Vintage Christmas Trees

 

I recently got these trees from a friend of a friend, you know how that works.  I'd actually been to one of her sales before and bought a pair of lamps and some other bits, but I didn't realize it was her until I got to her place and realized I'd been there before.  So, I looked through her garage, shed, and storage room in the house.  But these are by far the most exciting treasures I came home with.

The traditional Christmas colored one was a little worse for wear with some of the backing material torn and faded.  So I didn't feel to bad taking it apart to use for parts.  Sorry for the fuzzy picture here.

What I was most thankful for was that these were created before the days of hot glue guns.  Whoever put this together poked the pin and earring backs into the foam base with extra support coming from straight pins or bobby pins.  And almost all the pieces were in tact.  In fact most looked unused, no missing rhinestones or wear or tarnish on the base metal. 

  

This is a pile of pins with some sequins that look like they might be the same as those found on Enid Collins bags.  (see my post about Enid Collings purses here)

Here's the tree carcass, what's left after I took what I wanted.  The background is a yucky green plastic material.  That's gold lame fabric, green velvet ribbon patches, and sequin trim.  All this is held on with those 1/2 inch short straight pins.

In total there are 18 pairs of earrings and 16 broaches, plus some necklace pieces.  Alot to play with.

The other tree has a pink velvet fabric base and clear rhinestone bits.  There are a couple bear spots around the bottom that I have since filled in with a few clear pieces from the other tree.

I bought these trees intending to take them both apart and use the parts.  But the pink one is growing on me and for now, it's in my little girl's room.  Little?  Well, she's almost 20.  Our first Christmas decoration for the season.  We'll see what her reaction is when she comes home in a month for Christmas break.  Ha!

Christmas Tree Tutorial - Wool and Paper

 

 I'm flattered that a couple people asked for a tutorial so here we go.

This is for both the wool and paper trees, same thing only different.

For the wool trees (wts), I just used the woven wool or blends that I had, some felted, some not.  This would work for felted knits as well.  In fact I think that was what the ornament I saw, that gave me the idea to adapt into this idea, was made from.

Besides the tree 'branches' you will need:

bamboo cooking skewer

wine bottle cork, synthetic works best

cardboard or foam core

hot glue

tacky glue

white glue or modge podge

tree top embellishments

glitter

 For either tree take a skewer and stick it into a wine cork, cut in half.  Glue to secure. 

 Put the cork into a candle stick.  Some may have to be sliced thinner to fit tighter candle sticks.  You decide if you want to permanently glue the cork to the candlestick or use candle stickem' if the cork doesn't stay in by itself.  Thinking about storing the tree may help you decide, ha!

 For paper trees (pts) cut both sheet music or book pages and use either brown paper or brown coffee filters.  But I like the idea of recycling old grocery bags.  Then wrinkle them up into balls and then flatten them out, this gives them some body so you don't just have a stack of paper on a stick.

For pts I cut circles from 1 to 8 inches, in 1/2 inch increments.

For wts I cut from 1 1/4 to 4 inches, in 1/4 inch increments. 

I cut patterns from cardboard.  Stack up your wool or paper and cut as many layers as you can at once.  The circles don't have to be perfect.  The number of circles vary with the size of the tree.  I suggest starting out with 5 circles in each size and add or subtract to get the size and fullness you like.

So you cut your circles and you cut some more circles and then a few more.

 To start the trees put the largest piece of wool or paper down then a support disk, made from cardboard of foam core, an inch or two smaller than the circle.

  Then the second circle.  Glue the first 2 circles together around the edge, sandwiching in the support piece so you don't see it.

  

Also to help give your layers some separation you need some filler between the circles.  

For wts I used a small scrap of thick wool.

When I made the pts a year ago, I put white glue on the skewer between the circles to stop the paper layers from settling to the bottom.  But I think I have an idea that will work better so I'm going to suggest putting an 1/8 inch piece of straw between each circle.  If any one does this, let me know how it turned out.  I used red in the picture so you could see it, I don't think it will show but you might want to use something that will blend in.

Now just go to town layering.  Spacer, circle, spacer, circle, spacer, circle.....

Fluff the layers if they need it and cut any extra skewer off, glue on your tree top embellishments.  I used a vintage glass tree ornament, tied with a piece of lace and seam binding tape.

To glitter or not to glitter?  This is how I glittered, someone might have a less messy way but really, it's glitter, it should have messy on the label.

White glue or modge podge brushed on the circle edges.  Over a news paper, tilt the tree as you pour glitter over the entire tree.  Give the tree a few taps to shed the excess and put it aside to dry. 

Two Gifts In One!

Oh lucky day!

Pammy from Up in the Attic was hosting a give-a-way to celebrate her new web site.

No, click here!

I was the lucky winner and this is what I won!

 

Picture from Up in the Attic

This beautiful 3 eggs in a nest pendant, handmade by Pammy.

Isn't this the sweetest little cone packaging?!

This is why I say two gifts in one.  One to decorate me and one to decorate my living room.

 

This old window frame is in my living room and I change out some of the hangy things with the seasons.  Pammy's little cone is front and center.

Plus, I put her card in this little glass I've been collecting cards in.

And where is this glass, on the table next to my little nest, my chair in the living room.

Thank you, Pammy! xo

Christmas Trees for Project Monday

 

 This is what I did last night when I should have gone to bed.  See, my Mr. Wonderful was out of town this weekend and due back any minute now, probably before I finish this post.  So, what's a girl to do all weekend alone?  Make a huge crafting mess!  I worked on a couple other things and went to a huge charity garage sale, plus a neighbor hood garage sale.  The mess is all cleaned up for now, as much as it's going to be anyway. 

