Magpie Ethel

Collection Challenge #85 - Vintage Ornament Candles and Trees

I am putting away Christmas today, so am doing one last snippet of holiday before it goes into the bin for the year.  You may remember my photo of holiday decorations where I showed my collection of vintage candles made from ornaments (trees too).  Some of you had never seen them before, so I decided to feature them as they are pretty nifty. They are here on the left by the white tree.

Here they are closer up. They were manufactured and the majority of them are stamped "Japan".

They are very simple in their construction, and I love the vintage feel of them. This one is an ornament type candle with flame.

These candles are wrapped foil cardboard with a cellophane twisted flame.

And then we have a bump chenille flame with another cardboard/foil candle.  I have about a dozen of these.

These substituted a candle idea with a trio of mercury glass picks.

These candles are marked Japan and have a chenille flame and a fancy foil skirt that spreads out.

In addition to these manufactured candles there were also trees that were made in a similar fashion.

This variety has a bottle brush type branch with ornaments.

Similar tree, but different construction and with silver leaves added.

Trees made with vintage ornament picks similar in construction to the candles with just the wire circle base.

They can become a bit more elaborate when sugar bells are added.  Turquoise holiday bling at its best.

This tree was made with pipe cleaners and ornaments.

I love the detail of the star shaped branches.

Most of this collection is estate sale found, and I always grab them if I see them.

If you have an idea for a future collection challenge, leave me a comment and finish the sentence "Show me your collection of _____." More collections to come with the new year.

 

The Holiday Lookout

Perhaps today as you finish that last minute wrapping and baking, you may catch a glimpse of a red figured man outside. Do not be alarmed.  He is likely just checking his route for those that have been good this year.

Cute and jolly.  Wishing you and yours the most magical holiday.  Merry Christmas to all!

This jolly Santa is my latest holiday addition to my front porch Santa collection.  Found at a local antique shop, he is almost as tall as me and definitely brought a holiday smile to my face!

Ho, Ho, Ho!

 

Holiday Home Snippets #8

With Christmas almost here, I felt the need to show a few more snippets before it is all boxed up and put away for the year.  Today we are in the living room looking toward the front window.  My tree reaches up to the ceiling and is decorated with a hodge podge of handmade and collected ornaments. I would classify it as a sentimental decoration tree, with lots of ornaments that the kids have made over the years.

This is the coffee table arrangement. After one of my craft sales, they were giving away the centerpieces that decorated the dining tables. I brought one home and added glittered pink pine-cones and old mica houses. It is on a silver pedestal for height.

I had a bunch of old Santa boots and filled them with old handmade bump chenille poinsettias.

I did not do anything different with my tree toppers this year.  They are displayed in my little corner cabinet tucked in my cream ware collection.

This little area displays all my boxes of tinsel, old Christmas lights and other items with a graphic appeal.

I got this little cardboard fireplace the other day in the original box at a local antique store.

A few of the cardboard pieces were missing, but it is still dang charming.

My snowman have migrated to this new spot this year.

My cardboard Santas live on the top of this hutch. These were all collected at estate sales. I made the wreath years ago from ornaments from my grandparents.

I can't believe Christmas is getting so close.  Finsihed the Christmas shopping today and getting the last of my cards out tonight.  Tis the season...

Holiday Home Snippets #7

I have had this blow up deer for quite a few years.  He has never found the perfect spot to live in my holiday decorations. Some years he has not been blown up and has stayed in the holiday bin.

This year he made a holiday friend.

Reindeer meet Santa.

Santa was found at a local thrift store.  At first I thought about listing him in my Etsy shop, but then I decided that he should live with Mr. Reindeer.

I had to find the perfect spot for the two of them.  Cardboard holiday fireplace fit the bill.

I had a heck of a time trying to put this fireplace together.  It had a mind of its own.  I finally just ended up wrapping it around a dresser that was in that spot and it worked perfectly.

The fireplace also holds my collection of vintage holiday boxes.

I almost did not buy this holiday fireplace a few years ago. It was in the original box and it had been used once according to the owner. I went ahead and spent the $5 and it is one of my favorite holiday decorations.

I am sure that Santa and Reindeer are happy I brought it home too!

A couple more snippets to come....

Holiday Home Snippets #6

Here is the view when you stand in my living room and look into the dining room. You can see my white garland that hangs between the rooms that is hung with vintage ornaments (it is held up with fishing line).

If you look to the left you can see my china hutch.  Last year the top was decorated with snowmen, but this year my forest of vintage trees has grown and is sprouting on top of the hutch.

