Christmas Tree Items 2007

Christmas Tree Items 2007

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Santas On Display

I am joining Sundays With Santa hosted by Maureen at Yuletide Greetings. It is based on an old post from my regular blog which I shared my Santa collection displayed for the holidays.
I am also linking to Deck the Hall Friday with Tammy at Tinsel & Company.


Christmas is my favorite holiday and Christmas time is the best time of the year for me. I love so many things about the holiday season – the decorations all around, the busy-ness, the festive air, the music, specials on HGTV and Food Network, the various emblems of Christmas...Well,

I Just LOVE Christmas!


One of my book collections consists is of various editions of Clement Moore’s T’was the Night Before Christmas. I have books that are 2” high to oversized ones. Due to a lack of space I cannot display them this year. However a related collection of Santas, my St. Nicholas collection, is on display in the Study.

The bookstand has proved a good display venue since the books are all pushed back to make room on the three shelves.

At top a Santa dressed in white fur-trimmed coat and gold trousers stands in front of the ceramic pine cone finial . The little bootie was a place card at a Christmas party at work. On bootie was made for each staff member by my secretary’s mother. My secretary then put our names on the side with a gold pen.


On the first shelf is a large carved Santa designed by Pam Schifferl. The white ceramic bell was a gift from one of my sisters. The silverplate Santa is also a bell. The star-shape is a trinket box.

These three Santas are all emerging from the chimmney:


I bought one of these stuffed fabric Santas for my Christmas Day-born sister back in 1986. Years later I found this one for myself in a consignment shop.

Three cookie tins. The one on the left reads, “Twas the Night Before Christmas”

I originally bought this for the frame, but decided to keep the interesting scene of Santa resting beside the fireplace. It is titled “Santa’s Nap”

This framed Hallmark reproduction card featuring a 1907 Santa and a child, was sent to me by my neighbors across the back fence. Just below is a paper garland of reindeer, a gift to me from Sweden. The little terra cotta house is a candle holder and has a chimney too.

The footstool displays Santas with Christmas trees in hand. The tallest one is resplendent in his beautiful red coat trimmed in white fur.

On a stereo speaker one Santa holds a candle aloft in a leaf holder. Two small candle Santas and a Santa mug with white peppermint candy canes, completes the group.

Nearby are two delightful stuffed Santas. The smaller one is by Hallmark.

This 2’ tree holds several Santa tree ornaments. The tree is one of two I just got at a thrift store for 50 cents each. It is set in an off-white clay urn decorated with holly. The rim and handles are stained in a soft gold.


This iron stand has a ceramic tile top. Hanging from the legs is a green Irish Santa.

Below is a fabric Santa in a gold wicker sleigh. In front is a stitched canvas Rudolph candy holder made by the mother of a staff member for me. You squeeze the jaw on either side and it opens revealing the candy. My little nephew really loved it. Hearing about this, my co-worker’s mother made him the white cat that is beside it. But when the little fellow saw it, he just said, “I don’t like cats!” and never even touched it! LOL. So, here it remains in his auntie’s home.

These two collector’s Christmas plates are from the Lenox “Victorian Santas” series. I choose these two plates because the scenes include a nativity. The 2003 plate is, “Babbo Natale, the Italian Santa Claus”

The 2004 plate is, “Viejo Pascuero, the Chilean Santa Claus”
Next to the plush Santa’s is a large cookie jar. It is a recent thrift store find for $3.00.

I hope you enjoyed viewing my St. Nicholas collection. Please stop by Oak Rise Cottage again very soon.

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.