Monday, December 30, 2019

Victorian Happy New Year Illustration From The Harper's Young People Illustrations Book From 1889


What better way to send a "Happy New Year" greeting than with a beautiful illustration from the cover of the February 2, 1889 weekly in the Harper's Young People Illustrated Book on page 177.  It was entitled "New Year Greeting" and was drawn by F.S. Church, N.A.

I, too wish you all a Happy New Year.

Monday, December 23, 2019

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town!


Yes, Linda, there really is a Santa Claus!

I can remember my Mother telling me that, as I'm sure most of you can too.

We all know Santa as the familiar image with his red suit, sled or sleigh, reindeer's, and sacks of toys delivering packages to "all the good girls and boys!"

And, we all know about Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, the hard working elves, and all the reindeer.

For me the Christmas season is one of my favorite times of the year.  I just love the Christmas season and I always have.  Whether it's the hustle and bustle and busy nature of the season, the colors, or the festive atmosphere - I just love it.

Of course, when I was a child I loved it for very different reasons - the presents.  I could hardly wait for Santa to arrive so we could open presents.  In fact, back in 2005 I wrote about an incident that happened to me as a child on my Victorian Dolls, Victorian Traditions, The Victorian Era and Me blog entitled "Who Doesn't Love Christmas Presents!"  I hope you click on the link to read this story.  Let's just say I wasn't a "good" girl that year.

In thinking about Santa Claus and the Christmas season I was reminded of another Linda's Blog post I had written back in 2005 entitled "Yes, Linda, There Really Is A Santa Claus!" about the history of Santa Claus and thought you might like to re-read it. So, here it is:

I can remember my Mother telling me that, as I'm sure most of you can too. We all know Santa as the familiar image with his red suit, sled or sleigh, reindeer's, and sacks of toys delivering packages to "all the good girls and boys!" I love the Christmas season and I always have. It is by far one of my favorite times of the year.

The familiar image of Santa Claus is an American invention that first appeared in a drawing by Thomas Nast in Harper's Magazine in 1868 (see picture on the right).Thomas Nast helped create the kinder, more fatherly, plumper Santa as we know him today. But, Thomas Nast wasn't the only person to contribute to this legend. Clement Clarke Moore was a huge contributor as in 1822 he published his poem "A visit From St. Nicholas," bittern known as "The Night Before Christmas." His poem is the first mention of a sleigh powered by "eight tiny reindeer" and mentioning their names.

The legend of Father Christmas, however, is ancient and far more complex. Part of the legend is attributed to St. Nicholas and part to a jovial medieval figure in the "Spirit of Christmas." In Russia, Father Christmas carries a piglet under one arm. St. Nicholas is also know as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Heilige Nikolaus, and Pere Noel.

In the early part of the 19th century there was a revival of a Viking tradition of a jovial, winter figure who was associated with the winter festival. He was referred to as the "Spirit of Christmas." It was believed that by inviting him in through the "front door" to join in your holiday feasting, that the winter would be kind. The "Spirit of Christmas" was subsequently renamed "Father Christmas". Instead of him visiting through the front door, his visits were to be a surprise, with him arriving during the night and down the chimney. Victorian children would write letters to him and then throw them into the fireplace. Why burn the letters? Because, my dear, Father Christmas can read smoke.

But, where did St. Nicholas really come from? It is said that St. Nicholas was born in 245 A.D. in Patara near Fethiye and died in 326 A.D. having spent his life in Anatolia (which I believe is in Turkey.) St. Nicholas was the son of a wealthy family and had a good education. He became the Bishop of Demur, trying to solve the problems of his people in a most humane way. He devoted himself to mankind. He was known as the protector of children and sailors. In a number of countries the death of St. Nicholas is commemorated by the giving of presents to children.

But, how did the legend really begin? Well, it is said that St. Nicholas heard of a family with three daughters who were unable to wed as they had no dowry. St. Nicholas had come from a wealthy family and had given up all his worldy possessions to become a bishop. He took 3 bags of gold coins and dropped them down the family's chimney. The coins landed in the girls stockings that had been hung to dry on the fireplace (ah, that's where stockings come from!) St. Nicholas was caught in the act by the girls father, but he begged him to keep his secret. Two days later, however the entire village heard of his gift and so the tradition of stockings and St. Nicholas began.

In 1951-1955 St. Nicholas became synonymous with Santa Claus and in 1955 a Father Christmas stamp was issued. St. Nicholas devoted his life to his love of humanity, love for people of all different religions and beliefs. Most of all, his love for peace, friendship, and brotherhood.

Santa Claus, Father Christmas, or St. Nicholas is also a favorite of all crafters and doll makers. Why? Because we can make him anything we want him to be. Jovial, fat, skinny, Victorian, woodland, primitive, ugly. It doesn't matter. We love them all. Well, at least I do.

