A Black Tie Affair

Are you ready for a fabulous New Year's Eve party? This just might give you some good ideas!



My "other self" put this together but I wanted to share here because there are a number of vintage items in the treasury. Enjoy!

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Today's Rednesday!!

It's Rednesday over on Magnolia Surprise!!

I usually post my Rednesday here, but decided to mix it up every now and then and post over on my other blog, Magnolia Surprise! 

So head over there and check out the super-duper lighted trees!

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Two Special Santas

Today, being Rednesday, I wanted to share these two very special Santas. They were made by my aunt many, many years ago.

I remember this jolly Santa sitting out every year -- she always told me that I could look at it, but not pick it up... I'm glad she did because, after I grew up, she gave it to me! And I could pick it up all I wanted! I've always been very careful with my special Santa, because so many happy memories are associated with him.

My aunt would occasionally spruce him up with a bit of paint here and there where needed -- no sprucing needed on my account I can tell you!! But I have chosen to leave him just as he is -- the little chippy areas just make him all the more special. I don't know his real birthday, but he's at least 60 something... or he could be in his 70s or 80s for all I know, depending on when she painted  him!

Side view -- isn't his tummy the best? Or, in his case, I believe that roundness might be officially called a "belly"!! He's made of plaster and is quite heavy, probably because of all those cookies he eats each year!


This cutie ceramic Santa is a bit newer -- my aunt only signed her name on the bottom but did not date him.  But she probably made him in the 60s. She gave him to me in the mid-80s.

Sometimes he carries Christmas cards in his pouch, sometimes candy canes, sometimes poinsettias -- you just can't ever tell what Santa will have in his bag!

I love his blue eyes -- and his cute bald head! Did you know that Santa was bald on top? Why else would he wear that hat all the time? And you know that every picture of him in his jammies shows him with a nightcap on. Bald, for sure!!


Linking up my special Santas to Rednesday on It's a Very Cherry World. Be sure to stop by and check out more reds!

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Old World Santas

I love the look of Old World Santas. They have so much character and charm, and the ones from other countries give a peek into other traditions and history.

That's not to say that the "jolly ho-ho-ho" Santa that the kids love isn't cool too, but you see the old guy everywhere! Maybe a mall Santa should dress in old world garb for a little something different.... OK, the kids probably wouldn't recognize him, so the round guy with the fluffy white beard stays! (And, I do have a bunch of his likeness around my house at Christmastime!)

Anyway.....

I used to do ceramics, even had my own kiln. Back in the 80s or early 90s one of the mold companies came out with Old World Santas, and I fell in love! I only painted two and wished I had done more!

During the Christmas season, these guys reside on my piano, along with an assortment of old Christmas music booklets sent out by businesses during the holidays.

There is also a book of "A Christmas Carol" sent out by a family and the solid red one has Christmas traditions from all over the world. They are all old but, unfortunately, none are dated. They may have originally belonged to my hubby's grandmother. I'll have to do a bit of research on them!

Linking my Santas to Rednesday hosted by It's a Very Cherry World. Link your something red  and read about other reds too!

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