Favorite Christmas Decorations

[livius drusus]

http://www.freethought-forum.com/images/PiazzaNavona.jpgPiazza Navona decked out in its Christmas finestEvery Christmas there's a market in Rome's Piazza Navona (an oval, um, square, which was a sporting arena under Domitian and even way into the Renaissance featured horseraces and regattas) packed with ornament booths, Santa with a pony drawn carriage, candy cane makers (they make them right there in front of you so if you go by at the right time you can get a warm candy cane that hardens as you walk on), this killer peanut brittle kind of thing that my dad broke a tooth on once, and more. All of my favorite Christmas decorations come from Piazza Navona.

My favorite tree ornaments are long, clear glass teardrop with little inlays of colored glass in the shape of a flower. We have a whole set of these in every possible ornament shape but the teardrops are just so lovely and delicate looking.

My mom also has a nativity scene with so many parts that it is quite literally 8 feet long when assembled. They bought the basic holy family in manger (made out of cork and covered in gin-u-wine moss) with animals and wise men before I was born and then added to it from the Piazza Navona bounty every year. Thirty years later, and it's this gorgeous bustling Italian village complete with bridges and saucy wenches driving geese and fishmongers and little brick-oven bakeries. The figures are just bits of plastic in muted colors, but there's so much Italian verve and character in every piece it's thoroughly irresistable.

So, does anyone else have a favorite piece or pieces?

[LadyShea]

My grandma has given me an ornament every year since I was born. The first 18 or so were wood ones that she had painted and dated for me. I was given these when I left home to start to my own household so I had a nice start to my own tree. I love decorating my tree because each ornament is special and has a story.

[Dingfod]

Bubble lights. As a child I would gaze at them for hours. As an adult I still am mesmerized by them.

http://altura.speedera.net/ccimg.catalogcity.com/210000/214800/214882/Products/8590108.jpg

I'm just easily amused, I guess.

[Beth]

My two very favorite ornaments are my "Baby's First Christmas" ornaments. They are so special to me that I display them in my china cabinet the rest of the year. Another special ornament is one that my husband gave me last year. He paid a woman he was doing a job for to make me this beautiful and heavy stained glass ornament. It actually made me cry because he got the most perfect gift for me, I thought. Then, there are the ornaments that my kids made me during the year that I would be very sad if I lost.

Really, I some really wonderful ornaments but the ones that mean the most and hold most value are the ones that remind me of love.

[Dingfod]

In Beth's traditions thread, I mentioned my daughter saying that it just isn't Xmas without the Santa cup ornament. One just like this one, a tiny cup, only about 1-1/2" high.

http://www.larose.com/Cups_and_Mugs/images/Santa_Claus_Mug%20(2).JPG

[livius drusus]

I love decorating my tree because each ornament is special and has a story.

That's definitely how I feel about decorating the tree at my parents' house. Old stories get retold, oos and ahs abound: it's a happy thing.

Bubble lights. As a child I would gaze at them for hours. As an adult I still am mesmerized by them.

We never had any but I agree that they're totally hypnotic. Then again, I love bubbles just on principle. :bubbleup:

Really, I some really wonderful ornaments but the ones that mean the most and hold most value are the ones that remind me of love.

That explains why my mom never tossed out the piece of crap cardboard and yarn ornaments I made for her when I was a kid. :)

[Adora]

The wire-and-beads star I made a couple of years ago to put on top of our tree, because our old star was ratty and kinda dead.

[LadyShea]

The wire-and-beads star I made a couple of years ago to put on top of our tree, because our old star was ratty and kinda dead.

I love wire-and-beadwork, did you take a picture?

[Adora]

Errr, no, but I think it might still be in the Christmas-decoartions suitcase downstairs, which is going to be opened and have it's contents used in the next couple of days (we're always so damn slack with decorating in my place). So if I find it I'll scan it and post it here.

[LadyShea]

Errr, no, but I think it might still be in the Christmas-decoartions suitcase downstairs, which is going to be opened and have it's contents used in the next couple of days (we're always so damn slack with decorating in my place). So if I find it I'll scan it and post it here.

We haven't put up our tree yet. Real trees dry out so damn fast here. We also aren't decorating the outside this year because we have hired a painting crew...apparently they can't paint around my swag lights and 10 foot tall snowman, slackers.

[wildernesse]

My favorite Christmas decoration when I was younger was this stick man whose body was a roll of LifeSavers--I think it's legs and arms were yarn or pipe cleaners or something. I have no idea where it came from (maybe I made it?), but I loved that (seriously ratty) ornament. Then one day my parents noticed that the ants that are trying to take over our house were mysteriously heading into the closet where the Christmas ornaments were stored. AAAAHHH! They were feasting on LifeSaver Man! Nooooo! (and similar howls of dismay) So, my mom threw him out--not in my presence, of course.

Our first Christmas after we got married, RA surprised me with a tabletop tree with fiberoptic lights that change colors--which is perfect for us. We also have wooden reindeer that his mom gave us with our last name--they were part of their family Christmases when RA was little. I like that.

