A Christmas Post

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!):

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!

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!)

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.

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!

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.

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.

Recognize that snowman? Yup...from Silver Bella!

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. :)

Homemade and vintage ornaments intermingle seemlessly!

This is the centerpiece I built from milkglass pedestals and glass ornaments. I love how it turned out!

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?

This Santa in pink is the year's favorite find. Love him!

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.

This winter wonderland scene resides on my china cabinet. It's so magical!


This little incense burner house is yet another treasure I brought back from Germany (my suitcase was quite full!)

This beauty stays inside the china cabinet all year round. Another masterpiece made by the shy artist.

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!!

I love the ornaments that present little dioramas of religious and nature scenes. There are even a few bird houses!

This spun cotton camel is an original!!

These ducks are so sweet and are covered with teeny tiny glass beads.

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. :)

And Mr. Spun Cotton Pope looks over the magical kingdom this tree contains. It's a true awe inspiring work of art!

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.

The tree with the pink base is my favorite. It's quite old and even more unusual.

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.

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.


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.

This adorable bird was a Silver Bella find.

And this sweet glittered acorn was made and so thoughtfully given to me by Heather from Birds of a Feather.

This church scene sits atop the entertainment center.

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.

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.

This simple little tree looked perfect in the front hall catch all container. I cotton bird is the only ornament I decorated it with.

Present's sit waiting to be brought to NY. These all have long since been ripped open and enjoyed.

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.


I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! I know I did!! :)