My 1950s Christmas tree

I have quite a few Christmas trees of various materials and sizes, but this one is my absolute favourite. When I was a child (in the 1950s) my family had a very similar tree, and I recall disliking it intensely at that time, as I really liked the 'real' trees (branches cut from pine trees) we used to have in the house prior to the arrival of the artificial tree. I found this treasure in a country charity sale, and it has been part of my Christmas celebrations for the past 12 years. This tree is in my lounge room, and it's around this tree that I place my Christmas gifts. I decorate this tree with Christmas baubles (many of which are old and have been rescued from charity shops or garage sales, others given to me as gifts), and other treasures.

On the wall to the left of the tree is a display of some of my treasured vintage Santa brooches in a recycled set of frames.

... and more trees ...

Six more tiny bead decorated trees finished tonight. These will also go into my 'take home' gift basket for Christmas visitors.

A batch of Christmas trees finished

Twelve tiny bead decorated trees, and two just slightly larger ones. These arer destined for my 'take home' gift basket for adult Christmas visitors (visiting children have their own basket of gifts to choose from).

moving round the lounge room ...

Miss Maddie on the lounge with one of her Christmas toys (she likes toys that ta;k or sing to her when she presses their tummies). On the wall above the lounge aretwo stitched Lavender & Lace designs (Gift of Peace and Christmas Joy if my memory is correct) and Donna Vermillion Giampa's Santa's Portrait.

and hewre's a close-up of Miss Maddie. I'm sure her eyes are as sore as they look, but she is having treatment for them, and it does seem to be helping.

This pic is of the part of the lounge room where I spend most of my time. My stitching chair is on the right. Santa is an old friend - he's been part of my Christmas for 18 years now. The cross stitch on the wall is Vermillion's 9 Santa Sampler. I stitched it over 2 on 18 count Aida in 1996, and it was absolutely my favourite project to stitch. Everytime I finished a Santa I felt as if I had finished a project.

... and on into the lounge room ...

Today I'm showing one wallof my lounge room. Here are my Santa candle-holders and candles, and my four Christmas candle-snuffers. They're sitting on one of the many trunks that store my Christmas things throughout the year (and currently house the items that decorate the house in the non-Christmas period). This is the 'white Santa' group.

and here is my collection of Santa bells. The Christmas tree tile at the back was brought home from Kunanurra in Western Australia in 2010.

More from the lounge room next time.

More of my Christmas house ... the study

I decided to continue with the study (the least decorated of my living areas). The first pic is what I have to my left as I sit at the computer. The cross stitched Baltimore Album Quilt was a round robin project witht he Life's a Stitch group in 2004, and it's one of my favourite non-Santa pieces. The other cross stitched pieces in this photo were stitched for me by my niece Aislinn, and her sister Ciara painted the framed Santa many years ago. In the Santa mug are my Santa pens and pencils, collected over the past 20 years.
This next pictture shows what is behind me and to the right as I sit here. You can just see Miss Maddie stretched out on her cushion on the left, and on the ottoman next to her are the children's Christmas books. Next to that are the children's play things, on top of a black metal trunk. You can just see (far right) some of my recycled Santa cards hanging on the door that leads into the lounge room.

And in this pic is the Children's corner, where I store the soft Santas and other larger things that visiting children can play with.

Next time we'll venture into the lounge room - where I have much more interesting Christmas things about me.

Welcome to my Christmas house

I know - way too early in the year to be decorated for Christmas, but that's how it is in my house this year. It's a particularly stressful time for my household health-wise this year, and my stress reduction mechanism was transforming the house for Christmas. I think I did a good job, considering the circumstances. This first pic is my Santa tree. It's on the top landing, and it's what you see if you look up when entering my front door. This tree is totally decorated with Santas (over 300), collected over mamy years and from all over the world. The large standing Santa on the left came from Los Angeles in 1994, and the Santa mask on the wall was a birthday gift many years ago. My cross stitched Santa ornaments hang on the linen press door on the far left. Some of my small Christmas tins are under the tree.

The second pic is what I am looking at now on my right as I sit at my computer. It is my small collection of snowpeople, and it is on my computer desk. I collected these treasures accidentally over the last couple of years, and now I am quite fond of them.

I'll be putting in more pics as Christmas approaches. In case you haven't guesssed, Christmas is a big deal in my house!