Mantle + Another Thread Drawing

I painted my mantle a while ago, and since then have been slowly adding items.  I think I'm at a point I like it.

I did take every one's advice and lowered the mirror to sit right on the mantle.

A combination of family heirlooms, thrifted, purchased, and made items.

I found the blue vase for $2.00 - thrift store. The twigs are from my mom's house, my favorite trees in her yard are these Corkscrew Willows, with twisted branches.

I've been collecting clocks, I think this captain's clock was $12.00 - Tai Pan

White Vase- $1.00 -thrift store

Roses, front porch (yes, I have kept something alive)

Kerosene Lantern $2.00 -- yard sale

Glass Little Pitcher Thing (I'm sure there's an official name) Heirloom from my husband's Grandma

Thread Family Tree:  frame: $1.50 thrift store/ tree: scrap fabric, extra mat board, thread

For a few more details of the family tree thread drawing if you're interested:

MORE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS HERE

Here's the frame I got at the thrift store.  It's solid wood and heavy, so I thought better for it to sit than to hang anywhere.

So I cleaned up the frame, and cut scraps of linen fabric the size of the opening.

I starched it to be a little stiffer, then got ready to sew/draw.

I wanted my family tree to be more fantasy like than a normal tree.  I had looked at this painting  but I thought it might look a little too-- scrapbooky is what I'd call it.  I had noticed really cool curved tree branches when I recently watched Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland, and really like them.

So I thought I'd combine my ideas.

So I did my first "drawing" in black.

But this first layer seemed a little too Tim Burton and looked borderline creepy to me.

So I thought I'd soften it up with a little color, starting with mint green:

Then I went ahead and added blue, since it's the accent color in the living room, and I still wasn't satisfied.

I sewed my signature in the bottom right corner, with the year....since I'm calling this "art".

Then sewed "family" in the left bottom corner, since this kind of creepy thread drawing wasn't looking much like a typical family tree.

So I taped the fabric to left over mat board I had from these prints.

I just taped it in the frame, leaving some raw edges of the fabric showing.

From a distance it looks cool, but closer, it looks kind of like a kid scribbled on paper, then when you get closer you realize it's actually sewn on fabric.

So I like it for now, but it's still a little creepy for a family tree maybe. 

But I guess art is like that sometimes?

Or maybe just when I try to make art.

Or maybe it is a good family tree because it's odd shaped, not perfect, some awkwardness, won't win any awards, but I still like it and it works.

Like me and my family.

Maybe one day I'll go through and sew creepy little gnome type people in the branches for each person in our family.