Project - Attempting the Vintage Ornament Wreath

I couldn't wait any longer, even though I was tired last night, just knowing I had all the supplies to make an ornament wreath, I decided to just wrap and glue the tinsel garland onto the foam ring.  I had my box of ornaments on the kitchen table for days and it was teasing me to get started.

I made the wreath in a color combination around this vintage angel I found.  Mixing some of the ornaments in a box lid is a must for me.  I need to see how the colors and shapes will work together.

I thought I would  just wrap the foam ring last night, but I couldn't stop there.  After rigging up a wire loop for hanging,  I decided to put ornaments on the outer ring.  Then I thought I'd figure out how to position and attach the ceramic angel as she is deep at the bottom, I didn't want her to stick out too far.  I used a bamboo skewer for additional support.  I marked the top center of the wreath with a price sticker (it what was I had at hand) to keep myself oriented.

 But, I couldn't stop there! 

I kept going until I finally stopped here.  I was tired and it was getting late. I needed to think about what I could do in the upper section, dig through my stuff and find some more objects.  Think about things a little. Also, I broke an ornament by pressing too hard and that was extra work to clean it out and attach a new one-- I knew that was enough for the night.

I got up this morning, had coffee and rushed to get the roast in the oven and do my morning chores.  Then it was on to working on the wreath.  I think I spent no more than two hours finishing it up.  Making this is fun as it doesn't take very long!  Here it is all done!

I've got to say I'm lovin' it.  But I also like ornaments just thrown in a box.  For those reading this and thinking of making your own wreath for the first time, don't let me mislead you in thinking that the box of ornaments in this post was all I used.  That box was just a sample of what I used. 

My friend knows I'm going to make a wreath.  She's excited to see what I make.  I hope she likes it--I made it for her in the color she likes.  I'm going to go email her now--have her check out my blog as I won't see her right away.  We'll see what she says!

Thrifty Christmas Finds on Friday

I forgot the minty Franke box with red Shiny Brites and other assorted red balls when I took this picture.

Went thrifting for Christmas craft stuff today and just had to put my haul on the table and snap a picture!  This is some of the more exciting stuff I found, I also bought boxes of mostly plain ornaments to build up my stash for ornament wreath making.  I love the bag of turquoise mercury glass tear drops, couldn't believe my eyes when I ran into it!  Thank goodness I made sure to have a discount coupon that I could apply towards them.  Little glass bells in blue and silver don't come along that often, so happy to find some.  I also found this bag of mixed colors satin balls, light blue and lime green too!

I'm bushed!  We are out to scour again tomorrow!

Vintage Cardboard Christmas Music Box Fix Up

I picked up this cute vintage music box made in Japan the other day.  It needed a little TLC.  Looked like the cat chewed on the chimney, the roof had some paint loss, the mica was faint and the felt base dirty.  Something is missing from the chimney base.  I found one on Etsy--I wanted to find out what the missing object was, but there was no embellishment on it at all.  Here's the before picture.

Here is the music box as I found it.  Poor chimney--I had to remove the chenille trim, it was mangled.

 

A little paint brightened up the roof and an application of fresh mica created greater color contrast.  I removed the chenille trim on the chimney, painted the exposed brown cardboard, added pipe cleaner and applied mica.  I used a piece of the mangled chenille to prop up the awning and added mica.  The felt base is very dirty around the outer edge, so I applied mica over the top to freshen it up.

I don't know what is missing from the chimney base.  I decided to mica the top of an old vintage mercury ball and place it where the missing object was.

This little gem cost more than I thought it should for the condition it was in--but then again, we know, I like a deal!  But I'm glad I didn't pass this up, it's just darling!

(Hubby is also glad I bought it though initially he had his doubts.)

Happy Happy Girl! My Mini Mother Lode!

I wasn't planning to post today, and I'm just squeezing it in as it is.  I've been busy all day and on my feet, so I decided to take a break and have a cup of tea, check email etc.  Oh yeah, and post!  I planned to hit the local thrifts today in search of Christmas stuff and I came home a happy happy girl!  I didn't find anything at the first few, but number four had this waiting for me!

Lots of unopened packages of vintage mercury glass mini balls, satin balls, box of Diamond Ray reflectors, spray of mercury glass picks, bag of plastic lanterns with flocked candles inside of them, and this curious ornament which contains a mylar rain bonnet!  The picks were in a bag with non-vintage plastic ornaments (I'll donate back) and some green and gold mercury balls.  Hubby doesn't quite understand the fascination over the mini balls or pink mini balls for that matter, but us vintage crafty folk do!  Oh yes, there is also a box of gold balls, the box is in excellent shape and has a graphic of Santa and Reindeer on it.  I was so grateful the thrift store put the price tag on the bottom of the box.

I also got a few other things at a couple of the other stores.  Debated on the one, but glad I took it home though hubby was kinda like 'you sure?

This sweet vintage music box needs some TLC--it looks better in the photo than it is, though Mr. & Mrs. Santa are in great condition, their hair and beard still white and clean.  I'll repaint and re-mica/glitter the house.  Found my first Jewel Brite ornaments!!