[lady cop]

i have a "village", mine is London in the time of Dickens "A Christmas Carol"...i have all the principal characters, their homes, the Tower of London, animals, people, trees, landscaping, horse-drawn carriages includiing the Queen's, churchyard with Scrooge's tombstone, the ghosts, pipers and soldiers, it is really lovely. i add pieces each year, and so it grows. .......an aside...this year i have strung blue and red lights outdoors (the color of cruiser lightbars) to honor officers killed in the line of duty in 2004. we lost four heroes. :(

[Legs]

A wooden reindeer my father made with a wonky antler. It is about 20 years old and it's back holds a large pointsettia. :)

[Legs]

Widget & Legs' Tree

http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/3079/dec5tree20vn.jpg

[livius drusus]

Nice necromance. That picture of Piazza Navona so rules. :vibes:

My parents got the three this afternoon, and now they have to thaw it for 2 days or they could get electrocuted when they dress it. My mom will doubtless put up the horribly crappy little cardboard "ornament" I made them 20 years ago which never fails to embarass me even as she gushes about it. :blush:

ETA: O. M. G. Your tree is drop dead gorgeous, Legsy. :eek:

[Legs]

I made them 20 years ago which never fails to embarass me even as she gushes about it. :blush:


but thats so sweet, liv :vibes:

I have a Toronto Blue Jays ornament thats my ex-husbands... I put it on the back of the tree.

[livius drusus]

:lol: Right above a sappy knot, I presume?

[Legs]

ETA: O. M. G. Your tree is drop dead gorgeous, Legsy. :eek:

Thanks... I made the angel years ago, she is paper mache' with covered with cracked eggshells. Her wings fell off this year, I'll have to repair her!

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/9809/dec5angel5iq.jpg

[livius drusus]

That's papier mache and eggshells? It looks like satin or taffeta. You're some craftswoman, Legs. :wow:

[Legs]

It's all newspaper, crepe paper, cardboard, glue, eggshells, gold paint and a ready made set of porcelain hands & head that I bought.

Here is a close up of her wings (in the kitchen :shrug: ) you can see the eggshells better.
http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/2952/dec5angelwings7rg.jpg

[Megatron]

Bleh, my favorites have always been the cool multicolored things of candy canes that come in different flavors. Makes the cleanup real easy and you get a lot of free candy after xmas is over.

[alphamale]

Every Christmas there's a market in Rome's Piazza Navona

Please don't offend the people who don't celebrate it by using C________.

Thank you.

[livius drusus]

Here is a close up of her wings (in the kitchen :shrug: ) you can see the eggshells better.

If I didn't know that's what they were I'd never be able to tell. It's a brilliant technique. How are you going to reattach the wings?

Bleh, my favorites have always been the cool multicolored things of candy canes that come in different flavors. Makes the cleanup real easy and you get a lot of free candy after xmas is over.

I love candy canes too, but the peppermint ones are boring. My favorite from the warm candy cane in Piazza Navona days were the pink-on-pink strawberry flavored ones.

[Legs]

There is a piece of wood inside the cone of her body (that sounds awful :chuckle: ) but it's true... the wings screw into the wood, but the screw was stripped and just fell out this year. I have to get a plug and rescrew them.

Sounds like a job for widget.

alphabit - the thread title is 'Favorite Christmas Decorations'- you didn't have to click so don't complain about the contents. :wave:

[Odysseus]

We just have a real tree and white lights. Its simple tasteful and easy to put up. We also have a wreath on the door.

[TomJoe]

My Fontanini Nativity Set.

[livius drusus]

I looked Fontanini up on the web and the figures remind me a lot of my mom's giant presepio. In fact, I might just have to get her Marcus (http://www.fontanini.net/detail.aspx?ID=336) to add to the less interesting, uncharioted Romans who hang around the bar and sausage joint. :yup:

[alphamale]

How about this - a Nativity scene with a holiday baby in it?

(ripped off from Jay Leno :D)

[livius drusus]

Do you have any favorite Christmas decorations, alpha?

[lisarea]

We have a winged wooden frog for the top of the tree. It looks like it's Balinese or something like that, and I think it has a crown and sceptre (although I haven't seen it this year yet, and I don't trust my memory.)

I love that thing so much.

So, hey. Does anyone ever make candy canes? We did a couple of years ago, but the ODB says we're not allowed anymore because we got the second degree burns and shit. But I really want some, and what's he going to do? Ground me? So, does anyone know how to make candy canes without the degloving part?

(Peppermint with a tetch of vanilla and butter, which is not boring. Non-peppermint candy canes are an abomination in the eyes of God.)

[erimir]

His favorite ones are the ones that he can use for political purposes. Or merely to annoy people. Cuz that's the True Meaning of Christmas™.

I like some of the Swedish decorations we have - straw goats, straw hanging things (kinda like a chandelier but without lights), and these little men made of wood and yarn. Also I like the wooden band members (not Swedish).

My dad likes these Indian ornaments we have of elephants, parrots, stars and such that are kinda like little pillows with sequins on them.

