It's my third full day of decorating for the Holidays and I am getting down to the little details. I am still finding treasures in boxes in the basement and finding spots for them.
As I take out each one, it is a trip down memory lane.
One of the first elves that I ever purchased- from Neimans in the 80's. I still love him and this year he is going on the French basket on the back door. I tuck in a few stars of vintage velvet and tinsel to make him comfy. They were purchased many years ago at Simply Posh, a favorite shop that was located in Geneva, Illinois. Wish they were still there- I miss the special finds from that store.
My girlfriends, Marlene and Jill, and I would make our annual shopping trip out there always to find
special Christmas décor. I sure do miss those days.
Wandering into the foyer, I add a rhinestone Cinderella carriage and fill it with another hand-made
Santa. This Santa was hand made by a special lady who has since passed away. I will always treasure it.
Isn't his face adorable? When the artist was very ill, her daughter brought me a trunk full of her creations. While I sold some of them in the store, I simply could not part with many of them.
I think of her every year when I unwrap them- what a talented artist she was!
Back into the living room, need to work on the coffee table.
I fill a silver tray with a candelabra and silver twigs and then layer in the ornaments and special eggs from another talented artist- Jill Garber from Michigan. I remember when I spotted her booth at
a Thanksgiving event at Kimball and Bean in Woodstock. My heart skipped a beat and I knew I had found something special.
A handmade Santa from Dee Gann. Many years ago, I gave her vintage trims and dresses and she
created several one of a kind Santa's for me.
Tuck in some boxes and ornaments to the table in the living room.
The little white rabbit fur muff- time to come out for Christmas.
A Kim Seybert stocking on the armoir in the dining room.
Add a little tartan and antlers to the dessert cart that my friend Gale gave me. Found the antlers in
Montana while visiting my children.
A big silver bowl of rhinestone twig bushes and silver antlers for the center of the table.
A vintage tartan and velvet ribbon for the stand on the buffet.
A black deer for the side of the hounds tooth box on the buffet.
Another handmade Santa from a Wisconsin artist.
Add some fruits and foodie ornaments to the bistro shelf on the kitchen island.
One of my favorite ornaments from Hall's Department store in Kansas City. Loved my trips there with my girlfriends.
Another hand-made Santa from Dee Gann- love her faces.
A store purchased resin Santa that I embellished with a crest and fur trim.
Another moment remembering the Christmas at Hall's in Kansas City.
As I unpack all these memories, I think back through the years and remember all the special Christmas shows, wonderful boutique stores ( including Romancing the Home) and huge Christmas shops in the department stores with special one of a kind merchandise, I feel a bit sad. So much has changed in the retail world in the past 20 years. I remember walking into Marshall Field's State Street at Christmas for the first time. It was magic and the Trim the Tree shop was magnificent, along with all the special Tree Top shops that were just set up for the holidays. I remember the Orange Circle at Uncle Tom's in California, Christmas at Nell Hill's in Kansas, shopping in the good old days on third street in Geneva and getting ready for a Holiday event at Romancing the Home. I guess it is because of all those magical memories for me, that I go a bit over board on the Holiday Décor around the house. I want my kids and grandchildren to remember the magic of the holidays when they are my age- and say to each other- remember when we were little and it was Christmas?