So, this Christmas season when you are hurrying around to get everything done and are fighting the crowd of shoppers just remember that St. Nicholas's message is one of peace, love, and humanity. Slow down, take a breath, and enjoy the season. And, remember these words from a very old, wise, good man: "Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!"





The Christmas Decorations in the Farmer's Porch and Bathroom This Year



Entry ways and bathrooms are sometime overlooked when it comes to Christmas decorations.  I like to decorate them, even the bathroom.

On the farmer's porch wall I decided to hang one of the quilted pictures hubby and I had made years ago, one of my new custom designed gingerbread-man wrapped canvas pictures, and one of the cloth wreaths I had made years ago.













On the counter in the bathroom I placed two of the woodcraft Christmas decorations my sister gave me years ago, a glass vase filled with Christmas artificial greens, silk floral and picks.  Standing behind the glass vase is one of the Santa wood spoons I had made over 25 years ago.


To the left of the sink on the counter is an adorable Santa Christmas woodcraft my sister gave me years ago.


Back in 1988 my mother was selling Avon and I bought a couple cute Christmas decorations from her.  One was a Santa cloth tissue box holder that I placed in the bathroom every Christmas since 1988.  The Santa tissue box holder and a reindeer Christmas knob decoration that I had were favorite decorations for my two granddaughters for many years.

Next to the Santa tissue box holder  is a basket filled with artificial evergreens and silk floral picks.  I used to put potpourri in this basket and in the glass vase on the counter but stopped doing that last year.  While the potpourri smells great for a day or two it doesn't last.


On the bathroom wall this year I decided to hang one of my new custom designed "The Stockings Were Hung" wrapped canvas picture, one of the wood spoon Santa's I made years ago, two of the stenciled Christmas Shadowbox Pictures I'd made years ago, and an adorable Santa wood sign my sister gave me years ago.








Above the closet in the bathroom hangs the gingerbread Santa ornament my sister gave me years ago.


On the wall next to the bathroom counter hangs one of the larger snowman shadowbox pictures hubby and I made years ago.


I was pleased with the way the bathroom and farmer's porch Christmas decorations came out this year - especially the custom designed wall wrapped canvas pictures.  I hope you enjoyed seeing all the decorations, too.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Christmas Decorations In The Sun-room This Year


One of the cheeriest and sunniest rooms in our house is our sun-room. It's one of my favorite rooms and was both my "beloved" mother's and our "beloved" Bud's favorite rooms. I know why it was my mother's favorite rooms - she just loved sunshine. Since this room is on the south side it gets a lot of sun and because of this can be "hot" at times.

I often wondered why it was "Bud's" favorite room too until one day it dawned on me that the sun-room was the only room in the house that he could see out of. He'd sit in front of the French doors all day just looking out.

So, I thought you'd enjoy seeing some of the Christmas decorations in our sun-room.

In the corner of the sun-room stands an olde fashioned wood Santa.  He stands 45" tall and is made our 3/4" pine wood. I named him "Kristopher" and he was made based upon a "From My Heart To Yours" design.

In front of him are two of the pine-cone baskets I made years ago.



Behind the Santa on the table top are one of the silk floral arrangements I made years ago, a papier-mâché Santa wolf Christmas decoration my brother gave me years ago, one of the Santa make-do decorations I made years ago and which I created a free e-pattern for, and one of the mixed media collage Christmas angels I made several years ago.


  




On the book shelves behind the table are some of the Christmas woodcraft decorations I've made over the years.  We have my two Santa primitive make-do decorations that I made free e-patterns for, one of the blue mixed media Santa collage shelf sitter decorations I made several years ago, one of the red mixed media Santa collage shelf sitter decorations I made several years ago, and four of the wood caroler dolls hubby and I made decades ago.


There are two small sofa's in the sun-room so I placed one of the large custom designed red Christmas pillows I created this year and for the other one of the white custom designed red Christmas pillows I created this year.



On the end table between the two small sofa's I added one of the cloth gingerbread-man place-mats, two of the white Christmas coasters and two of the red Christmas coasters I custom designed this year.


On the coffee table I added one of the cloth gingerbread-man place-mats, two of the white Christmas coasters and two of the red Christmas coasters I custom designed this year.


On the coffee table is also a large silk floral I made years ago in a adorable red and green striped ceramic base that was part of a beautiful natural floral arrangement that was given to me by my son-in-law and grandchildren for Christmas many years ago.  I saved the container for a long time as I loved it and knew one day I would have the right application for it.



