Christmas Vintage Collections on Display

Hi Friends, Welcome to the Christmas Edition of our Lifestyle of Love Gathering hosted by our wonderful friend Cindy of County Road 407. If you're coming from CoCo's Blog, The Crowned Goat, you're so welcome here and I'm so happy you're following the Hop. 

Vintage Christmas Ornament Boxes

From the very first vintage ornament I saw many years, I fell in love. With the tarnished, chipped, and worn metallic finishes especially of Shiny Brite ornaments, they reflected my love for timeworn beauty.  I started out with every color I could find, then began to focus on the metal colors of silver, white, and gold. 

Gathered #3

Hi Friends, 

I mentioned a few weeks ago, that I was starting a new weekly (or so) post where I had a place to bring together random ideas, pics and inspiration from the Blogging World. I also want to have a place to share with you some things I'm doing and thinking about. I've said before, that I'll never turn into a fashion blogger, (for many reasons) but I like to share a new piece of clothing and how I'm wearing it. Sometimes I get stuck in a rut and I like to see how others are putting themselves together. That being said, I'm in the Over 55 Crowd, so I don't want to look inappropriate, but I do like trendy clothes. 

knock off J. Crew vest

Christmas Fun on the Baker's Rack

I always like to keep the Baker's Rack in the Kitchen Sitting Area as a place to have some fun with vintage pieces. And what can be more fun than Vintage with some Christmas Cheer. The Baker's Rack is my place to mix and match and bring out the Kitsch for the Holidays.

Vintage Minis on the LED Woodsy Tree

I've been decorating and tweaking since Saturday, (you too?) and to be honest I really didn't have much of a game plan before I started. I knew I didn't want to go out and buy anything. I have tubs and tubs full of decorations, greenery, ribbon, and fun vintage Holiday goods. I knew I'd be using Plaid, but then, I use some Plaid each Christmas Season. What I really wanted was something just a little "different" than what I've done in the past.

Cake Pedestal Ornament Display

This year I didn't bring all the ornaments and vintage Christmas pieces out for display. I just felt it was a time to be low-key, more simply stated, and less stressed. I went through my boxes and just chose a few of the more ornate Shiny Brites and a few little white putz houses.

But they weren't any less special, 

I just needed to display them in a special way.

A few weeks ago Rita from Mammabellarte was preparing for their big event, The Vintage Marketplace at The Oaks, so she shared some of her "tart pan pedestals". I knew this would be a perfect idea for displaying my few Christmas goodies. I actually didn't have to even glue the glass candleholder and the aluminum mold together, is just set down in place.

This is an old jello mold, because I think it predates the Bundt Pan. In the 1920's and 30's it was very trendy to do large fruited gelatin molds or tomato aspics. So even though it is shaped similarly it was used for gelatins.

Most of my Shiny Brites are in whites, creams, golds and silver,

 but these colorful oldies were the ones that I chose for some color and fun.

A few years ago my sis and I went through the attic of an elderly ladies' home sale. The son in charge was asking way too much for everything we chose, but he didn't realize that a dirty old box of Christmas ornaments could be so highly sought after. At least we didn't come home empty handed for our effort.

Just a few baubles to make it feel a little more like Christmas...

We have a dusting of snow and teensy flakes floating down. 

We still have a few more things to do before the kiddos arrive.

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend,

I'll still do The Marketplace tomorrow,

so I'll see you then...

Oh, and if you didn't get to see the Sunporch for Christmas,
click here

Linking up with these parties:

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Wow at Savvy Southern Style

xoxo,

Today's Sponsor

French Bleu Vintage

No, it's not a Christmas tree...yet

I won't deny it, I'm antsy for Christmas decorating, but I still want to honor "Thanksgiving". So I'm trying to do a little of both. I like to bring in my two smaller lighted Christmas trees and get them set up for a quick turnaround after Thanksgiving. I have a few "nature themed" ornaments that I used to decorate a tree downstairs, but they have migrated to the Dining Room this year and I've put together a little Autumn Nature tree. I'm going woodsy and natural this year. There will be some glitter thrown in, but I'm craving a more simple theme this year, with hopefully, less stress.

