Monday, December 5, 2011

Our Holiday Decor (+ My Super Awesome Vintage Santa Collection)

vintage santas

I have a thing for collections.  When I was in second or third grade, my teacher had us participate in a stamp collecting project.  Although I had absolutely no interest in the stamps themselves, I remember being exhilarated by the concept of searching for things that had a common theme and putting them together.  Even at that age, it was all about the design for me.  While the other kids sought out stamps that had the highest value (which was technically the point of the project), I focused on colors, patterns, and aesthetic.  Seeking out pretty things that had variations within one common thread was thrilling - an artistic treasure hunt.

I've always loved decorating for the holidays, and I've been a huge fan of thrifting since high school.  My mom gave me my first Santa figurine when I was in college, and it was all over from there.  I am now a self-proclaimed official Santa collecting dork.  Even in the summer, if I come across an interesting old Santa at an estate sale, thrift shop or garage sale, I snatch it up immediately.  I love the way they all look together, and it's so cool to imagine the history behind each one.  Who owned it?  How did they display it during the holidays?  Where is it from?  Sometimes I get a brand new Santa from friends or family, which is equally as awesome.  Even the non-vintage parts of the collection have some sort of stories to go along with them.  As you can see from the images above, my addiction has grown to include vintage deer too.  I found the raddest old deer salt and pepper shakers at an estate sale over the summer for 99 cents!


I forced myself to take my first weekend off from working in weeks, and we put up some of our holiday decorations. This is such a busy time of year, and I usually put off decorating until a week or two before Christmas. It was ridiculously nice not to feel rushed this year.


Most of our Christmas decorations are pieces I've made or that my mom made and passed down to me, mixed in with vintage items we've found over the years.  One my favorite decorations are the bubble lights we put on one of our trees (yes, we have several!).  They were huge in the 1940s and 1950s, and feature colorful glass "candles" that produce moving bubbles when warm.  Coolest Christmas lights ever.

Do you have any collections?  Have you decorated for the holidays yet?

Happy Monday!  Make sure to stop back by tomorrow...  I have the most amazing (and incredibly easy) D.I.Y. to share!


I just had to give a quick shout-out to my dad, who turns another year older today!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!  We love you!



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20 comments:

  1. I'd forgotten about the bubble lights. Quite a collection you have and a very happy birthday to your dad.
    Ann

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  2. Looks beautiful! Love your santas and love your front door "wreath" heehee Great way to change it up...

    Cheers,
    Messy

    www.shelleysarina.blogspot.com

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  3. Your mantlepiece looks lovely - I can't wait to decorate mine :)

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  4. It all looks very festive in your home and your vintage santa collection is adorable!

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  5. LOVE the vintage Santas! My mother collects the singing carolers, and it's absolutely my favourite part of Christmas to get them out with my sisters and arrange them on our mantle :) Your house looks gorgeous - happy holidays!

    Erin from BloggingBuddies
    http://labellaironia.blogspot.com/

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  6. I have a Santa collection, although not as vintage, nor as numerous as yours. I do it for my grandkids. I want them to experience a Santa wonderland when they come to visit and they do!

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  7. You certainly have a lot of Santas! I love when people share collections. I like to collect turtles and rocks XD

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  8. I love all of the greenery you use. And if I had room for multiple trees, I'd probably have them too.

    I don't collect anything Christmas-y, but I have a ton of vintage jewelry. It's an addiction.

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  9. omg your house is decorated soooo pretty! so chic!! and i love your santa collection, also quite chic!! i don't collection anything quite that cool, just old buttons hehe :-)

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  10. Loving this post - these vintage santa's are SUPER awesome!!!!

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  11. i too have a thing for collections. once i get our tree decorated tonight, the next on the list .....santa collection, snowmen and penguins (husband's collection).

    you've got a great group of santas!

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  12. happy birthday to your sweetie pie grateful dead loving daddy! nice decorating melissa, & i marvel at your santa collection.

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  13. I love vintage Christmas things. My mom has those same bubble lights! (And I also always collected things based on what they looked like rather than value, but their value to me is priceless!)

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  14. i LOVE your santa collection! i saw a sneak peek on instagram :) it is really impressive tho, my mom would kill for it!

    brittany

    prettylittlevintage

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  15. you and your mom are so talented. I havent tried making any xmas decor, those that we have at home came from the mall.. lol

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  16. This is so adorable. I love your blog. I'm actually in Chicago right now. Definitely one of my favorite cities. I'm dieting to move here. xo, rv

    http://aneclecticheap.blogspot.com/

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  17. I'm new! What a lovely blog…that header! Too cute. Love your wreathe! I'm working on building our collection. I have a collection of ornaments that my grandmother hand made and painted every year. My mom would love your pez Santas! She's a collector. :)

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  18. I haven't even started decorating yet. Your place looks so festive and warm! Love it!

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  19. I love all of the greenery you use. And if I had room for multiple trees, I'd probably have them too.

    I don't collect anything Christmas-y, but I have a ton of vintage jewelry. It's an addiction.
    Delores Ensley

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