Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Advent Blog Hop

Welcome one and all. Special Christmas Cheer if you are visiting for the first time from Jo's Advent Blog Hop. Ten more days! Can someone invent a time machine? I need to go back--I need another month. 

Jo asks:

Do you have a favourite decoration you must have on display every year, maybe an heirloom, one the children made or something with a special story behind it?

I got kind of hung up on the heirloom part of this question when I was thinking about which ornaments, which are decidedly not on the tree, to photograph. I don't really have any Christmas heirlooms. Maggie never had a tree in my memory--or more precisely, she had a ceramic tree about 12" tall that lit up. On my father's side, my great grandmother, when she got Alzheimer's, started throwing away heirlooms--her wedding portrait, other photos, "junk no one wanted." And her daughter always did "theme" trees. The thing with most theme trees, in my experience, especially if they are changed annually, is that you don't really develop an attachment to the ornaments. Unless, of course, you make your own.

When we moved to my childhood home in 1976, my mother had a designer from Ethan Allen come decorate our formal living room. It was blue and gold with touches of pink that were in the oriental rug. So the small tree she put up in that room pulled in those colors too. And for that tree, she made these angels. When we were cleaning out her house thirty three years later, we found enough Christmas ornaments to open up a shop. Most went to the thrift store, but I couldn't let these go. So I guess these are the heirlooms from one crafty lady to her daughter.

But that's not really the question, is it? In the years we haven't decorated (usually we do, even when we are going to England on December 26) I always put out this Santa that I stitched. The pattern is by Heartstrings, and it is stitched with fluffy fibers that Silver Needle kitted up. I loved every stitch, but especially the ones done with Very Velvet!

It was finished (at an incredibly reasonable price) by the fabulous Miss Mona of Magic by Mona. 

It is also something seasonal that I've stitched. Two birds, one stone.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas!


18 comments:

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Thanks for taking part in the Advent Calendar Blog Hop this year.
Love the roly-poly Santa. But how posh were you as a child, with your designers and your formal living rooms? Did you have a mantelpiece for all the calling cards and gilt invitations? LOL
The angels are very sweet though and a lovely heirloom.

Elfie said...

Your little angels are so very sweet, but your Santa doll has won my heart! Thank you for sharing your Christmas stories. I hope you have a happy Christmas (even if it arrives way too soon for comfort!).

Tricia B said...

Your Heartstrings santa is adorable!

Robin in Virginia said...

What a fabulous Santa you created and I really like how he is finished as a stand-up! The angels you saved are adorable.

Astrids dragon said...

Oh how sad that so many heirlooms where thrown away, but the angels are so sweet. I love your Santa, he looks very jolly!

Melinda Forbes said...

Thank you for sharing so many of your memories with us. I love your Santa. He is a perfect Decoration. In reading your post, I also felt a connection to the angels, and why you saved them.

Justine said...

I love your Santa! Those angels are precious. My grandma had Alzheimers and also threw away many photos of my Dad as a child as well as wedding photos. Very sad.
Hope you have a lovely Christmas.

Kristen said...

Safe voyage, Nikki!

Bea said...

Love your Santa! And what a great way to finish him so he stands up. The ornaments your mother made are cute and different from what you usually find. I can see why yo would keep them.

Linda said...

Love the angels and Santa Nikki.

Linda

Julie said...

Adorable angels, they are so sweet.

Christine said...

That Santa is just adorable!

gracie said...

Wonderful angels...

Brigitte said...

Interesting stories that you share with us here. I love that Heartstring Santa, he is so sweet and cozy and so nicely finished. Great blog hop post.

Ariadne said...

Touching story of your mum's ornaments! I love the ones you showed us!AriadnefromGreece!

Sheryl said...

Love your Santa, he's lovely as are the angels to be treasured. happy Christmas Nikki

FlashinScissors said...

Such cute angels! Love your Heartstrings Santa too!
Thank you for sharing your memories with us. It is a shame your family heirlooms were lost! Alzheimer's is so awful!
Great post! Hope you have a great Christmas!
Barbara x

Kaisievic said...

Gorgeous Santa, Anna and thanks for sharing some Christmas memories with us. Merry Christmas.