The white plastic tree plugs in and a light inside rotates and the color changes from red to green.  This tree and the pink ornament tree were new finds this year.

If you turn around you will see this little vignette living above my dining room window.  I was about to ask Tom to hang a long shelf above the window, when I realized my window coverings actually made a little shelf.  The line of vintage trees were up there lickity split!

In the first picture you can see a peek of my kitchen.  I love to decorate my kitchen windowsill.

The little garland is from Into Vintage.  I especially love these silly cans of Can'd-Ice that I found this year.  The grinning snowman make me grin right back at him.

A few more snippets to come....

You Told Me So...

Remember the light up Christmas tree that I found about a month ago?

I was thinking of taking it apart as the lights did not work and many of the ornaments were broken.  It had definitely seen better days.  Many of you left comments encouraging me not do use it for salvage.  I decided to heed  your words and try and repair it.  I took all the broken ornaments off and cut out the old light strand (it was stapled on).  It was a sorry sight.

I replaced the light strand and worked some Magpie Ethel magic.

Luckily I have a good supply of ornaments since I make vintage ornament wreaths.  It took me awhile, but it definitely is a standout now.

Sparkly and ready to light up a room!

Glad I listened to those comments!  You were right...it is a wonderful piece of vintage Christmas.

That Vintage Reputation

My friends all know that I love old vintage things. During the holiday season a girlfriend mentioned she had an old wreath that was her mothers.  Her mother had recently passed away and she and her sister were trying to get rid of things.  She thought the wreath could be taken apart and parts of it recycled. She just wanted it to go to a good home rather than Goodwill.

I was rather skeptical about what she had to offer as she was not very enthusiastic about it.  When I finally got the wreath, I knew there was no way I would be taking it apart, but rather repairing it and enjoying it.  It is amazing!

This wreath is huge.  Over two feet in diameter.  It is covered in old tiny Christmas ornaments, bits of vintage jewelery and old millinery.

The base of the wreath is almost like a steel wool scrunchy material.  There is fishing line wrapped around the whole wreath holding it in place and it is mounted on a wooden ring.

I need to clean the dust and grime off of it and repair some of it.  It makes my heart happy to find this handwritten message on the back of it. I love it when I find a snippet of information about the history of an item.

To add to my joy over the wreath it also came with a smaller wreath and a tree.  I am going to fix up the smaller wreath for my friend and give it to her as a memento of her mother.

The tree is about 8 inches tall.  Can you see the little pink deer hidden amongst the decorations?

I am glad that this wreath came my way. It has gone to a good home where it will be well loved for many years to come!

 

Happy Day!

Good Vintage Gifts

On Christmas morning I am always happy to find a few vintage items under the Christmas tree for me.  I love the clothes, starbucks cards and other goodies that I receive..but those vintage goodies always tug at my heart.

Some old tinsel, old foil reflectors and a pair of absolutely adorable glass birds.

They are old and have tiny clips to attach to the tree.  I like how the clips are positioned..the blue bird almost looks like is flying about the tree when hung.

The teeny tiniest tree topper.
An old "Tree Top Kristal Star" in original box.  I have never seen one of these before and from what I could find online, they date to the 1930's or 40's.

A super cute old tin featuring the three bears.

Baby bear in adorable red polka dot undies.

A pair of handmade wooden candlesticks.  I think these were probably a shop project in high school. They are marked on the bottom with initials and the date 1921. They show their age and have a nice ivory chippy patina to them.
I hope you found some vintage goodies under the tree on Christmas morning.  I was pretty happy with what was hidden away in Christmas wrap waiting for me.

happy day.

 

Holiday Message

Merry Christmas from my house to yours...

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Holiday Snippet #4 Here and There

You caught a glimpse of my Santa collection in the kitchen earlier this week.

I display on this lower shelf and in the cabinet above as well. (The paper plate wreaths were made by my kids when they were really young).

I have a tiny vintage fabric garland made by Amy of Into Vintage strung over my kitchen sink.

On our upstairs landing, I display my collection of old printed stockings.  They are hung from a curtain valance.

This little false window looks into my bedroom. I assembled the wreath with vintage items.  The yellow and green old flowerpots hold bottle brush trees.

Our bedroom is pink and is the perfect place for my pink ornaments to be displayed.

My pink wreath also has a spot in our room.

I do love my house and all my vintage decorations. The house lends itself to what I collect and makes me happy. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.