Summer Mantel

Alas! My high hopes of redoing my mantel each month fell by the wayside this summer. In June I did a patriotic mantel and liked it so much (that's my story and I'm sticking to it) that I kept it up all summer.

When I did this mantel back in June I wanted to make to use things made only in the U.S.A.  So I scrounged around the house and this is what I came up with:

I love lanterns, so knew I had to include one of the many lanterns I have around and I just happen to have a blue one.  The Uncle Sam nutcracker was a gift from my mom. He's sitting on a few very old schoolbooks from way back when.  Then there's one of my most favorite things I own, my 48 star flag. I wish I could say it was passed down from generation to generation in my family, but eh, I bought it on eBay many years ago.

This flying Americana doll is something my dad made me. This was his "prototype" years ago. They've evolved a lot since then, but I love having his 'first' one.

You know you're a true junker when you see something lying on the side of the road and you make your husband (who was driving at the time) pull over and run over and get it. Yes, my dear friends, that's how this "let freedom ring" sign came to be a part of our family. Now why would someone throw away a perfectly good rusty old sign? Sheesh!

So, here is my Patriotic Mantel in its full glory:

I added some U.S.A. wooden blocks, an old red carriage lantern and a metal star as well. The garden gate is the one my husband and I made out of a pallet and the old barbed wire we found on our property when we moved here.

Honestly, I love Americana, I used to have that as my decor many moons ago. I loved this mantel so much I decided to keep it up all summer and through 9/11.

Thanks for looking and I hope everyone had a great summer!

P.S. Obviously Blogger did a few changes while I was away, can anyone tell me why certain words in my post are underlined like a link and how I get rid of that?? Thanks!

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Funky Junk Interiors