Christmas Nostalgia...Vintage Vernacular Christmas Photos from Flickr



You can click and click again for a closer look at some of these sweet images...

I wish you all a very Blessed Christmas!!!

Chalk Blocks on the Mantle


Look!  There was sun streaming in the window the day I took this photo.  It's so dreary here today.   This mantle has been home to ceramic Old World Santas for every year at Christmas since we moved in.  Finally, changed it up this year!  (Some of the santas can be seen in the top high shelves on the left.)
Click on the photos for a better look.  We have a ceramic dickens village nestled in the shelves on the right.  Even though painted ceramics are waaaayyy out of vogue...I still love all the pieces we painted back in the eighties/early nineties! The little nativity on the sofa table is for the little gals to play with.  What better way to learn the story?


The white deer and tree were purchased quite a few years ago.  Then last year I made a bunch of wood chalk blocks.  They are fun to add anywhere for any season. 

 
I made the roses from scraps of vintage linens and burlap.  My 19 y/o daughter drew the pictures and letters for me and the blocks are scattered around the house.  I love the chalk blocks!  They are so versatile.  We stacked, stacked, and restacked them trying to make the shape of a tree, but because I cut them all slightly different sizes (by design)  each tree tower wanted to tumble.....may need to make more but all the same size this time....someday!

Have a great day!

Days...


Well the countdown is on.  I'm afraid we lost about 5 days to illness and extreme worry here.  But, that acceptance thing.  Well, I was feeling everything BUT acceptance on Friday.  Now, the cloud has passed and well, it is what it is, and I would say my heart is indeed ready for the Christ child. 

On to cheerier things!!


I bought this plain chipboard advent calendar at Hobby Lobby (half price!) , painted it, added vintage text squares, numbers...


...and candy!


I painted both sides of the drawers, but only put numbers on one side.

 
The drawers come out and can be turned around.  That is how the little girls are counting the days down.  They pull out the drawer and turn it around each day.  And, there is enough room in each box to hold six pieces of candy.  The college girls can get theirs when they come home! 
 
This was a fun project and you could decorate the box in so many ways. 
How's your countdown going?!

The Junk Tree


My Junk Tree sits in our foyer.  It will soon be filled with all the presents that we take elsewhere...all the Grandparents' homes for the family gatherings.  We have another tree that we place all our immediate family gifts under.


I've added a few ornaments that I haven't blogged about yet.  These sweet little birds are made from vintage salt bags, feed bags, burlap, and vintage fabrics.


The pattern instructions were to sew them right sides together and turn, but I decided I liked having the seams show so, went that route.  The fact that sewing them this way made them 10 times faster to make had nothing to do with it.!


I put a string in this guys beak as if he's making a nest. The birds are just nestled in without hooks or ties, so after Christmas I can easily place them where ever I want.  I  think a bare branch tree will be kind of neat.  I have about 6 or so and might make a few more.


I made a some little pillow ornaments out of one feed sack that I was particularly fond of the texture.  I just pinned in or glued some rhinestone jewelry that was old, tarnished, and missing stones.  Doesn't matter here!

I  roughly whipped stitched around them with a huge needle and string.


The variety of shapes and textures works.


This was so fun doing this this year!  Thanks to those who linked up!  Be sure to check out their projects!
The best part for me was having the focus for the year.  And, now having so many completed ornaments was just a real treat when it came to decorating.


I'm thinking I need another year long project.  Just not quite sure what it will be.  How about you?  Any big (or small) projects on the horizon for the new year?


I wrapped the lights only around the center pole of the tree.  Since it was trimmed and bare, I didn't want strands of lights showing or in the way.

Up next will be a pretty simple mantle and an another advent calendar.
I hope you are having a blessed Advent!

Reflection: Acceptance

Over at the Inspiration Studio, the theme is reflections this week.  They are spending a bit of time thinking about the past year. When I read her post asking people to submit photos to the flickr pool with the theme reflecting, I knew what photos would be a good representation of our year right away. But, they are straight out of the camera with no editing so I decided to post them here instead.  You see the fact that they are just as is, is a main reason why they are representative of our life.



Our youngest daughters sleep in our room.  You can read why here.  First we had two cribs then progressed to a full size mattress on the floor. Currently, this is the sweetest spot in the house.  I usually read to them, but sometimes Randy does.  Last month, I thought "I need to get a picture of this." And, I did.


He kept reading, not sure if they were completely asleep yet.  Straight out of the tub, hair only slightly combed.  Mismatched pjs, pillows without cases, a quilt that I made in high school.  No little girl room decor. In the corner that you don't see is a shelf of books and a pile of toys.  p.i.l.e. It's always a mess.


So, then last Tuesday (after Audrey had another seizure, she's OK now.  It had be 2 1/2 years since she had one and we thought she had outgrown them too.  She will eventually.) I called my son to come that night and take my picture with them in this special spot.

So, why do I think these photos reflect our year, our past four years?

It's not that they are perfect in their imperfectness, like my junk, antiques, and rusty pieces.  No, not at all.  It's because they show life as it is. Now.

It is what it is.   We might want things to be different.  But they aren't. These are living in the moment photos. Photos of peace and joy in acceptance.

It doesn't mean I can't keep altering photos,dressing up junk trees, and praying for healing for my little gals. Heck no! Not at all.

But, at the end of the day, I need to accept the day. What was accomplished, what wasn't, what happened, what didn't, and pray

that today was enough. 

I am not completely there.  At all.  But, this past year has been part of the journey.

Later this week will be a posting of the finished junk tree...maybe!!


Junkle Bells November Edition...in December...Life Happens!


 Well.  Went to take some pictures for my post.  Needed a tripod. Not enough light. Battery for camera died.  CanNOT find extra battery or batter charger.  Believe they are together hiding from me. So...I accept what I have and wait until I find my charger.  Patiently wait.

On with the project!! (no more whining!)


I saw a tinsel wreath project here at Creature Comforts and thought, "hmm...kind of neat..." but I don't have tinsel and really don't like that kind of tinsel.  When we got out our boxes of decorations what did I find?!?! Three packages of tinsel I bought last year after Christmas on clearance for 25 cents each.  Guess I did like this kind of tinsel last January!

I've been buying every embroidery hoop that I find at auctions, garage sales, & thrift stores for a couple of years because I see potential.  Even bought some with lovely vintage fabric already framed in them and ready to hang from Leah.  She had awesome fabric in them!

The best part though was after I wound the wreaths and hung them, they looked too modern and then I found a pile of vintage jewelry a friend had given me.  Not the really old kind I usually craft with, but like 50s to 60s style.  I just wrapped the chunky gold pieces around the top of the wreaths and let them dangle down the center.  Now, they look mid century modern and I love them!



 The grouping of three all different sized hoops works really well on this odd shaped wall we have just off our foyer leading up the stairs.

My Junkle Bells tree sits just to the left of the picture in the foyer.  But, no more pictures until I find that battery!

If you have a junk Christmas Project please link up below and share!

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