Christmasy Things

Around the house the decorating has started!  This year we're putting out little woodland animals, sparkly vintage bits and anything and everything that makes us smile.

I'll have a blue Christmas (tree)

Ever since I can remember, I've always loved blue at Christmas.  One year I begged my parents to get a blue spruce from the tree farm "because it's blue."  My favorite Christmas baubles are blue.  My favorite holiday houses are decorated with blue lights.  I even tried to buy a baby blue tinsel tree off of Ebay, but then decided that might be a step too far...

Only recently have I realized that blue might actually be my favorite color (if my living room, bathroom and dining nook count as a testament to that statement...)  So this year we went for it, with a vintage blue, gold and silver themed tree.

In the process of decorating - already looking good!

We incorporated blue and white lights along with elements of nature - silver pine cones, glistening berry sprays and shimmery snowflakes and wrapped the tree with jute twine, a staple in my packaging for Deeds & Petunia veils, and a favorite craft material of mine.

A few old favorites were included - the crocheted blue skate, a hand-blown glass bauble or two, vintage window ornaments...

At a local shop called Dwell I found some gorgeous vintage-y Wendy Addison "Nest Noel Joy" paper garland, which I (of course) immediately took my scissors to.  :)

We added the topper, turned off the lights and oooh'd and ahh'd.

I'm delighted with our blue tree.  It's a touch vintage, nature-inspired, sparkly and glittery, not too perfect.  Kinda like me.  :)

Snowy Winter Terrarium

Who doesn't love picking through the bins at Goodwill?  Okay, so it's not for everyone, but I LOVE when I score a vintage treasure that only costs me 99 cents.  I've been using this little deer in my craft show display and for some Etsy listing flair, but I knew he needed a permanent holiday home.

Last week I bought a few magazines and in one of them (can't remember which... Better Homes and Gardens, maybe?)  I saw a little terrarium inside a fish bowl and thought "I can make that!"  My mind immediately went to glitter and something critter-related.

And so the deer now has a frosty winter abode.

Ahhh... nice and cozy.

I gathered these items together:

• A clean fishbowl
• A mini bottle brush wreath
• A couple mini bottle brush trees
• Some twigs from the craft store
• Fake glittery snow
• A little vintage spray of presents
• My precious little baby deer

The process couldn't be simpler.  Fill the fishbowl with a bit of fake snow.  Not too much, or the miniatures might be swallowed up!  I filled mine in such a way to create a slope - more snow towards the back, less in the front.

Then I gathered the presents, bottle brush trees and deer and "artfully arranged" with the help of my 5 year old (she has a great eye.) ;)  One useful tip might be to stick the deer's hooves into a tiny piece of styrofoam or glue them to a little scrap of cardboard so that he stands up a little straighter and doesn't go all wobbly.  It will save you many hissing breaths when your kids/cats/dogs/husbands bump the dresser the terrarium sits upon and the deer topples...

Lastly, I hung the wreath in the bare twig tree and placed it right near the deer.  Again, a bit of styrofoam might help things stand a little straighter in high traffic areas.

That's it!  We placed it inside a little twig basket in our Winter Woodland display for some extra woodsiness.  I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

Some more ideas might be...
Make tiny branch "logs" out of twigs
Mushrooms
Birds in the twig tree (you can find teeny tiny little birds in the floral section of craft stores)
Find all kinds of mini critters on Etsy by searching in either the Vintage or Supplies sections
Put a little Putz style house inside
Add mini LED battery powered lights
Use a big mason jar instead of a fish bowl

Kids LOVE to help with this kind of stuff and it's a fun project they can rearrange over and over to create new scenes.  As long as you don't mind cleaning up wayward snow flurries from time to time.  ;)










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Some new (old) Christmas favorites

The St. Vincent De Paul in Tacoma is a treasure trove for Grannys on the inside like me (some call my taste "tacky" or "worn out,"  I prefer "Granny Chic.")  The key is to dig and dig and dig.  And keep an open mind.  I never find what I go there to look for!

My last visit turned up many Christmas goodies, and a couple old jewelry boxes that were originally intended for part of my craft show display.  I have fallen in love with the red lined jewelry box and so am greedily keeping it for myself although I have own very little jewelry. 

 I'm entranced by the little ballerina who twirls to a nameless song and the fruity perfume that still lingers.

I also found this lovely lady all decked out for Christmas in her festive red and white crocheted dress, hat and muff.  She has soft wool hair and crystal blue eyes that my children love to open and close (I imagine she's quite dizzy after being handled thusly.)  From what era???  I couldn't say.  Old.  That's all I know.

My daughter had dubbed her "Phyllis"

 I also came across a vintage handmade quilted patchwork tree skirt with bright, cheerful floral prints that would look perfect in my little old lady's cottage.  Pictures to come.

(Side note - while I was taking these photos today, my camera finally bit the dust, so they're less than amazing.  I can't exactly fit a new camera into the budget, so I'm praying that it will either be miraculously healed, an orphaned digital SLR will magically turn up on my doorstep or the money to buy a new one will be in my PayPal account soon!  :)  A girl can dream, right...)

At the local North Tacoma Goodwill I came across a crocheted door ornament with jingle bells, a bag full of vintage ornaments without a price tag (JACKPOT!) In it were a few mercury glass balls and a 3D ornament like my parents used to hang on their tree.  It's always a good feeling when you find an items that's not tagged.  It usually means a bargain!

I found another vintage angel with soft white hair and an adorable little pink safety pin angel for the mantel, along with a shiny, tiny present garland (pictured with Phyllis.)

 I thought I'd post my favorite Christmas decoration as well.  My Christmas pudding kitty frieze!  I have two that I bought from Past Times when I lived near Cambridge in the UK.  It used to be my favorite store!  The little old lady living inside me couldn't get enough Victorian reproductions, Celtic print scarves and pewter goblets.

The tree is trimmed and most of the decorations are up.  We made cookies today and are playing with the Christmas PlayMobil advent toys.  It's beginning to feel like Christmas finally!

Need some craft ideas for Christmas?

Via Sadie Lou Who at Craftily Ever After, I just found a veritable "crafting smorgasbord" over at Inspire Co!  Go there straight away and take a look at the FREE (*shock* *disbelief* *gratitude*) Inspired Ideas Magazine.

An adorable Sadie Lou Who Vintage Inspired Doll similar to the project you'll find in Inspired Ideas!

Sadie Lou's Vintage Inspired Doll project is included (and completely adorable) along with tons of other unique and fun vintage-y projects and ideas.

Yay!  I'm so excited!!!  Who wants to do EVERY PROJECT IN HERE with me?!?!