We usually don't start taking our Christmas decorations down until after the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6). When I do, it always gives me another chance to admire my mother's hand made ornaments once more before I put them away for the year.
My sister and I have received at least one of these beautiful ornaments, hand made by our mother, every year for many years, until the company that created the designs stopped making new ones. Most years we were given our choice of designs from the catalogue. I don't remember the names of them anymore, but some of my favorites were: the ones with traditional Christmas scenes, the blue and gold "Byzantine"one, the green and gold art deco one, "Nutmeg" (white with bronze and gold), and the royal looking peridot green one. The red with the silver is striking too, and for some reason reminds me of Swan Lake... There are a lot of pretty gold filigree finials, pearls, crystals, sequins, and they all have beautiful and different hangers...I have 22 in all! This year I noticed they were looking a little dusty, so before putting them on the tree I used a pastry brush, and I gave them all a good dusting off. Photoed some of them to share before hanging them up and putting them away for next year.
 |
| Mr. and Mrs. Santa |
 |
| Detail of Mr. and Mrs. Santa |
 |
| Art Deco |
 |
| Christmas tree |
 |
| Byzantine |
 |
| Royal Peridot |
 |
| Citron |
 |
| Cardinal |
 |
| Detail |
 |
| Red and Silver |
 |
| Covered Bridge |
 |
| Detail Covered Bridge |
 |
| Nutmeg |
 |
| Santa |
 |
| Detail Santa |
 |
| Pink |
 |
| Detail Art Deco |
 |
| Detail Nutmeg |
 |
| Detail Byzantine |
 |
| White with lots of pearls, silver bugle and seed beads; reminds me of a flapper's dress from the Roaring Twenties |
My mother also knit these beautiful Christmas stockings. My stocking with Father Christmas and woodland animals:
In the detail you can see Father Christmas' soft fuzzy beard and the wooliness of the sheep:
Brian's stocking:
Aren't they all beautiful?
What a stellar collection! I love these and to know your mom made them is so very special. A real treasure to pass down through generations. The stockings are beautiful. She is one talented lady! Thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeletexo Nancy
Powellbrowerhome.com
Thank's Nancy -- we think she's talented too! We used to say she was Martha Stewart before there was Martha Stewart! She has done so many neat things over the years -- a real do-it-yourself personality. She took classes when she wanted to re-cane some antique chairs and when she wanted to learn to reupholster furniture. I don't think there's anything she can't do -- has even fixed the washing machine herself! Even now, when she is turning eighty this week, she has been re-doing the stain and paint on the stair rails, because way back when the house was built, the builder put them on "backwards" and it always bothered her! Someday I will have to share pictures of the special blankets she has knit us too -- really gorgeous patterns -- have tried not to let the kids and dogs ruin them! She has also knit us all many pairs of beautiful socks! I wish I could knit, but have to figure out first how to "unknit" when I make a mistake -- I think somehow the knitting gene skipped me!
Delete