Last night I got the itch to start throwing some ornaments together to see how the combination would look for an ornament wreath.  Here's what I have so far.

I picked up even more ornaments at the thrift today. Here's what my stash looked like last week.

Here is the current state of things--I had to reorganize and move the felted and brown box out to make room for more glass.  I have to look for more plastic containers on my next trip out!

Christmas Finds - Lefton's Wins Again!

The thrift stores around here are finally getting into high gear with Christmas stock.  We looked for glass ornaments, crafting supplies and kitsch.  Here are a few pictures of finds from last week--I didn't include a picture of glass ornaments, though there were many!

 

I found numerous unopened packages of vintage craft supplies.  The older sisal wreaths have that nice thick snow on them unlike the painted stuff they put on these days. Not pictured is some gold Hollywood brand glitter! I bought the National tinsel as it's like the German lametta and it's just neat to see the unopened package.  I have my lametta I purchased in Germany 30 years ago--we don't use it every year, but when we do we take it down strand by strand and pack it away for another year.

Vintage kitsch finds included figures made in Japan, each stamped or with label.  I found this unopened package of Christmas garland!  A couple of the bell cages are out of shape, but cute all the same.  I've gotten into the vintage Hong Kong plastics!

My favorite piece is this Lefton's reindeer planter!  So sweet!

Project -- The Kristmas Kitsch Katcher!

Those who know me well know that I am always creating something in one fashion or another. I have a hard time sitting still! I've been thinking and thinking about how I will display Christmas decorations this year without buying any new furniture such as shelves.  After chewing on it a good week, I came up with the idea of creating a display shelf from old closet doors.  The doors have been hanging around in the garage for a good 6-7 years since I laid the new floors.   I've been reluctant to give them up--one of them on a couple of saw horses comes in handy for a temporary work table.  So...I grabbed my camera and snapped a pic before I go any further with this project, I'll update as it evolves!

Here are two doors of 24" width each that I hinged together with standard door hinges.  I didn't bother to chisel them out, just screwed them on leaving a gap in between.  These were originally varnished and I primed them with 3 coats of white primer.  I started to put a shelf on when I remembered to take a picture!

 

I have placed this in a corner of the family room which is behind our recliners.  It's a perfect space as it is out of the way, in plain view and there is no other furniture on the two walls.  There is also an electrical outlet.

 

I have attached numerous small shelves that I had stored away (they always come in handy!)  A couple little wooden boxes and a myrtle wood planter I found at the thrift store recently.  I'll likely pic up some more shelves and little crates, maybe a basket.  Yes, it requires measuring and drilling, but it isn't hard--just takes patience.

 

Here's a closer view.  So much to do yet, but I'm happy to have gotten this much done today.  Now on to folding laundry!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!

Okay, I'll cut to the chase--the Evergleam Christmas tree is up!  Yes, it's true.  Trust me, I didn't plan this, one thing led to another and it is up.

Vintage ornaments on my Evergleam: Shiny Brite, Czechoslovakian, Bavarian, Coby and a wonderful mushroom from Sears!

Since our thrift stores have started to stock Christmas decorations, we have been aggressive in getting out there early in hopes of finding some much wanted treasures.  I plan to make a wreath out of mercury glass bulbs  this year and so I've been scouring every thrift store.  I needed to go through all my ornaments and decide what I wanted to use exclusively for the tree, what could go to crafting and what I still needed.  The only way to do that was to put up the tree and decorate it.

My cart of ornaments for crafting.

I also need to unpack my putz and ceramics to see what all I have as some of the things I packed are vintage felt and plastic ornaments.  Here's a picture of finds from last week of miscellaneous Christmas vintage.  Doesn't include any glass ornaments, but in the previous picture you can see part of the haul of pink vintage teardrops I got.  They were priced very high, so I kept passing them up.  I figured if they were still there when it was 50% off, I would get them.  I also got tinsel, plastic wreaths (for foliage) and bottle brush trees and wreaths.

 

I was thrilled to find some vintage hard plastic Santas, a Gurley candle choir boy and ceramics made in Japan.  The vintage garland unlike today's garland is made out of metal.  The yellow box contains a 1970s mobile with silver bells and red ribbons which have faded to pink but still super cute!  I've been wanting a vintage mobile, I have fond memories of the one I had as a kid.


Another vintage item that we are on the look out for are blow molds.  Unfortunately, I think we have too many now--but to hubby there is no 'too many'.  We get them for two to three bucks on average, they are always nice and nasty having been outside and in the garage so I have been doing A LOT of cleaning!  Most of these will be displayed (and stored) in the house as I'm not going to clean these every year!  

We got this big Santa and two of the Noel candles last week and also some other smaller ones not shown.

Santa blow mold

Figuring out where to put all these light up characters is no small task.  I'm a stickler for organization and have to have the house clutter free--so no help from hubby when it comes to decorating!! Not "working" doesn't mean I get a break around here.  I have spoiled my husband with pretty neat Christmas decorating in past years, so he knows I have it in me and starts early with his not so subtle (he thinks they are) comments.  And of course, I give in--sigh.