[Leesifer]

We have a shop bought angel at the top of our tree but about 10 years ago, while I was at work, my hubby and his kids stuck a cut out photograph of my face on the angel. It took me a couple of days to actually notice - I wondered why they kept giggling everytime I looked at the tree.

They updated it every year, until the kids emigrated to Australia with their Mum. It's still my favourite decoration, even though I hate the photo.

[livius drusus]

(Peppermint with a tetch of vanilla and butter, which is not boring. Non-peppermint candy canes are an abomination in the eyes of God.)

Why must you turn this thread into a thread of lies? Good thing that winged frog is so cool or I'd be pretty pissed.

My dad likes these Indian ornaments we have of elephants, parrots, stars and such that are kinda like little pillows with sequins on them.

We have a sequined indian ornament too. I was fascinated by it as a kid because even though it's really small (your basic sphere ornament only no more than an inch in diameter) it weighs a ton.

[livius drusus]

We have a shop bought angel at the top of our tree but about 10 years ago, while I was at work, my hubby and his kids stuck a cut out photograph of my face on the angel. It took me a couple of days to actually notice - I wondered why they kept giggling everytime I looked at the tree.

That's absolutely adorable. I might have to conspire with my dad to do something like that next time I'm at their place for Christmas.

[wei yau]

My tree is a tribute to secular consumerism.

There are not religious symbols, but plenty of Hallmark ornaments of the following:

Snoopy
Star Wars
Star Trek
Batman
Superheroes-in-general
Powerpuff Girls
and puppies

It's a plastic tree with minimal lights, no ball ornaments (as the Hallmark ornaments are very plentiful).

No topper, we had one (a big bow), but that got lost. I need to get a new topper.

[Leesifer]

Can I suggest a Pepe le Pew topper?

[TomJoe]

Growing up, my parents tree had minimal ball ornaments. Each year we'd go to the Christmas store (there was a rather large one, I don't know what they did with it during the non-Christmas season) and we'd all get an ornament. So after awhile, there wasn't room for the generic Christmas ornaments. Since I've moved out, my sister has gotten me a Christmas ornament just about every year and there are a couple of beautiful ones I really love (I'll have to take some pics and post them). I don't have a tree yet this year, I might buy a small table top one (since it's just me in my house) and put the few ornaments I have and decorate it that way. :)

Plus, every year I've taken my pooches to PetSmart to terrorize them with Santa. Two pictures taken, one framed and one put in a Christmas ornament. So those will go on my tree as well.

[livius drusus]

It sounds like you have Geek Tree (http://www.nuketown.com/features/geektree/), wei yau.

[alphamale]

Do you have any favorite Christmas decorations, alpha?

Yes - we string up lights that are multi-colored. A lot of houses around here use the bloodless PC white "icicle lights", I guess to keep from offending any zoroastrian who may be wandering by. Also have on the lawn some wireframe "present boxes" outlined in lights - looks real cool.

[wei yau]

Mmmm....geek tree
:homdrool:

I also have a model train circling the tree. Unfortunately, the damned engine broke and it won't move. I need a new model train.

[TomJoe]

Yes - we string up lights that are multi-colored. A lot of houses around here use the bloodless PC white "icicle lights", I guess to keep from offending any zoroastrian who may be wandering by. Also have on the lawn some wireframe "present boxes" outlined in lights - looks real cool.

Yes, because there are so many Zoroastrians out there to offend. I'm sure that's exactly the reason they use them. Dude, can't you just honestly answer the God damned questions from time to time without politicizing everything? I find your comments amusing a fair portion of the time, but really ... it gets old after awhile. Especially when you do it in threads where there wasn't any tension before you showed up with these sorts of comments.

Chill.

[wei yau]

And my latest acquisition for the Geek Tree (thanks, liv) is Hallmark's Star Trek ornament for 2005....the Enterprise NCC-1701-A (http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product|10001|10051|536877|-2;-104468;86665;-107465;86588;86626||P1R8SO|products)

This should make Mr. Lone Ranger very happy (http://)

[viscousmemories]

My favorite ornaments are these ones my Mom has (or had?)... just standard bulbs that my siblings and I decorated by gluing glitter to them with our names and stuff on Christmas, 1976.

[alphamale]

Yes, because there are so many Zoroastrians out there to offend.

Yaaaa - just like the stores say "Happy Holidays" because there are so many Zoroastrians out there to offend. :D

Dude, can't you just honestly answer the God damned questions from time to time without politicizing everything?

You're complaining to the wrong person, dude. It's LIBERALS who have politicized everything - I fight back.

I find your comments amusing a fair portion of the time, but really ... it gets old after awhile. Especially when you do it in threads where there wasn't any tension before you showed up with these sorts of comments.

Put me on ignore - it's real easy!!

[livius drusus]

So cute, wei yau! I want Locutus of Borg (http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product|10001|10051|536873|-2;-104468;86665;-107465;86588;86626||P1R7SO|products). :wriggle:

[TomJoe]

Put me on ignore - it's real easy!!

