We’ve been busy decorating our little farmhouse as the snow fell here in the Shenandoah Valley.
We’ve accumulated (and lost little) of about 10 inches of snow in the last week. It has made for a beautiful landscape, a lot of fun with a new puppy, as well as a few messy boots, but it has also done what the calendar could not — it has put us in the mood for the holidays!
The weekend after Thanksgiving we took our now-annual trip to Mountain View tree farm to cut a tree. This year we brought home a 7-plus-foot Douglas Fir. The house smells of citrus/pine, and the puppy keeps trying to snag a taste. We are almost finished decorating it, and before I share the tree, I thought I’d share with you some of my favorite handmade ornaments.
I collect Christmas ornaments. I love them because they don’t take up much space, and I don’t see them every day. In fact, I don’t see them for 11 months of the year, but when it’s time, I get to pull them all out and remember from where each came or when we bought it.
In addition to my Swarovski and Lenox snowflakes, I’ve picked up a few homemade or handmade ornaments, as well. I have a small unlit tree covered in crocheted snowflakes made by church ladies. I have a row of “stained-glass” icicles I bought at a small community craft show when we lived in Appomattox. I also have a few of my own beaded ornaments left from my own business.
So I share them with you here. I’ve love to see or hear about your favorite handmade Christmas ornament! Do you know any of the artists and crafters who created these? I’d love to link to their sites. Let me know!
seashell ornament – NVHG show
cut egg ornament – VTYMCA show
metal quilled snowflake – Roanoke Civic Center show
crocheted snowman – Shen Fairgrounds show
ceramic snowflake – the Market Woodstock
ceramic snowflake – Shen Val show
beaded ornament – Mom made in the 70s!
hot glass ornament – Harrisonburg Farmers Mkt
painted gourd ornament – Fairfax City show
hot glass ornament – Harrisonburg Farmers Mkt
porcelain ornament – Fairfax City show
glass icicle – Appomattox Firehouse show
tatted snowflake ornament – gift
turned wood ornament – Roanoke Civic Center show
wooden snowflake – Ida Lee rec show
straw star ornament – Mason Neck show
my beaded ornament
my beaded ornament
Id juat about bet that the white and gold porcelain ornament, that says it’s from the Fairfax show, was made by Pat Swinsky. She is retired and not making ornaments any longer. She made beautiful ornaments…treasure it!
Yes, I love Pat’s work! I have several of her ornaments. Thank you for bringing her name out of the recesses of my brain :-)
Where can I get that seashell ornament that looks like a flower?
Hi, Heidi, that was purchased at a Northern Virginia Handcrafters Guild show many years ago. I don’t know if the artist is still a member, but the Guild might be able to point you in the right direction. Good luck!