelf!

    Navy Wifey Peters @ The Submarine Sunday Link Party!

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  5. I loved reading this....makes me remember spending summers at my Grandparents house in the Ozarks...and I am loving that little blue boat!

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  6. Kathe, I love it - love all the blues and how they reflect the essence of the lake. Thank you so much for the shout out... love your jar. Cathy

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  7. What perfect memories. I love that your mantle reminds you of such happy times; very pretty.

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  8. What a cute mantel with so much goodness to enjoy looking at. Thanks Kathe for stopping by to share this week, Will be pinning soon!! Enjoy your day!!!

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  9. How perfect Kathy!
    Love all of it - but your story resonated with me - deeply - I too can remember cramming into a car to go up north - those WERE the days !
    xox

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  10. You have such a lovely size and shape of mantle for doing these lovely decorations.

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  11. Great Summer mantel. I especially love the little life preservers! Following your social media to see what's coming next!

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  12. Kathe, Oh the memories you have conjured up with this lovely composition of seaside beauty on your mantle. I love the white shells and starfish against the blue of the boat shelf. The memories I have of camping at Lake James in North Carolina are so similar to your lake memories. We had a small speed boat and spent our days water skiing and swimming. Good times........ Thanks for the lovely beach inspiration and thank you even more so of reminding me of those wonderful days gone by.

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  13. Love your mantel, Kathe! We had a cabin at the lake too. Nothing fancy and a good hike from the water but oh, the fun we had there! Thanks for reminding me of lake time!

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  14. What makes your mantle so special is the source of its inspiration.

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  15. What sweet summer memories! Your mantel is lovely.. blue and white. I love it.

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  16. Thanks for linking this up to The Southern Special! I will be using it in my features for next week! I love the beach!

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  17. Now that's a rustic cabin. I don't know if I would look forward to those night trips to the outhouse though, lol! We took vacation trips from the dry desert heat to the cool mountains too filled with pine trees in southern NM. Living in N. Michigan now, it reminds me so much of those mountains. I love your mantel :) Great job! -Bev

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  18. I think it's so neat that you have such a vivid and fond memory of those days spent vacationing at that cabin on the lake. Were you like the girl in "Dirty Dancing"? "NOBODY puts Baby in a corner!" :-) I don't know why that movie immediately came to mind!

    Your mantel is a wonderful reflection of your wonderful memories. Enjoy it!

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  19. Oh do I love your dark blue bottles/vase. Very pretty. Guess I should go to Big Lots more often. Our Big lots is in same strip mall with $tree so by time I get done in $tree my money and energy are gone.
    Your mantel is so awesome, love it. Helps hold onto those memories.
    When we still lived in Cleveland we'd go to a lake cabin on lake in Ontario, CN. There was no running water or electricity then. This was between 1947-1949. I learned to swim in that lake,there was literally nobody else around, just our family. Had a raft we rode in around the dock and area. I learned how much I loved water there. We'd spend 2 weeks but mustn't have been much fun for my Mother to have to cook/bathe/wash, whatever without water having to be brought. We had a pan we peed in at night, out house too far away and was too dark. There were oil lanterns at night. I can still close my eyes and picture the main room in that cabin, after all these years, loved going there. In 1950 we moved to Tucson, AZ so no more cabin and lake. I have photos of all of us, Mom/Dad/brother and myself at lake and cabin. I also got stung by hornets I'd been warned about but got into them anyway. Very hard lesson getting stung on cheeks and one ear. Hornets are vicious and their sting hurts pretty badly. I'm now almost 74, love how memories live on. Glad you reminded me. Loved your post and mantel, gorgeous arrangment and things on mantel. Happy summer days

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  20. Hi, Kathe! I'm a cohost from the Wake Up Wednesday link party. I noticed your post and I think it's super adorable! I love the nautical look and I plan to recommend you for a feature in our party next week! I would love for you to join us! Thanks for sharing.
    -Kate @The Organized Dream
    P.S. I am now following you on most social media :)

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  21. The background info on your trips as a child just sound so dreamy! Such a cute mantle...perfect for Summer!

    Deb
    @Seeking Lavender Lane

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  22. I love the nostalgic feel to this mantlescape. Your description of your days at the cabin really add to the effect. I feel like I can smell the pine too... :-)

    Lory
    Designthusiasm.com

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  23. Looks great! I love nautical things :)

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  24. Kathe, I love it! It makes me happy. Pinned. Thanks for being a part of our party. We love having you! We hope to see you tonight at 7 pm. and let us see what you have been working on! http://loulougirls.blogspot.com
    Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls

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  25. What a beautiful mantel! Pinned! Thank you for linking up with The Caffeinated Crafters!

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  26. Love your beach mantel, Kathe! The shade of blue and the accessories are perfect! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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  27. Finally Kathe I am able to comment! For a long time now I could not get a comment box to show up. Your mantle is perfect for such a wonderful memory! We went to the Lake now and then, but mostly canyons. Have lots of canyon memories. Love the blues! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  28. Don't you just love World Market?! Thanks for stopping by the Creative Spark Link Party. Hope you link up again today! http://bit.ly/1t2Ohhl

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  29. Congratulations! You've been featured on Wicked Awesome Wednesday! Your lake inspired mantel decor evokes wonderful memories! Please stop by the website to pick up your "I've Been Featured!" button.

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