Fair enough. A plonk it is.

[livius drusus]

My favorite ornaments are these ones my Mom has (or had?)... just standard bulbs that my siblings and I decorated by gluing glitter to them with our names and stuff on Christmas, 1976.

I bet she still has them. I mean, my mom kept that hideous cardboard thing and it's not even cute like all your little glittery ornaments must be.

[lisarea]

(Peppermint with a tetch of vanilla and butter, which is not boring. Non-peppermint candy canes are an abomination in the eyes of God.)

Why must you turn this thread into a thread of lies? Good thing that winged frog is so cool or I'd be pretty pissed.

Oh. Sorry for speaking the truth and all.

From now on, I'll pretend to respect the diversity of your multicultural, pee-see, homosexual pork-and-fruit candy canes or whatever the hell you're going on about.

[livius drusus]

You're pork and fruit.

[lisarea]

You're a moonbat.

[erimir]

Yes - we string up lights that are multi-colored. A lot of houses around here use the bloodless PC white "icicle lights", I guess to keep from offending any zoroastrian who may be wandering by.

1. Most Americans don't even know Zoroastrians exist (I know some personally, actually - but I'm not most Americans).

2. Why would they be offended...?

3. We use icicle lights, but I don't recall ever discussing the reason for buying them, and certainly Zoroastrianism never came up. Presumably my parents bought them because they like the way they look. You know, like, the most likely explanation for anyone buying icicle lights. Are you gonna tell me now that icicle lights are bigotry?

4. If they're the multicolored lights with the big bulbs, I think they look tacky anyway.
You're complaining to the wrong person, dude. It's LIBERALS who have politicized everything - I fight back.Oh please.

This thread was not political til you came in. We weren't discussing your "issues" we were discussing decorations.

[freemonkey]

I also have a model train circling the tree. Unfortunately, the damned engine broke and it won't move. I need a new model train.
d'oh! We gave one of those to Goodwill this summer! We got it to put around our little ceramic village a couple years ago, but Hank decided to be Catzilla, and took up residence on that village. The train could not get past him.

[alphamale]

1. Most Americans don't even know Zoroastrians exist (I know some personally, actually - but I'm not most Americans).

2. Why would they be offended...?

WHY WOULD THEY BE OFFENDED???? Because if there were any red and green lights, traditionally associated with C________, the Zoroastrians would feel excluded, put down, not multicultured!!! Whatsa matter with you, ya racist, ethnocentric, undiversified, sexist homophobic pig? Ya think C_____ is just for C______'s????

[Plant Woman]

Hey now! Don't take moon bats' names in vain or as a put down. We loves de little guys!

Sheesh some peoples! :bat:

[Plant Woman]

Oops forgot why I came in.

My favorite ornament is um, er, hmmmmm I love 'em all!

[Leesifer]

1. Most Americans don't even know Zoroastrians exist (I know some personally, actually - but I'm not most Americans).

2. Why would they be offended...?

WHY WOULD THEY BE OFFENDED???? Because if there were any red and green lights, traditionally associated with C________, the Zoroastrians would feel excluded, put down, not multicultured!!! Whatsa matter with you, ya racist, ethnocentric, undiversified, sexist homophobic pig? Ya think C_____ is just for C______'s????


Why don't you leave this nice thread alone, you silly boy!


d'oh! We gave one of those to Goodwill this summer! We got it to put around our little ceramic village a couple years ago, but Hank decided to be Catzilla, and took up residence on that village. The train could not get past him.

Heh! Catzilla! :giggle:

[Legs]

Merry Christmas Alphabit :santahat:

[Sweetie]

One dog, one cat, three kids and my tree is, well.....it's ummm, suffering, hehe. 6:30 this morning, hear glass breaking. My daughter comes to me, "Mom, Pepper broke my angel." :sadcheer:

Did you know that candy canes disappear off the tree into thin air? Curious and curiouser. :chin:

:D

[livius drusus]

Which animal is Pepper? When I was a kid my parents always put me in charge of the bottom part of the tree. We have bunches of soft, unbreakable ornaments which I would hang in the cat/dog danger areas.

[Sweetie]

Which animal is Pepper? When I was a kid my parents always put me in charge of the bottom part of the tree. We have bunches of soft, unbreakable ornaments which I would hang in the cat/dog danger areas.

Pepper is the cat. I tried to make sure they really tightened the hooks on both ends but alas...... :sadcheer:

[livius drusus]

That's a shame. Maybe you could get her a new angel as a present this year?

[Sweetie]

I think it's one of the crafty homeade things. :yup: Irreplaceable.

I'll see what I can do to help her feel better, though she's not too upset.

[Sweetie]

Oh, haha, I think maybe one of my new favorite Christmas decorations is this sort of santa hat I just bought. It's pink in the style of "Precious Moments" and it says "Precious" accross the front. :giggles: One would think it was made especially for me. :yup:

:giggles:

[livius drusus]

Hmmm... Well in that case...

[alphamale]

Merry Christmas Alphabit :santahat:

Thank you! Do you celebrate a holiday this time of year?

