The Mantel Saga Continues...

(I'd like to thank Jody and Stan at Rooted in Thyme for featuring this post!)
Thank you to each of you who have entered my giveaway so far-I'm loving reading about your favorite 'junk'!  If you haven't entered yet, please stop by here, and throw your hat into the ring! :)

If you remember, I wasn't lovin' the picture above my mantel, here.  I knew the look that I wanted, and it would take something rustic on this wall, like an old barn door or chippy sign.  But until I score one of those, I came up with an alternative that I'm happy with.  I rummaged around in my basement and found this...buh-bye, ugly picture!

This is a pretty large old sifter, and it's working for me!  I like the rustic contrast between the wood and the more formal-feeling silver pieces.  I moved the little green wreath from its previous spot on the mantel and hung it on the sifter to keep it from looking too stark and bare.  Then I rearranged the silver that was already there, added a little antler, and replaced the books with these numbered metal boxes that I purchased at Pottery Barn awhile ago.

I got this little metal hunting sign the other day at a local antique shop-I thought it was so cute!  The owner said that they used to be sold in multiples and people would nail them to their trees on their property.  Well, this one ended up hung over my fireplace!

Overall, I'm much more pleased with the new (again!) look of my mantel.  Sometimes it just takes a little playing around (and in my case, shopping my basement!) to get the look that you want.  I think I'm done tweaking this...for a little while, at least.  ;)

Have a fantastic day, and thanks for stopping by!

I'm linking to these wonderful blogs:   The Farmhouse Porch
                                                       Knick of Time
                                                       Rooted in Thyme
                                                       Jennifer Rizzo
                                                       Common Ground