Christmas Tree Items 2007

Christmas Tree Items 2007

Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year!



All my best wishes to you for
a prosperous and Happy New Year!


Friday, December 24, 2010

Further Holiday Decorating


This post shares the few lighted houses I’ve collected the past two years. They are displayed in the study in front of one of the windows.

Three lighted ceramic houses on a bed of sparkly fleece:

At the top is Fireside Inn, with a nativity scene out front.

Nearby are a snowman and an ice rink where a couple skates.

Below are the Toy Shop and the town hall. There are carollers and other villagers outside.

The bookshelf houses several smaller houses, including a lighted Boarding House.


The skirted table in front of my desk holds a tiny one-foot tree decorated with miniature Hallmark angel ornaments.



Just in front is a white candle in a festive candle ring.


A Hallmark Merry Miniatures nativity set is alongside.





I wish you continued blessings this holiday season, and a prosperous and healthy New Year.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Holiday Festive Decor

I can’t believe there are just three days till Christmas! I haven’t been posting this month due to an unexpected request to contribute an exhibit of selected nativity scenes for the Italian American Cultural Center in Worcester, MA. In 2000 I had a large exhibit there and also did a 40-minute lecture on the history of nativity scenes.
This holiday season my strength has been limited, so I have not gone all out as I have other years. Also, I hosted the family Thanksgiving at my home this year. Yes, I was preparing for Thanksgiving and packing up nativities for the exhibit -- all at the same time!



Next, has come preparations for visitors to see my nativity gallery. All along, though, I’ve been adding festive holiday touches to the rooms here at Oak Rise Cottage. I put up the garlands in the dining room entry and the doorway to the kitchen, plus the garland for the living room fireplace.



Doorway to Dining Room

View across dining table to kitchen door


See the complete tablesetting post at Oak Rise Cottage blog.



Doorway from dining room to kitchen


Fireplace garland
Angels in blue and in white with gold




The living room tree is an aluminum tabletop tree, all decked in vintage ornaments.





Three of the vintage nativity ornaments:

Under the tree is a vintage creche from Germany

To the right of the tree, barely visible through the sheer curtains is the lighted Star of Bethlehem in the window. Below it is a lighted Holy Family silhouette.


In the dining room another tabletop tree displays musical instrument ornaments.

Oops, I forgot the tree topper! Here it is:



Under the tree is an acrylic nativity set displayed on a mirrored base.
So this is a brief view of some of my 2010 holiday decor. The next post will feature on the lighted houses in my study.


I am linking to Hooked on Houses Holiday Tour, hosted by Julia.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Tree Ornaments – Musical Instruments


For years the only tree ornaments I collected were angels and musical instrument ornaments. I built up an interesting accumulation of instruments in pottery, metal, glass and crystal, plastic, wood and porcelain. It was the same with the angels, which ended up taking over my ornament collection.
Here are some photos showing how I’ve used them in my holiday décor.
This stair garland is strung with mini white lights and brass musical instruments.



Musical instrument ornaments also decorate the ends of garlands for the entry to the dining room:



and also the door to kitchen:



The small tree in the guest bedroom has musical instrument ornaments in porcelain, metal, blown glass and crystal.

















In another post I will share my angel ornaments. Please visit Denise Marie at her blog, Christ is the Heart of Christmas, for more participants in the Christmas Collectors Alley.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Mosaic Monday – Christmas Magazines


When November rolls around it is certainly time to start (if not continue) looking at Christmas issues of home décor magazines. A useful segment of my Christmas collections are the December or Christmas Holiday issues which cover the years 1989 to 2009. Just before and during the Christmas holidays, I take out stacks of these magazines and keep them at hand for inspiring reading as I enjoy planning and preparing for Christmastime.


These are titles of magazines I have kept over the years:
Traditional Home
Country Living
House Beautiful
Southern Living
House and Garden
Victoria [I need only the 1992 issue to have a complete run of the original Victoria magazine]
Elle Décor
Good Housekeeping
Ladies Home Journal
Martha Stewart Living
Women’s Day
Colonial Homes
Victorian Decorating & Lifestyle
Victorian Homes and Gardens
Home
Early American Life
Metropolitan Home
Better Homes and Gardens
Family Circle

So far for 2010 I have only Tea Time magazine Christmas Special issue. However, soon the stores will have an array of holiday issues to choose from.

The article, “Christmas Carols and Celebrations” introduces recipes for hearty Victorian-inspired dishes – potato-parsnip soup, roasted brussels sprouts, tarragon black pepper bread,plum pudding, etc.

A short feature item “A Dickens of a Christmas” lists holiday events inspired by Charles Dickens.

The lemon cake pictured above has a filling of lemon curd spread topped with candied citrus.

Whether bought in the supermarket at the checkout, or from a bookstore or gift shop, each December issue gives inspiration and fresh ideas to make your holiday home beautiful and welcoming.

For a full introduction to my Christmas holiday issues collection click here.

This post is linked to Mosiac Monday, hosted by Mary at Little Red House. Visit her blog for more mosaic creations.