  And since I forgot all about daylight savings time falling back until Sunday afternoon, I got my extra hour of sleep last night instead.  So it's all good.

  

Recognize the candle sticks from this post?

I haven't decided if I like the bulb and ties on the top.  I did some paper trees last year and that's how they are finished.  In case you notice the bulbs are a little kittywampus, they aren't glued on yet so I might change out with jingle bells or rusty stars.  Unless I can think of anything else less predictable.  Shoot, an idea just popped in and out of my head!

 

I'm linking up to Pammy's Up in the Attic, party Project Monday.  I so excited, I just won her recent giveaway, I'll show you all when it comes in the mail, can't hardly wait!

Also linking up to Cindy's Make It 4 Monday at Cottage Instincts.

Another link to Fabric Fun Thursday with Kim at Cheap Chic Home.

Odds and Ends - Vintage Inspiration

Here is just some odds and ends pictures I've saved of things that inspire me.  Linking to Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday.

Teresa at Garden Vintage Antiques had this as her header picture once.  She always has great pictures on her blog and she changes her header often.  I wish I could find some more watch fob chains, I've only found a few.

This picture is the set of 'It's Complicated'.  I love the furniture arrangement and my living room needs help.  I need some new furniture, just not sure what to pick.  BTW this movie is hilarious, if you haven't seen it yet, do.

This is a bracelet Betsy of My Salvaged Treasures made.  I've been wanting to make some jewelry with sewing notions, beyond buttons, like thimbles or bobbins, but this is way cool!

I've seen alot of coin purse necklaces I like and would love to make one for myself.  I did finally find a coin purse I like so I just need to get around to it.  Thank you, Teresa from Garden Vintage Antiques, for helping me identify where this necklace came from, see it at this post at Chippy's.

These pictures are from an internet search of Boleyn sisters.  I was looking for another necklace I thought was from this movie but I can't find the right one.  I do however have some initials that might work in a necklace like this.  That getting around to it thing again.

Some Things Change Some Things Stay The Same

 I'm linking up to Kathleen's Faded Charms for White Wednesday today.  Have fun with the loveliness!

I put away the skulls and rats and other blatantly Halloween decorations but left the fall, Thanksgiving things.

So while some things change, some things stay the same.

 Here's my dining room cupboard, I've shown probably too many times.  Sorry, it might be my favorite piece of furniture in the house.

 Sometime ago I swapped out some plates that used to be my Granma's for these pine cone plates.  My sister had some similar that I always liked and when I came across these at a yard sale I had to have them.  But I always have this little girl with a kitty statue the also once belonged to my Granma.  I can still picture it on the corner shelf in her little kitchen.

 

On either side of the cupboard are a couple water colors we bought from a vendor on the street when my husband was on assignment in Italy, many moons ago.

 I like these little platters with pictures hanging on them.

 I made these hangers cause I like the black wire better than the gold plate hangers you can buy.  I think Martha Stewart had a demo on these at one time.  So simple, use 18 gage black re-bar wire that you get at the hardware store.

 Here's a close up of the wire on the front and how you twist it together on the back.  Either add a separate loop for a hanger or leave a space between your twists to hook over a nail.

Then here's the turkey I've moved to the table.  I love these little turkey planters.  I've got 3 now, I guess that's a collection!

I think this guy would look cuter with a bunch of multi-colored button bouquet but this is White Wednesday after all.

Old Stuff, New Tricks

Maybe that's what I should be calling my stuff since that's what I like to do.  Taking old stuff that people are casting aside and putting it together in a way that will hopefully fit into our modern lifestyles.

Nothing earth shaking here.  Plates and candle stick pedestals, tchotchke boxes (yeah, I had to look up how to spell that) out of vintage tissue boxes, and in/out boxes out of, wait for it, in/out boxes, ooooo.  But I have fun with it.  Keeps me off the streets, well not really.

 

Here's a display from a recent craft show.  This was a very pretty venue at a local golf course.  Kinda funny, I came in the day before to set up but forgot my afternoon cup of coffee on the kitchen counter.  All the organizers were walking around with a glass of wine and I asked if there was someplace to get a cup of coffee.  They said,  

"I don't know we're drinkers around here!"

  Totally fun bunch, and helpful, hardly broke a sweat getting everything in and it was my fasted exit ever!

Here it is on the desk in our home office.  This is my husbands office, I should say, otherwise there would not be room on the desk top for this.  The closet however, is mine and filled to the brim.  What you can't see in these pictures is the chair propped under the door handles holding it shut.  Just kidding.....really!

So anyway, you've seen these file boxes around.  I've put them together with old trim pieces, the kind you would put on the outside corners of rooms to protect the plaster corners from getting dinged up.  This is the original color I found them in, love this color.  Also used this on my necklace holder from my last post.

So I'd like to tell you about this old ring stained desk.  It was my mom's first teacher desk.  I don't know how she came to own it, it has just always been around.  When we were kids, we each had a drawer, mine was the left hand middle drawer, still is.  Girls on the left, boys on the right, with my oldest brother's being the top drawer in the middle.  Not sure what the deal was when my little sister, number 8, came along.  Maybe she never got a drawer.  That's otay, being the baby she got all kinds of spoils!  Not that I'm bitter in any way.  Ha!

Anyway, I was going to link up to Pammy's In The Attic blog for her Project Monday but she has decided to host it once a month on the second Monday, that being next week Monday.  But she is celebrating the creation of her brand spankin' new web site Pammy's Attic.

She's having a giveaway!  Enter HERE!

Have fun checking out her blog and new website!

I was all hot to post something this morning so I'll have to come up with some other project next week.