It's always bothered me that there is really only one month to decorate and celebrate Christmas. With all the work that it goes into preparing and decorating, I want to get rolling with it so it's not such a difficult task to accomplish. Some people leave up their Christmas decor until the middle of January, but for me come January 1, I want a clean slate and a fresh start. The greenery and poinsettias are still here, but everything else is put away, (hopefully)

I found these adorable white floofy "baby" snow owls at one of the shops in Ozark this week, and they are perfect for this tree.

These little glass owl ornaments were picked up at The White Rabbit in St. Louis last month. I had a feeling my owl obsession would carry over into Christmas.

Right now I have some faux bittersweet vine in here along with the burlap ribbon, but I think I can change it out for Holly and some red berried vine after Thanksgiving.

A favorite little deer...

and rabbit

Little birds in nests and some old clay flower pots, 

that I'm going to fill with moss and potpourri.

This tree sets in a pretty white urn,

but for this year's nature feel, 

I'm using an old fruit basket and a burlap coffee sack.

Do you have a "theme" for your Christmas decorating each year?

My favorite has always been "nature".

I also wanted to remind you that I host a link gathering 

for all of you that have Etsy Shops and Online Boutiques.

It's a place to come share some of your shop items 

each Monday Morning 

and then the shop is open all week.

Hope you'll come by and join in,

or just come to shop.

We'll be showcasing wonderful Christmas handmade

 and one-of-a-kind items

for your Christmas Shopping List!

So nice to have an extra hour today, and some sunshine.

I have some garden clean up to do so this will help.

joining these parties this week;

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Met Monday at Between Naps On the Porch

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Cowgirl Up at Cedar Hill Ranch

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Blissful Whites at Timewashed

xoxo,

A Basket-full of Bloggy Love

My Christmas basket of "bloggy love" runneth over!

You know how much I love you all...

you have changed my life.

I am making so many good friends,

in this wonderful land of blog.

image from Country Living

But I have been remiss in publicly thanking a few people

 for their kind and generous expressions of friendship,

so today I want to thank some of you sweeties 

that sent some lovely awards my direction.

Theresa of 612 Riverside for the Sugar Doll Award,

Stephanie from The Whispering Creek House 

for the Friends Award.

Donna of Brynwood Needleworks 

for the Kreative Blogger Award.

And Polly from Sassafras Stuff

for the Honest Scrap Award.

Each one of these lovely ladies have blessed me.

Thank you!

If you haven't met them yet,

please go by and say "Hi!"

And below I want to share with you a couple of photos

 that I have of a wonderful soldered charm necklace

 that I purchased from Debbi of Debbi Thinks Deep.

If you don't know Debbi, stop by her blog,

 because she is one sweet and talented lady.

Sweet birdie, I just love them.

Reversible!!

love the chair side too,

and old French Dictionary pages for background.

And this little snowman fella was made by Nancy of Nancarts.

She has a great Etsy store where you can find

 one of these cuties for yourself! Thanks Nancy!

And from one of my favorite people in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD, Anne of Fiona and Twig sent me this little vintage cutie pie, "just because"! Just because she knows how much I love lambs! Anne needs no introductions. She is witty, smart, talented, and gorgeous, and one of the sweetest people you could ever hope to meet. Thank you, Annie, my sister and my friend.  "Woolsey" sits right in front of me in a place of honor everyday keeping watch while I'm on the computer! Oh, he's one busy little guy!

Extra Extra, see all about it!!!

My doorbell just rang and Surprise!

A special Christmas ornament from

you know who above!

Sweet little cardinal ornie,

with a Cardinal Christmas Greeting!

What did I tell ya...she's just ..."thuh beST"!

And last but not least one of everyone's favorite gals,

 Dawn of The Feathered Nest

is having a

 HUGE Celebration and Give-Away!

Go by and enter,

She is one of the most giving and kind 

bloggers that I know.

Blessings today!

Debra