Let It Snow!

Winter Rabbit, by LycheeKiss

Ahhhhh Christmas!!!

This is my favorite time of year. Every year on the day after Thanksgiving, our little house goes through its glorious transformation into Christmastown. My husband takes great pride in the exterior lights and yard display - the largest and most elaborate in the neighborhood. By the time he's done setting everything up, the effect is magical... and blinding.

The inside of our house gets a holiday makeover as well, and my favorite room to decorate is the bathroom. Our blue and white bathroom is bedecked in snowflakes and white garland with a Rudolph snow scene display in the plant window, and candles in mercury glass votives. The crystal snowflake nightlight casts an etherial blue glow, and the whole room smells of mint and vanilla.

I am all about the snowflake - here are some exquisite "snow" themed items from our friends at Etsy - enjoy!!

Snowmen Christmas Card Set 3x5, by gigiphillips




Winter Chapel, by JeanKnee




Groovy Christmas Kitty, by LowellandSon





Silver Gift Tags, by JeanKnee




Ivory Cream Christmas Stocking, by rikrak

Snow and Chartreuse Glitter Felted Acorns, by truLuxe

Snowgirl Mini Handmade Wooden Ornament, by thepoppytree

OMG, IF ONLY I HAD 65 BUCKS!!!

Atomic Pink Christmas Shadow Box Wall Hanging

by chickitout

Oooooooookay, now you all know how much love I have for paper houses (see my blog post on paper houses), but this is RIDICULOUS. It's as if this artist took a trip through my brain one night when I was fast asleep. I have been a collector of mid-century modern Christmas decor and decorations for YEARS, and swoon over mid-century modern architecture and design. Pink? Check. Tinsel? Check. Mirabou feathers and eyelash lame? Check. RI-DIC-U-LOUS!

I want to point out several key design motifs that this artist paid homage to in this shadowbox:

Note the George Nelson atomic ball clock on the wall - a classic from this era, and originals command a hefty price on today's market. Luckily, repros are available at a much more affordable price.

Note the aluminum tree - also a classic from this era. Ornaments would be hung on glittery aluminum trees, and would be illuminated from behind by a color wheel. The overall effect was an everchanging dazzling color display - LOVELY!

Note the slant of the roofline. Houses designed in the mid-20th century had FABULOUS rooflines, often asymmetrical and often giving way to large overhangs on the front, side or back.

Note the sign on the top of the house with a nod to the atomic design motif. Starburst designs were very popular during this era, and you could find that motif used in everything from dinner plates to neon signs.

What was that? How can you get this look? Glad you asked. Here are some incredible vintage finds from our friends at Etsy. (Oh, and if you were wondering what to get me for Christmas...)

ALUMINUM CHRISTMAS TREE VINTAGE COMPLETE ORIGINAL BOX
by Kleymannscloset

Vintage Japan Christmas Angel Posie Doll
by joberskitsch

Mid-Century Snowy Flocked Wreath in Original Box
by carmenandginger

Vintage Christmas ornaments - a box of 26 indents mercury glass balls for the feather tree or wreath
by pumpkintruck

Vintage Christmas Gift Wrap Wrapping Paper Christmas Paper Poodle Dog Christmas Paper
by timepassages

Large Vintage Glittered Christmas Bells
by VintagefromCrystal

Paper Houses

Gingerbread House, by thesaltboxcollection

You know what I love? Paper houses. You know, the kind like your grandparents had (well, not mine, but I can imagine) lining the mantelpiece at Christmas. These little confections were crafted of cardstock, mica snow, glitter, bottle brush trees, chenille pipecleaner santas and snowmen, and colored cellophane in the windows that would glow if you put a light behind them. I would love to have an entire village of glittery paper houses and stores and churches, all in pinks, whites, blues and greens - and then I'd sit and make believe I really lived in this frosted little wonderland.

I did a bit of surfing on Etsy to see if I could find paper houses, and was suprised to find that there aren't many listed. I did, however, find a great seller who has a number of adorable ones, including the gingerbread house above. The creator of thesaltboxcollection started off by repairing a few inherited vintage paper houses, then went on to creating a whole new village using the same time-honored techniques. The result is a charming mix of buildings that leave me wanting more and more!

Enjoy these items by thesaltboxcollection on Etsy!

Village Schoolhouse, by thesaltboxcollection

Mail Pouch Barn, by thesaltboxcollection

Pink Farm House, by thesaltboxcollection