[erimir]

WHY WOULD THEY BE OFFENDED???? Because if there were any red and green lights, traditionally associated with C________, the Zoroastrians would feel excluded, put down, not multicultured!!! Whatsa matter with you, ya racist, ethnocentric, undiversified, sexist homophobic pig? Ya think C_____ is just for C______'s????
God you're stupid.

What I do with my own private property is my own business. You're just being intentionally obtuse when you act like anyone has ever (especially on HERE) suggested that someone can't put whatever lights they want on their own house.

Government actions are and always have been the issue, you dolt. Not what decorations you put up on your own house.

Merry Satanmas, Alpha!

[alphamale]

Government actions are and always have been the issue, you dolt. Not what decorations you put up on your own house.

Well no not quite. What you put up on your house can be a marker of how far you've sucked in the brainwashing and become a Happy Holiday PC penis!

[erimir]

Or it could be a marker that you're not a very religious Christian, NOT a Christian, or that you prefer white lights, or think that the decorations you would prefer are tacky, you dumbass.

I celebrate Christmas, and I'm an atheist, and I've never wanted to put up a nativity scene simply because I'm not a Christian. Not cuz I'm trying not to offend people. I don't like putting up plastic Santas and shit cuz I think they're tacky. That has never even been a passing consideration at my house, a house full of liberal atheists/agnostics who would never ever vote for Bush.

I challenge you to find real people who actually changed what decorations they put up on their house purely on the basis of not wanting to offend other people. Now, 5 would hardly be a demonstration of a large trend, but if you can find 5 real people and document their existence, then I'll believe you.

[viscousmemories]

This thread was not political til you came in. We weren't discussing your "issues" we were discussing decorations.
Do you think arguing with him is helping?

[livius drusus]

Good question. Take it to a new thread or something, gentlemen. This one is about our favorite Christmas decorations.

[erimir]

This thread was not political til you came in. We weren't discussing your "issues" we were discussing decorations.
Do you think arguing with him is helping?
*sheepish* No....

I'll be good!

[LadyShea]

I can't believe I forgot to post this last year.

lisarea, you can drive on down to see it even

In Palmer Lake, CO they have an enormous star on a hillside that can be seen for miles and miles. Except for during WWII, it has been turned on every year since 1934. I LOVED that star, and still miss it

Here's an old pic of it
http://www.ci.palmer-lake.co.us/images/star1.jpg

This picture is up close to it and sucks
http://www.ourcommunitynews.org/images/v3n12star1.jpg

Shit, that's all I can find online. If you go to the town library there are pics everywhere.

[livius drusus]

lisarea, call your sister. Men, don't be babies about it. Tampon Crafts (http://www.tamponcrafts.com/menorah.html). :lmao:

[LadyShea]

Um, who makes non-peppermint candy canes? What's a moonbat?

[pescifish]

There are several amazing holiday light displays around the Los Angeles area, but it's been years since I've visited any. Disneyland does a wonderful job of decorating.

But right now, my personal favorite is my own silly tree, set up for the first time since Christmas 1996 and the sort of dumbass goal I can hope to achieve these days of gimpiness. I didn't get any outside lights up, but I set up a second lighted tree in my patio room off my master bedroom. It's a simple fake pine year round topiary that was strung with white lights and augmented with about a billion multicolored ones. I have a few crystal snowflake ornaments on it that really just show up as sparkle (at least to my eyes).

Here's a picture of my living room tree and some of the presents waiting to be distributed:
http://www.pescifish.net/images/2005Xmas-tree+gifts.jpg

[lisarea]

We just put up our Politically Correct Holiday Tree today.

The picture's kind of funny-looking because I wanted to draw out some important details apart from the detail shots (of the frog topper and my favorite ornament). I also want to add that I have several Asian-looking Santas and several zebu ornaments, but those are the only ones I could make out in the picture.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2/lisarea/xmesstree.jpg

We don't have presents wrapped yet, so I put that doll under there for the picture. Serious. That's why I put it there, really. So it wouldn't look empty under the tree.

[freemonkey]

I really like the frog on top, lisa.

Hubby is working on trying to get me to decorate this year. So if I cave and climb into the attic to get the tree and decorations, I'll take pics of my favs before I pack them back in the boxes, 'cuz I'll be damned if I'm gonna let those stupid cats anywhere near my favorite ornaments. :cat: :blackcat:

[viscousmemories]

Here's a picture of my living room tree and some of the presents waiting to be distributed:
That looks really nice, pesci. I actually spent a good 2 1/2 minutes thinking about maybe doing something decorative this year (for the first time in my life) but decided against it.

Lisa, the frog is a definite winner.

[alphamale]

I celebrate Christmas, and I'm an atheist, and I've never wanted to put up a nativity scene simply because I'm not a Christian.

We weren't talking nativity scenes, bozo.

Not cuz I'm trying not to offend people. I don't like putting up plastic Santas and shit cuz I think they're tacky.

How about Halloween? All those cheap tacky costumes, idiotic pumpkins, and kids asking for candy that's not good for them? You take a pass on that too?

