Everything is ready for the big day.
From the very first Christmas tree we had, we knew it wouldn't be a one-theme, perfectly color-coordinated tree. Our tree is interesting for our kids and full of memories and special meaning for us. The ornaments create a colorful mix of gifts from friends and family, rummage sale finds, high-class collectible pieces and kids' school creations.
The blue Santa in the picture above is made from salt; the mosaic ball was made by our niece when she was in middle school; the carousel goat is a rummage sale treasure; the pineapple was bought for our first Christmas tree; the bird and weiner dog are from ordinary stores - our boys love animal ornaments; the bunny is from a Christofer Radko collection; the pewter ornament on the buttom of the collage was bought on a family trip to South Dakota. Without a doubt, everyone's favorites are the five pieces from Kurt Adler's Russian collection.
The girl in the traditional Russian dress, the Cossack, the Tsar, the Priest and the St. Basil Cathedral have bright colors and intricate patterns. Originally, we had one set. Then, I found another on E-bay and bought the second identical set. I wanted both boys to have this collection for their own Christmas tree in the future. I know that they will remember these ornaments even if the fragile glass won't last so long.
These prints were given to our family by my friend Anita who is related to the artist, Tom Browning. What does Santa do in his spare time? Hey, he is a gardener!
These prints were given to our family by my friend Anita who is related to the artist, Tom Browning. What does Santa do in his spare time? Hey, he is a gardener!
Everything is ready for the big day. We lack only snow as shown in the picture from last year.
Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year!
Copyright 2009 TatyanaS
Beautiful ornaments! I hope your holidays are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHave you had any snow yet this year. I love your treasured ornaments. I just love that everyone including me has so many treasured ornaments that bring back special memories of Christmas's past.
ReplyDeleteTatyana I wish you and your family a blessed holiday. Merry Christmas
PS Can't wait till spring to see my seeds grow.
Merry Christmas, Tatyana! I love your tree and the personal ornaments. In my humble opinion, that is the only kind of decoration I want on my tree.. Like you, no snow (of course), but some cold weather which I welcome because it is as Christmasy as our weather gets.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Christmas post Tatyana! I really like the Santa prints. Have a wonderful holiday, I hope you get a nice dusting of snow soon.
ReplyDeleteYour tree is lovely, Tatyana. I don't believe in one-colour/themed trees either; most of our ornaments mean something to us, and while we do have some penguins and some garden themed ornaments and some rocking horses, they're all in there together in one glorious mishmash. Works for us!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas! Your ornaments are stunning!
ReplyDeleteAren't those prints just beautiful. I wondered what Santa did the rest of the year or on vacation.
ReplyDeleteThe Russian ornaments are so delicate and pretty.
Have a wonderful Christmas with your family Tatyana.
Your Russian glass ornaments are magical. Have your boys been to St Basil's Cathedral?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing your cherished Christmas tree ornaments Tatyana. Wishing you peace and joy at Christmas and in the new year:)
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to learn that Santa is a gardener in his time off. I did not know that so it is fun to see the painting.
ReplyDeleteYou have a wild mix of ornaments, each with its own story, just like my own ornaments, which makes it fun to decorate the tree.
Hi Tatyana, I loved seeing your beautiful ornaments. The Russian collection is very special indeed, how wonderful that you were able to find another set so both your sons could have them. I began collecting ornaments for my children as soon as they were born. They all now have many to decorate their own trees since they are all grown. It means a lot to them and to me to see them hanging on their trees. You will see the same someday. :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
Tatyana your home has a festive and magical feeling. Lovely! Your tree is more like my style ... I love the stories that go with each ornament. A Santa made of salt! I like the goat and of course the Russian set is very special. Your last photo of the falling snow is wonderful... may it come again for you! Wishing you and your family a Merry Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Tatyana! I love all of your special ornaments, and that you treasure all of the simple things of the Christmas season. We too have collected ornaments over the years, and they are very special. I hope that you get some snow to make it a white Christmas. Kathy
ReplyDeleteI agree - having a mish mash of ornaments usually means they are special and who cares if they don't all match. Sounds like our tree and all of our decorations.
ReplyDeleteWishing you, hubby and boys a very warm and wonderful Christmas and New Year.
Wonderful ornaments and stories to go with each one. I guess we all have our stories to go with our holiday decorations and then the tree becomes a tree of lovely rememberance.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Tatyana! I hope you and your family have wonderful time full of laughter and love.
It is fun the memories each ornament of Christmas past brings.
ReplyDeleteWe have a no theme tree either. I like having ornaments that have a sentimental meaning about them. It's fun pulling them out each year and remembering where or who they are from.
ReplyDeleteYour house looks very pretty and ready for Christmas!
