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It's New Year's Eve today and this post is loooong over due. This December was a complete whirlwind of non-stop activity and it's finally catching up with me (yes, I now have a bit of a cold)! Last year I didn't have time to share as many Christmas goodies with you blog readers out there as I wanted to and promised myself that this year I would make sure to have time. Well...that didn't work out so well! I did a good number of shows this holiday season, including the Martha Stewart Holiday Craft Show. I snow storm started up near the end of the show and I had to drive (very slowly) through the snow back to Boston for the Bizaar Bizarre the next day. Phew! I also saw a huge spike in my website sales (thank you so much anyone who ordered Christmas goodies!) and that kept me busy as well. I also helped manage the Boston Handmade Downtown Gallery this month. I had a lot of fun hanging out with fellow BH members and talking with customers. But boy I spent a lot of time there. Ben and I of course went to my parent's house in Saratoga and hung out with the family for the weekend (a few photos to follow).
So I finally got a chance to snap a bunch of photos around the house of the Christmas decor. I did this a week ago before we left for NY and I finally got them downloaded and pick through. Here's what made the cut (there are lots of photos...just to warn you!):
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I took lots and lots of detail photos of the tree but I had a hard time narrowing them down. So I've included a whole bunch. While I love my sun yellowed white tree...I'm looking forward to also having a real tree on the Christmas after next!
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I have a large collection of vintage glass ornaments and am building up my collection of artisan made ornaments with a vintage twist (many made by fellow bloggers!)
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I nestle a few cardboard houses into the branches. The nice thing about a fake tree is that the branches are posable! That Homer Simpson donut was a souviner from Santa Fe.
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I also nestle vintage glass bead picks into the branches. Just because it doesn't have a string, doesn't mean it can't go on the tree!
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I love taking the antique German ornaments I found on my trip to Germany a few years out of the cardboard suitcase I found in Amsterdam and hanging them on the tree.
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There's one little spot on the tree where I can't help but really cluster up some of my favorite ornaments. I love the long necked swan that came from Germany as well as the bundle of tiny glass balls, also from Germany.
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Recognize that snowman? Yup...from Silver Bella!
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This Russian glass star was found at the ghetto flea market here in Boston at the bottom of a full trash bag! The glass ball is broken on the other side, but I'm shocked it remained in this good of condition. :)
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Homemade and vintage ornaments intermingle seemlessly!
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This is the centerpiece I built from milkglass pedestals and glass ornaments. I love how it turned out!
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I found a handful of tiny ornaments around Thanksgiving time at the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market in NYC, including this tiny Santa...or it Old Man Time?
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This Santa in pink is the year's favorite find. Love him!
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This sweet bird was made by a fabulous local artist who has yet to emerge from his studio and sell his work publicly. It's marvelous and I keep him hanging from my dining room light fixture all year round.
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This winter wonderland scene resides on my china cabinet. It's so magical!
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This little incense burner house is yet another treasure I brought back from Germany (my suitcase was quite full!)
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This beauty stays inside the china cabinet all year round. Another masterpiece made by the shy artist.
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This grand tree is my most valued possession. I didn't get a chance to put it up last year so I was thrilled to see it and it's ornaments out and about again this year. It's a Victorian period real goose feather tree that my mom bought for me on ebay from a German seller. It came with 100 antique ornaments...including cardboard, dresden, spun glass, spun cotton, glass, beaded, and more!!
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I love the ornaments that present little dioramas of religious and nature scenes. There are even a few bird houses!
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This spun cotton camel is an original!!
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These ducks are so sweet and are covered with teeny tiny glass beads.
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This dresden boy is one of several dresden pieces that came with the tree. I'm so curious of it's value...I know that go for tons of moola online. Not that I would sell him of course. :)
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And Mr. Spun Cotton Pope looks over the magical kingdom this tree contains. It's a true awe inspiring work of art!
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I've been building a tiny village in my dining room cubby since we moved to Boston five years ago. I have a pretty good sized collection of houses and trees and they look so snug among the milk glass.
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The tree with the pink base is my favorite. It's quite old and even more unusual.
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That plain white house I recently found at a thrift store. Maybe one of these days I'll pretty it up a bit, but for now it lets the eye rest a bit I think.
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I have two mirrors hanging next to eachother. I like hanging one or two things from them during the holidays. This year it's vintage Japanese bells and an old bottle brush wreath.
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The living room contains a few holiday treats too. My Grandmother's cabinet is the perfect place for hanging garland...since we don't have a fire place or a mantel.
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This adorable bird was a Silver Bella find.
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And this sweet glittered acorn was made and so thoughtfully given to me by Heather from Birds of a Feather.
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This church scene sits atop the entertainment center.
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I spruced up Ben's DVD shelf with a pine forest and a Cody Foster house. I love the way it looks with the dark wood and green wall paint.
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I also couldn't have resisted adding my two glass trees (the larger was owned by my mother when she was a teenager) and a trio of gnomes.
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This simple little tree looked perfect in the front hall catch all container. I cotton bird is the only ornament I decorated it with.
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Present's sit waiting to be brought to NY. These all have long since been ripped open and enjoyed.
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I didn't have a lot of time to prepare holiday treats for Ben and I, but I did manage to bake a batch of yummy oatmeal cookies and Ben picked up a good collection of Clementine's after spending ten minutes carefully choosing the right box full.
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I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! I know I did!! :)