My mantel's first bunting

In my new place I have a fireplace.  I don't really know what the heck to do with it, and I'm pretty certain I'll never have the nerve to actually light a fire, but with a fireplace comes a mantel. 

Since I'm still a few months away from hanging stockings, the only thing I really know that is required of a mantel, I dressed it up with some bunting.  I saw a tutorial on Saltwater Kids this morning, and found myself at Jo-Ann this afternoon picking up floss, denim and ticking.  I found the denim in the remnant bin, which was a pretty good find, and was able to make the entire bunting with only a quarter yard of ticking. 

Then I snapped one picture. Then my camera died.

I made the flags a bit bigger than the tutorial called for, but that was about the only variation.  That and she is obviously way better at embroidering flags than me.  The whole project only took about an hour, and most of it can be done in front of the TV.  And, really, can there be a better barometer for how cool a project is?

I think this is best served as a July 4th decoration, but with tomorrow being Memorial Day, which is pretty damn American, I'd say I'm well within my rights to leave it up tonight.  You'd better believe I'll drag it back out for the 4th, though.