Christmas Decorating

Hope you had a blessed and peaceful Thanksgiving.  This was the first time in a while that it was only the four of us.  So, I decided to begin my Christmas decorating and it turned out to be one of the best Thanksgivings ever.

I happened to see this dress form tree in a store but in a champagne color and knew that it would be perfect in my house.  Except I didn't know that it was sold out at Sam's Club and was selling for around $400 on Ebay.  At my local Sam's Club, they happened to have this green one in stock and I thought it was great also, so it came home with me.  It's super cute.  (I know I will find the other one at a garage sale next year). 

I am hosting Christmas this year and wanted to go way out (I always do anyway), but this "tree" was the perfect addition.

Up went my three miniature aluminum tinsel trees.

This one has vintage glass ornaments.

This one has figures, mostly pixies this year.  It was hard to choose a few to put on the tree but if I used my whole collection, the tree would have fallen over!

This is my Santa tree. It's the smallest aluminum tree that I have.

Over the years I have fallen in love with vintage Christmas corsages. What a surprise to see how many I had in my collection. I had them in different boxes so when I began to combine them, I was overjoyed at how many wonderful ones I had. They are so awesome!

I found fun places to put Santa.  I have a large collection of Santa's also and couldn't use all of them.  I didn't have enough room!

I added to my pinecone collection after visiting the Antique Shops of Ridgefield during their Holiday Open House this weekend. Douglas had the glittery one in his display which I just had to have. 

The Santa on the bottom is a revolving musical one.

Some of these trees were gifts and some of them I made. The green one in front is one that I made and one of my favorites.

I decorated the little cars. Each year I make a few and each year I keep one.

I could only fit so many on a shelf so the rest had to stay in boxes until next year. I try to put out different ones each year to enjoy.  It's hard to choose which ones to put out since my collection is pretty large.

This simple display is super cute! The sleigh is a Westmoreland milk glass sleigh.  I keep the miniature ornaments in it year round and just store it in my china cabinet. I love the plush reindeer and I have them in different colors.

Love that elf stocking. I have a hard time passing up those pixies.

I kept my fireplace mantle kind of simple. The mantle is really long so I try to make each section work together.

I really loved that Believe banner.  I found it at Steinmart in Algonquin. The plaid reindeer is a new addition this year from TJMaxx. I found that plaid dressform at JO-Ann Fabrics a few years ago.  They go together well.

We will be getting our tree in a few weeks. I like to do a pre setup before we get the tree so I'm not overwhelmed with decorating. It takes me two days to set up without the tree. So when we get the tree, I can just focus on decorating it.

As I was going through my collections, I came across a few bags of pinecone figures.  Those I decided to part with and are now in my space at the Carriage House.  (I actually parted with quite a few decorations this year).

They look so nice with the jalopies that I put together.

Dec. 2-3 is the Holiday House Walk in Union/Marengo. I have never been to this but it sounds like fun.

Happy treasure hunting!

Holiday Open House

This week has been a whirlwind of Holiday Open Houses. First was the Shops on Pepper Road in Barrington. It was so much fun with lots of holiday finds and food.

Then, I have been setting up all week for the open house at the Carriage House. Yesterday was the first day.

I had so many vintage ornaments that I filled up a bassinet!

There is a huge selection of vintage Christmas pins.

I put the pins on flash cards so that they were easier to handle and to see.  They fit nicely in a primitive carry all.

Here was my creative way to display the reindeer. Super cute!

Lots of vintage greeting cards. On the top shelf are trees that I designed. Below the shelf are jalopies with Santa's driving that I also designed.

That's a really cute Santa bobble head like decoration.

Another creative way to display Christmas picks. The reindeer work perfectly in the milk glass vase.

The vintage coat pairs well with the vintage dress.  My space is really packed with vintage Christmas but the customers loved it! Yesterday was the first day and it was so crowded. We couldn't have been happier that our tastes were loved and appreciated by so many. It's so much fun looking for treasured items that bring happiness to others as much as finding them bring to us.

I managed to fit it all in!

As items sold, I was able to replenish with vintage boxed ornaments. I find these treasures all year long and price/store them in bins. Opening each bin is like Christmas to me! I'm amazed at what's inside each one.

So tomorrow, a few friends are going with me to the 3 French Hens Holiday Market in Morris. I'm really excited for this one!

Happy treasure hunting!

A Few New Additions

I know. I said that I wasn't buying anything for myself.  Well, that all changed recently when I found this....a Westmoreland milk glass rabbit covered dish.

So, I rearranged my cabinet, reduced my head vase collection, and redisplayed the treasures that I was keeping. (for now) I had been collecting head vases for at least 20 years and felt that it was time to let go of some of them. My whole thing with my collections has been that if it doesn't bring me joy, out it goes. Otherwise, it just becomes clutter.

While at an estate sale in a Victorian home, I found this wonderful jeweled basket made from vintage costume jewelry pieces.

I had been looking for something like this for a long time that was reasonably priced.  It came home with me!

Once again, I rearranged my collections and found a nice prominent spot for it.  That's what is so nice about treasure hunting. You can mix and change constantly whenever something "new" comes along. I love that part of it!

My fun "new" finds along with my "old" finds.

Complete for now!

I can't promise that I won't keep any more finds.  Especially since I kept him....

How could I not? I had never seen anything like him and that face was too cute to let go. He will be a part of my vintage Christmas decor.

I have been really busy getting everything together for the Carriage House Holiday Open House November 9-12. 

This is always an exciting Open House. It is vintage Christmas wonderland!

This Friday and Saturday is the Christmas at the Farm with Nellie's Barn Sale in Belvidere IL. It is always a fun sale! 3 French Hens market in Morris IL is November 10-11. There are so many wonderful holiday markets coming up. I am interested in Jen's Fresh Vintage holiday market in Elburn, IL and Washington Street Holiday Market in Naperville, IL. I have not been to them but would love to.

Happy treasure hunting!