Sunday, December 10, 2023

Christmas Vintage Collections on Display


Hi Friends, Welcome to the Christmas Edition of our Lifestyle of Love Gathering hosted by our wonderful friend Cindy of County Road 407. If you're coming from CoCo's Blog, The Crowned Goatyou're so welcome here and I'm so happy you're following the Hop. 


Welcome to our every other month gathering where we vintage lovers share how we use vintage items in our décor. This month we're sharing collections of vintage items that we're using for Christmas and winter seasonal décor. Christmas is the most fun time of the year to share our collections! Here are just a few...

Tartan Plaid Blankets




My collection of Tartan Plaid blankets and throws was born out of my love for plaid... everything. The display above is just a few of them. Back 15 years ago vintage pieces were much more affordable and being in the vintage market business allowed me to find and grab up pieces that right now are much more pricey. I went a little nuts on Scottish vintage "lap blankets" back then. 



Now I use them throughout the fall and winter seasons especially in the sitting area of the garden room on my wicker pieces, and in the Hearth Room on the sofa, chair and ottoman. Coordinating pillows, quilts and blankets let me change things up throughout the holidays. Here are a few pics where I've used them during Christmas. Pillow covers and inserts from Amazon make it easy to find fun pillows to keep things current. And my philosophy is that Plaids don't have to match to look amazing together.








Wool blankets, quilts and throws are the definition of "cozy" 
for me during the colder months.


Shiny Brites and Vintage Ornaments


There's just something about vintage ornaments that get me excited. Once I learned about Mercury Glass and Shiny Brites, I was constantly on the lookout on my flea market shopping trips. If you could find them other than the Christmas season you could get them at crazy low prices. Once or twice I found grocery bags full of old ornaments for just a few dollars. Crazy.



I don't put up big trees anymore because it's so much easier for me to use smaller and tabletop faux trees. When I was using larger trees they usually had a base of neutral bulbs. I bought every color I could find, but after awhile it got out of control and I stuck with golds, creams, white and silver.




So now they usually end up in a tureen, basket or dough bowl to display. Since we moved to this house and I can now use my family sideboard, I've found this is a great place to fill up a tureen to show them off.



The dining room is another spot where a silver tray can serve as a base for display. Most of the time I have a small garland around my lamb tureen, but this year I ringed it with old glass ornaments.


This year I combined the ornaments with mercury glass votive cups on another silver tray on the dining room buffet. The candlelight in the evening creates a subtle and beautiful glow.






It follows naturally that if you're collecting old ornaments that you'll also once in a while find the containers that still hold them. I love old packaging and graphics and grouping them together can make a fun display. If you didn't see my previous post on Displaying old ornament boxes I share a bit more on that. 



My old step ladder holds a few old boxes for a quick display.





Vintage Christmas Tins

... so guilty of hoarding Christmas tins.

Old and new, and if they are plaid; even better. In my defense I used to bake cookies at Christmas and gift, but that's been years ago. I'd use new ones for those, but I love to use the old ones for display. Here are just a few this year...





The baker's rack and the cookbook cupboard are perfect spots for displaying old Christmas tins. I have a soft spot for old and new shortbread cookie tins, which usually are plaid. The new Walker's Shortbread truck tin (above on the green chair) was a gift from my daughter from a trip to the UK a few years ago.



















Here's the post from last year's Collections Hop where I share more collections... Red Transferware, White Churches, Putz Houses, Nativity Sheep, and more Biscuit tins. It was a fun post filled with lots of vintage goodies.




I hope you'll continue the Hop by heading on over to visit Lora at Create and Ponder and catch her beautiful hutch with her milk glass collection. Season's Greetings, Friends and Merry Christmas!!




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12 comments:

  1. Your room looks so cozy and comfy for Christmas. Love all the vintage mixed in your decor. Happy Weekend. Hugs. Kris

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  2. You have such an amazing eye for putting things together, Debra, I love that I learn so much from you with these hops. Your collections are all fabulous and the pops of red make things feel both fun and festive. Loving and pinning as always sweet friend. Big hugs and happy holidays, CoCo

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  3. I love ANYthing tartan, but those tins are so great...because you can store more stuff inside! Love the neutral ornaments too, Debra. Your method of tabletop displays makes so much sense. I will move to that at some point also.

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  4. All of your plaid and vintage Christmas decor, especially your ornament collection, is SO lovely, Debra!! I love how you carefully place each item and really take the time to think through your vignettes. Vintage Christmas decor is just so special!

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  5. I wish I had known what I liked 15 years ago like you did. Heck, I'd take even 10 years because you are so right about everything being so much more expensive now. I adore your collection of plaid lap blankets and tins. I would have gone crazy too! And your ornaments are precious. I never find any around here. I have seen empty tins and ornament boxes and wondered why people would buy them. Well, now I know! They look darling displayed around your home. I especially love how you've stacked them with a little reindeer staring over. So cute. Thank you for joining in . I LOVED seeing your fantastic collections. Compared to yours, mine are quite boring. ;)

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  6. I simply adore this post, Debra. What good is having a collection if we never see them? And yours are so splendid! The shiny brites, the tartans, so many lovely vintage pieces. It's just my style and I adore them all! And it's not just the collections but the way you curate them and display them so perfectly. I have such a big smile right now!

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  7. I love all of your beautiful collections Debra, and seeing how you artfully display the vintage treasures! Everything in your home is so pretty, it's always such a treat to get to see it...like looking through a favorite magazine.... filled with inspiration! Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Blessed New Year!

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  8. I very much enjoyed your post! Thanks for Sharing. Merry Christmas to you!

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  9. I've got plaid thermos and vintage metal picnic basket envy now! Always love seeing your amazing vintage collections and how you style them so artistically. Christmas is the best! Merry Christmas, friend!

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  10. It's all so beautiful, but those Scottish tins get me every year! Of course I adore all your plaids! You have such wonderful collections and a gift for creating magical vignettes!

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  11. Debra: What wonderful collections you have. Displayed in your beautiful home they all look fantastic and special. So colorful, warm and charming. Merry Christmas to you and your family. xxoJudy

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  12. Hi Debra - your collection of vintage plaid throws is truly impressive! They add so much character to your home. Also, I love your idea of not having a large Christmas tree and instead using a series of smaller table top trees. Merry Christmas !

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