Surrounding the large silk floral on the coffee table are several of the terra-cotta carolers I made years ago and several of the terra-cotta Santa's I made years ago.  I ended up designing free e-patterns for both of these so you could make some of your own if you wanted to.




Hanging up in the corner is a large silk floral poinsettia I bought years ago.  It hangs in front of a small corner bookcase.  On the top of the bookcase I placed two of the Trio Of Carolers I had made decades ago and which I created a free e-book for.


I was pleased with the way the sun-room Christmas decorations came out this year and hope you enjoyed seeing them.



Christmas Decorations In The Dining Room This Year



One of the reasons I just love the Christmas season is that everything is just so festive. Lots of bright colors and lots of wonderful color.  Add beautiful handmade Christmas decorations and you have a perfect season.

In my house we have three fireplaces that I have loved decorating for over 20 years. I used to decorate all three of them, but that got to be a bit much so I scaled it back to the family room fireplace and mantle and the dining room fireplace and mantle.

Here's what the Christmas decorations in the dining room look like this year.


The focal point of the dining room is the large Rumsfeld fireplace and mantle.  In front of the fireplace I placed the following Christmas decorations:


1) On the left side is a tall silk floral Christmas arrangement I made several years ago.


2)  Next to this floral is the handmade wood rocking doggie that my brother made me years ago and sitting on top of her is Adrienne, who is one of my vinyl dolls.


3) In the center of the fireplace sits "Theo" who is the grand-master of all our holiday events.



4) To the left of Theo is the large Mrs. Clause wood doll that hubby and I made years ago.


5) To the right of Theo is the large Santa wood doll that hubby and I made years ago.


The large Santa and Mrs. Claus wood and cloth dolls were actually made to decorate the area just outside my mother's apartment.  They were both created based on Shari's Country Classic patterns by Shari Johnson.  Santa was supposed to be holding a bear and a list and Mrs. Claus was supposed to be holding a doll and small bear in the pocket of her apron.  I opted to have my Mrs. Claus holding a basket filled with Christmas cookie molds and Santa just holding a "naughty or nice" list.

When my mother lived in an apartment building for senior citizens each and every year she and I would decorate an area just outside her apartment for Christmas. She loved it as did all her neighbors. Many of them commented to her about how much they loved our display.

Because Mrs. Claus never knows when she has to drop everything she's doing to bake Christmas cookies for the elves she is carrying the cookie molds around with her.

Santa and Mrs. Clause have had their place in our dining room at Christmas time for over 20 years. Once in awhile Mrs. Claus would even help my mother and I bake Christmas cookies.   Santa never helped.  He was always too tired .....


6)  In the front of Theo are three silk floral poinsettia arrangements I made years ago.



For the dining room mantle this year I decided to hang three of the Christmas stockings I made several years ago for myself, hubby, and my "beloved" Bud.  They've been stored in containers in the basement for close to a decade but this year I decided they should take their place where they always were years ago: hanging from the dining room mantle pegs.

In between the stockings are two wired ribbon bows I made years ago because the ribbons said "Joy."


Placed above the mantle and in the center of the brick wall is a silk floral spray I made over twenty years ago.

I placed the red/green metal trees with glitter that I found years ago at a Michaels store to the left and right of the silk floral spray on the center of the mantle.  In between those two trees are the "Home For Christmas" cross-stitch picture I made, the artificial Christmas tree I re-made several years ago and my new custom designed Christmas wood block sign decoration.






On the left side of the mantle are the mixed media Lady Snow Belle snow-lady art doll I made this past summer, the snowman nutcracker decorations hubby and I bought years ago, one of the Wee Winter Whimsies angel art doll I made from the Artful Gathering class by Hally Levesque, and the gold nutcracker hubby and  bought years ago. 



  

 



On the right side of the mantle are the mixed media Lady Maisy snow-lady art doll I made this past summer, one of the Winter Whimsies angel art doll I made from the Artful Gathering class by Hally Levesque, one of the mixed media Santa art dolls I made this past summer - Santa Samand the white nutcracker hubby and I bought years ago. 






On the other side of the dining room I decided to place the "North Pole" wood sign hubby made decades ago, the wood reindeer planter that hubby and I found at a local craft show decades ago, the large silk floral arrangement that I made for outside my farmer's porch years ago, and the Olde St. Nick and Mrs. St. Nicholas cloth dolls I made years ago and designed e-patterns for.






Over on the other side of the dining room I placed two of the Pine-cone Baskets I had made years ago, the "Yikes! Santa" doll I made years ago and designed an e-pattern for, one of the needle felted Santa's I made during my needle felting adventure - Richard The Red Santa, and the The Scottish Santa I made years ago.









I was pleased with the way the Christmas decorations in the dining room came out this year and hope you liked seeing them.