Jo of Serendipitous Stitching is hosting her annual Advent Calendar Blog Hop. The theme this year is Christmas trees, our traditions, ornaments and whether we are a Star or Angel household when it comes to a tree topper. The links to this year's participants can be found here. Today it is my turn to share some Christmas tree memories and some Christmas stitching.
Since this year's theme is Christmas trees, I had to stitch this tree design.
We don't tend to take a photo of our Christmas tree and since we put it up the final weekend before Christmas, it is still sitting in its box. As we put it up so late, it comes down on the Epiphany.
You've probably guessed with my reference to box that we put up an artificial tree. This year we are putting up a new tree as last year's had got so old and droopy. It had been in use for 25 years so it doesn't owe us anything. Our tree is topped with a star.
When I was a child we always had a real tree topped with an angel, but once Santa stopped coming my parents bought an artificial one. We had beautiful glass ornaments and I always made sure that I was the one who put up the bell. I looked forward to the day it would be given to me to hang on my own tree. Sadly during the late 1980's someone dropped the box when taking it out out of the loft and virtually all the ornaments were broken, including 'my' bell.
As a result our Christmas tree is decorated with ornaments that my husband and I have bought together over the years. We tend to buy to buy a Christmas ornament when on holiday so for example, we have Santa on a San Francisco tram, Father Christmas climbing the Eiffel tower, Murano glass from Venice and wooden ornaments from Oberammergau. This means that decorating our tree can be a slow task as there are many pauses prefaced by "Do you remember when ..."
All the Christmas/Winter ornaments that I have received in crossstitch exchanges over the years are hung from a garland which hangs behind our television. That way I can easily admire them every day that they are up. The current year's exchange ornament is always hung in the centre.
Have a happy Advent season as we progress towards Christmas day.
Oh no, how sad to hear about your glass ornaments being dropped. I have to admit I worry about doing the same. It sounds like a lovely tradition to buy your ornaments on holiday, it will bring back many happy memories to look at them all. Merry Christmas
ReplyDeleteI've really enjoyed my visit today. Your tree cross stitch is delightful, and I love the way you finished it. I love reading about family Christmas tree traditions. I felt despair as I read of the fate of your precious glass ornaments. At least you still have the memories! Enjoy your new tree when it makes its appearance. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteYour stitched ornament is very nice. Sorry about the ornaments - we had a cat that decided to "climb" our tree and a lot of my special ornaments broke :( that is why many of my Grandma's haven't gone on the tree in years now. would still love seeing your tree with some of your special ornaments that hold good memories.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful memories! Your tree ornament is so cute and festive! That is nice to display the stitched ornaments on the garland. I too love having my souvenir ornaments to recall each place we've lived and special vacations. It makes Christmas extra nostalgic and a time to recount blessings.Joyeux Noel!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet new ornament you created. I was so sad to learn about all of your beloved Christmas ornaments Mary. Your new tree is going to look lovely with your special memory pieces. :)
ReplyDeleteOh how sad, we have some that have broken and some that are left, like you we put our trees up much closer to Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI love your ornament, Mary, but hated hearing about your ornament catastrophe. We do the same thing and purchase a Christmas ornament from our travels--nice memories. Our tree is pushing 30, but we still make it work--just turn the bad side to the wall :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking part in the Advent Calendar this year. Your little tree stocking is so cute! Such a shame about the ornaments breaking, they are so fragile no matter how well you wrap them.
ReplyDeleteI have a special garland for my stitched Ornaments too.
I'm so sorry to read about your 'bell' but how lovely you have special ornaments that bring back memories for you and your Hubby. Lovely idea for your ornaments too. Merry Christmas x x
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun stitch and finish!
ReplyDeleteSo sad that all your older ornaments were broken, but how nice to have new memories of all the ones you've collected.
That sounds like a nice way to display your exchange ornaments, I'm sure they'll all very different.
Happy Christmas!
Nice visiting with you. Merry Christmas
ReplyDeleteGorgeous little ornament with such festive colours. I like your idea of hanging stitched ornaments as there are many lovely designs and ways to finish a hand made piece. Pity about the broken glass ornaments, nearly all mine are now broken too - lost memories. Happy Christmas
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry about your special glass ornament...those are hard memories. I have one similar to that. Your cross-stitched tree for this year is darling! Isn't it fun to "visit" with your ornaments/memories as you decorate?! Merry Christmas!! :)
ReplyDeleteYour tree sounds lovely with all the special memories to each ornament!
ReplyDeleteI love your stitched tree/sock decoration! It’s very cute!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your broken “bell”, that was such a shame!
I like the idea of having all your stitched Christmas decorations together!
I have a few still to be fully finished off ..... I’ll have to do something like this another year (and finish my Christmas stitching earlier in the year!)).
Merry Christmas!
Barbara x