I like the third one, more variety of objects, more balanced, nice job.

Number three.

I like them all, only change I'd make is to add a green garland to put in front of the items.

3 - Looks great! love the stockings. :c)

I like two, without the white snowmen on each end.

3, but I'd replace the shorter snowman on the right side with the green bowl.

Can you replace the autumn pic with a winter one?

I think that they're all cute.

What I would do, however, is stack some of the items. You could use wrapping paper to cover a few books, lay them flat, and then put a few of the decorations on top.

I agree with 'oakleyok'. I like #3 but what I'd do would be to add some greenery tucked-in throughout your items to soften the lip of the mantle a bit. Even spilling a wee bit over the edge.

I like them all, but my first choice would be the second one. Only could you try to put the two green trees where the tall snowmen are? Put them on the books you are using. Leave off the tall snowmen.

Lookin' good.

Kim

Thank you for all your suggestions so far. I would LOVE to have a winter pic to exchange for the fall one but I refuse to go buy something just to have one and I haven't found the right one yet. When I find it I'll get one. Last year some suggested wrapping it like a gift but I think I'm going to just choose to live with the picture for now. Here is #3 with some greenery tucked in and I replaced the fat snowman on the right with the green bowl. Better? Thoughts?

Snowman melt my heart so I love them all, but really like #3. The only thing I would change is the picture above to something more wintery (picture or wreath). Makes me wish I had a mantle like that ... cause as we speak there are snowman climbing my basement stairs and more waiting to burst out of their boxes in the basement. As far as I'm concerned you can never have enough snowman (and ladies) smiling back at you through the holidays and long into the cold winter ahead.

I like #3.

This is the same as that last pic, just trying to get a better shot of it. I'm losing light fast, it's nearly dark. pmartin, I have a weakness for snowmen and snowwomen too :-)

To add to the christmas/winter scene, perhaps you could put a wreath where the picture is?

Number 2 :-)

My vote is for #2. BTW, that's a fine looking wood mantle you have there ;o)

#3. And I'd still add more greenery. I'd definetely take down the picture and put up a wreath with a red bow. There are many inexpensive bird ornaments you could find and stick a few, preferably red cardinals, into the greenery.

I also prefer number 2. I do agree with taking out the two snowmen on the ends though. I think that would keep it from looking too *cutsey*, IYKWIM. I think you could tuck in some more greenery with this look also and I like the suggestion of adding in some red birds. I agree that a wreath would be a good winter substitute for the picture - you could even go with a more rustic one without the bow. I'm wondering too, how a black mirror would look - with your black iron piece and the black fireplace doors. Just a couple of suggestions that might be easier to find that the perfect winter picture, possibly less $$$ too.

tina

I like your mantle and the iron piece beneath it.

Number 2, with above suggestions. It looks cleaner and more in tune with your fireplace. I think that a wreath or th emirror idea is a great one.

#2 but #3 is close second

When I saw your picture all I could think of was "Has it been a year already?"

I have a similar situation with a portrait of DD. I do take it down during the Christmas holidays and use a wreath.

Your picture is beautiful but I think it is competing a bit with your holiday decor as it has a very fall feeling. Another thought would be to use all "natural" type decor on your mantle. Just a thought.

I want Mr. Fat snowman back, lol......

I would group/stagger the snow people at each end and leave the part below the picture unadorned except more greenery, and a nice gold toned large bow in the middle, centered below the picture; you could intersperse the gold balls through the greenery too.
so basically I would remove the green bowl, have a skinny group on the left, possibly removing the candlesticks, the fat duo with the pointy red tree on the right, build up the greenery through it all if this works.

don't you wish we were all there playing with this ?

I like #3 with the greenery but I think a fresh balsam wreath would look great above the fireplace in place of the picture.

I'm lol at terriks "has it been a year already?" and yes it has!

mitchdesj, Mr Fat Snowman is still in the room. I have a lot more snowmen and he joined some of them. And I do wish you all were here helping me move this stuff around. I probably need to get more/better greenery if I'm going to use a lot of it on the mantel.

tinam61, I understand what you mean about "cutesy" but when I remove the snowmen it starts to look really dark on the mantel. In person I think the lightness helps it.

I like the suggestions of maybe a rustic wreath or a mirror. It's not so much the $$ keeping me from replacing the picture as finding what I want. I would like something that is not just for Christmas but can stay in place throughout the winter. A mirror or even the right wreath are great ideas. I'm getting inspired again and will look.

I took another pic since I have some light in the room again. Right now it's a sort of combination of the original 2 and 3 and every time I pass through I move something...lol. Thanks again for the reinforcement and advice. I'm definitely going to look for something to hang in place of the picture.