[alphamale]

Good question. Take it to a new thread or something, gentlemen. This one is about our favorite Christmas decorations.

People have turned plenty of my threads political, and lots of threads change topics.

[Plant Woman]

I can't believe I forgot to post this last year.

This picture is up close to it and sucks
http://www.ourcommunitynews.org/images/v3n12star1.jpg

Shit, that's all I can find online. If you go to the town library there are pics everywhere.

That is soooo cool! I love it. Maybe we should have one on the side of Mt. Rainier.

[Plant Woman]

I bought this glass piece at a recycle art fair two years ago. In the winter I hang it in my greenhouse.

http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/files/6/9/9/GreenhouseOrna121405.jpg

My view at a kitchen window into the summer-looking greenhouse packed with plants for the winter. Two of my Christmas cactus are just coming into bloom. They live outside during the summer and bloom in the greenhouse from December into January, making my view very cheery.

http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/files/6/9/9/Greenhouse121405_4.jpg

[erimir]

How about Halloween? All those cheap tacky costumes, idiotic pumpkins, and kids asking for candy that's not good for them? You take a pass on that too?
What do my personal aesthetic preferences in Christmas decorations have to do with that? I don't like big plastic Santas. That doesn't mean I don't like Halloween.

I don't find jack-o-lanterns tacky. I wouldn't put up most other Halloween decorations tho. However, I'm lazy and I live in a dorm, so I haven't done a jack-o-lantern in a few years. I try not wear the store-bought costumes. They usually cost more and are less original than making one yourself. And I love candy, soooo...

[livius drusus]

pesci, I love your little tree. It gives me hope that I might motivate to do something small and pretty like that.

Debbie, that glass art is just stunning. Your greenhouse is so bright and green it looks like Spring instead of Winter in the Pacific NW.

lisa, the frog is just so money.

LadyShea, the candy cane booths in Piazza Navona make canes of all different colors and flavors. The white with red stripes are not actually peppermint; they're sort of neutral flavored. The mint ones are light green with dark green stripes. The strawberry pink on pink were always my favorites.

Oh, they also don't have crooks. They're candy hiking sticks more than canes, really.

Lastly, Ensign Steve is a moonbat (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5717). :ffgiggle:

[Ymir's blood]

pescifish, you should decorate the tree with festive BoneKnees.

lisarea, I also love the frog. I really like the way its shadow falls in the photo. It would make a great avatar.

[Legs]

I love looking at everyones decorations :vibes:

[LadyShea]

Pesci, I love your tree, it's very pretty and similar to what I do.

lisarea, you worry me, however the PC tree looks kick ass.

DebbieT, I am jealous of your greenhouse and your glass art...damn!

[lisarea]

Hey! Does anyone want to know how retarded I am?

I was looking around all over here last night because I SWORE I saw Lady Shea talking about this one star on a mountain, and liv talking about tampon menorahs, and I could. not. find. it. anywhere. Even though I looked directly in and even POSTED TO this thread during that time.

Because I wanted to say: HOORAY! I am going to see if my bro wants to go see that star on the hill when he gets here. PLUS, he's a tampon artiste himself. He once found some when he was a kid and made them into super-cool rockets.

For some reason, though, he gets mad when I talk about that. I think he's probably being modest.

[Legs]

lisarea :giggle:

[LadyShea]

I am going to see if my bro wants to go see that star on the hill when he gets here

If you go (do you know how to get to Palmer lake?) please try to take a nice picture. It's so beautiful and the pics online suck.

[lisarea]

I am going to see if my bro wants to go see that star on the hill when he gets here

If you go (do you know how to get to Palmer lake?) please try to take a nice picture. It's so beautiful and the pics online suck.

Ummm. Heh.

You've seen how I take pictures. I'm probably the worst photographer in the world.

Tell you what, though. I'll try to get the Little Muffin to come with. He's a brilliant photographer, and has a nice camera that he knows how to use and everything.

Palmer Lake sounds familiar, but I don't know where it is off the top of my head. But if my brother and conditions are both amenable, I'd like to go see it. I like pretty lights way lots.

[LadyShea]

Palmer Lake sounds familiar, but I don't know where it is off the top of my head. But if my brother and conditions are both amenable, I'd like to go see it. I like pretty lights way lots.

It's just NW of Monument and just S of Larkspur where the Renn Faire is. Basically not too far SW of Castle Rock.

It really is breathtaking. When I was a semi-churchgoer, I went to the tiny log church (aptly named Little Log Church) that is just below the star every Christmas Eve for candlelight services. The star was so bright it lit the inside of the church.

While you're there, drive by Estemere Estate (http://www.estemere.net/) which should be decorated for the season.

[Plant Woman]

I love that quote button! How easy is that!

Debbie, that glass art is just stunning. Your greenhouse is so bright and green it looks like Spring instead of Winter in the Pacific NW.


DebbieT, I am jealous of your greenhouse and your glass art...damn!

