Vintage Christmas Monday: My Christmas Past

I have recently acquired a lot of vintage Christmas items, but I thought I would start off by showing some of my favorite Christmas decorations from my childhood.

My favorite Christmas item has to be the little rickrack trimmed shadowbox my Mom made when I was probably three.  She made one for my Grandmom,  my Great Aunt, and one for our house.  My aunt has been gone for over ten years, so I now display hers in my home.  I was always impressed with the little details in each "cubby".   I'm sure she took her time making these, so she could have some down time after chasing me around all day!

This little basket topped with an ornament Santa was in my Grandmom's house.  Nothing like a little plastic misteltoe to take you back to the seventies!

Be sure to check out all the cool vintage Christmas items at Anything Goes Here - Vintage Christmas Mondays!  I'm looking forward to seeing all the neat things people use in their Vintage Christmas homes.

Vintage Christmas Monday Blog Party

Joan at Anything Goes Here is hosting a Vintage Christmas blog party every Monday until Christmas.  Be sure to check out all the nifty holiday treasures the participants (including myself) will be sharing.  It is amazing to see all the awesome Christmas goods people have saved from family members, and lovingly displayed year after year.  I know that I have a few items from childhood that are my favorites!  It's also amazing to me to see how creative folks can be in combining Christmas trinkets into completely new decorations and display items.  So, put on your favorite Christmas music and swing by Monday to see a piece of Vintage Christmas Wonderland!

Setting Up Shop

I've been working on adding vintage holiday stuff to my Etsy shop.  A bunch of new "old stock" ornaments and supplies.  Hope to have it all updated by tomorrow!

Christmas Mushrooms! Groovy!

Poinsettia Picks

70's Ornaments

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Bea West-- Is That Like Mae West?

 If you knew my husband, you would understand that title.  He has a witty comment for everything.  When I showed him my favorite vintage Christmas treasure from today, he focused on the brand of the felt gift trims- "Bea West".  When I saw these, I almost ran to the other side of the table to grab them before anyone else could.

These are so cute- even if someone had already cut out the "tag" part.

Two Gurley candles- well loved is a gentle way to describe them- but they're Gurley candles just the same!  I now have three in my fledgling collection.  I'll try the hairdryer trick to straighten them a bit.  Maybe some soap and water would help too.

I love the fact that the labels are intact- and that I paid only 25 cents each for them.

These two little jewels were in the bottom of a basket jumbled with homemade ornaments and unfinished craft projects.  The pink circus car one is made by Doubl-Glo and has a little reindeer inside. Perfect holiday kitsch!  The other is a miniature metal store that I thought was interesting.

Last but not least is a diecut Santa garland.  I now have three of these, all bought from the same store but on different days.  Hardly ever find the exact same thing at a thrift store, but I'm glad I keep spotting these.

Send Me An Angel

Another auction treasure was this set of kissing angels.  The boy angel has a music box on the bottom.

After reading so many inspiring vintage Christmas blogs, I'm getting in the spirit myself!

Auction Scores and RAOK

As our home begins its third month of updating and remodeling, I am slowly unpacking and rediscovering things that I put away for safekeeping during the addition to the house.  About a month ago, I took my Mom to a "Gigantic Glassware Auction".  With a title like that, how could I resist?  Last night I unpacked a few of the things I won. 

My favorite item has to be this little chimney sweep bank.  It was in a box lot with some other ceramic things, mostly duds, but I did find a few gems toward the bottom.  I haven't decided yet if I can part with it to list it on Etsy.

In the same box lot was this planter/vase that I thought was interesting.  Maybe what drew me to it was the marking on the bottom:  "To Roberta, Christmas 1971".  My first name is Roberta and my first Christmas was in 1971.  Maybe that's why I'm attached to it!

In another box lot of linens was this really pretty tablecloth.  I haven't washed it yet, but it seems to have never been used.  There is no wear and the colors are really bright.

The best part of the day had to be the RAOK (Random Act of Kindness) that I witnessed at the auction.   In a lot I won were five or six vases and then a couple of odd pieces thrown in.  One of the odd pieces was a clear refrigerator dish lid with vegetables on it. Sitting in front of us was a lady completely surrounded by all kinds of glassware.  My Mom noticed that in one of her piles was a clear refrigerator dish with no lid.  She said "that must be where the lid belongs".  I looked, and she was right.  I walked up to her and offered her the lid, explaining that I bid on the box for the vases, and didn't have a use for the lid.  She was so surprised, she said "why don't you take the dish so you can have the set together?"  I thanked her and happily joined my lid with her dish.  At the cashier table toward the end of the day I thanked her again.

 Auction Karma!

Thrifted Finds

Last week I found a few cute things at the thrift.  My favorite has to be the retro bamboo print tray.   We are using it on our new ottoman to double as a coffee table.  While sorting through some "grab bags" they had there, I scored some really pretty floral trims and lace.  Not all are shown in this pic. 

Also found a peach lustre Fire King casserole and an Asian print paper fan. 

In another set of grab bags, there were some wooden domino boxes that I'm sure I can find a use for, and a little brush with a wooden doll head handle.  Not sure what this is exactly, but I love the handle.  Maybe a vintage lint brush? 

Lots of things going on lately.  A trip to Georgia last week to pick up dining room furniture that was my Great Aunt's.  She had linens galore.  Aprons, tablecloths, pillowcases, runners, doilies.  I'm still trying to wade through everything.  And if that wasn't enough, we are putting my Grandmother's condo on the market.  She is now in an assisted living center, so my Mom and I have made several trips already to pack, sort, and clean.  If only it wasn't three hours away!  Busy, busy.  When I can get my mess together, I'll post some pics.  We have found some amazing stuff! 

Hope everyone has a great week!