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!
I'm glad someone is ready! Your decorations look beautiful. I still have lots on my list, but I'm getting there. Good thing the houseguests don't arrive until Christmas Eve.
ReplyDeleteOf course Santa is a gardener! :) I love your tree ornaments. I've never seen a Santa made of salt! Ornaments that have a story with them really make a tree special. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteAll of the ornaments are beautiful. Your Christmas tree is full of memories. My tree is like that, too. I thought I might do a theme tree this year to be different, but I couldn't do it. Have a blessed Christmas.
ReplyDeleteYay for Santa being a gardener! Love that. and your ornaments are wonderful Tatyana. I collect ornaments too so I was really interested in your Russian collection. I've never seen any like it before. I decorate hodge podge trees and theme trees. I think they're all pretty but I do enjoy seeing the sentimental ornaments each year. Wish I could send you some of our snow. I hope you and your family have a terrific holiday together. I'll look forward to coming back and visiting you in the New Year.
ReplyDeletep.s. I think I have 20 (??) different amaryllis. I need to go count!
Hi Tatyana~~ Your first collage shows how beautiful your home is. And it sounds like you've collected a lot of memories over the years. Merry Christmas, dear friend.
ReplyDeleteTatyana, My favorite trees are those that are decorated with special and meaningful ornaments! I love the Russian sets that you've collected for your boys~~They will treasure them! Love the Santa's doing real activities! Tell your artist friend that for years we searched for a Santa playing frisbee! Our son played Ultimate and we thought that would be so cool! Happiest of holidays to you! gail
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful collection Tatyana. I think the decorations that are a combination of your memories and your interests are the best! How lucky to find the second set of glass ornaments so the boys could each have one when they got older.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and your family.
Enjoyed seeing your Christmas ornaments!
ReplyDeleteAlso, your saying about keeping your sense of humor is worth its weight in gold! So true!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!
GR
Tatyana, your home is beautiful and the Christmas ornaments are very beautiful indeed. Merry Christmas to you!
ReplyDeleteEverything looks wonderful !!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for the holidays.
Hugs,Patsi
Merry Christmas, Tatyana!
ReplyDeleteI came here while eating a late breakfast, and now, it's time to go back to the kitchen to make some soup to take to our son's for lunch with my side of the family. Unlike you, I'm not ready, as far as cooking goes. I have crustless, gluten free pumpkin pies in the oven, then need to put a fruit dessert in.
I love your tree and ornaments!
Oh, and unlike you, we have snow! My husband is blowing it as we speak.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you!!! Our tree is made of many different ornaments and colors, too..many memories in it...I would NEVER go to the color-themed new ornament trees...too bland and like every one else's!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Tatyana! On Christmas Night, it is fun and relaxing to sit and read posts and comments, and I couldn't resist this post of yours.
ReplyDeleteI may have told you, (or not?), my first husband was Russian. He and his family came out of Russia in 1950, when he was 8 years old. He remembers coming, and remembered a lot about the old country. He spoke Russian fluently and could read and write it beautifully. He refused to pass the language to our children, and I always felt that was such a lose for them. His Father was a furrier, as was his grandfather, and they taught me to sew the linings in the coats and stoles that they made. It is hot working on a mink or sable coat sometimes! Those linings are sewed in by hand.
I have collected Christmas ornaments for over 40 years. I have never had a tree that had a theme, outside of "Love one another", or one that had anything matching. I love the country, cobbled look of mix and match ornaments.
I sorted through a lot of ornaments this year, and passed them on to my children. These were ornaments that I inherited from my Mama, and she is pleased, I know. I have decided that in the future, we are going to have an "Ornament Choosing" every year. I want everyone to chose an ornament or two to add to their collection, so that by the time I am gone, they will have a lot of ornaments of their own.
I have 6 kids, 3 of which are married, with children. I should be able to share a lot of ornaments over the next few years, and in this way, I will be sure that everyone gets ornaments they want.
About 5 or 6 years ago, I started collecting Santa ornaments. I have a great Santa that is carved from a lump of coal! My husband bought him for me in Kentucky, on one of our trips. I treasure him.
I covet your Russian ornaments. They are so fine! That is what my grandson taught me today- 'so fine'! I thought that was old already, but apparently not where they live. LOL
Lastly, may I ask what kind of camera you use? You take such good pictures, and I want to take wonderful pictures too. I ask a LOT of people what kind of camera they use.
Only if you don't mind sharing.....
Wishing you are yours a very Happy New Year!
It's so beautiful to see your ornaments and home decorations for Christmas! thanks for sharing your lovely photos with us.
ReplyDeletelove that last snowy photo!!!