There's something so magical about vintage tree ornaments. Maybe it's the idea that they've been used and cherished so many years ago and for so many Christmases since. Many of these ornaments were my grandma's. The two broken Santas {first photo below} were my grandpa's which, according to my mom, traveled from Germany to the East Coast with him in the early 1900's. Wow! I just love the story behind old things... as you may have gathered from my collection of vintage clothes, furniture & decor. Many of the others belonged to one of my grandma's closest friends, Nettie, a woman who opened the doors of her house to my family when we lost ours in the 1994 SoCal earthquake. When Nettie passed, her family kindly gave us all of her christmas decorations and these were included.
I think what surprises me most about vintage ornaments is how colorful they are. For so many decades now, Christmas has been strictly red and green and maybe some metallics sprinkled in. Multicolored lights have always been an option but they've always reminded me of a carnival and not Christmas. It's only recently that we've seen the return of all the pinks and teals and other pretty colors that express the festive holiday season so much more. They are just so much more fun than traditional red and green, don't you think?
These beauties have been packed up in a box and stored at my mom's house for the last 5 years or so just waiting to belong to me. I'm so glad I finally I have a place to use them and I can't wait to decorate the tree with them this year and maybe scatter a few around the house as well.
Happy Holidays!
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29 comments:
I still have a lot of work to do too. It is so nice that all of these christmas ornaments have a special story. That woman who opened the doors to your family, what an angel! x
www.FashionSnag.com
Those ornaments are so pretty. I love nontraditional colors when it comes to Christmas. I put up my tree and outside lights yesterday, and my color scheme this year is purple, lime green, hot pink, and gold.
www.eventsbytammy.blogspot.com
So pretty! i'm afraid to break them just LOOKING at em! haha =)
I haven't bought a tree yet! such a slacker!
xoXOxo
Jenn L @ Peas & Crayons
These are freakin amazing!! I love the history behind them! Yes, I have already decorated my x-mas tree, and some decorations around the house, but I am still putting up more decorations later today.
p.s I am so looking forward to see what your tree looks like. :)
xoxo,
MelRod
We finished decorating last week but I've been using what I call the joyful look (pinks, teals, purples, etc.) for years. 98% of our ornaments are plastic because Ellie was once little and our cat used to climb but now I think I'm ready to start purchasing nicer ornaments. I was actually thinking the glass old world style would be gorgeous with everything I have now and would still tie in all the fun colors.
I love that your ornaments have a story. That makes Christmas all the more meaningfull! And if you can't hang up the broken Santa's you could totally wire them into a wreath so they are still around.
XOXO
P.S. Love the palm tree reflection in the blue ornament.
My mum has collected christmas ornaments our whole lives, some from all over the world, some were my grandmas, some were made by my brother and i when we were little.
I love having a bit of history and tradition to make Christmas decorating that much more special!
Enjoy your vintage christmas tree.
kam
www.fashioninfidelity.com
Those vintage ornaments are adorable, it's amazing they have such sentimental value... Haven't finished yet but I'm doing colorful sequins and glitter this year!
http://blog.cessoviedo.com
love the nostalgic, vintage ornaments the best. And they are very collectable,valuable.
In demand at antique markets.
My tree has been black and white (fur boas) for the last few years.
Just a few weeks back I decided I would add pink to this chanel-esque combo.
I hope to start decorating this weekend !
My grandmother's Christmas ornaments are all really bright colorful thin glass.
Growing up in the 70's meant you could not go near a Christmas tree as the ornaments would break...
It would look awesome if you put yours inside a big clear glass vase or plate and exhibit them.
Your family lost your house in that earthquake?? That is so terrible. I know you've probably dealt with it by now, but I'm sorry you had to go through that!
On another note, I love how you can see the reflection of a palm tree in the blue ornament's photo!
The vintage ornaments are SO endearing!
www.ruffledrose.com
pretty, pretty ornaments. but i really love the blue one with the palm tree in the reflection :)
Miyan
www.miyan-overseas.blogspot.com
I love vintage ornaments! My parents have loads of them from my grandparents and great grandparents. Just be careful when decorating, they are quite fragile. I would say at least one of ours gets broken every year when decorating the tree
I am so sorry your family lost their home in the quake! I am so glad you are all ok though!!! Nettie sounds like she was a wonderful lady! These are so beautiful. My mom saved me boxes and boxes as well of ornaments! I'm always giddy about them! These are so beautiful, and I love the colors. {LOVE how in the blue one you can see the palm tree!!}
These are amazing! I love the story behind them, they make them that much more beautiful! You've inspired me to take out some of my family's old ornaments and shine them up a bit. Thanks for another wonderful post!
I LOVE vintage ornaments! I have a few from my granmothers and great granmothers that I adore. The ornamments that they make today are so cheap in comparison!
More great items from your grandmother (and friends, lol) - I love the brightly coloured roundish ones (3rd pic, etc.)! I'm compltetely with you on liking teals, pinks and other non-Christmas-y colours for the holidays!
I've been trying to decide on my decorating colours for a few days now - come vote!
http://thepolyvorina.blogspot.com/2010/12/oh-christmas-tree-oh-christmas-tree.html
And thanks for even more Christmas inspiration!
I love that all the bright colors have made a comeback. Reminds me of my childhood :)
I still have my great grandmother's antique ornaments. They are so special.
wow love those!! however im in love with the picture of the blue ornament that has the palm tree reflection in it :D i can only remember one christmas when i didn't have snow... when we escaped the cold canadian winter to go back to my parents homeland.
oh and yesssss so done decorating, everything was up by November 12th. Too soon?
I LOVED the palm tree reflection too!! It's so funny because growing up in LA/SoCal, I can remember more warm and sunny Christmas mornings than cold and rainy ones ...and NEVER snow. So to me, the palm tree is a perfect example of it.
xoxoxo!
they are so beautiful! vintage stuff always seems to have more character than shiny new stuff.
i haven't even STARTED decorating. must get to it this weekend! the lights are always my favorite. so cheery and fun, and who doesn't love that?! :)
i threw some ornaments in a bowl and that's all i've done so far! such a slacker.
I just love ornaments or anything Christmas-y that comes with a story. Every year my mom says "I'm buying all new Christmas decor!!" and then my Dad and I sneakily take out all the old ornaments and garland from 20 years ago without her knowing. She sees and gives in. Every year.
Happy holidays :)
Xo Chelle
discoveringelegance.com
I am honored to wander your blog. Thousands of points can invite you to my blog to be exchanges.
i have a lot of these same ornaments. my mom never throws anything away and who knows where they came from or how old some of them are, but she passed them along to me a couple years ago. i'm a sucker for anything sentimental, but these hold a special place in my heart. and they're super cool ;)
gosh! I've got the same in my family home, that's awesome!
these little Santas, pinecones, ball with half-hole.. the oldest ornaments in our family collection.
kisses :))
Pretty! My grandma has very similar ornaments!
Love the picture with the palm tree mirrored in the bauble. (For someone who lives in a place where it snows in winter palm trees and Christmas so don't go together!)
i love these!
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