Thanks liv and Lady Shea, it is my lifeline to keep me from getting SADD and I love it at Christmas when the tender fuchsias, and Christmas cactus are in bloom. I have white lights all at the bases of the plants so at night the whole greenhouse sparkles with light.

I whish I had a glass kiln so that I too could make these recycle glass ornaments. I would make quite a few for the tree! Snowflakes and icicles for sure!

[lisarea]

It's just NW of Monument and just S of Larkspur where the Renn Faire is. Basically not too far SW of Castle Rock.

Ooh OOH!

So, several years back, the same bro was out here for the holidays, and we drove all the fuck the way out to Genoa, almost in Kansas, to see the Wonder Tower (http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/COGENwonder.html), but when we got there, turned out that it was CLOSED, for the first time in human history. So we drove home. It ate the whole day, and all we did was just drive and get some really bad diner food.

So. Here's what I'm thinking: Wonder Tower during the day, then the star afterward.

But I am totally going to call the Wonder Tower people first and make sure they're really going to be there this time.

[freemonkey]

a recycle art fair

Ooooooh! Where? Where?!

My good friend, who made this:

http://www.lisastirrett.com/images/Glass%20images/CCfish-3.jpg

is having a kiln built, but I don't know that she's willing to share right now (it (the kiln) doesn't even have a home yet).

[TomJoe]

Here is my Nativity set. It's small at the moment, only have had it for a couple of years. As a tradition, each year I buy one new figure.

Also attached is probably my favorite ornament. It's a pewter Santa. Pretty hefty ornament.

[Plant Woman]

a recycle art fair

Ooooooh! Where? Where?!

My good friend, who made this:

http://www.lisastirrett.com/images/Glass%20images/CCfish-3.jpg

is having a kiln built, but I don't know that she's willing to share right now (it (the kiln) doesn't even have a home yet).

It's in Troutdale, Oregon. I went once and it was fabulous. I bet Crumb or godfry know more about it.

Did you make the fish? That is sooooo coool!

[livius drusus]

Here is my Nativity set. It's small at the moment, only have had it for a couple of years. As a tradition, each year I buy one new figure.

That's how my parents built up their presepio. The put it on top of the travertine bookshelves now, and when fully deployed it's at least 8 feet long.

Also attached is probably my favorite ornament. It's a pewter Santa. Pretty hefty ornament.

That is drop-dead gorgeous. Where did you get it?

[LadyShea]

Tom Joe, I have a Fontinini nativity! My manger doesn't have an angel on it though and that looks awesome.

[freemonkey]

Did you make the fish? That is sooooo coool!
I wish! It was made by a very good friend, who also lives here on the peninsula. The full sculpture can be seen at the Conference Center (http://www.lisastirrett.com/images/commercial%20images/convention-center-doorway.jpg) on the downtown Bremerton Waterfront.

I have done exactly 2 glass pieces, very small and very not gorgeous. I plan to do more once facilities, time and funds are more readily available.

[TomJoe]

That is drop-dead gorgeous. Where did you get it?

Thanks. It's a Lenox piece, given to me by my sister. It's entitled Santas Expedition.

Tom Joe, I have a Fontinini nativity! My manger doesn't have an angel on it though and that looks awesome.

Thanks. :)

[Plant Woman]

I have done exactly 2 glass pieces, very small and very not gorgeous. I plan to do more once facilities, time and funds are more readily available.

Oh you live on Kitsap Peninsula too! Way cool! I will have to go see that in Bremerton.

Where are you having the glass fired? Hey sometimes we are our own worst critics. But, give it time, I am sure you will get the technique down fast enough. I would love to do some but not ready for a kiln, yet. If that kiln doesn't have a home, I would be happy to give it one. :wink:

[livius drusus]

Thanks. It's a Lenox piece, given to me by my sister. It's entitled Santas Expedition.

Thanks for the tip, TomJoe. I checked their site and found 3 great pieces for my parents. :thankee:

[freemonkey]

Oh you live on Kitsap Peninsula too! Way cool! I will have to go see that in Bremerton.

:d'oh: oops, I thought you knew that. Yes, I do.

Where are you having the glass fired?
Some studio in Poulsbo, I can't remember what the artist owner's name is. He's gone to the Southwest, though.[/quote]

Hey sometimes we are our own worst critics. But, give it time, I am sure you will get the technique down fast enough.
Yes, practice makes better. Its too expensive a proposition for me, but I'll help out for my friend and have the opportunity to learn while I'm doing it.

I would love to do some but not ready for a kiln, yet. If that kiln doesn't have a home, I would be happy to give it one. :wink:
She's trying to stay as close to home as possible, but I'll let her know. You should know, though, that this is gonna be a big kiln. She's got some big plans!

[freemonkey]

Also attached is probably my favorite ornament. It's a pewter Santa. Pretty hefty ornament.
That is gorgeous. Is the balloon made of glass?

[Plant Woman]

oops, I thought you knew that. Yes, I do.
Yes I think I did, sorry memory had a lapse there!

Yes, practice makes better. Its too expensive a proposition for me, but I'll help out for my friend and have the opportunity to learn while I'm doing it.

