Recollection ~ Summer Mantel Styling

A new look for my summer mantel.  Repetition in design is easy on the eyes especially with these pretty botanical specimens, shells and books.

I especially love this mantel display and the sweet stories it tells. The  vintage botanicals were collected by a North Carolina naturalist on travels with her husband. My husband collected the whelk shells for me in shark infested waters (ok, a couple of small sharks)  on a recent anniversary vacation and to me, they're more precious than diamonds. (Hands off ladies, he's mine!) 

The vintage books were saved from the dumpster at his office. Can you believe someone threw them away? 

Because things change often around here I'm not framing the botanicals for now. If you've got some unframed art that you want to get up on the wall, try Poster Tack for good temporary hold without damaging your paint or walls.