That is cool that you have someone that can teach you. I will be jealous for now and maybe someday you can teach me! :wink:

She's trying to stay as close to home as possible, but I'll let her know. You should know, though, that this is gonna be a big kiln. She's got some big plans!

I was just kidding, however, someday I do want a kiln for myself, but don't have a place for one or proper wiring (yet). I take classes sometimes on Bainbridge so that I can throw bowls and such and they fire everything.

[TomJoe]

Also attached is probably my favorite ornament. It's a pewter Santa. Pretty hefty ornament.
That is gorgeous. Is the balloon made of glass?

Thanks. Unfortunately, it's plastic. However, maybe that's not such a bad thing as I'd have probably broken it by now.

[pescifish]

Just to prolong the holiday spirit, I finally took a photo of the second Christmas tree I set up in my patio room off my master bedroom. It's a year round decorator fake pine topiary that was pre-strung with 150 white lights, to which I added 200 multi-colored lights some of which sparkle on-off. I have it on a timer and I can fall asleep to its twinkling.

http://www.pescifish.net/2005Xmas/2005Xmas-PatioRoomTree.jpg

[Legs]

Your dogs are thinking "to hell with the tree, turn on the TV" :giggle:

[livius drusus]

That's really cute, pesci. The different colors and sizes of the light remind me of a Hubble pic. :nova:

[Plant Woman]

I love that idea Pesci. I have a problem window off my master bedroom that I need to screen off my neighbors. So I am building a solid wall and going to make some concrete artwork to paint and hang on it (I think I am anyway!). I wanted to light it up at night with some up lamps, but maybe some twinkle lights would do the trick! That is wonderful to sleep with the twinkling lights.

[pescifish]

I :beating: my patio room. I've got a jacuzzi in there and some vertical blinds that let me see the mountain view without much chance of people seeing in. I didn't use the jacuzzi much when it was outside, now I keep it at 85degF all the time and slide in whenever I want.Your dogs are thinking "to hell with the tree, turn on the TV":laugh: They do, don't they?! :doggies:

[Plant Woman]

We have a simple decor. We live in a beach community so our home has a beach home feel to it with slip covers, wicker, old beatup tables, or things I put together; even though we don't live right on the water. Christmas time we do bring out a lot of stuffage though.

Here are a few scenes in our living room.

Not one of our better home grown trees, this one was a bit off. It is decorated with white lights and glass, white or silver ornaments. Lots of sparkle! We do another tree with lots of color and colorful ornaments in our family room (except this year we didn't put the second one up.)
http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/files/6/9/9/LivingRoomChristmas122905.jpg

Part of my Santa Claus collection. I didn't put them all up this year and thinking about pairing them down to just these on the table.
http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/files/6/9/9/SantaCollection122905.jpg

This set was glazed by hubby's great grandmother for him in 1959 the year he was born. It is a special piece that depicts one of the many magical myth stories of Christmas. The mold used to make the figures was fairly new back then and still used today. I put twinkle lights down inside the pot and around the rim and topped it with glass and a lace cover over it which I pulled off to the side and tied.
http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/files/6/9/9/NativityScene122905.jpg

[livius drusus]

Martha? Is that you? Well you could have fooled me. Gorgeous decorations one and all, Debbie, and I'm crazy about that lavender wall too. :bow:

[Legs]

Debbie your home is beautiful :yup:

[pescifish]

Everything is gorgeous! Your tree fits in so well with your living room (way cool lamp, btw!) What a clever idea about the pot and the twinkle lights; a special arrangement for a very special nativity set. Thanks!

[TomJoe]

Just to prolong the holiday spirit, I finally took a photo of the second Christmas tree I set up in my patio room off my master bedroom.

I see that someone else keeps a dog kennel next to their bed. For me, it's become my new night stand.

[Plant Woman]

Thanks! Sorry I didn't get back sooner, had a family emergency and I just got back. 'plain more later, I am exhausted!

[pescifish]

Yeah, well, so it's long after the holidays, but I forgot to take a photo of one of this year's new additions. It's a stainless steel tree that is supposed to be impaled with colorful gumdrop candies to look like a lighted Christmas tree (creative candy dishing.) It looks great with gumdrops, but then I found these Ju Ju Fish. :fish:

http://www.pescifish.net/2005Xmas/2005XmasJuJuFishTree.jpg

[livius drusus]

That is without a doubt the cutest thing I've ever seen. :lovefish:

[Legs]

Very cute! I am imagining gummy worms all over it too :yup:

[livius drusus]

They could be draped horizontally like tinsel!

[quiet bear]

:xmastree: :newy: :xmaseve: BUMP!! :prezzie: :mistletoe: :santaclaus:

[Shelli]

gee... are you in the x-mas spirit, qb?? :giggle: :treeglomp:

[quiet bear]

Since, like, August!

I'll have to get a pic of my favorite decoration. It's a snowman, about a foot tall, I suppose. Nothing fancy. His carrot nose broke off. I like him. Always have.